Manhattan D.A. Hopefuls Balance Crime Rise, Social Justice Calls

The race to be Manhattan’s next top prosecutor is taking place amid a crime surge that has seen murders up more than 17% so far this year and anti-Asian hate crimes skyrocket 335%, according to New York Police Department statistics.

But the Manhattan district attorney’s race has also been heavily influenced by the progressive racial and social justice movement that emerged after George Floyd’s death at police hands last year. At a candidate forum earlier this year, five of the eight Democratic hopefuls said they supported reducing police funding, and some have called for cutting back the prosecutor’s office ...