Queens hasn’t had a competitive election for Queens District Attorney since Richard Brown was elected in 1991. Brown was the Queens DA for 28 years. He was a relic of the tough-on-crime era that led to mass incarceration in Queens. "Historically, the Democratic Party has had enormous influence in choosing the city’s district attorneys. The races often attract little interest, and low voter turnout allows the favorites of the political machine to win, cementing long, unchallenged tenures. Nowhere has that been more true than in Queens, where the Democratic Party (Queens Machine) has picked the county’s district attorney for decades." With a Tough-on-Crime D.A. Stepping Down, Will Queens Turn to a Reformer?

Most progressive groups have now coalesced behind Tiffany L. Cabán for Queens District Attorney and the Queens Machine is backing Melinda Katz. As an assembly member Melinda Katz voted to reinstate the death penalty. “If you believe that the purpose of the criminal justice system should be rehabilitation then believing in the death penalty is diametrically opposed to that notion and [it shows] you believe the extreme is ultimately the way to resolve issues,” Legal Aid attorney Finde Gbollie said. “Everything is framed from that lens — people can’t be saved, they can’t be redeemed, it’s not about rehabilitation it’s about punishment. And that’s the problem with the criminal justice system now.”

Make A Difference:

1. Click Here to Register to Vote Online. If you have a valid ID from the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, you can register to vote online. You must register as a democrat (Party Affiliation) to vote in the June 25th Democratic primary. The candidate that voters choose in the primary is expected to go on to win in the November general election, and could set prosecution policy for decades to come. 

2. Review the Queens District Attorney 2019 Election Guide.

3. Click Here to Find Where to Vote. GET OUT + VOTE ON JUNE 25th!