Schumer Fingers Unusual Culprit for Crime Surge: Car Manufacturers

Following a spike in carjackings at Buffalo, N.Y.’s, Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumer (D.N.Y.) pointed fingers at an unusual suspect: car manufacturers.

“Bottom line: Kia, Hyundai can’t keep letting criminals on TikTok ride off into the sunset with innocent Buffalonian residents’ cars,” Schumer spoke at Monday’s press conference. He was referring to a trend in Chinese social media that encourages teens to steal car models and upload footage.

According to Buffalo police, more than 400 Hyundais and Kias were stolen from Buffalo in 2023. In February alone, more than 400 cars were stolen in Buffalo. WKBW reported.

John Flynn (D.Erie County district attorney) implemented reforms that enable many criminals to be released from jail without bail.

“For the past year now … I’ve been telling my assistant DAs to not ask for bail on misdemeanors and not [for] violent felonies unless there’s a darn good reason,” Flynn said In a December 2019 interview.

Flynn bragged about the jail population awaiting trial going down by almost 50 percent under his watch—a decline that Buffalo police commissioner Joseph Gramaglia called a “problem” City residents

“When gun defendants and sometimes [people] with multiple gun possession arrests walk out of custody because they either have too low bail and sometimes are released without bail, that’s a problem,” Gramaglia said. “That’s a real problem. … We need those possessing guns behind bars.”

Schumer is the latest Democrat who has taken responsibility for the rise in crime in U.S. cities. Lori Lightfoot, Chicago’s mayor (D.), lost Tuesday’s reelection. blamed For not providing adequate security to retailers and street vendors using cash. Eric Adams, New York City mayor (D.), October blamed Media for the “perception” The prevention of crime

In the meantime, Muriel Bowser, Washington, D.C., mayor (D.), took to handing After the Democratic city council, owners of Kias will receive steering wheel locks lessened sentences for carjackers.

Schumer instructed the companies to “step up and make this right,” Kia USA stated to the city that carjackings have been a problem. “local crime problem,” Gramaglia.

According to a recent Siena poll, New Yorkers are most concerned about crime. poll.