LETTER: Manny Nneji’s record and crime rate

Published in Hudson Valley One on November 1, 2023

I’ve been closely following the district attorney (DA) race that stands out for me, but has not been discussed — our local crime rate. It’s an area where I believe Manny Nneji has made a significant, positive impact, and I’d like to share why I believe he’s the right choice.

Every single year the Clegg/Nneji DA administration has been in control, the overall crime rate has dropped. In 2022, violent crime dropped by 19.2%, in sharp contrast to the statewide increase of 22% from 2021 to 2022 (source: https://www.criminaljustice.ny.gov/tableau_index_crime.htm). Overall crime rate in Ulster County has dropped roughly 22% during Clegg/Nneji’s tenure, which is a testament to the effective strategies of the DA’s office.

This is not to say it was smooth sailing during their term. In 2019, New York State introduced new discovery laws that demanded prosecutors to quickly share all evidence with the defense. While this was a step forward for justice, it presented a massive challenge for our county’s DA’s office, which was already understaffed, like many others in the state. Manny led the initiative, developing a state-of-the-art digital system that streamlined the discovery process in Ulster’s DA office. His innovation facilitated a more organized and efficient access to evidence, necessitated by the new law.

To sum up: The transition to these new discovery laws was challenging, but this district attorney’s DA, who’s not only prepared for change but has also taken effective action during it, is crucial. We need results, not just talk.

For these and many more reasons, I wholeheartedly support Manny Nneji for Ulster County DA in the upcoming November election.

Dale Spencer

Kingston