{"id":2338,"date":"2026-08-16T19:07:54","date_gmt":"2026-08-16T19:07:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=2338"},"modified":"2026-08-16T19:07:54","modified_gmt":"2026-08-16T19:07:54","slug":"socialist-lawmaker-says-shoplifting-is-a-biological-need","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=2338","title":{"rendered":"Socialist Lawmaker Says Shoplifting Is A \u2018Biological Need\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A socialist member of the New York state Assembly said Thursday that people who steal basic necessities such as toothpaste and soap should not be arrested, arguing that prosecuting such theft punishes people for having a \u201cbiological need.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more Hakeem Jeffries: \u2018I Do Not Support The DSA Agenda\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n

Assemblywoman Emily Gallagher, who represents Greenpoint, Williamsburg and neighboring sections of northern Brooklyn, made the remarks outside Manhattan Criminal Court alongside fellow leftist officials and criminal justice advocates with Court Watch NYC. The group said it monitored 360 arraignments over four days and found more than half involved misdemeanor charges.<\/p>\n

\n

No one should be arrested\u2014much less jailed\u2014for stealing a tube of toothpaste.<\/p>\n

Incarceration separates people from their jobs, support services, & loved ones. It perpetuates cycles of poverty & crime.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s a fact, no matter how much fear mongering the right wing media does. pic.twitter.com\/WjyEPGIXqU<\/p>\n

\u2014 Emily Gallagher (@EmilyAssembly) August 13, 2026<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u201cMost of what we saw were crimes of poverty \u2014 people who are stealing things like toothpaste, people who were stealing things like, you know, soap,\u201d Gallagher said. \u201cAnd that means if you\u2019re stealing those things, you need them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Gallagher then criticized the prosecution of shoplifting offenses involving major retailers. \u201cAnd we are choosing to protect billion-dollar companies, like CVS and Walgreens, over the people who are struggling to get by,\u201d she said. \u201cSo I would say that the true crime is that there is such incredible wealth disparity in this city that there are people who can be thrown in jail simply for having a biological need.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The comments came as Gallagher and other advocates accused New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani of failing to deliver on his promise to redirect the NYPD away from so-called \u201cquality of life\u201d offenses, including low-level theft, fare evasion, graffiti and public urination. The department has continued that enforcement under NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, whom Mamdani retained from former Mayor Eric Adams\u2019 administration.<\/p>\n

The group specifically criticized the continued use of \u201cbroken windows\u201d policing, which focuses on enforcing lower-level offenses in an effort to prevent more serious crime. \u201cMayor Mamdani was elected on a promise of making New York a livable city for all \u2014 ending the criminalization of poverty, mental health, substance use and homelessness,\u201d Sami Feliz of Freedom Agenda said at the event. Asked by ABC7 whether Tisch was carrying out his vision for policing, Mamdani said he was confident in her: \u201cI would not have someone serving our city if I was not confident in what they were doing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more Hurricane Lala Kills One, Rips Homes Off Their Foundations In Hawaii<\/a><\/p>\n

Gallagher\u2019s claim that New Yorkers are jailed over items like toothpaste is not supported by state law. Petit larceny \u2014 the charge covering thefts under $1,000 \u2014 is a non-qualifying offense under New York\u2019s 2019 bail reform, meaning judges are barred from setting bail and must release defendants pending trial. First-time shoplifting arrests in the city are typically resolved with a desk appearance ticket and, in many cases, an adjournment in contemplation of dismissal that wipes that charge. Retailers, meanwhile, have increasingly moved toothpaste, soap and other personal-care items behind locked cases in high-theft stores.<\/p>\n

