Socialist Lawmaker Suggests Shoplifters Should Get Pass If They Steal For ‘Biological Need’
By Mark Tanos
A New York socialist lawmaker says people who swipe basic goods from stores shouldn’t face charges because they have a “biological need” for what they take.
State Assemblywoman Emily Gallagher made the argument Thursday at a news conference outside Manhattan Criminal Court, according to the New York Post. Gallagher is a Democrat who represents parts of northern Brooklyn. She told reporters that most theft cases she had reviewed involved essentials, and that arresting anyone over such items amounts to punishing poverty.
“Most of what we saw were crimes of poverty-people who are stealing things like toothpaste, people who were stealing things like, you know, soap. And that means if you’re stealing those things, you need them,” Gallagher said in a video posted on X. She added that the city protects “billion-dollar companies, like CVS and Walgreens” over struggling residents, and called it a “true crime” that people can be jailed “simply for having a biological need.” (RELATED: Democrats Want ID For Hot Pockets But Not For Voting?)
No one should be arrested—much less jailed—for stealing a tube of toothpaste.
Incarceration separates people from their jobs, support services, & loved ones. It perpetuates cycles of poverty & crime.
That’s a fact, no matter how much fear mongering the right wing media does. pic.twitter.com/WjyEPGIXqU
— Emily Gallagher (@EmilyAssembly) August 13, 2026
Gallagher joined other left-wing officials and advocates from Court Watch NYC at the event, the Post reported. The group said it tracked 360 arraignments across four days and found more than half involved misdemeanor charges. The officials pressed Mayor Zohran Mamdani to abandon “broken windows” enforcement targeting low-level offenses.
A member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), Gallagher wants to swap jail for treatment and has backed easing penalties on fare evasion and public urination, according to Todd Starnes. She shared the clip on her own X account, writing that no one should be arrested or jailed for taking toothpaste. Her district covers Williamsburg and Greenpoint. Retailers have locked merchandise behind plastic cases as Walgreens estimates roughly $250,000 in losses per store, Starnes reported.
Councilwoman Joann Ariola told the Post that lawmakers “now advocating for thievery is going to push even more of them to close shop.” Councilwoman Vickie Paladino wrote on X that officials like Gallagher “want to enable this very activity.”
A Manhattan Rite Aid closed in 2022 after experiencing $100,000 per month in losses due to theft. “They come in every day, sometimes twice a day, with laundry bags and just load up on stuff,” a store employee said.
In another city, rampant shoplifting caused enormous losses to a grocery store that served thousands of people, threatening to cause its closure.
Shoplifting causes price increases for law-abiding shoppers. Grocery stores aren’t the most lucrative industry. They have a profit margin of only one percent. So when stores lose merchandise due to shoplifting, they have no choice but to pass those costs on to consumers, by raising prices.
Shoplifting is often done to make money, not obtain food for personal consumption. As a former staffer of a progressive think-tank observed, “the shoplifting surge is not people feeding their starving families; packaged goods are getting stolen in bulk and resold on Facebook Marketplace and elsewhere.”
The Most Innovative Software for Content Creators https://streamtoearn.pages.dev
Stay Ahead of Cyber Threats with SolidHashs https://solidvault.pages.dev
I appreciate you sharing this blog post. Thanks Again. Cool.
Hi there, just became aware of your blog through Google, and found that it’s really informative. I’m gonna watch out for brussels. I will appreciate if you continue this in future. Numerous people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!
I’m impressed, I must say. Really not often do I encounter a weblog that’s both educative and entertaining, and let me let you know, you have hit the nail on the head. Your idea is outstanding; the difficulty is something that not sufficient people are speaking intelligently about. I’m very pleased that I stumbled throughout this in my seek for one thing referring to this.
Greetings! Very helpful advice on this article! It is the little changes that make the biggest changes. Thanks a lot for sharing!
of course like your web-site but you need to check the spelling on several of your posts. Several of them are rife with spelling problems and I to find it very bothersome to inform the truth on the other hand I will definitely come again again.
There are some interesting time limits in this article however I don’t know if I see all of them heart to heart. There may be some validity but I will take maintain opinion until I look into it further. Good article , thanks and we would like extra! Added to FeedBurner as well
Does your site have a contact page? I’m having trouble locating it but, I’d like to send you an e-mail. I’ve got some creative ideas for your blog you might be interested in hearing. Either way, great website and I look forward to seeing it grow over time.
I was examining some of your posts on this site and I think this web site is very instructive! Keep on putting up.
I reckon something genuinely special in this website .
