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Clip: 03/22/2023 | 12m 18s | Video has closed captioning.
Two of the legislature’s newer members want to treat retail employees as essential workers, and make it a felony to commit even minor assaults against them. Joining us to discuss these efforts are State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton and Assemblymember Manny De Los Santos.
Aired: 03/22/23
>>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "METROFOCUS."
I'M JENNA FLANAGAN.
NEW YORK CITY IS FACING A SHOPLIFTING EPIDEMIC WITH RETAILERS AND SHOP OWNERS FEARING THEY COULD BE TARGETED NEXT, AND IT COULD TURN VIOLENT.
STATE LAWMAKERS HAVE TAKEN NOTICE, AND THERE'S NOW A PUSH IN ALBANY TO PROTECT WORKER AFTER SHOPLIFTING COMPLAINTS NEARLY DOUBLED IN THE CITY.
TWO OF NEW YORK'S RECENT MEMBERS WANT TO PROTECT THEM WITH POLICE -- AND MAKE IT A FELONY TO COMMIT ASSAULT AGAINST THEM.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER MANNY DELOSS SANTOS ARE COSPONSORING THIS LEGISLATION.
WELCOME YOU BOTH TO "METROFOCUS."
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
ABSOLUTELY.
NOW, FIRST I JUST WANT TO START, AND I WILL BASICALLY SENATOR, I'LL START WITH YOU.
TELL US ABOUT HOW THIS LEGISLATION CAME INTO BEING FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE.
>> OF COURSE.
YOU KNOW, THE ASSAULTS ON RETAIL WORKERS ARE SOMETHING THAT WE'RE VERY FAMILIAR WITH.
I'M SURE THE ASSEMBLY MEMBER CAN SAY THE SAME.
AS YOU'RE MEETING WITH SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AND NEIGHBORS THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE.
WE MET WITH LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS IN OUR RESPECTIVE COMMUNITIES, BOTH FROM STATEN ISLAND, BROOKLYN, MANHATTAN, ALL FIVE BOROUGHS, WHO HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS CONCERN OVER THE SAFETY OF THEIR WORKERS, SO WE WANT TO DO SOMETHING TO MAKE SURE THEY FEEL SAFE IN YOUR WORKPLACE AND PREVENT FUTURE CRIMES FROM HAPPENING.
>> ASSEMBLYMAN, I'M WONDERING, FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, WAS THIS SOMETHING WHERE THE REQUEST FOR SOMEONE TO DO SOMETHING STARTED TO GROW LOUDER AND LOUDER, AND THAT'S WHAT GOT YOUR ATTENTION?
OR WERE YOU PAYING ATTENTION TO THE TRENDS AND SAID, WAIT A SECOND, THIS SEEMS TO BE AN UPTICK THAT WASN'T ADDRESSED?
>> THANK YOU BOTH.
ALLUDING TO WHAT THE SENATOR JUST SAID, CONVERSATIONS WITH BUSINESS OWNERS, CONSTITUENTS IN MY DISTRICT, EVERYWHERE I WENT IT WAS PUBLIC SAFETY.
WE KNOW THAT THE NUMBERS OF INCIDENT FROM BROOKLYN O QUEEN, STATEN ISLAND, THE BRONX AND MANHATTAN.
WE HAVE ONE WHERE ONE OF THE RETAIL WORKERS WAS ASSAULTED, HAD TO PROTECT HIMSELF.
WE HAVE SEEN A NUMBER OF ASSAULTS ON RETAIL WORKERS, AND WE'RE SIMPLY ASKING FOR PROTECTION.
TO ME IT'S COMMON SENSE.
BUT WE DON'T DO IT NOW, WHEN?
RETAIL WORKERS ARE WAITING FOR SORT OF LIKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE PROTECTED.
AND IF WE DON'T DO IT NOW, I DON'T KNOW WHEN WE'RE GOING TO GET IT DONE.
I THINK THE TIME IS IMPORTANT.
TIME IS IMPORTANT IN THIS MATTER.
AND THESE ARE WORKERS THAT HAVE FAMILIES, THEY HAVE KIDS, THEY HAVE WIFE AND HUSBAND, AND THERE'S NO GUARANTEE THAT SOME OF THESE RETAIL WORKERS SAFELY RETURN HOME.