Former NYPD Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce pushed back against calls to stop enforcing low-level offenses, particularly against repeat offenders. \u201cReally, you have to go make those arrests,\u201d Boyce told ABC7. \u201cOtherwise, you\u2019d have chaos on the street.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Critics also warned that easing enforcement could reverse recent gains. NYPD data through August 9 showed retail theft down 14.7% and petit larceny down 5.4% compared with the same period last year, according to the New York Post.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople like Emily Gallagher try to obfuscate reality because they want to enable this very activity,\u201d New York City Councilwoman Vickie Paladino, a Republican, wrote on <\/span>X<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Former Queens Councilman Robert Holden, a Democrat, called Gallagher \u201ca major dope\u201d in response to her comments.<\/p>\n

Councilwoman Joann Ariola, a Republican representing Queens, said businesses already struggling with high operating costs could be pushed further toward closure if theft is effectively tolerated. \u201cThis is the kind of backwards, left-wing lunacy I would expect from someone who values the rights of criminals more than those of business owners,\u201d Ariola told the Post.<\/span><\/p>\n

Gallagher defended the remarks on X the same day, writing that \u201cno one should be arrested\u2014much less jailed\u2014for stealing a tube of toothpaste\u201d and accusing conservative outlets of fear-mongering.<\/p>\n

