Jeff Van Drew on Crime Policy: Making it Hard for Police

Shifting Political Landscape on Crime

• 💡 The speaker notes a significant change in the Democratic Party's approach to crime policy, contrasting current stances with those from the 1990s.
• 🎯 There was once bipartisan agreement on keeping streets safe, a consensus that seems to have eroded, with current Democrats differing greatly from figures like Bill Clinton.

Current Crime Trends and Policies

• 🛒 The issue of shoplifting is highlighted, with a statistic noting that 327 career perpetrators account for one-third of all shoplifting in New York City.
• ⚖️ The speaker questions the policy of not prosecuting misdemeanors, citing a proposal to eliminate misdemeanors entirely.
• 🛍️ Common items like toothpaste, mouthwash, and cough medicine are being locked up, indicating a shift in how petty theft is handled.

Police Morale and Effectiveness

• 📉 A significant point is made about the demoralization and low morale of police officers, leading to reduced staffing, fewer prosecutions, and fewer arrests.
• 👮 It's argued that police officers have been made to feel that it is "so damn hard for a cop to be a cop," leading them to disengage unless dealing with the most serious situations.
• 📊 Statistics on crime reduction are questioned, suggesting that lower numbers might be a result of reduced enforcement rather than actual crime decrease.

National Guard in Cities

• 🛡️ The presence and capability of the National Guard in large cities are discussed, with a question posed about their effectiveness and potential for causing harm.
• ✅ The consensus among those present is that the National Guard is capable of doing good and not just acting as "warriors shooting people."