The city’s only borough-president primary race considered competitive by political observers is heating up over the issue of public safety and the state’s controversial bail law changes.
State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal and city Councilman Keith Powers are the leading candidates in the Democratic Manhattan showdown.
Powers recently slammed Hoylman-Sigal for his support of the bail law changes in Albany and said that the state legislators have been too slow to make changes.
“When polling shows that 80% of New Yorkers are concerned about public safety and Brad dismisses those concerns out of hand, it shows he’s out of touch with New Yorkers in Manhattan,” Powers said.
Powers said his own public safety plan would increase the number of cops in Manhattan precincts, helping to keep dangerous people off the streets, and ease the discovery process, or how prosecutors must share information with defense lawyers.
“It’s been crystal-clear in the past few years that we have a mental-health crisis and there have been some elected officials who have been out of touch with New Yorkers and they failed to meet the moment,” Powers told The Post.
Hoylman-Sigal shot back at Powers’ jabs by saying housing, quality-of-life, public-safety and education issues are his top concerns.
“I don’t know what my opponent has done in terms of public safety and specifically passing any legislation” Hoylman-Sigal said.
He pointed to legislation he has backed cracking down on serial shoplifting and increasing the number of hate-crime offenses.
Hoylman-Sigal also defended his initial support for the state’s bail-reform laws, saying they were based on concern over due process. He said supported subsequent changes to the laws, discovery reform and involuntary-commitment mental-health standards.
“Look, I’m a proud Liberal Democrat, and I will always stand by the Constitution and the right to a free and fair trial and a hearing before a judge,” said Hoylman-Sigal, explaining his initial support for the bail reform laws.
Powers has strong union support in the race, backed by heavyweights such as 32BJ SEIU, the Hotel Trades Council and the United Federation of Teachers. Hoylman-Sigal has the endorsements of three former Manhattan borough presidents and a slew of other pols.
The Manhattan beep’s race also includes political newbie Dr. Calvin Smith.
Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso is meanwhile fending off challenger and previous candidate Khari Edwards, while fellow Bronx beep incumbent Vanessa Gibson is being challenged by city Councilman Rafael Salamanca.
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards isn’t facing a primary challenge, but three other Republican candidates are competing to challenge him in November. On Staten Island, incumbent Vito Fossella doesn’t have a primary challenger but will square off against Democratic challenger Michael Colombo in the general.
The primary election is June 24.
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