You really make it seem so easy together with your presentation but I to find this topic to be really one thing which I think I might never understand. It sort of feels too complicated and extremely extensive for me. I am looking forward for your subsequent put up, I will try to get the grasp of it!
Good day! I know this is kinda off topic however I’d figured I’d ask. Would you be interested in trading links or maybe guest writing a blog post or vice-versa? My website discusses a lot of the same topics as yours and I feel we could greatly benefit from each other. If you’re interested feel free to send me an e-mail. I look forward to hearing from you! Fantastic blog by the way!
Merely wanna tell that this is very useful, Thanks for taking your time to write this.
WONDERFUL Post.thanks for share..more wait .. …
I have learn several good stuff here. Certainly value bookmarking for revisiting. I surprise how a lot attempt you set to create any such fantastic informative site.
I like what you guys are up also. Such smart work and reporting! Keep up the superb works guys I have incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it’ll improve the value of my web site 🙂
I enjoy what you guys are up too. Such clever work and exposure! Keep up the excellent works guys I’ve added you guys to blogroll.
Hey very cool site!! Man .. Beautiful .. Amazing .. I will bookmark your blog and take the feeds also…I am happy to find so many useful info here in the post, we need work out more strategies in this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .
I believe this website has some real great information for everyone. “Billy T-T-T-T-Today, Junior” by Billy Madison.
You have observed very interesting points! ps nice site.
I’ve recently started a blog, the info you offer on this website has helped me greatly. Thanks for all of your time & work. “If you see a snake, just kill it. Don’t appoint a committee on snakes.” by H. Ross Perot.
Hello there! Do you know if they make any plugins to safeguard against hackers? I’m kinda paranoid about losing everything I’ve worked hard on. Any tips?
I haven’t checked in here for a while because I thought it was getting boring, but the last several posts are good quality so I guess I will add you back to my everyday bloglist. You deserve it my friend 🙂
Hey There. I found your blog the usage of msn. This is a really well written article. I’ll make sure to bookmark it and return to read extra of your helpful info. Thank you for the post. I’ll definitely return.
I went over this site and I believe you have a lot of superb information, saved to fav (:.
I really enjoy examining on this site, it contains superb articles. “Something unpredictable but in the end it’s right, I hope you have the time of your life.” by Greenday.
I got good info from your blog
I think other site proprietors should take this site as an model, very clean and wonderful user genial style and design, let alone the content. You’re an expert in this topic!
Very nice info and right to the point. I don’t know if this is actually the best place to ask but do you guys have any thoughts on where to hire some professional writers? Thanks 🙂
Whats up very nice web site!! Man .. Beautiful .. Wonderful .. I will bookmark your web site and take the feeds additionally?KI’m glad to find numerous helpful info right here in the put up, we want develop more techniques in this regard, thank you for sharing. . . . . .
Just wish to say your article is as astounding. The clearness in your post is just excellent and i can assume you’re an expert on this subject. Fine with your permission allow me to grab your feed to keep up to date with forthcoming post. Thanks a million and please keep up the enjoyable work.
Hey! Do you know if they make any plugins to assist with SEO? I’m trying to get my blog to rank for some targeted keywords but I’m not seeing very good gains. If you know of any please share. Cheers!
Hello there! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a group of volunteers and starting a new initiative in a community in the same niche. Your blog provided us useful information to work on. You have done a outstanding job!
Just wanna input that you have a very nice website , I love the pattern it actually stands out.
Very interesting topic, appreciate it for putting up.
I think that is one of the most vital info for me. And i’m happy reading your article. But want to observation on few normal things, The web site style is wonderful, the articles is actually nice :D. Good job, cheers
Thankyou for all your efforts that you have put in this. very interesting info .
Lovely just what I was looking for.Thanks to the author for taking his clock time on this one.
The app interface is super smooth and the login process is a breeze. I really love how fast the games load. Definitely a great choice for anyone looking for a reliable platform. Check out 666jililoginapp
very nice put up, i definitely love this website, keep on it
I would like to thank you for the efforts you have put in writing this site. I am hoping the same high-grade web site post from you in the upcoming as well. Actually your creative writing abilities has encouraged me to get my own site now. Actually the blogging is spreading its wings quickly. Your write up is a great example of it.
I am delighted that I noticed this website, exactly the right information that I was looking for! .
Pretty! This was a really wonderful post. Thank you for your provided information.
