Last week, David Paterson, a former governor of New York, and his stepson were beaten by a group of young delinquents on the streets of the Upper East Side. In a video of the altercation on X, Paterson — who is 70 years old and legally blind — and Anthony Sliwa can be seen curled on the sidewalk while they’re kicked and beaten. The police labeled the attack a “gang assault.” Father and stepson were transported to a hospital with minor injuries, where Sliwa had to receive several stitches in his face. (In a great twist of irony, Sliwa’s father is Curtis Sliwa, the founder of Guardian Angels — an anti-crime group.)

The attack occurred because Sliwa had acted responsibly. He was out walking the family dog when he first encountered some of the assailants climbing up the fire escape of a building (let it be clear, they were not trying to escape a fire). Sliwa told them that he would call the police if they did not stop. Later that evening, on a walk with Paterson, Sliwa encountered the same group, which proceeded to assault him and his stepfather.

Under the leadership of back-to-back Democratic mayors, violent crime in New York has skyrocketed. Total crime in the state has increased 30 percent since 2019 — with an increase in assaults leading the charge. “They’re almost impulsive acts,” said Kenneth Corey, former chief of the New York Police Department. “Those are very, very difficult to police because of the very unpredictable nature of the action. It’s not the type of crime that the police can strategically deploy against.”

Can’t we just agree that violent crime is bad and destroys communities? Is that too much to ask? Until our leaders unilaterally denounce crime, prosecute bad actors, and support our first responders, American cities will continue slouching towards Gotham.