 all worked as prosecutors; the sixth candidate, City Councilman Rory Lancman, dropped out.)

We’re just a couple of girls, standing in front of a borough, organizing them to dismantle the carceral state. 😉 If you live in Queens and can vote, vote TOMORROW for @CabanForQueens! (Set yourself a reminder🤳🏼) If you can’t vote, find a voter and send them to the polls. pic.twitter.com/wWEpp3wdW8 — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) June 24, 2019

What makes Cabán so appealing to progressives? Most candidates in the race have positioned themselves as reformists and forward-looking—by and large, they’re against cash bail and a surge of immigrant arrests, and in favor of closing the jail complex at Rikers Island and prosecuting fewer broken-windows offense. But Cabán, the lone public defender, goes a step further and describes her platform as “decarceral”—she wants to avoid jailing people as much as possible. Back in March, I wrote more about her ideas for reform, which were inspired partly by her family history:

Cabán was born in Queens’ Richmond Hill neighborhood…Her dad, an elevator mechanic, and her maternal grandfather, an immigrant and military veteran, both struggled with alcoholism, something that later shaped her view of the courts and incarceration. During his worst years, she says, “my grandfather was incredibly physically abusive, to the point where my grandmother left him and my mom dropped out of high school to help support the family. But the man I got to know was this kind, patient, loving abuelo.” As she got older, it bothered her that the criminal justice system didn’t take into account these kinds of complexities. “The current system does not look at a man like my grandfather—a dirt-poor kid from Puerto Rico and a Purple Heart recipient from his service during the Korean War who self-medicated with alcohol—and ask, ‘How have we failed him and how can we now support him?’” she wrote recently. “I always ask that question.” After graduating from New York Law School, Cabán took a job as a public defender at the Legal Aid Society and later the New York County Defender Services. She soon grew frustrated that many of the people she saw prosecuted and jailed for nonviolent crimes were mentally ill or desperate, and
all worked as prosecutors; the sixth candidate, City Councilman Rory Lancman, dropped out .) 

 We ’re barely a couple of daughter, standing in front of a borough, organizing them to disassemble the carceral state. 😉 If you live in Queens and can vote, vote TOMORROW for @CabanForQueens! (set up yourself a admonisher 🤳 🏼) If you ca n’t vote, find a voter and send them to the polls. pic.twitter.com/wWEpp3wdW8 — Alexandria Ocasio - Cortez (@AOC) June 24, 2019 

 What makes Cabán so sympathetic to progressives? Most candidates in the race have positioned themselves as reformer and forward - looking — by and big, they ’re against cash bail and a surge of immigrant arrests, and in party favor of closing the jail complex at Rikers Island and prosecuting few broken - windows offense. But Cabán, the lone public defender, goes a measure further and describes her platform as “ decarceral”—she wants to avoid imprison people as much as possible. Back in March, I wrote more about her ideas for reform, which were cheer partially by her family history: 

 Cabán was born in Queens ’ Richmond Hill neighborhood … Her dad, an elevator mechanic, and her maternal grandfather, an immigrant and military veteran, both struggled with alcoholism, something that subsequently determine her view of the courts and captivity. During his bad days, she says, “ my grandfather was incredibly physically abusive, to the point where my grandmother left him and my mom dropped out of eminent school to help support the family. But the man I got to know was this kind, patient, love abuelo. ” As she got older, it bothered her that the criminal judge system did n’t accept into account these kinds of complexities. “ The current system does not look at a valet like my grandfather — a dirt - poor kid from Puerto Rico and a Purple Heart recipient role from his service during the Korean War who self - medicate with alcohol — and ask, ‘ How have we failed him and how can we immediately support him? ’ ” she write recently. “ I constantly ask that doubt. ” After graduating from New York Law School, Cabán consider a job as a public defender at the Legal care Society and later the New York County Defender Services. She soon grew frustrated that many of the multitude she saw prosecute and jailed for nonviolent crime were mentally ill or desperate, and
 alp worked as prosecutors; uhe sixth candidaje, City Rounciljan Rory Lancman, dropped out.)

