#NYC crime wave could doom progressives: pundits

The horrific ambush shooting of two cops amid the Big Apple’s crime surge shows the mess Mayor Adams inherited from progressive predecessor Bill de Blasio — and could spell doom for the ex-mayor’s comrades in office in future elections, pols and pundits told The Post Saturday.

“The pendulum has certainly swung, and the electorate wants a more law-and-order philosophy,” longtime Democratic political consultant George Arzt said Saturday.

“ ‘Defunding the Police’ is way in the past now, and people want something done to make the subways safer, street safer and prevent violence,” he added.

Councilman Robert Holden, a moderate Democrat from Queens, said the crime wave “demonstrates the failed policies” of de Blasio and the “far left” over the past eight years.
“This is a wake-up call for voters because we have to elect people who will hold criminals accountable,” he said.

Slain rookie officer Jason Rivera, 22, and his partner Wilbert Mora, 27 are among five cops shot in just the first three weeks of 2022.

“Look at the last election, you saw more moderate Democrats and Republicans get elected to office [in the city], and it will only continue.”

Council Minority Leader Joe Borelli (R-Staten Island) said it’s time to re-evaluate police and prosecutorial reforms, including those of woke Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

He also called the progressives who were pushing the “Defund the Police” movement “dopes” because many are now saying “we need to get guns off the streets” — which is tough without police officers.

However, state Sen. Jessica Ramos, a progressive Democrat from Queens, said it’s time for the entire Democratic Party to join forces and “champion” the New York Health Act that would provide comprehensive universal health care for all New Yorkers — including the mentally ill.

Councilman Justin Brannan of Brooklyn, who considers himself a “pragmatic progressive,” insisted there’s “no magic wand” to get illegal guns off the street. He also said officials on both sides of the political spectrum need to come together if “we want a safe and fair city.”

“All hands on deck, at every level of government,” he said. “Lay all the cards on the table because this is a matter of life and death.”