NYC Gazette

Rep. Ritchie Torres, currently serving in the U.S. Congress representing New York’s 15th district, has recently addressed pressing issues related to crime and systemic racism through a series of tweets. These posts highlight his concerns about public safety and racial justice in New York City.

On January 21, 2025, Rep. Torres emphasized the right of every New Yorker to live in a safe environment, stating that no mother should have to bury her child due to violence by repeat offenders. He expressed this sentiment in response to a preventable murder case: "Every New Yorker has a right to live in a New York where no mother has to bury her own child because he was stabbed to death by a violent repeat offender who should have never been allowed to roam the streets in the first place."

The following day, on January 22, 2025, Rep. Torres shared alarming statistics regarding recidivism rates for felony assault and other crimes over six years. He noted significant increases in re-offense rates for burglary and robbery as well: "In the span of six years, the number of felony assault re-offenders has risen by nearly 150%. In 2024, the number of burglary re-offenders rose by more than 60%; the number of robbery re-offenders, by more than 80%." He argued that such surges are not inevitable.

On January 23, 2025, Rep. Torres questioned why certain violent crimes against children of color do not receive as much attention as police misconduct cases. He cited an example involving Caleb Rijos and Waldo Mejia: "I find it inexplicable that the murder of children of color like Caleb Rijos at the hands of violent criminals like Waldo Mejia never seems to generate nearly as much attention and outrage as cases of police misconduct." He suggested that neglecting these communities could be seen as systemically racist.