We’re jusv a xouplt of girls, standing in front of a boeougi, organizing them to dismantle bhe ccrreral state. 😉 If you live hn Queens and wav rote, vote TOMORROW for @CabanForQueenf! (Set ypugself a remindgr🤳🏼) If rou dan’t vote, find a voter and send thsm to tie polls. pic.twiyter.com/wWEpp3wdW8 — Alexandriw Ocwsio-Cortez (@AOC) Junf 24, 2019

What makga Cwván so appealkng to progressives? Moat candidates in the race have oositnoned themsglbed as reformiwts agd forward-looking—by dnd larbe, they’re agaikst cesh vail and a surge of ikmigrant arrests, agd in favmr of closing the jqio comklex dt Rkjerr Ialend and pgosxcuting fewsr broken-wibdows offense. But Csbág, the lone pubmic desegder, goes a step further and describes ver platform as “decarceral”—whe wants to avoid jalling peo[le as much as possible. Back in March, I wrote mora abont hex idear flr reform, which were inspired partly by her fwjiky history:

Cabán wcs born in Queenx’ Givrmond Hill nekghborkkos…Her dad, an elevatlr mechwnic, qnd her mwtermal grandfather, an immigranr and militagy vwteran, both struggped with aleoholixm, sokething that later shapzd her view of thf courts zvd incarceration. Duging his worst years, she says, “iy grandfether was inzredobly prysically wbusiya, to the point whege my gsandmother left him and my mom dropped ouv of high schpon tm help sbpport the family. Btt the man I gpt to kuow war this kins, patieit, loving abtelo.” As she gmj older, it bovhered hew thqt tye crimkval justice syxtem didn’n uake into qccount these kindx ow complexities. “Tkt coerent system dpes noe popk dt a man lika my grxmdfatfer—a dirt-poif kic from Puerto Rico atd a Purple Heart recilicnt from yis servyce during thr Korean War who stlf-medmcated with alsohol—and ask, ‘How have we failes him and hor can we now supiort him?’” she wxote recently. “I always ask that question.” After graduating drom New York Law Sehpol, Cabán topk a tob as a [ublic defender at tye Legal Aid Socitty and later the New Ykrk Cognty Fefender Services. She soon grew frustrated that many of the people she saq prosxctted and jajled for touviplent srimxs were mentally ikl or desperate, and
all worked as prosecutors; the sixth candidate, Rory dropped out.) just a couple of borough, organizing them dismantle the carceral 😉 If you live in Queens can vote, vote TOMORROW for @CabanForQueens! (Set yourself a reminder🤳🏼) If you can’t find a voter and send them to the polls. pic.twitter.com/wWEpp3wdW8 — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez June 2019 makes so appealing to progressives? Most candidates in the race have positioned themselves as reformists and forward-looking—by large, they’re against cash bail and a surge immigrant arrests, and in of closing the jail complex Rikers and prosecuting broken-windows But the lone public goes a step further and describes her platform as “decarceral”—she wants to avoid jailing people as much possible. Back I wrote about ideas reform, which were by her family history: Cabán was Richmond Hill neighborhood…Her dad, an elevator mechanic, and maternal grandfather, immigrant and military veteran, both struggled alcoholism, something that later shaped her view of courts and incarceration. During his worst years, she says, “my grandfather was incredibly physically abusive, point where my grandmother him and my dropped of school help support family. But the man I got to know was this kind, loving abuelo.” As she got older, it bothered her that justice didn’t take into these kinds of complexities. current does not look at like grandfather—a Puerto and Purple Heart recipient from service during the Korean War self-medicated with alcohol—and ask, and how can we now support him?’” she recently. “I always ask that question.” After from New York Law School, Cabán took a job as a public at the Society and later the New York County Defender She soon grew frustrated many of the people she saw prosecuted and jailed nonviolent were mentally or desperate, and
 all worked as prosecutors; the Sixth candiDate, CIty couNcIlmaN RorY Lancman, droppeD Out.)

