Minnesota politician shootings raise concerns in New York State

ALBANY — New York officials and former insiders —  stunned Saturday by the targeted shootings of state officials in Minnesota — said elected officials here are also vulnerable, with the danger and threats reaching new levels.

Threats have in recent years prompted the posting of local police at a politician's home and the temporarily relocation of the family of another, while others saw angry mobs post the home addresses of elected leaders online, political leaders told Newsday Saturday. 

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and a spokeswoman for Gov. Kathy Hochul said more security measures are underway.

"While there is no known credible threats to New York State, Governor Hochul directed the State Police to increase their presence at the State Capitol and to increase monitoring for any threats directed at government officials," Hochul spokeswoman Jessica D’Amelia said in a statement. "The State Police, Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, and our local law enforcement partners continue the heightened attention to the unprecedented levels of and rise in threats to government officials over the last couple of years.”

Minnesota Democratic former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were killed in their Brooklyn Park home. Sen. John Hoffman, also a Democrat, and his wife, Yvette, were injured at their Champlin address, about 9 miles away, The Associated Press reported.

Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins called the Minnesota shootings “abhorrent and terrifying.”

“Sadly, we’ve seen a rise in dangerous rhetoric that fuels division and encourages acts like this. It’s unacceptable and must stop,” she said in a statement to Newsday.

“Here in New York, threats against public officials have only increased,” said Stewart-Cousins, a Yonkers Democrat. “We work closely with the State Police and our Senate sergeant-at-arms to ensure safety, but the growing climate of hostility is a serious concern.”

Assemb. Charles Lavine (D-Glen Cove) said he and other New York legislators have over the years faced threats, raising concerns back home. He said the problem begins in Washington, where too many politicians have “acted as if they are professional wrestlers.”

"The more anger and hostility, the more we inspire those who are just not stable," he said in an interview. "And, given this anger, this confrontational attitude, and given the easy access to weapons in this country, it’s time for use to take a deep breath and reflect on what we need to do to protect all of us — each and every one of us.”

Assemb. Edward Ra (R-Garden City) says his colleagues have had police on Long Island stay in a legislator’s house, while another time a legislator’s family was moved to a secure location because of threats.

“This is just horrible and scary,” Ra said in an interview. The Minnesota case in which spouses also appear to have been targeted “is shocking and difficult to process.”

Two former state officials who have closely followed rising violence against public figures also point to the heated politics in recent years.

Susan Del Percio, a national political commentator who had worked for Republicans and Democrats in Albany, said more must be done to protect legislators and other state officials who don’t get the 24-hour, seven-days-a-week protection by state police provided to governors.

“We have to do more to protect our elected officials and the first thing our government — and we — can do is tone down rhetoric,” Del Percio told Newsday in an interview. "It doesn’t’ take legislation ... It’s not hard to do.”

Del Percio recalled working for an Albany official in the late 1990s who, because of credible threats, had to conduct a public hearing on taxi regulations wearing a bulletproof vest.

“We have excellent law enforcement agencies who have responded well, but it’s when you have the lone wolf that’s the concern,” she said.  “And they are usually driven by heated rhetoric.” 

A Democratic staffer in state government said three New York City Council members were threatened just last month, and the cases are under investigation. He spoke on the condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to comment on a pending investigation.

Michael Balboni has also seen the concern from both sides. He was a veteran Republican state senator from Long Island before he ran homeland security for former Democratic Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo. He now advises clients globally and provides commentary for national newscasts on security and related issues.

“Typically, legislators are not afforded anywhere near the security of a governor,” Balboni told Newsday in an interview. “Even statewide officials — the attorney general and the comptroller — have people to help with their detail, but they don’t have embedded security.”

“You can do a temporary ramp-up, but it’s all about intelligence,” Balboni said. “With 213 legislators, good luck ... It's incredibly difficult to protect elected officials."

 "It would be best for the country to tone down rhetoric,” Balboni said. 

Assembly Republican leader Will Barclay of Pulaski said the Minnesota tragedy should probably prompt a review of security in New York and the need to cool political attacks.

“I think it probably has ramped up over the last few years,” Barclay said in an interview.  “We have to take another look at this.” 

By Michael Gormley

michael.gormley@newsday.com@GormleyAlbany

Michael Gormley has worked for Newsday since 2013, covering state government, politics and issues. He has covered Albany since 2001.