Read more \u2018Abolish ICE\u2019 Is Now Official DNC Policy<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A socialist member of the New York state Assembly said Thursday that people who steal basic necessities such as toothpaste and soap should not be arrested, arguing that prosecuting such theft punishes people for having a \u201cbiological need.\u201dAssemblywoman Emily Gallagher, who represents Greenpoint, Williamsburg and neighboring sections of northern Brooklyn, made the remarks outside Manhattan Criminal Court alongside fellow leftist officials and criminal justice advocates with Court Watch NYC. The group said it monitored 360 arraignments over four days and found more than half involved misdemeanor charges.No one should be arrested\u2014much less jailed\u2014for stealing a tube of toothpaste.Incarceration separates people from their jobs, support services, & loved ones. It perpetuates cycles of poverty & crime.That\u2019s a fact, no matter how much fear mongering the right wing media does. pic.twitter.com\/WjyEPGIXqU\u2014 Emily Gallagher (@EmilyAssembly) August 13, 2026\u201cMost of what we saw were crimes of poverty \u2014 people who are stealing things like toothpaste, people who were stealing things like, you know, soap,\u201d Gallagher said. \u201cAnd that means if you\u2019re stealing those things, you need them.\u201dGallagher then criticized the prosecution of shoplifting offenses involving major retailers. \u201cAnd we are choosing to protect billion-dollar companies, like CVS and Walgreens, over the people who are struggling to get by,\u201d she said. \u201cSo I would say that the true crime is that there is such incredible wealth disparity in this city that there are people who can be thrown in jail simply for having a biological need.\u201dThe comments came as Gallagher and other advocates accused New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani of failing to deliver on his promise to redirect the NYPD away from so-called \u201cquality of life\u201d offenses, including low-level theft, fare evasion, graffiti and public urination. The department has continued that enforcement under NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, whom Mamdani retained from former Mayor Eric Adams\u2019 administration.The group specifically criticized the continued use of \u201cbroken windows\u201d policing, which focuses on enforcing lower-level offenses in an effort to prevent more serious crime. \u201cMayor Mamdani was elected on a promise of making New York a livable city for all \u2014 ending the criminalization of poverty, mental health, substance use and homelessness,\u201d Sami Feliz of Freedom Agenda said at the event. Asked by ABC7 whether Tisch was carrying out his vision for policing, Mamdani said he was confident in her: \u201cI would not have someone serving our city if I was not confident in what they were doing.\u201dGallagher\u2019s claim that New Yorkers are jailed over items like toothpaste is not supported by state law. Petit larceny \u2014 the charge covering thefts under $1,000 \u2014 is a non-qualifying offense under New York\u2019s 2019 bail reform, meaning judges are barred from setting bail and must release defendants pending trial. First-time shoplifting arrests in the city are typically resolved with a desk appearance ticket and, in many cases, an adjournment in contemplation of dismissal that wipes that charge. Retailers, meanwhile, have increasingly moved toothpaste, soap and other personal-care items behind locked cases in high-theft stores.Former NYPD Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce pushed back against calls to stop enforcing low-level offenses, particularly against repeat offenders. \u201cReally, you have to go make those arrests,\u201d Boyce told ABC7. \u201cOtherwise, you\u2019d have chaos on the street.\u201dCritics also warned that easing enforcement could reverse recent gains. NYPD data through August 9 showed retail theft down 14.7% and petit larceny down 5.4% compared with the same period last year, according to the New York Post.\u201cPeople like Emily Gallagher try to obfuscate reality because they want to enable this very activity,\u201d New York City Councilwoman Vickie Paladino, a Republican, wrote on X.Former Queens Councilman Robert Holden, a Democrat, called Gallagher \u201ca major dope\u201d in response to her comments.Councilwoman Joann Ariola, a Republican representing Queens, said businesses already struggling with high operating costs could be pushed further toward closure if theft is effectively tolerated. \u201cThis is the kind of backwards, left-wing lunacy I would expect from someone who values the rights of criminals more than those of business owners,\u201d Ariola told the Post.Gallagher defended the remarks on X the same day, writing that \u201cno one should be arrested\u2014much less jailed\u2014for stealing a tube of toothpaste\u201d and accusing conservative outlets of fear-mongering.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2337,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2338","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-2"],"yoast_head":"\nSocialist Lawmaker Says Shoplifting Is A \u2018Biological Need\u2019 - Blue Route Journal<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=2338\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Socialist Lawmaker Says Shoplifting Is A \u2018Biological Need\u2019 - Blue Route Journal\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"A socialist member of the New York state Assembly said Thursday that people who steal basic necessities such as toothpaste and soap should not be arrested, arguing that prosecuting such theft punishes people for having a \u201cbiological need.