UWS Org And Former Lucerne Resident Hosting DA Candidate Forum

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — While the build-up to the race for mayor, city comptroller, city council, and borough president offices have garnered the majority of coverage in most circles — the hugely important election for Manhattan Borough District Attorney is also taking place this year.

On Tuesday, UWS Open Hearts Initiative and former Lucerne hotel resident and advocate Shams DaBaron, otherwise known as "Da Homeless Hero," are hosting a forum with eight of the nine candidates running to replace Cy Vance in the Manhattan District Attorney seat.

Vance has been the District Attorney since 2010 and announced in March he will not seek a fourth term.

Here are the candidates who will take part in the forum kicking off at 8 pm. Tuesday:

• Tahanie Aboushi
• Alvin Bragg
• Liz Crotty
• Tali Farhadian Weinstein
• Diana Florence
• Luce Lang
• Eliza Orlins
• Dan Quart

The DA race is crucial for dismantling white supremacy in our city and protecting unhoused New Yorkers. The next DA can either prosecute the vulnerable to appease the powerful, or keep Wall St. accountable and end mass incarceration. Find out where the candidates stand--tomorrow! pic.twitter.com/GEWwlN8jsY
— UWS Open Hearts Initiative (@UWSOpenHearts) May 10, 2021

In a recent public poll conducted by Benenson Strategy Group, which surveyed over 1,550 likely Democratic primary voters in Manhattan, the three names that came out on top were former Assistant U.S. Attorney Farhadian Weinstein, former Manhattan prosecutor Lang, and former New York State Chief Deputy Attorney General Bragg.

UWS Open Hearts Initiative is a homeless advocacy group that describes itself as "committed to supporting our neighbors in temporary hotel shelters at The Lucerne Hotel, The Belleclaire, The Belnord, and The Park West. In our advocacy, we aim to assist shelter residents and their service providers in getting the resources they need and the care they deserve."

At the beginning of February, UWS Open Hearts Initiative and Da Homeless Hero hosted a mayoral forum together. The homeless advocate was able to secure permanent housing and move out of The Lucerne hotel in recent months.

Read More:

• Homeless Lucerne Resident To Host Mayoral Forum
• Investigators Dressed As Plumbers Spied On Pro-Lucerne Campaigner