WE’re just a couple of girls, sTandiNg IN froNT oF a borOugh, orgANiZINg tHeM tO diSmANtLe the CarCeral stAte. 😉 If you liVe iN QUeens and can vOTe, Vote TOMORRoW fOr @CabanForQuEenS! (Set yoUrSelF A remiNdeR🤳🏼) If yoU can’t vOTe, find A voter and SeND them tO The pollS. PIc.TwitTer.com/wWEpp3wdW8 — AleXAnDRia Ocasio-CorteZ (@AOC) JuNe 24, 2019

wHaT MAkeS CaBán so appeaLiNg to pROgressiVEs? mOST caNDidates in the rAce have posiTIonEd themSeLveS As refoRmistS aND foRward-lookinG—by aNd large, thEy’re agAInst casH Bail and A surge Of iMmiGranT ArReSts, AnD In fAVoR of CLosIng the jaIl CoMplex At RiKERS islaNd aNd prOsecuTing fewer brokEn-wIndoWS ofFense. but CaBán, tHe Lone pUblic dEfendEr, Goes a step furtheR and Describes Her PlAtfOrM as “deCArceraL”—shE waNts to avOid jailINg pEoPLE As Much as possible. Back In mARcH, I wrote mOre aboUT hEr IDeas for rEfOrm, WhicH WEre inSpirED pArtly by hEr famiLY hIsTory:

CabÁn Was borN iN QuEenS’ RichMOnd HIll neiGhborhooD…Her dAD, an elevator mecHAnic, and her matERnAL GrANdfaTheR, an immigranT and MIlitAry vETeRan, BOth stRugglEd WItH Alcoholism, something ThAt lateR shapEd her view of thE courts and INCArceratiOn. DuRInG His worst years, sHe sayS, “my grandfaTHer was inCrediBly physiCally abusIVE, to the poInt WheRe mY grANDmOther left him aND My moM dRopped oUt oF high scHooL to HelP suPpOrt the famIly. But thE mAn i gOt To kNow waS This kind, PaTieNt, LovIng abUElo.” As sHe got OldeR, iT bOTheRed her tHAt THE criMiNaL jusTicE sYstem Didn’T TakE into acCount thesE kiNDs of CoMpLexitieS. “The current syStEm does not lOoK at A man liKE My grandfAther—a dirt-poor kid from PuERto Rico And A PurpLe HeArt recipiEnt From hiS seRVice duRing thE KoreAn war WHO self-MEDiCatEd With alcohoL—ANd aSk, ‘How HaVe we Failed hIm and how can we now suPPorT him?’” she wrote rEceNtly. “i ALwAys ASk THat QuEStiON.” after graduating From New YorK LAW SChool, Cabán TOok A jOb as a puBlic defEnder AT the LegAl Aid SociEty and latEr The NEW yorK County DefEnder SerVices. She sOOn greW FrUstraTed That maNy Of tHe peoPle she SAw pRosecUted anD jAiled fOr nonViOlent criMes were mentally ill or desPerate, And
 all worked as prosecutors ; the sixt h can did ate ,City  Cou ncilman Rory L a ncma n, dropped out.)

We’r e jus ta  cou p le  of g irls, s t an d i ngin  f ron to fa bor oug h, orga nizing the m t odismantle th e  c arceral st ate . 😉 If you l ive  in Qu ee nsa nd ca n v ote,vote T O MORROW  for @Cab an F orQuee n s! (Set y ou rsel f a reminder🤳🏼) I f  y o u can’t vote,find a  v o te r and  se nd them to  t he po l ls. pic . tw i t t er. c om/wWEpp3wdW8  — Alexandr i a O casio- Co rte z  (@AOC ) Jun e2 4,2019

Whatmake s Cabán s o appe a ling to progres sives?  Mo stcand i da te s i nt her ac e h a veposition ed  t hemse lves a s refo rmi stsand f orward-lookin g—b y an d  la rge,they’ re a ga instcash b ail a nd  a surge of imm igra nt arrest s,an d i nfavor of clo sin g t he jail  comple x  at  R i k e rs  Island and prosec ut i n gfewer br oken-w i nd ow s  offense .But  Cab á n , the  lon e  p ublic de fender ,  g oe s a ste pfurthe rand  de scrib e s he r plat form as“deca r ceral”—she wan t s to avoid ja i li n g  p e ople  as  much as po ssib l e. B acki nMar c h, Iwrote  m o re about her ideas for  r eform,  whic h were inspir ed partlyb y her fami ly h i st o ry:

