New York City Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio’s new crime-fighting plan will include advice from criminals and ex-convicts, dozens of whom were given the opportunity to voice their recommendations during a political event in Manhattan on Thursday.
Their suggestions will be part of a packet of policy proposals to be handed to Mr. de Blasio’s planning team, in the lead-up to his Jan. 1 ascension to office, The Daily Mail reported.
And their advice?
Somewhat predictably, perhaps, the ex-con crowd of advisers suggested that Mr. de Blasio might want to go a bit softer on crime when he takes the city’s reins, The Daily Mail reported.
The recommendations are due to reach Mr. de Blasio’s ears from a recent think-tank forum headed up by billionaire and left-wing investor, George Soros, and in partnership with the rehabilitation group, The Fortune Society, The New York Post said.
The forum, held Thursday in Morningside Heights, New York, allowed those who attended to provide the mayor with suggestions on his crime-fighting policy, via notes hung on a wall. All the suggestions were going to be given to the mayor-elect’s policy team for consideration and discussion, The Daily Mail said.
In the crowd were 50 who had served time for a variety of offenses, ranging from identity theft to manslaughter to robbery, The Post reported.
Aside from calling for the continued end of stop-and-frisk, the ex-cons who participated had a list of recommendations.
Arthur Castillo, 38, who was convicted of assault and possession of stolen property, wrote: “Cops won’t leave us alone! Newly released prisoners are watched by the police and a lot of us don’t feel we have an opportunity to readapt to normal life because we are treated as criminals even though we are free,” The Daily Mail reported.
Another, convicted of first-degree manslaughter, kidnapping and robbery, said that “Bloomberg forgot about all of us. I’m hoping de Blasio remembers us.”
Other ex-cons suggested the new mayor might want to open the doors for illegal immigrants to find employment, The Daily Mail reported.
Mr. de Blasio didn’t make an appearance at the event, The Daily Mail said.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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