In a fiery statement that has ignited widespread debate, Councilwoman Vickie Paladino has sharply criticized a New York City Assistant District Attorney (ADA) for decisions she claims prioritize criminals over public safety.

The councilwoman expressed outrage over recent high-profile cases, drawing attention to what she described as the systemic failures of the city’s justice system.

“So a degenerate commits murder in service of an armed robbery against a defenseless elderly man, and this piece of human garbage ADA intervenes in the case and makes sure A MURDERER gets back out on the street because of his sad life story,” Paladino wrote.

She linked the ADA’s alleged leniency to the prosecution of Daniel Penny, a Marine charged in the death of Jordan Neely, a homeless man with a history of mental illness and violent behavior. Neely, who had multiple prior arrests and an outstanding warrant, was subdued by Penny during a subway altercation that turned deadly. Penny’s supporters argue that his actions were a bid to protect commuters from harm.

“This is who is prosecuting Daniel Penny — a good man, a Marine, a productive citizen with a life and a future, for the ‘crime’ of protecting a train full of people from a violent deranged criminal with multiple arrests for assault on the subway, who broke an elderly woman’s jaw, who STILL had an outstanding warrant,” Paladino stated.

The councilwoman further condemned what she perceives as a lenient judicial philosophy, which she believes has contributed to rising crime and deteriorating public safety in the city.

“Then we wonder why the city is a disaster. This is why. This is who we blame. Her and everyone who thinks, speaks, and acts like her. This right here is our agent of destruction, the enemy of civilization and all that we’ve built, and she’s damn proud of herself for it,” she wrote, concluding with a warning: “Consequences must meet these people.”

Paladino’s remarks have sparked polarized reactions, with some praising her for addressing public frustration over crime, while others criticized her language and approach as inflammatory. The debate underscores the broader struggle in New York City over balancing justice reform with public safety concerns.