\u201dAssemblywoman Emily Gallagher, who represents Greenpoint, Williamsburg and neighboring sections of northern Brooklyn, made the remarks outside Manhattan Criminal Court alongside fellow leftist officials and criminal justice advocates with Court Watch NYC. The group said it monitored 360 arraignments over four days and found more than half involved misdemeanor charges.No one should be arrested\u2014much less jailed\u2014for stealing a tube of toothpaste.Incarceration separates people from their jobs, support services, & loved ones. It perpetuates cycles of poverty & crime.That\u2019s a fact, no matter how much fear mongering the right wing media does. pic.twitter.com\/WjyEPGIXqU\u2014 Emily Gallagher (@EmilyAssembly) August 13, 2026\u201cMost of what we saw were crimes of poverty \u2014 people who are stealing things like toothpaste, people who were stealing things like, you know, soap,\u201d Gallagher said. \u201cAnd that means if you\u2019re stealing those things, you need them.\u201dGallagher then criticized the prosecution of shoplifting offenses involving major retailers. \u201cAnd we are choosing to protect billion-dollar companies, like CVS and Walgreens, over the people who are struggling to get by,\u201d she said. \u201cSo I would say that the true crime is that there is such incredible wealth disparity in this city that there are people who can be thrown in jail simply for having a biological need.\u201dThe comments came as Gallagher and other advocates accused New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani of failing to deliver on his promise to redirect the NYPD away from so-called \u201cquality of life\u201d offenses, including low-level theft, fare evasion, graffiti and public urination. The department has continued that enforcement under NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, whom Mamdani retained from former Mayor Eric Adams\u2019 administration.The group specifically criticized the continued use of \u201cbroken windows\u201d policing, which focuses on enforcing lower-level offenses in an effort to prevent more serious crime. \u201cMayor Mamdani was elected on a promise of making New York a livable city for all \u2014 ending the criminalization of poverty, mental health, substance use and homelessness,\u201d Sami Feliz of Freedom Agenda said at the event. Asked by ABC7 whether Tisch was carrying out his vision for policing, Mamdani said he was confident in her: \u201cI would not have someone serving our city if I was not confident in what they were doing.\u201dGallagher\u2019s claim that New Yorkers are jailed over items like toothpaste is not supported by state law. Petit larceny \u2014 the charge covering thefts under $1,000 \u2014 is a non-qualifying offense under New York\u2019s 2019 bail reform, meaning judges are barred from setting bail and must release defendants pending trial. First-time shoplifting arrests in the city are typically resolved with a desk appearance ticket and, in many cases, an adjournment in contemplation of dismissal that wipes that charge. Retailers, meanwhile, have increasingly moved toothpaste, soap and other personal-care items behind locked cases in high-theft stores.Former NYPD Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce pushed back against calls to stop enforcing low-level offenses, particularly against repeat offenders. \u201cReally, you have to go make those arrests,\u201d Boyce told ABC7. \u201cOtherwise, you\u2019d have chaos on the street.\u201dCritics also warned that easing enforcement could reverse recent gains. NYPD data through August 9 showed retail theft down 14.7% and petit larceny down 5.4% compared with the same period last year, according to the New York Post.\u201cPeople like Emily Gallagher try to obfuscate reality because they want to enable this very activity,\u201d New York City Councilwoman Vickie Paladino, a Republican, wrote on X.Former Queens Councilman Robert Holden, a Democrat, called Gallagher \u201ca major dope\u201d in response to her comments.Councilwoman Joann Ariola, a Republican representing Queens, said businesses already struggling with high operating costs could be pushed further toward closure if theft is effectively tolerated. \u201cThis is the kind of backwards, left-wing lunacy I would expect from someone who values the rights of criminals more than those of business owners,\u201d Ariola told the Post.Gallagher defended the remarks on X the same day, writing that \u201cno one should be arrested\u2014much less jailed\u2014for stealing a tube of toothpaste\u201d and accusing conservative outlets of fear-mongering.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=2338\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Blue Route Journal\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-08-16T19:07:54+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=2338#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=2338\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"admin\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/19da116f8d79cf8987781569801c6b7c\"},\"headline\":\"Socialist Lawmaker Says Shoplifting Is A \u2018Biological Need\u2019\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-08-16T19:07:54+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=2338\"},\"wordCount\":748,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=2338#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/0bfe899e02da4b51173352c0bf75d934.avif\",\"articleSection\":[\"News\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=2338#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=2338\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blueroutejournal.com\\\/?p=2338\",\"name\":\"Socialist Lawmaker Says Shoplifting Is A \u2018Biological Need\u2019 - 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Blue Route Journal","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=2338","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Socialist Lawmaker Says Shoplifting Is A \u2018Biological Need\u2019 - Blue Route Journal","og_description":"A socialist member of the New York state Assembly said Thursday that people who steal basic necessities such as toothpaste and soap should not be arrested, arguing that prosecuting such theft punishes people for having a \u201cbiological need.