Rob Ortt, a New York State Senator, recently posted several statements on his Twitter account addressing public safety and weather preparedness. His comments centered on criticism of the state’s criminal justice policies and advice for residents ahead of severe winter conditions.
On January 23, 2026, Ortt criticized Governor Kathy Hochul’s budget announcement, stating: “In the governor’s recent budget unveiling, she failed to introduce any policies that would better protect New Yorkers. She is standing by the disastrous and dangerous bail reform legislation that has let criminals roam free and makes every community in this state less safe. My”.
Later that day, he provided a warning regarding upcoming winter weather. At 18:30 UTC, Ortt wrote: “With extreme cold and winter storms forecasted into next week, be sure to tune into local weather reports before heading out, bundle up, and give yourself plenty of extra time to get to where you’re going.”
That evening, Ortt returned to the subject of criminal justice reform following a roundtable hosted by Senator Gallivan. He stated: “New York State has completely backwards priorities when it comes to criminal justice – the criminals seem to have more rights than their victims. We heard from some of these victims today at Senator Gallivan’s roundtable, and their stories are heartbreaking. We must stand up for”.
The bail reform laws referenced by Ortt were enacted in New York State in 2020. These changes eliminated cash bail for most misdemeanor and non-violent felony charges with the goal of reducing pretrial incarceration rates among low-income defendants who could not afford bail.
Senator Rob Ortt represents constituents in Western New York as part of his role in the New York State Senate.
