Every year, Chuck commits to traveling to all62 counties in New York to meet with constituents.
On January 30, 2023, standing at Nassau County Police Department headquarters and flanked by local law enforcement and a recent victim of catalytic converter theft, Senator Schumer demanded that the Department of Justice (DOJ) send a dedicated Long Island response team to investigate, provide more local resources and drill down on possible organized crime rings targeting countless Long Island driveways for catalytic converters. Senator Schumer called attention to the 300 percent increase in catalytic converter thefts facing the tri-state area. A catalytic converter is an essential component of a vehicle’s exhaust system that reduces a combustion engine’s toxic gas and pollutant emissions. Senator Schumer urged the DOJ to assist NY State’s efforts to discourage the black-market resale of the valuable metals found within the instrument, working across state lines in a capacity unavailable to local law enforcement. The Senator stressed that the recent crime surge has disrupted Long Islanders’ ability to work and their sense of safety, warranting federal involvement.