>> IT MIGHT SEEM ODD TO CATEGORIZE RETAIL WORKERS IN THE SAME SPACE AS FIREFIGHTERS OR POLICE OFFICERS, ET CETERA, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IF WE THINK BACK TO THE -- EVEN THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC, THE STORES STAYED OPEN SO PEOPLE COULD STILL GET THE FOOD AND SUPPLIES THAT THEY NEEDED.
SO ONE OF THE THINGS I'M WONDERING IS, DO YOU SEE THAT THIS WAS A COMMUNITY OR A PARTICULAR GROUP THAT PERHAPS BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT THEIR JOBS WERE THOUGHT OF, HASN'T BEEN PROPERLY PROTECTED?
>> YES, I COULD CERTAINLY SAY THAT WE SAW THE IMPORTANCE OF THESE WORKERS.
THEY WERE DEEMED ESSENTIAL DURING THE PANDEMIC.
YOU KNOW, THANKS TO THEM WE WERE ABLE TO GET OUR GROCERIES, TAKE CARE OF OUR FAMILIES, AND THEY DESERVE THE SAME PROTECTIONS AS ANY ESSENTIAL WORKER.
I CAN SAY THERE'S A LOCAL DELI IN MY COMMUNITY, THREE Bs BAGEL SHOP HAD THREE ROBBERIES AND ON THE LAST ONE, ONE OF THEIR EMPLOYEES WAS ATTACKED.
I CAME INTO THE DELI THE NEXT MORNING, HE WAS PUNCHED IN THE FACE.
IT'S A HORRIBLE THING.
HE HAS A FAMILY.
HE'S AN OLDER GENTLEMAN.
THAT'S THE INCENTIVE I HAVE BEHIND ME TO PUSH THIS LEGISLATION TO MAKE SURE THE WORKERS ARE TREATED WITH THE DIGNITY THEY DESERVE.
>> THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS GOING TO BOLD ON IS WERE THERE EXAMPLES IN THE DISTRICT.
YOU WERE JUST HEARING OF RETAIL WORKERS WHO WERE BEING ASSAULTED?
>> IN ADDITION TO THAT, A LOT OF THESE RETAIL WORKERS LIVE IN MY DISTRICT, SO OFTEN TIME THEY HAVE TO WAKE UP IN THE MORNING, HOP ON THE SUBWAY, AND NO GUARANTEE AS I SAID BEFORE, THEY'LL MAKE IT HOME SAFELY.
VI BUSINESSES THAT HAVE TO CLOSE HIS DOOR, BECAUSE HE DON'T GO ROBBERY BACK AND FORTH.
AND AS WE ALL KNOW, THE ECONOMY IS NOT DOING WELL.
BUT THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE HERE IS SAFETY.
THEY NEED TO BE TREATED WITH DIGNITY.
THEY NEED TO BE TREATED WITH RESPECT.
AND WE KNOW THAT WE PROTECTED POLICE OFFICER, FIREFIGHTER, BUT RETAIL WORKERS, THE REALITY IS THEY'RE FRONT OF THE LINE, WORKING DAY MIN AND DAY OUT.
TO ME, MAKES SENSE FOR THEM TO BE TREATED AS ESSENTIAL WORKERS, BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T STOPPED WORKING, AND THEIR JOB INVOLVES A LOT OF -- IT HAS A LOT OF DANGER INVOLVED.
WE KNOW OFTEN TIME THERE'S MONEY BEHIND THEM, AND IT BECOMES A TARGET WHEN THEY EXPOSE, AND THERE'S NOT ENOUGH PROTECTIONS GIVEN TO THEM.
>> ASSEMBLYMAN, I'M WONDERING -- ONE OF THE THINGS PEOPLE WHO PERHAPS AREN'T ENGAGING WITH THIS IN THE SAME WAY YOU ARE MIGHT SAY, WELL, THE PANDEMIC WAS REALLY HARD ECONOMICALLY, AND UNFORTUNATELY IT PUSHED SOME PEOPLE TO RESORT TO SHOPLIFTING JUST TO GET THE PROVISIONS THAT THEY NEEDED TO SURVIVE.
BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND YOU WROTE AN OPINION PIECE IF I'M CORRECT ABOUT FRANKLY WHO WAS SUSPECTED, THE DEMOGRAPHIC THAT WOULD BE SUSPECTED FOR THESE CRIMES.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHEY THE ORIGINAL THINKIN I LAID OUT MIGHT NOT BE CORRECT WHEN IT COMES TO THIS ISSUE?
>> THE HISPANIC CHAMBER OF CONGRESS CONDUCTED A SURVEY AMONGST BODEGAS AND IT DETAILS THAT 70% OF ASSAULTS HAPPENING TO RETAIL WORKERS -- AFRICAN AMERICAN, HISPANIC, ASIAN INDICATED THAT THERE WAS AN URGENCY NEED FOR THIS TYPE OF LEGISLATION, AND GIVEN THE NUMBER THAT HAVE GOTTEN DOWN, CRISIS GOING UP, EVERYWHERE I GO, I GET STOPPED BY CONSTITUENTS REGARDING PROTECTION.
TO ME IT MAKES SENSE THAT WE DO WHAT'S RIGHT, AND DOING WHAT'S RIGHT IS PROTECTING ALL WORKERS, NOT JUST MTA, NOT JUST FIREFIGHTER, NOT JUST COPS.
BUT EVERYONE WHO, YOU KNOW, GOES OUT IN THE MORNING, HAVE NO SAFETY OR TIME RETURN TO COME BACK.
AND TO ME DOESN'T MAKE SENSE WHY RETAIL WORKERS SHOULD NOT BE TREATED IN THE SAME CATEGORY.
THIS IS WHY WE'RE HERE IN ALBANY, MAKING SURE THAT DURING THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT THE SPEAKER, THE GOVERNOR, AND OUR COLLEAGUE VOTE TO ENSURE THAT THIS LAW BECOMES A REALITY.
AGAIN, THIS IS NOT JUST PROTECTING RETAIL WORKERS, BUT ALSO WE UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN WE PROTECT RETAIL WORKERS, WE'RE PROTECTING FAMILIES, NEW YORKERS.
>> SENATOR, I'M ALSO WONDERING, FOR PEOPLE HEARING THIS, THEY MIGHT SAY IT SOUNDS SIMILAR, IF YOU WILL, TO THE PUSH TO ROLL BACK BAIL REFORM.
I'M WONDERING, HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT CRITICISM?
>> I THINK THAT WE ARE TRYING TO JUST MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ENCOMPASSING THINGS THAT MAKE SENSE IN REGARD TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
IT'S LOOKING AT THE LAW REALLY CLOSELY AND FIXING WHAT NEEDS FIXING, AND THIS TO ME IS A COMMON SENSE APPROACH TO KEEP OUR RETAIL WORKERS MUCH MORE SAFE.
LOT OF TIMES THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO WORK NONTRADITIONAL HOURS.
THEY'RE WORKING AT NIGHT, COMMUTING AT NIGHT.
THEY'RE WORKING AS NOT JUST A CASHIER, BUT SECURITY.
IT'S COMMON SENSE TO ADD ADDITIONAL SAFETIES IN AND MAKE TWEAKS AND AMENDMENTS WHERE WE SEE FIT.
>> THIS QUESTION IS FOR BOTH OF YOU, BUT ASSEMBLYMAN, I'LL START WITH YOU.
FOR PEOPLE WHO MIGHT NOT FULLY GRASP -- WHEN WE HEAR SHOPLIFTING IT SOUNDS LIKE A ONE OFF.
THEY BROKE INTO THE BODEGA, STOLE THIS AND THAT, AND PERHAPS A RETAIL WORKER WAS ASSAULTED IN A PROCESS.
BUT IS THIS PART OF A LARGER CRIME RING, OR ARE THESE A BUNCH OF ONE-OFFS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT?
>> IT'S MIXED.
THE REALITY IS WE JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT'S NEXT.
IS WAITING FOR AN ACCIDENT TO HAPPEN.
AND NEW YORKERS CAN NO LONGER WAIT FOR INCIDENTS, ASSAULTS, CRIMES TO CONTINUE TO GO UP FOR OUR RESIDENTS, CONSTITUENTS, NEW YORKERS TO BECOME VICTIMS.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO FIND A SOLUTION, AN IMMEDIATE SOLUTION TO THE ONGOING CRIMES THAT ARE CONTINUING TO INCREASE.
