Bass, Caruso differ on crime issues and policing — but not as much as many think
State Sen. Thomas J. Caruso, D-Mamaroneck, is trying to unseat state Sen. Malcolm A. Smith, R-Monroe, in the special election for the District 7 state Senate seat. The race is seen as critical to New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s bid for a second term, especially with the Democratic Party looking to win the City Council and State Senate — both of which have large liberal majorities and are strongly pro-labor.
Bass, Caruso differ on crime issues and policing — but not as much as many think
STATE SEN. BASS, CARUSO DIFFER ON CRIME ISSUES AND POLICING
By JESSICA DURKOSKI, ASSOCIATED PRESS
March 22, 2013
NEW YORK — The debate over New York City’s police department has taken an unusual turn: While other issues were getting hammered with partisan accusations and insults, the argument over whether the Police Department operates in the best interest of the public has taken on a much lighter tone.
While New York Police Commissioner William J. Bratton and Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg spent the last week defending the department, and insisting every arrest in the city is a success, a handful of Democratic elected officials have begun to criticize the cops.
“As somebody who voted against Commissioner Bratton and supported his campaign for mayor, I can say with confidence that a lot of what I hear coming out of his mouth is, ‘You never want to look at the NYPD as a negative,’” said State Sen. Thomas J. Caruso, D-Mamaroneck, who is mounting a bid to unseat Sen. Malcolm A. Smith, R-Monroe, in November. “And I say, ‘Mr. Bratton, Mr. Bloomberg and I, for the last four years we haven’t said that.’”
But the tone of the criticism has been noticeably lighter than in past debates on the subject. On one hand, Mr. Caruso has been the most vocal, and he’s not apologizing for