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Manhattan DA hopefuls pledge support
for various criminal justice reforms
BY ROBERT POZARYCKI
Seven candidates looking to become the next chief
prosecutor of Manhattan committed to various
criminal justice reforms in a questionnaire put forth
two groups representing criminal defense attorneys.
The New York State Association of Criminal Defense
Lawyers and National Association of Criminal Defense
Lawyers published on June 16 the results of their questionnaire
sent to the candidates focused on how each prospective
district attorney would focus on trial penalty in cases
before their offi ce.
The DA candidates who submitted answered questionnaires
include six Democrats on the ballot in the June 22
primary: Tahanie Aboushi, Alvin Bragg, Lucy Lang, Eliza
Orlins, Dan Quart and Tali Farhadian Weinstein.
All of the Democratic candidates, including those that
did not complete the questionnaire (Liz Crotty, Diana Florence),
had previously expressed opposition to the “trial
tax,” which is actually a technique that prosecutors use to
convince defendants to plead guilty to lesser charges after
being threatened with higher counts.
In responding to the questionnaire, the associations
reported, the respondents said they each opposed mandatory
minimum sentences established under the state penal
code. However, just four of the candidates — Aboushi,
Orlins, Quart and Farhadian Weinstein — said they would
actively work with the state legislature to have the minimum
sentences repealed.
Bragg, on the other hand, said the issue with mandatory
PHOTO VIA GETTY IMAGES
The New York State Supreme Court Building in
Foley Square, Lower Manhattan.
minimums is far more complicated than merely repealing
them.
“Unfortunately, although I have long publicly opposed
mandatory minimums and would otherwise use these
laws only in the most extraordinary circumstances,” he
wrote, “New York state law requires DAs to use mandatory
minimums in felony cases, as the Court of Appeals has
held. This means that DAs have no discretion in opposing
sentencing enhancements for ‘second felony offenders’ and
‘persistent violent felony offenders’ under New York Penal
Law Article 70.”
Lang, on the other hand, said she would “have a policy
of taking mandatory minimums into consideration preindictment,
and making the decision to present to the
grand jury accordingly.”
The slate of candidates also pledged to have a Conviction
Integrity Unit to look not only at potential wrongful
convictions, but also cases in which sentences may have
been excessive.
“The CIU will pursue multiple remedies, ranging from
requests for new trials followed by dismissal, to reduced
sentencing where appropriate if there is an available legal
mechanism,” said Aboushi.
Quart, an assemblyman, said he would seek to work with
the state legislature to reform penal law Section 440 “to allow
greater fl exibility to individual defendants claiming innocence
and/or that their conviction was improperly secured.”
The candidates also sought to outline how they would
work to eliminate racial disparities in sentencing.
Orlins said she would use her Conviction Review Unit,
if elected, to “build automatic fl ags into our system, so we
know when it appears that charges or sentence recommendations
in a particular case depart from the offi ce norm.”
She would also seek “stringent reviews” on what the offi ce
does not charge.
Farhadian Weinstein said she would seek a partnership
with outside organizations to seek equal justice under the
law.
“I am committed to doing the data collection, monitoring
and studies necessary to eliminate racial and unacceptable
disparities in charging and sentencing,” she wrote.
“To this end, I will partner with outside organizations
to review our data and will make our data on disparities
publicly available.”
Read the entire questionnaire online at nacdl.org.
Johnson and Weprin rank 1-2 among fi rst responder unions
BY ROBERT POZARYCKI
Two unions representing the city’s
emergency medical technicians
and paramedics endorsed City
Council Speaker Corey Johnson and
Queens Assemblyman David Weprin as
their top two picks in the race to become
New York City’s next comptroller.
The FDNY EMS Local 2507 and the
Uniformed Emergency Medical Services
Offi cers Association Local 3621, which
represent a combined 4,750 fi rst responders
across the fi ve boroughs, want their
members to rank Johnson fi rst and Weprin
second on their ranked choice ballots
in the June 22 Democratic primary.
Both Johnson and Weprin are among
10 Democrats running to become the
city’s next fi scal watchdog to succeed
City Council Speaker Corey Johnson,
seen here recently receiving the
endorsement of the Uniformed
Firefighters Association in his bid
to become the next New York City
comptroller.
current Comptroller Scott Stringer, who’s
running for mayor.
The union leaders say Johnson is their
top choice because of his past support for
EMTs, paramedics and fi re inspectors
who put their own lives at risk saving New
Yorkers every day, and especially during
the COVID-19 pandemic.
As speaker of the City Council, Johnson
held hearings on pay inequities between
EMS workers and fi rst responders, the
unions noted. New EMS fi rst responders
with the FDNY earn about 40% less than
their fi rst responders in the NYPD at just
$16.95 an hour, or $1.95 more than the
$15 per hour minimum wage.”
“Corey Johnson is tenacious in working
to improve the lives of fellow New Yorkers,”
said FDNY EMS Local 2507 President
Oren Barzilay. “That is why FDNY
EMS Local 2507 is asking our members
to rank him number one on their ballots
on primary day.”
“Johnsonunderstands the need for
New York City citizens to have experienced,
pre-hospital health care,” added
FDNY EMS Lieutenant Paramedic and
Vice President of UEMSO Local 3621
Anthony Almojera. “We have faith he
will fi ght for our rights as EMS workers
and we know he will continue to fi ght for
the citizens of New York City as our next
comptroller.”
The speaker said he was grateful to
receive their endorsements.
“We owe essential workers so much
for their work getting us through this
pandemic,” said Johnson. “To have the
endorsement of EMS workers, who literally
put their lives on the line to help
their fellow New Yorkers, is a tremendous
honor.”
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