Who would have thought that arresting criminals and forcing them to post bail or stay in jail would prevent them from committing more crimes? The answer is, any rational person, but the radical Soros-backed politicians and attorneys who run the blue blob cities like New York, San Francisco, and others made every effort to deny that simple reality. Instead, for years, big city residents were treated to #DEFUNDTHEPOLICE, no cash bail, no arrests for minor crimes, and other relaxed standards of policing that threw away decades of “broken windows” policing progress that took America’s big cities out of the hard days of the 1970s and 1980s.
Now, after a half-decade dalliance with treating criminals as the victims, some big cities are starting to return to the idea that yes, arresting and jailing criminals lowers crime. You read recently about progress being made in San Francisco after the city gave its Soros-backed DA Chesa Boudin the boot. Now, The Wall Street Journal’s James Fanelli reports on progress being made in New York City. He writes:
After the pandemic, some New York City retailers stopped reporting shoplifting incidents to police, frustrated that repeat offenders didn’t seem to face meaningful consequences. In 2019, the state ended cash bail for most misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies, meaning many defendants were released to potentially commit another crime. The law since has been adjusted to allow courts to impose bail for repeat retail-theft offenders.
The NYPD has improved the share of complaints that result in arrests to 50% this year from 40% in past years.
The state also passed laws in 2024 to make it easier for police and district attorneys to thwart shoplifters. At the time, some progressive state lawmakers had concerns that tougher penalties wouldn’t reduce crime. But police officials said one helpful tool has been a law allowing investigators to aggregate the thefts of a repeat offender at the same store. If the total value of the stolen goods reaches more than $1,000, the suspect can be charged with a felony grand larceny rather than a misdemeanor.
Like San Francisco, it’s a start. Imposing bail only on repeat offenders is a step in the right direction, but not far enough. Making arrests on 50% of cases is also a step in the right direction. More work needs to be done.
Action Line: High crime and a lack of concern by politicians have driven many Americans away from the big blue blob cities and sent them looking for a better America. If you’re one of those Americans searching for somewhere better, start your journey with Your Survival Guy’s 2026 Super State rankings. And click here to subscribe to my free monthly Survive & Thrive letter.
