Blakeman promises parole board overhaul, blames Hochul for recent killings
GOP gubernatorial hopeful Bruce Blakeman said he will replace every parole board member, blaming Governor Kathy Hochul for the release of Jesus Acosta, who allegedly killed two people in a two-day robbery spree.
Bruce Blakeman, the Nassau County executive and Republican candidate for governor, condemned Governor Kathy Hochul for allowing Jesus Acosta to be released by the state parole board in April, after he served ten years for felony assault. Acosta is now charged with the stabbing death of MD Yousuf at a Brownsville pizza shop and the shooting death of Tayvon Shuler during a Bronx robbery, crimes that occurred within 48 hours.
Blakeman announced his intention to demand the resignation of all current parole board members and to appoint new members who put community safety first. He highlighted additional recent violent episodes, such as the stabbing of Bank of America executive Erin Piacenti in Times Square, to argue that current policies endanger residents. The NYPD has apprehended Acosta, who now faces a possible life sentence without parole. Blakeman framed these events as evidence of a broader failure in New York’s criminal-justice system under Hochul’s leadership.
Why it matters
The claim links parole decisions to recent murders, influencing public debate on criminal-justice reform and upcoming elections.
In this story