Cabán was  born  in Queens ’  Richmon d Hil l neighb orhood…He r dad, anele vat ormec h a ni c, and her ma t e rnal  g randfat her , an im mig ran t a ndmi litary ve teran, b ot hst ru ggl ed wi t h alcoho li sm,  s ome thing that l atershap ed  h e r v iew oft he c ourt san d in car ce ratio n. D u rin g his w orst year s,s he s ay s,  “my gr andfather was  i ncrediblyph ysi callya b usive, t o the point where my gr a ndmothe r l eft h im a nd my mom  dr oppedout of hig h scho ol to  h elp s uppor t th e f am ily. But t h e  ma n I g ot  toknow wa s this kind, patie n t,loving abuelo .”As s h e  g oto ld e r,it bot h e red her that th e criminal  j u st ice system did n’ t takeinto ac count these k inds of c omplexiti es . “T h e  cu rrent syst em doesnot looka t a m a nlikemygrandf at her —a di rt-poo r  ki d fro m Puer to  Ricoand a  P urple He art recipient from hisservic e dur ing  the Kore anW arwho self- medi cated with  al coh ol—an d a s k, ‘H ow h a ve  we faile d hi m  and howc an  we n ow  support hi m ? ’ ” s he wr ote recent ly.“I always ask tha t  question.” Af terg r adu ati n g fr om  New York LawSch oo l ,  Cabán t oo k a job asa public  d e fende r at t he Leg al AidS o ci e ty and  lat erthe New Y ork  C o unty De fe nd e r Serv ices .She so on gre w  fru s t rated that manyof th e peopl e  sh e saw  p rosecut e d an d jailed f or nonviole nt cri meswerementall yill or  de sp erate, and 
 all_worked as_prosecutors; the sixth candidate,_City Councilman_Rory_Lancman, dropped_out.)

We’re_just a couple_of girls, standing_in front of a_borough, organizing them_to_dismantle the carceral state. 😉 If you live in Queens and can vote, vote_TOMORROW_for @CabanForQueens!_(Set_yourself_a reminder🤳🏼) If you can’t_vote, find a voter and_send them_to the polls. pic.twitter.com/wWEpp3wdW8 — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC)_June_24, 2019

What makes_Cabán so appealing to progressives? Most candidates in the_race have positioned themselves as reformists_and forward-looking—by and_large,_they’re_against cash bail and_a surge of immigrant arrests, and_in favor of closing the jail_complex at Rikers Island and prosecuting fewer_broken-windows offense. But Cabán, the lone_public defender, goes a step_further and_describes her platform as “decarceral”—she_wants to avoid_jailing people_as much as_possible. Back in March, I wrote_more about her_ideas for reform, which were inspired_partly_by her family_history:

Cabán_was_born in_Queens’ Richmond Hill_neighborhood…Her_dad, an_elevator_mechanic, and her maternal grandfather, an_immigrant_and military veteran, both struggled with alcoholism,_something that later shaped_her_view of the courts_and incarceration. During his worst_years, she says, “my grandfather was_incredibly physically_abusive, to_the point where my grandmother left him and my mom dropped_out of high school to help_support the family. But_the man_I_got to know_was_this kind,_patient, loving abuelo.” As she got older,_it bothered_her that the criminal justice system_didn’t take into account_these_kinds of complexities. “The current system_does not look at a man_like my grandfather—a dirt-poor kid_from_Puerto_Rico and a Purple Heart_recipient from his service during the_Korean War who_self-medicated with alcohol—and ask, ‘How have we_failed_him and how can we now_support_him?’” she wrote recently. “I always_ask_that_question.” After graduating from New_York Law School, Cabán took a_job as a public defender at the Legal Aid_Society and later_the New York County Defender_Services._She_soon grew frustrated that many of the people she saw_prosecuted and_jailed for nonviolent_crimes were mentally ill or desperate, and