There are some attention-grabbing cut-off dates on this article but I don’t know if I see all of them heart to heart. There may be some validity however I will take maintain opinion till I look into it further. Good article , thanks and we wish more! Added to FeedBurner as nicely
hey there and thank you for your information – I have certainly picked up anything new from right here. I did however expertise several technical points using this website, as I experienced to reload the website lots of times previous to I could get it to load properly. I had been wondering if your web host is OK? Not that I am complaining, but sluggish loading instances times will sometimes affect your placement in google and can damage your quality score if ads and marketing with Adwords. Anyway I am adding this RSS to my email and could look out for much more of your respective intriguing content. Make sure you update this again very soon..
Great wordpress blog here.. It’s hard to find quality writing like yours these days. I really appreciate people like you! take care
Very interesting info !Perfect just what I was looking for!
I will right away clutch your rss as I can’t find your e-mail subscription hyperlink or newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Please allow me recognize so that I may just subscribe. Thanks.
so much great info on here, :D.
I visited a lot of website but I think this one has something extra in it in it
I like what you guys are up too. Such clever work and reporting! Keep up the excellent works guys I have incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it’ll improve the value of my website :).
Keep working ,splendid job!
Thank you for the sensible critique. Me and my neighbor were just preparing to do a little research on this. We got a grab a book from our local library but I think I learned more clear from this post. I’m very glad to see such excellent info being shared freely out there.
I like this web site because so much utile material on here :D.
Hi there, I found your blog via Google while searching for a related topic, your web site came up, it looks good. I’ve bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
I think other site proprietors should take this site as an model, very clean and fantastic user genial style and design, as well as the content. You are an expert in this topic!
I’ve been browsing online more than three hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. It’s pretty worth enough for me. Personally, if all webmasters and bloggers made good content as you did, the net will be much more useful than ever before.
Some truly nice and useful information on this web site, too I believe the design and style has superb features.
I do not even know how I finished up right here, but I thought this publish was once great. I don’t understand who you are but definitely you are going to a well-known blogger when you are not already 😉 Cheers!
This is a very good tips especially to those new to blogosphere, brief and accurate information… Thanks for sharing this one. A must read article.
I cherished up to you will receive performed right here. The caricature is tasteful, your authored subject matter stylish. nonetheless, you command get got an edginess over that you would like be handing over the following. unwell for sure come more beforehand once more since precisely the similar just about very regularly within case you protect this increase.
I simply desired to appreciate you yet again. I’m not certain the things I might have used without those ideas shown by you relating to my industry. Completely was a very traumatic difficulty in my opinion, however , understanding your well-written approach you dealt with it forced me to leap over gladness. I’m grateful for the guidance and thus have high hopes you comprehend what a great job you have been providing teaching others through your webblog. I’m certain you’ve never got to know any of us.
Of course, what a magnificent website and enlightening posts, I surely will bookmark your website.Have an awsome day!
Rattling great info can be found on web site.
I wish to express thanks to this writer just for rescuing me from this crisis. After browsing throughout the the web and obtaining methods that were not productive, I thought my life was well over. Living without the approaches to the issues you have solved by way of your good article content is a critical case, as well as the kind which could have in a wrong way damaged my career if I had not noticed the website. Your main ability and kindness in taking care of a lot of things was crucial. I don’t know what I would have done if I had not encountered such a subject like this. It’s possible to at this moment relish my future. Thank you so much for this reliable and results-oriented guide. I will not think twice to endorse your web blog to any individual who should get guide about this matter.
Great blog here! Also your site loads up very fast! What web host are you using? Can I get your affiliate link to your host? I wish my site loaded up as fast as yours lol
Hey this is somewhat of off topic but I was wondering if blogs use WYSIWYG editors or if you have to manually code with HTML. I’m starting a blog soon but have no coding knowledge so I wanted to get advice from someone with experience. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
This web site is really a walk-through for all of the info you wanted about this and didn’t know who to ask. Glimpse here, and you’ll definitely discover it.
I have not checked in here for a while because I thought it was getting boring, but the last several posts are great quality so I guess I will add you back to my everyday bloglist. You deserve it my friend 🙂
I do agree with all of the ideas you have presented in your post. They’re very convincing and will certainly work. Still, the posts are very short for novices. Could you please extend them a bit from next time? Thanks for the post.
Whoa! This blog looks exactly like my old one! It’s on a completely different subject but it has pretty much the same page layout and design. Wonderful choice of colors!
I would like to thnkx for the efforts you have put in writing this blog. I am hoping the same high-grade blog post from you in the upcoming as well. In fact your creative writing abilities has inspired me to get my own blog now. Really the blogging is spreading its wings quickly. Your write up is a good example of it.
I have been exploring for a little for any high-quality articles or blog posts on this kind of area . Exploring in Yahoo I at last stumbled upon this site. Reading this information So i am happy to convey that I’ve a very good uncanny feeling I discovered exactly what I needed. I most certainly will make certain to do not forget this web site and give it a glance on a constant basis.
