Mayor Adams kicked off his big summit on Saturday aimed at tackling the Big Apple’s growing crime problem — but the issue of bail bond reform never came up, sources said.
Adams met with prosecutors, other elected officials, defense attorneys, police officers and other key stakeholders behind closed doors at the Gracie Mansion for about four hours for Day 1 of a two-day weekend summit that some critics have called a “waste of time.” ”
Most attendees mum with reporters as they came and went to explain the details of the agenda, but some insiders confirmed the topic of bail law reform was off the table on Day 1 — despite an earlier promise from Adams that it would would not be the case.
The participants tried to paint a rosy picture of the summit.
“I don’t want to talk about what happened there, but in terms of crime … I think everyone is starting to realize that the police alone can’t solve this … and one of the things I hope will come out.” , is always some investment in some of the other things that will help us,” said left-wing public advocate Jumaane Williams.”
Other attendees included Bronx Attorney Darcel Clark, Correctional Officer Louis Molina, and Queen’s Attorney Melinda Katz.
Before she left, Clark blamed her inability to get criminal cases through the system, the “loss of attorneys” in her office and new investigative laws that make it more tedious for her staff to turn evidence over to defense attorneys.
“Our attorneys now feel like paper pushers,” Clark said. “They don’t really focus on the actual cases. They are more focused on getting the paperwork done, and not having a single piece of paper can turn a case off. This jeopardizes your license. That puts the cases at risk. And that endangers public safety.”
Clark said she didn’t know if bail bond reform would be discussed over the weekend. But civil rights attorney and invitee Norman Siegel told The Post Friday that bail reform – which critics say has fueled crime and recidivism – would not be on the agenda all weekend.
Siegel, the former longtime executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, said the panels would instead look at issues including “prosecutors who don’t get a discovery [evidence] to the accused in a timely manner” and whether more people should be hired to expedite the process.
Ex-NYPD Commissioner Bernard Kerik blasted meetings as ‘waste of time’
“No city leader knows more about reducing crime than the #NYPD!” he tweeted. “Mayor – recruit/hire more and unhandcuff the cops. governor [Hochul]- Repeal bail reform and fire leftist Rouge prosecutors.
According to a list released by City Hall, all five of the city’s district attorneys — which include embattled Manhattan Attorney Alvin Bragg and Brooklyn Attorney Eric Gonzalez — should be among the summit attendees.
Bragg has faced a firestorm of criticism — and an exodus of experienced prosecutors — since he pushed through a raft of crime-fighting measures after taking office on Jan. 1.
In 2019, Gonzalez also announced a soft-on crime plan called “Justice 2020,” but earlier this year called for “tweaks” to the 2019 bail bond reform law, which critics — including the NYPD — have accused of fueling crime and recidivism.
Both Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-Yonkers) and Assembly Leader Carl Heastie (D-The Bronx), who passed bail reform and resisted efforts to reverse it, should have their counsel dispatch to represent them the summit.
