DeSantis Violates NY Staten Island Bail Law, Says Florida Is ‘Doing Everything Right’

Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has criticized New York City’s controversial bail reform law and called on NYPD officers to transfer to the Sunshine State during a visit to the Big Apple on Monday ahead of the widely anticipated 2024 presidential race.

DeSantis, who won a second term in November, told a restaurant full of Staten Island supporters that “the foundation of Florida’s success has been commitment to law and order and support for men and women who wear uniforms.”

“I’ve read that New York is the only state that doesn’t allow judges to consider – when they decide on bail – whether someone is a danger to society,” the 44-year-old said.

“What’s the point? Does it make your community safer if you do this? Of course not. So you need to do something like repeal these failed pieces of legislation.”

DeSantis also spoke directly to police officers in the city and elsewhere: “If you’re frustrated, if you don’t think things will change, wherever you are – not just in New York, anywhere – just know that there is a state, that does it right.”

“There is a state that will appreciate your service,” he added.

DeSantis then cited the controversial Protect the Police movement that gained momentum following the 2020 killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer.

“What you started to see – especially in 2020, but actually even earlier – were just political attacks on people who wear uniforms,” he said.

“It’s like you walk in, you risk your life, you do something, and then you have to worry about all these helpless politicians showing off trying to bring you down. Nobody wants to put their life at risk and then face this nonsense.”

DeSantis was introduced by Lee Zeldin, a former Long Island congressman and 2022 Republican gubernatorial candidate, who told the crowd that “the state of Florida has an exceptional governor who has been leading his state in the right direction for many years.”

“And if you’re a law enforcement officer in a state like New York and you see elected officials tying your hands behind your back, handcuffing the criminal justice system and not the bad guys, well Governor. DeSantis will give you a bonus if you decide to move to Florida,” Zeldin added.

Earlier this month, The Post reported exclusively on the City Council’s new Progressive Caucus controversy over “reducing the size and scope of the NYPD.”

The move comes after anti-cop activists held a month-long protest outside City Hall in 2020, prompting officials to cut the NYPD’s annual operating budget by $1 billion.

It also followed the retirement and retirement of more than 3,700 NYPD officers in 2022, the largest exodus since the year since the deadly terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, which destroyed the twin towers of the World Trade Center.

Approximately 70 people turned up for DeSantis’ appearance at the Privé cafeteria, many wearing NYPD outfits or red ties and badges that showed their allegiance to the Republican Party, which dominates local politics on Staten Island.

In addition to the Staten Island event, DeSantis was to hold similar talks with law enforcement outside of Philadelphia and Chicago, Democratic-dominated cities that have seen a surge in violence in recent years.

Meanwhile, Mayor Eric Adams attacked DeSantis on Monday in a sarcastic message posted on his official twitter account.

“Welcome to New York @GovRonDeSantis, a place where we don’t ban books, don’t discriminate against our LGBTQ+ neighbors, don’t use asylum seekers as props, and don’t let the government stand between a woman and healthcare,” Adams said. “We’re excited to teach you a thing or two about values ​​while you’re here.”

DeSantis is reportedly planning to run in the Republican presidential primary this spring.

He will join former President Donald Trump, 76, who announced his third White House proposal in November, and former United Nations Ambassador and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, 51, who launched her campaign last week.

Trump has repeatedly ridiculed DeSantis as “Ron DeSanctimonius” and referred to him as “rhino”. [Republican in name only] GLOBALIST” in posts on his website in the social network Truth Social.

Early Saturday morning, Trump denied a New York Times report that he privately used an obvious ethnic slur against DeSantis, an Italian by birth.

“I will never call Ron DeSanktimonius ‘meatball’ Ron as the fake news insists,” Trump tweeted at 1 a.m.

After Monday’s event, attendees told The Post they were eager to vote for DeSantis for president.

“Certainly, I would give my vote to DeSantis based on what he did in Florida,” Joe Martingano, 63, said. [Florida] open during COVID, crime is down, unemployment is down.”

Vincent Butaro, 70, who was accompanied by a small boy in an NYPD baseball cap, also said he would “absolutely” support DeSantis for president.

Butaro, who said he moved from New York to Florida, praised the governor for his military service and also said he is “a family man, he worries about the kids and doesn’t play any games.”

“He speaks very well. He has a great agenda. He is worried that there is an awakening going on in this country,” Butaro said. “I tell you, I was a Trump voter. I liked Trump’s agenda, but I like DeSantis.”