Stand Firm, Governor Hochul — New York Requires Your Solutions for Justice and Mental Health

Governor Kathy Hochul must stand firm until her reasonable reforms on involuntary commitment and discovery law are secured, regardless of how long the state budget takes to finalize.

There’s no harm in this delay, as temporary measures keep state operations afloat at previous spending levels, and it’s absurd that liberal lawmakers are rejecting changes that the majority of voters support.

Once again, she is merely trying to make these laws a little less harmful: New York’s discovery regulations will remain the most favorable to defense in the country, and it will still be challenging to compel severely mentally ill individuals into psychiatric facilities.

Nevertheless, the Legislature continues to present “compromise” proposals that fundamentally dismiss her suggested modifications.

Additionally, lawmakers are frustrated because their salaries are withheld during this budget stalemate.

Notably, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie has introduced a bill that would allow legislators’ paychecks to continue even if they miss the April 1 deadline for a budget, although the delay revolves around non-financial issues.

Heastie claims that the budget is not the appropriate forum for such discussions, despite having supported passing the problematic no-bail and discovery “reforms” in the 2019 budget.

Now, State Senate No. 2 Michael Gianaris expresses “frustration” over Hochul’s “ongoing insistence” on incorporating “non-budgetary policy into this budget discussion,” yet he and his progressive colleagues would resist every time the governor tried to introduce these crucial public safety changes.

They seem more interested in solidifying a $252 billion spending plan — which includes additional tax increases — before the public catches on to its lack of true balance, as evidenced by upcoming tax hikes.

The governor clearly has the support of the vast majority of New Yorkers; as the standoff continues, the public will increasingly understand how little the Legislature’s leaders want voters to notice.

Stay strong, governor: Hold out until Labor Day, or even Christmas, if necessary.