Civil Rights, Public Safety, and Criminal Justice Reform

As Mayor, Richard will close Rikers Island and build better connections between the NYPD and the community.

Quickly close Rikers Island prison, without building new jails, by instead imprisoning only the 20% of prisoners actually convicted of a crime.
End bail, except for prisoners who pose a danger or a flight risk; expand electronic monitoring; and finally allow bail to be paid easily by credit or debit cards.
Work with police officers on better de-escalation protocols to avoid deadly force.
Expand training and screening to promote better police interactions with New Yorkers, and end discriminatory targeting of innocent people.
Fight against discrimination, and for LGBTQ rights, reproductive rights, and women’s health care.
Repeal the cabaret law, so New Yorkers don’t have to break the law to dance.
Treat drug use as a medical problem, not a criminal problem. Advocate to legalize, regulate and tax cannabis to finance education and housing.
Fight for amnesty for convictions under laws enforced in a discriminatory manner.