THIS IS ABOUT PROTECTING NEW YORKERS, WORKING CLASS CITIZENS.
ACE SAID BEFORE, THEY HAVE FAMILY, LIVE IN NEW YORK CITY.
IT'S ABOUT EQUITY, TOO.
WE'RE PROTECTING COPS AND FIREFIGHTER, MTA WORKERS.
WE ALSO NEED TO PROTECT WORKING CLASS CITIZEN, AND TO ME THOSE ARE RETAIL WORKERS, ESSENTIAL WORKER THAT SHOULD BE TREATED IN THE SAME CATEGORY.
>> THERE'S ALSO A PUSH IN SOME OTHER STATES TO INCREASE THE VALUE OF STOLEN GOODS SO THAT IT MIGHT TRIGGER A FELONY CHARGE.
IS THAT SOMETHING YOU SEE AS PERHAPS AN ADDITIONAL TOOL IN YOUR TOOL BELT, OR IS THAT NOT A LINE YOU WANT TO CROSS?
>> IT'S SOMETHING THAT I COULD TAKE A LOOK AT, BUT RIGHT NOW MY BIGGEST FOCUS IS MAKE SUGAR WE'RE PROTECTING THE WORKERS.
AND TO YOUR POINT EARLIER, IT'S DEFINITELY A MIX.
WE'VE SEEN THIS UPTICK IN SHOPLIFTING.
THERE'S A REASON YU SEE SO MANY GOODS AND SERVICES THAT ARE NOW BEHIND LOCK AND KEY, AND YOU CAN GO ON ANY WEBSITE, AND THESE BIG COMPANIES OR SOMETHING -- THIS IS SOMETHING ALSO I'M MORE INTERESTED IN LOOKING AT -- THESE BIG ONLINE COMPANIES THAT ALLOW PEOPLE TO STEAL POTENTIALLY STOLEN GOODS ONLINE AND MAKE A PROFIT OFF OF IT IS ANOTHER ISSUE I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO TAKE A BIGGER FOCUS ON AS WELL.
>> WELL, IT'S ALWAYS AN AWKWARD QUESTION TO ASK ABOUT LEGISLATION THAT'S IN THE PROCESS OF BEING VETTED AND DEBATED ON, BUT IF THIS DOESN'T GO THROUGH, IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE THAT YOU MIGHT BE LOOKING AT?
SENATOR, I'LL START WITH YOU, QUICKLY.
>> OF COURSE.
I THINK RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF IN, BOTH OF OUR RESPECTIVE HOUSES, OF TALKING TO OUR COLLEAGUES ABOUT THIS, TRYING TO GARNER SUPPORT.
NO MATTER WHAT SIDE OF THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM YOU'RE ON, YOU HEAR ABOUT THESE ISSUES IN YOUR DISTRICT, SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT THIS AS A WORKER SAFETY PIECE OF LEGISLATION, JUST THE WAY WE PROTECTED BUS DRIVERS AND UTILITY WORKERS.
THESE ARE WORKER WHO IS DELIVER PROTECTION JUST AS ANYBODY ELSE AND THAT'S MY PITCH TO MY COLLEAGUES.
>> ASSEMBLYMAN, SAME QUESTION, 20 SECONDS LEFT.
>> THIS IS A COMMON SENSE APPROACH.
WE'RE TRYING TO FIND AN IMMEDIATE RESOLUTION TO THE SITUATION HERE TO PROTECT WORKING CLASS NEW YORKERS, RETAIL WORKERS THAT SHOULD BE TREATED IN THE SAME CATEGORY, AND I FEEL THAT WITH THE -- IT'S DIFFERENT ASSOCIATION, UNIONS, AND THE SPEAK OTHER OUR COLLEAGUE, WE CAN GET THIS MOVING AND MAKE IT A REALITY TO PROTECT NEW YORKERS.
BUT THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING DIFFERENT WE CAN DO.
AS RIGHT NOW, GIVEN THE REAL REALITIES NEW YORKERS ARE FACING, THIS IS THE BEST SOLUTION POSSIBLE.
