Furious Bronx Representative Richie Torres criticized the administrations of Mayor Eric Adams and Governor Kathy Hochul as “complicit” in the killing of three innocent people by serial stabbing victim Ramon Rivera.
Torres said Rivera should never have been on the streets, but officers failed and fatally shot him. He demanded that those directly responsible should be dismissed.
“I am writing to express concern over the complicity of the state and the city in the murder of three New Yorkers who were brutally stabbed to death in a broad daylight massacre,” the Bronx Democrat said in a scathing letter. to both the mayor and the governor, obtained by The Post.
Torres, a moderate, has often been at odds with her party’s liberal wing amid criticisms of the Gaza War among left-leaning party members with her public safety stance and full support of Israel and Jewish residents in New York City. Growing anti-Semitism in the five cities.
Rivera, a 51-year-old homeless man, had a long rap sheet, but he remained free last week as he left a bloody trail across Manhattan, killing three people from Chelsea to the East River — after he turned himself in to police. Coldly told that he chose his victims because they were “lonely” and “distracted”, sources said.
The madman allegedly stabbed 36-year-old construction worker Angel Gustavo Lata-Landy to death in Chelsea on the morning of November 18, before killing 67-year-old fisherman Chang Wang near the East River, then near the United Nations. Wilma Augustin, 36, was stabbed to death. , according to the police.
Torres called the city’s Department of Corrections the “worst offender” for making “inexplicable and inexcusable decisions.” To release Rivera early from prison. – After serving only nine months of the 12-month sentence.
Torres said Rivera was released early for “good behavior” after assaulting a corrections officer because he was angry against revolving door justice in the state.
“The bureaucrats at the DOC who authorized Ramon’s early release should be fired. People who cannot be held accountable for public safety should no longer be employed by New Yorkers,” said Torres, who is eyeing a primary run for governor.
He said that if Rivera had been sentenced consecutively instead of concurrently or served his entire sentence for assaulting a law enforcement officer, “the three New Yorkers he murdered would still be alive.”
“These tragedies can be prevented, but neither the city nor the state has the political will to stop them, despite having the tools to do so,” the congressman said.
He said Hochul and fellow Democrats who run the state Senate and Assembly are a big part of the problem.
“The state has refused to give mayors the legal authority they need to stop dangerous people from roaming the streets,” Torres said. “The City refuses to hold DOC accountable for the early release of a dangerous felon who committed a stabbing.
He added, “The end result is inefficiency that is not only destructive but deadly to New Yorkers.” “There are mother and father; daughters and sons; Wives and husbands who no longer have loved ones because their government has fundamentally failed them.”
He said city and state officials should learn from this injustice and adopt policies that ban the early release of individuals who are a threat not only to themselves but also to the general public, such as those who assault a law enforcement officer. Or those who commit crimes while in custody.
“Common sense demands nothing less. … We live in a state and city where crime victims and their loved ones are the ones who suffer the consequences. Enough is enough,” Torres said in the letter.
Torres has recently stepped up his attacks on Hochul, calling him unpopular and “the new Joe Biden.” sensitive to loss If she seeks re-election and is the Democratic nominee in 2026, she will be elected as a Republican.
City Hall did not dispute Torres’ criticism and said it was investigating the circumstances surrounding Rivera’s release.
“Ramon Rivera’s ability to walk freely on our streets is troubling, which is why Mayor Adams was one of the first to publicly question it. A spokesperson for Adams said, the mayor has also been warning for years about criminals being released back onto the streets after being arrested by our police officers.
“We are in the process of reviewing this matter internally, and appreciate the partnership of members of Congress as we work to keep New York City safe for everyone,” the representative said.
Hochul’s office referred Rivera to The Post for comments he made last week about the stabbing incident.
“Should we do more? Yes, we need to do more. There’s no doubt about it,” Hochul said.
“And I want people to know that I will go back to the Legislature, I will go back with every tool in my kit to find ways to address this because this is not acceptable.
Meanwhile, 11 federal, state and city legislators representing Manhattan sent their own letter of outrage on November 21 to Department of Corrections Commissioner Lynnelle Maginley-Liddy, Department of Homeless Services Commissioner Molly Wasow Park and Health+Hospitals President and CEO Michelle Katz. Gave the letter.
They called for an investigation into the mistakes that led Rivera back to the streets to kill.
“They were abandoned to the public without adequate care or oversight,” said the letter, signed by Councilman Keith Powers, Borough President Mark Levin and Congressman Jerrold Nadler, among others.
“All accounts indicate that Mr. Rivera’s case is a serious indictment of the failures of the criminal justice and mental health systems in New York City,” the letter said. “The murders he committed could have been prevented.”
He sought answers as to what information was communicated between the agencies and who made the call for his early release. Authorities asked whether that decision took into account Rivera’s attack in Bellevue.
“Did Rivera receive adequate mental health services upon release from Rikers Island, including the Law of Supportive Outpatient Treatment Planning Center and discharge planning services?” He asked.
The angry officers also asked about Rivera’s history during his stay at the 30th Street Men’s Shelter and whether he had experienced a mental health crisis.
Other signatories include state senators Liz Krueger, Brad Hoylman-Sigel and Kristen Gonzalez; Assembly members Harvey Epstein, Tony Simon and Alex Bors; and council members Eric Bottcher and Carlina Rivera.
(Tags to translate) Metro (T) US News (T) Politics (T) City Council (T) Eric Adams (T) Jerrold Nadler (T) Kathy Hochul (T) Manhattan (T) New York State Assembly (T) New York State Senate(T) Richie Torres(T) Stabbing
