A July “Skoufis On Your Street” series event at Tapped in Middletown drew an engaged, vociferous crowd for New York State Senator James Skoufis (D-42nd District).

Billed as a yearly town hall, the event at the bar and restaurant on July 22 presented a wide-ranging policy overview by Skoufis, after which he read from a stack of constituents’ questions — collated by topic — and provided answers. A few people in the audience expressed a desire to ask their questions themselves.

Middletown Mayor Joe DeStefano also attended the event.

Among the topics covered by Skoufis were Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Flock cameras, Route 17 expansion, a $2.5 million parking lot upgrade across from the Paramount Theatre, Universal Pre-K, Industrial Development Agency tax breaks, violation sales tax, a bill to allow sessions with therapists from outside the state and the Amazon warehouse proposal in Wawayanda.

Queries, concerns of the constituents

After asking to read a prewritten statement, New Windsor resident Jose Matos questioned the effects of the bail reform policy on public safety, justice and law and order.

New York bail reform was enacted in the 2019 budget. It limited the use of jail and money bail for most misdemeanors and lower-level felonies — though subsequent revisions have set provisions and exceptions, which allow judges discretion to set bail.

Matos asked Skoufis to support stricter escalatory deterrents for repeat offenders, and pointed to the men accused in the subway shoving death of Michelle Alyssa Go in New York City and the fatal train stabbing of Iryna Zarutska in Charlotte, North Carolina, who both had previous arrests on their records.

Matos cited multiple episodes of crime in his neighborhood which he said were committed by a person struggling with addiction, including the theft of $1,500 chainsaws from a small business owner who was never compensated and, after being released from custody, a theft from the volunteer fire department worth thousands of dollars, followed by another violent crime after release.

“I do believe there’s a dangerousness standard that the judges should consider,” Skoufis said as he pointed out his support for revisions and exceptions to the legislation that have followed.

Skoufis elaborated on the genesis of the legislation and how it was impacted by the case of Kalief Browder.

When he was 16, Browder was held at Rikers Island jail complex for three years for an alleged theft of a backpack. He spent 800 days in solitary confinement out of 1,110 as his court date was postponed 30 times. Browder was never tried or found guilty. He later died by suicide.

In a follow-up interview, Matos said his proposal is for repeat offenders, having committed multiple crimes. He supports someone with a first-time offense who has no prior criminal record getting a break.

A student of constitutional law, Matos offered to work with Skoufis on an amendment for bail reform. He said New York’s “soft on crime” stance emboldens criminal behavior because people know that they’d only get a slap on the wrist. The discretionary option to impose bail leaves the matter in the hands of individual judges, who he said may still release people who may pose danger to the community.

Matos’ amendment proposes automatic bail of $50,000 or $100,000 or prison time for a second misdemeanor crime committed within a 90-day period.

Town hall encouraging

Another attendee at the town hall, Chip Murray from Slate Hill, was “encouraged” by the event and said he welcomes dialogue as a step to bridge political division in the country. He appreciated that Skoufis heard him out despite their differing positions on vaccines, which Skoufis supports.

“We as a country were founded by founders who were strong in their beliefs and nature’s god,” said Murray. “There were different denominations, but they believed in God. And that’s where our rights come from.”

A third attendee, Paula Blumenau, a Town of Wallkill resident and community outreach coordinator at Jewish Family Service of Orange County, was pleased Skoufis discussed the issue of transportation for seniors and the integral role agencies like hers play. JFS provides free transportation for seniors within Orange County.

Blumenau would like to continue the discussion and find ways to fund the services to support more seniors.

Constituent services offered in Middletown

On July 31, Skoufis' team is offering constituent services and help with streamlining unemployment benefits and other issues related to state agencies at 16 James St., Floor 3, in Middletown.

Walk in or email skoufis@nysenate.gov for an appointment.