A New York socialist lawmaker wants thieves to walk free because stealing toothpaste is apparently a human right now.
State Assemblywoman Emily Gallagher dropped this jaw-dropping take at a press event outside Manhattan Criminal Court, according to reports. The Brooklyn Democrat, who represents Williamsburg and Greenpoint, told reporters that most theft cases she reviewed involved people swiping what she considers essential products. Soap. Toothpaste. You know, the stuff that apparently gives you a constitutional right to five-finger discounts.
Gallagher actually stood there with a straight face and called it a "biological need." She argued that locking people up over stolen hygiene products amounts to criminalizing poverty. In a video clip posted to X, she complained that the city prioritizes protecting "billion-dollar companies, like CVS and Walgreens" over financially struggling residents. She even called incarceration over petty theft a "true crime." The irony of using that phrase while defending actual crime is absolutely delicious.
But wait, it gets better. Gallagher proudly shared the video on her own social media, writing that nobody deserves arrest or jail time for pocketing toothpaste. She added that locking people up tears them away from jobs, support services, and family. A member of the Democratic Socialists of America, she also advocates for lighter penalties on fare evasion and public urination. So basically, steal what you want, ride the subway for free, and relieve yourself wherever you please. What a platform.
Gallagher appeared alongside other progressive officials and Court Watch NYC advocates. That organization tracked 360 arraignments across four days and discovered more than half involved misdemeanor charges. The group joined officials in pressuring Mayor Zohran Mamdani to ditch "broken windows" policing that goes after low-level offenses.
Here is where things get interesting, though. Retail theft actually dropped 15.3% during the first seven months of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025. Every single borough saw the decline, and the city is on pace for its safest year ever recorded. So the current approach seems to be working, and Gallagher wants to scrap it. Classic.
Meanwhile, retailers are not exactly celebrating. Stores keep locking more merchandise behind plastic barriers. Walgreens reported losing a staggering $250,000 per location to theft. That is a quarter million dollars vanishing from each store, and someone thinks the answer is to stop arresting people.
Councilwoman Joann Ariola fired back, telling the New York Post that politicians "now advocating for thievery" will drive even more businesses to shut their doors. She noted that small community-owned grocers would suffer the most. Councilwoman Vickie Paladino also blasted Gallagher on X, accusing radical progressive officials of wanting to "enable this very activity."
So there you have it. In the wild world of New York politics, one lawmaker genuinely believes stealing soap is basically the same as breathing. Retailers, small business owners, and common sense are all just collateral damage.
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