Assemblyman Dan Stec, R-Queensbury, voiced his opposition of a plan announced this week by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio to release roughly 900 inmates early, ahead of bail reform changes that will take effect Jan. 1.

De Blasio announced that in an effort to entice the newly-released criminals to show back up for their court date, he would be conducting a program with taxpayer dollars which would reward those who return to court with baseball tickets, movie passes and gift cards. Gov. Cuomo claims he was not aware of the plan.

Stec has spoken out about what he calls the governor and state Democrat’s pro-criminal, soft-on-crime agenda. Over the years, this has included issuing electronic tablets to inmates as well as proposals for free college, inmate worker pay raises and legislation that would restore their right to vote while incarcerated.

“Where does it end? Democratic leadership in New York has put criminals on a pedestal while slapping law-abiding citizens and victims over and over again,” Stec said. “Now they want to use taxpayer dollars to get criminals to show up for their court dates after they release them early? They have gone too far. This is an abuse of taxpayer money and resources and an insult to law-abiding residents. I strongly urge the governor and Mayor de Blasio to reconsider their stance on this program. This is not only a public safety issue but a waste of taxpayer dollars.”