Issue Position: Criminal Justice Reform

Issue Position

Now is the time to stand up against a system that has created two forms of justice: One for the rich and one for the poor. Our community deserves a system that does not criminalize Black and brown bodies because of the color of their skin and the money in their pockets. I do not support private prisons. I also do not support cash bail, the system by which someone pays a deposit to release a person that has been arrested; this system disproportionately affects people of color. Instead of this system, we need bail reform, understanding that the recent rollbacks have been harmful. The recent repeal of 50-A was a big step forward achieved by years of dedicated efforts by activists and community leaders, but the work must not stop there. I am committed to working towards the closure of the prison in the Springfield Gardens community and support the decriminalization and legalization of marijuana as an economic development opportunity for our district.

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