As New York City begins 2023 crime is still soaring over 2022 levels, which was at all-time highs.

Robberies and burglaries rose 9.4% and 5.5%, respectively, for an overall 3.4% increase in 2023 year-to-date major crimes, according to NYPD statistics.

This reality comes after Mayor Eric Adams said, “We’re leaving 2022 with crime…trending downward,” he said during a Jan. 5 news conference.

A major factor factor behind these rising numbers has to be laid at the feet of Gov. Kathy Hochul for her inability to amend New York’s bail reform laws.

New York’s controversial, 2019 bail reform law generally prohibits judges from setting bail in cases involving non-violent felonies and misdemeanors such as shoplifting.

Recidivism has been cited by many law enforcement officials as well as Mayor Adams for the soaring crime statistics.

According to an NYPD official last month there are 327 thieves who accounted for 30% of the Big Apple’s 22,000 shoplifting arrests last year.

Another statistic shows these alleged recidivists got busted a total of about 6,600 times — for an average of more than 20 times each. Since none of these crooks were held for their crime and were released with no bail, the court system allowed them to continue their crime wave.

The quality of life in the city is suffering greatly with many areas of the city seeing local pharmacies and food stores closing because of rampant shoplifting.

What are the ramifications for people when they now have to travel longer distances to get the medical prescriptions they need on a daily basis?

How productive can your day be, if you need the one clerk in the store to unlock many of the products you need?