De Blasio gets policing advice — from ex-cons

De Blasio gets policing advice — from ex-cons

By Frank Rosario and Natalie O'Neill

November 21, 2013 | 8:27pm

http://nypost.com/2013/11/21/de-blasio-hearing-plenty-of-policing-advice-from-ex-cons

Forget Ray Kelly, Bill de Blasio is getting his policing advice from the real experts — hardened criminals.

A group of 50 ex-cons, junkies and chronic vagrants gathered at a Manhattan “Think Tank” Thursday to describe what they thought the NYPD should be doing to make their lives easier.

The felonious forum outlined a clear “get-soft-on-crime” vision.

“I like the idea of ending stop and frisk. That was the first thing that was totally there for me,” opined Mikell Green-Grand, a 49-year-old former jailbird who has convictions for grand larceny and identity theft.

Arthur Castillo, 38 — who has been convicted for possessing stolen property and assault — said he would be much obliged if the cops just left him alone to do his thing.

“Cops won’t leave us alone!” he said. “Newly released prisoners are watched by the police and a lot of us don’t feel we have an opportunity to readapt to normal life because we are treated as criminals even though we are free.”

The event, which was held in Morningside Heights, was hosted by an advisory group called Talking Transitions, run by liberal billionaire investment magnate George Soros.

The goal was to offer de Blasio tips on “policing, corrections, parole policies and more.”

Since Talking Transitions is actually advising de Blasio during his preparations for assuming office, the opinions posited by the panel of crooks and deadbeats will be relayed to him and could have real policy effects.

“Bloomberg forgot about all of us. I’m hoping DeBlasio remembers us,” said Gregorio “Koko” Cruz, 63, who was convicted of first degree manslaughter, robbery, kidnapping and criminal possession of a weapon.

“After 12 years of Bloomberg, it’s time for a change,” the thief Green-Grand added.

Castillo, of Bayside, Queens, called for de Blasio to both “redistribute” the wealth and pay what is, in effect, protection money.

“A lot of money is spent on the prison system — it should be used to cultivate prisoners lives,” he opined. “The money should be redistributed to help those who want to change while they are incarcerated.”

Other ex-cons suggested that de Blasio make the city easier for illegal immigrants to find work.

“Currently, our policies with foreigners coming in here is a problem,” said ex-con Michael Francis.

A day before the convicts talked policy uptown, De Blasio toured Talking Transitions SoHo headquarters.

The group says it is “an open conversation about the future of New York City…to help shape the transition to a new mayor.”

De Blasio didn’t appear at the event, but he will be brought up to speed by reps from the organization, who partnered with The Fortune Society, which helps prisoners transition into the real world after release.

Bloomberg

Michael R. Bloomberg is the New York (NY) mayor, a friend of Henry A. Kissinger, was a benefactor for the Harlem Children's Zone, and a donor for the Robin Hood Foundation.

Note: Bill de Blasio is the mayor-elect for New York (NY), and was the 2013 Bill de Blasio (NYC) mayoral campaign candidate.

George Soros was a benefactor for the Harlem Children's Zone, and is the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Harlem Children's Zone, the International Rescue Committee, the Robin Hood Foundation, the New America Foundation, the Hudson Institute (think tank), and the Aspen Institute (think tank).

Maurice R. Greenberg was a benefactor for the Harlem Children's Zone, is an overseer at International Rescue Committee, and a trustee at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research (think tank).

Clifford S. Asness is a director at the International Rescue Committee, a trustee at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research (think tank), was a leadership council member for the Robin Hood Foundation, and supported same-sex marriage in New York.

Daniel S. Loeb supported same-sex marriage in New York, and is a trustee at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research (think tank).

Ravenel Boykin Curry IV is a director at the New America Foundation, and a trustee at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research (think tank).

Herbert I. London is the president emeritus for the Hudson Institute (think tank), a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research (think tank), and was a 1989 Herb London (New York) mayoral campaign candidate.

Charles H. Brunie is a trustee emeritus at the Hudson Institute (think tank), and was the chairman for the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research (think tank).  

Robert Skidelsky was a trustee at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research (think tank), and is a member of the House of Lords.

Charles D. Powell is a member of the House of Lords, and a trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank).

Henry A. Kissinger was a lifetime trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank), is a friend of Michael R. Bloomberg, a director at the American Friends of Bilderberg (think tank), and a 2008 Bilderberg conference participant (think tank).

Michael R. Bloomberg is a friend of Henry A. Kissinger, the New York (NY) mayor, Martin J. Geller is his accountant, and the founder of Bloomberg LP.

Martin J. Geller is Michael R. Bloomberg’s accountant, and a director at the New York Police & Fire Widows' & Children's Benefit Fund.

Edward Skyler was the deputy mayor for New York (NY), the press aide for Bloomberg LP, and is a director at the New York Police & Fire Widows' & Children's Benefit Fund.