First of all, I want to thank each and every person that turned out to vote for me to be their next District Attorney—without your support, this campaign would not have come as far as it did. Congratulations to Alvin Bragg on his victory last night, and I hope our next District Attorney rises to the challenges our borough faces in 2025. I will stay involved in Manhattan criminal justice in the future, whether that be through teaching or other endeavours.
Upon reflection of my campaign, I am able to look back on this journey with gratitude and pride. This was a grassroots campaign built on the belief that New Yorkers who feel unsafe and unheard by the criminal justice system deserved a choice in the ballot booth. We ran this race with a mere fraction of the resources of our opponent. We received little to no major media coverage leading up to the primary election. Our volunteer team was held together by passion rather than payroll.
And yet, despite the odds, over a quarter of Manhattanites cast their votes for the message this campaign has championed. Our supporters worked tirelessly on the ground to spread awareness of our message, and I am proud of our staff that stood in the historic heat wave passing out flyers out of a smile on their faces. That is a powerful reminder to Manhattanites that grassroots movements are not only possible, but they can make a real, actual difference.
Manhattan finds itself at a crossroads today: on one hand, the borough can continue suffering under mismanagement, disregard for public safety, and the inexcusable dismissal of serious crimes as not worthy of prosecution. Yet on the other, Manhattan can be restored to the bastion of safe streets that once made visitors and residents alike feel comfortable walking through their neighborhood or entering the subway system.
That choice lies with the next District Attorney. The status quo should no longer be tolerated, and it isn’t by the thousands of Manhattanites who voted for a change this Tuesday. Instead, a new era must be ushered in, with some simple next steps to correct the course.
Case dismissals should no longer be the norm but become an exception. This is within the capabilities of the District Attorney’s office, and anything short is a failure to the public.
Hate crimes must be dealt with swiftly and aggressively. More resources must be directed towards combatting hatred in Manhattan’s melting pot of communities, with cases being prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
And brazen public nuisances must cease being shrugged aside and merely tolerated. There is simply no excuse for a repeat offender—in many cases, one with a violent criminal record—to continue plaguing our streets. Incarceration must be a last resort but nevertheless an option, and diversion approaches must be followed through to ensure crimes are addressed and criminals held accountable.
The road ahead is long but navigable. With precision and diligence, Manhattan’s District Attorney can oversee an office revered not just by the borough or New York City, but by the rest of the country. And while I may not be the one overseeing that office, I hope the messages of our campaign impact the policies of the years to come.