\u201dAssemblywoman Emily Gallagher, who represents Greenpoint, Williamsburg and neighboring sections of northern Brooklyn, made the remarks outside Manhattan Criminal Court alongside fellow leftist officials and criminal justice advocates with Court Watch NYC. The group said it monitored 360 arraignments over four days and found more than half involved misdemeanor charges.No one should be arrested\u2014much less jailed\u2014for stealing a tube of toothpaste.Incarceration separates people from their jobs, support services, & loved ones. It perpetuates cycles of poverty & crime.That\u2019s a fact, no matter how much fear mongering the right wing media does. pic.twitter.com\/WjyEPGIXqU\u2014 Emily Gallagher (@EmilyAssembly) August 13, 2026\u201cMost of what we saw were crimes of poverty \u2014 people who are stealing things like toothpaste, people who were stealing things like, you know, soap,\u201d Gallagher said. \u201cAnd that means if you\u2019re stealing those things, you need them.\u201dGallagher then criticized the prosecution of shoplifting offenses involving major retailers. \u201cAnd we are choosing to protect billion-dollar companies, like CVS and Walgreens, over the people who are struggling to get by,\u201d she said. \u201cSo I would say that the true crime is that there is such incredible wealth disparity in this city that there are people who can be thrown in jail simply for having a biological need.\u201dThe comments came as Gallagher and other advocates accused New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani of failing to deliver on his promise to redirect the NYPD away from so-called \u201cquality of life\u201d offenses, including low-level theft, fare evasion, graffiti and public urination. The department has continued that enforcement under NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, whom Mamdani retained from former Mayor Eric Adams\u2019 administration.The group specifically criticized the continued use of \u201cbroken windows\u201d policing, which focuses on enforcing lower-level offenses in an effort to prevent more serious crime. \u201cMayor Mamdani was elected on a promise of making New York a livable city for all \u2014 ending the criminalization of poverty, mental health, substance use and homelessness,\u201d Sami Feliz of Freedom Agenda said at the event. Asked by ABC7 whether Tisch was carrying out his vision for policing, Mamdani said he was confident in her: \u201cI would not have someone serving our city if I was not confident in what they were doing.\u201dGallagher\u2019s claim that New Yorkers are jailed over items like toothpaste is not supported by state law. Petit larceny \u2014 the charge covering thefts under $1,000 \u2014 is a non-qualifying offense under New York\u2019s 2019 bail reform, meaning judges are barred from setting bail and must release defendants pending trial. First-time shoplifting arrests in the city are typically resolved with a desk appearance ticket and, in many cases, an adjournment in contemplation of dismissal that wipes that charge. Retailers, meanwhile, have increasingly moved toothpaste, soap and other personal-care items behind locked cases in high-theft stores.Former NYPD Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce pushed back against calls to stop enforcing low-level offenses, particularly against repeat offenders. \u201cReally, you have to go make those arrests,\u201d Boyce told ABC7. \u201cOtherwise, you\u2019d have chaos on the street.\u201dCritics also warned that easing enforcement could reverse recent gains. NYPD data through August 9 showed retail theft down 14.7% and petit larceny down 5.4% compared with the same period last year, according to the New York Post.\u201cPeople like Emily Gallagher try to obfuscate reality because they want to enable this very activity,\u201d New York City Councilwoman Vickie Paladino, a Republican, wrote on X.Former Queens Councilman Robert Holden, a Democrat, called Gallagher \u201ca major dope\u201d in response to her comments.Councilwoman Joann Ariola, a Republican representing Queens, said businesses already struggling with high operating costs could be pushed further toward closure if theft is effectively tolerated. \u201cThis is the kind of backwards, left-wing lunacy I would expect from someone who values the rights of criminals more than those of business owners,\u201d Ariola told the Post.Gallagher defended the remarks on X the same day, writing that \u201cno one should be arrested\u2014much less jailed\u2014for stealing a tube of toothpaste\u201d and accusing conservative outlets of fear-mongering.","og_url":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=2338","og_site_name":"Blue Route Journal","article_published_time":"2026-08-16T19:07:54+00:00","author":"admin","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"admin","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=2338#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=2338"},"author":{"name":"admin","@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/#\/schema\/person\/19da116f8d79cf8987781569801c6b7c"},"headline":"Socialist Lawmaker Says Shoplifting Is A \u2018Biological Need\u2019","datePublished":"2026-08-16T19:07:54+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=2338"},"wordCount":748,"commentCount":0,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=2338#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/0bfe899e02da4b51173352c0bf75d934.avif","articleSection":["News"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=2338#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=2338","url":"https:\/\/blueroutejournal.com\/?p=2338","name":"Socialist Lawmaker Says Shoplifting Is A \u2018Biological Need\u2019 - 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