Excellent beat ! I would like to apprentice while you amend your web site, how could i subscribe for a blog site? The account helped me a acceptable deal. I had been a little bit acquainted of this your broadcast provided bright clear concept
I went over this website and I believe you have a lot of great info , saved to bookmarks (:.
Sweet site, super layout, really clean and utilise friendly.
Would love to always get updated outstanding blog! .
My spouse and I stumbled over here from a different web page and thought I should check things out. I like what I see so now i’m following you. Look forward to finding out about your web page yet again.
Good info. Lucky me I reach on your website by accident, I bookmarked it.
I do not even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was great. I do not know who you are but certainly you’re going to a famous blogger if you aren’t already 😉 Cheers!
I got good info from your blog
Magnificent beat ! I would like to apprentice while you amend your site, how could i subscribe for a weblog site? The account aided me a appropriate deal. I had been a little bit acquainted of this your broadcast offered bright transparent concept
I’ve learn several excellent stuff here. Certainly value bookmarking for revisiting. I surprise how much attempt you set to make any such excellent informative site.
Its like you read my mind! You seem to know a lot about this, like you wrote the book in it or something. I think that you can do with some pics to drive the message home a bit, but instead of that, this is wonderful blog. A fantastic read. I will definitely be back.
Hey very nice website!! Man .. Beautiful .. Amazing .. I will bookmark your site and take the feeds also…I’m happy to find numerous useful info here in the post, we need work out more strategies in this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .
You are my intake, I have few blogs and rarely run out from brand :). “Actions lie louder than words.” by Carolyn Wells.
Good write-up, I’m regular visitor of one’s site, maintain up the excellent operate, and It is going to be a regular visitor for a lengthy time.
I gotta bookmark this internet site it seems extremely helpful very useful
You could definitely see your expertise within the work you write. The world hopes for even more passionate writers like you who aren’t afraid to mention how they believe. All the time go after your heart. “The point of quotations is that one can use another’s words to be insulting.” by Amanda Cross.
Your home is valueble for me. Thanks!…
Admiring the hard work you put into your blog and detailed information you present. It’s awesome to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same unwanted rehashed information. Fantastic read! I’ve bookmarked your site and I’m adding your RSS feeds to my Google account.
Regards for helping out, superb info. “The laws of probability, so true in general, so fallacious in particular.” by Edward Gibbon.
An impressive share, I just given this onto a colleague who was doing a little analysis on this. And he in fact bought me breakfast because I found it for him.. smile. So let me reword that: Thnx for the treat! But yeah Thnkx for spending the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and love reading more on this topic. If possible, as you become expertise, would you mind updating your blog with more details? It is highly helpful for me. Big thumb up for this blog post!
I’ve read a few good stuff here. Definitely worth bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how much attempt you place to create the sort of wonderful informative web site.
Hello there, I discovered your blog by the use of Google even as searching for a similar subject, your site came up, it seems to be great. I’ve bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
I savour, cause I found exactly what I was having a look for. You have ended my four day long hunt! God Bless you man. Have a nice day. Bye
Thank you for the sensible critique. Me & my neighbor were just preparing to do a little research about this. We got a grab a book from our local library but I think I learned more clear from this post. I’m very glad to see such magnificent info being shared freely out there.
Whats up this is kinda of off topic but I was wondering if blogs use WYSIWYG editors or if you have to manually code with HTML. I’m starting a blog soon but have no coding know-how so I wanted to get advice from someone with experience. Any help would be enormously appreciated!
I got what you mean ,bookmarked, very decent site.
Hello there! Do you use Twitter? I’d like to follow you if that would be ok. I’m definitely enjoying your blog and look forward to new updates.
I like this website so much, saved to my bookmarks.
I like the helpful information you provide to your articles. I’ll bookmark your blog and check once more right here regularly. I’m fairly sure I will be informed a lot of new stuff proper here! Best of luck for the following!
I like this blog very much, Its a rattling nice billet to read and incur info . “There is no human problem which could not be solved if people would simply do as I advise.” by Gore Vidal.
Thank you for sharing excellent informations. Your web site is so cool. I’m impressed by the details that you’ve on this website. It reveals how nicely you understand this subject. Bookmarked this website page, will come back for more articles. You, my pal, ROCK! I found simply the information I already searched all over the place and simply couldn’t come across. What a great web site.
I got good info from your blog
What’s Happening i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I have found It positively helpful and it has helped me out loads. I hope to contribute & help other users like its helped me. Good job.
I’d constantly want to be update on new articles on this website , saved to fav! .