LAKEWOOD — Russ Payne, Carroll town supervisor, was guest speaker at Southern Tier Tea Party Patriots’ Jan. 28 meeting, held at the Lakewood American Legion.

“As of Jan. 1, 2020, defendants for hundreds of different crimes must be released from custody without bail,” wrote state Sen. James Tedisco. As written, the current version of the law provides for almost no judicial discretion regarding bail. It has come under widespread criticism from law enforcement, prosecutors and crime victims. Tedisco said the new law is nearly as bad as the SAFE Act.

“The pendulum has swung the wrong way,” Payne said.

Tedisco and state Assemblyman Santabarbara said the current law “provides for little to no judicial discretion.” They are supported by state Sen. George Borrello. All three legislators want to see the act repealed.

Tedisco and Santabarbara submitted bill S.6861, which would allow the courts to make an “appropriate risk assessment” of a defendant based upon prior felony conviction(s), failure to make a court appearance, or a subsequent arrest while awaiting trial. The two legislators also sponsored S.6849, a full repeal of the law.

Public safety and keeping crime down are big issues for the two legislators, and for bi-partisan opposition to the current law from both Democrats and Republicans. Many groups connected to law enforcement have asked for the law to be amended.

More judicial discretion is necessary in order to protect the public. Judges should be allowed to hold offenders who pose a risk to the public.

Roy and Karen Harvey reported how United Nations Agenda 21 has filtered down to New York state via the New York Climate and Community Protection Act. A 2,000-acre industrial windmill solar farm has been created. Recently, windmills have been erected on Route 60 between Gerry and Cassadaga.

It’s an example of “putting in more money than ever will be recovered,” they said. The New York Democratic-controlled legislature ignores the overwhelming scientific evidence demonstrating that carbon dioxide is not harmful.