Lang throws the book at policy

As originally published in City Limits

April 12, 2021

The crowded race for Manhattan DA has been policy heavy: Most of the candidates have released a slew of fairly detailed policy reports. Lucy Lang has now compiled her plans into a 59-page book. According to her campaign, the Lang book contains prescriptions for racial justice, restorative justice, mental health and substance abuse, gun violence, sex crimes, domestic violence, hate crimes, financial crimes, cybercrimes, tenants’ rights, worker protection, human trafficking, a COVID-19 task force, building community, inclusive workforce, homelessness, LGBTQ+ communities, successful reentry, equal access, prosecutorial ombudsman, prosecution and defense, police accountability, public corruption, retroactive review and conviction integrity, mission-aligned metrics, and legal training. The focus on policy in the DA race reflected the shift in criminal-justice philosophy toward increased racial consciousness and reduced trust of the police or incarceration, an intense competition for progressive primary votes and the need to create buzz without the in-person events that would normally be part of a campaign. Now candidates have to distinguish themselves with 10 weeks until a primary that will be overshadowed by citywide campaigns. Lang’s betting on a book to help her do that.

To learn more about Lucy’s priorities, visit her plans page.