New York Post

Qns. crime plan goes for woke

- Julia Marsh, Sam Raskin, Bruce Golding

Amid an increase in violent crimes and shootings in New York City, a candidate for public office wants victimized New Yorkers to bear the burden.

The radical “public safety” plan put forward by socialist candidate Tiffany Cabán (pictured) — a shoo-in to earn a spot on the City Council representi­ng western Queens after November’s election — would allow for victims of violent crimes to help their attackers in the name of “restorativ­e justice.”

The Democrat’s woke, 48-page manifesto would strip cops and courts of some of their most basic law-enforcemen­t roles — like sending violent perpetrato­rs to prison.

“Communitie­s will be empowered to develop individual­ized strategies to help heal wounds of violence rather than being forced to rely on policing and prisons as the only recourse,” reads the policy from the Democratic Socialists of America-backed candidate in the non-competitiv­e race.

Cabán’s plan, titled “A New Vision of Public Safety for New York City,” posits a scenario in which the victim of a violent mugging would be largely responsibl­e for deciding the fate of their assailant.

But the Kumbaya-style idea doesn’t include actually getting the assailant off the streets with the goals of protecting others.

“Example of Use: A person is beat up, suffers a broken rib, and is robbed of his wallet. First, his needs are heard and affirmed, and he works with trained staff to develop a services and healing plan,” the pitch reads.

“Then, when he is ready, he participat­es in restorativ­e-justice circles with the person who harmed him and their respective support systems. He asks questions and gets answers, and they develop an accountabi­lity and consequenc­es plan.”

City entities including the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice and the Human Resources Administra­tion would play a role in the process, according to the proposal.

Cabán’s soon-to-be colleagues blasted her idea as “insane.”

“Unless Ms. Cabán is running to represent the Twilight Zone, it sounds like she needs to participat­e in a restorativ­e reality circle,” Councilman Robert Holden (D-Queens) told The Post. “Our city and state already help criminals enough as it is, without insane ideas like this.

“This is insane. Woke socialists need to wake up,” fumed another council member, who declined to be named.

In response, a Cabán rep doubled down and insisted her boss’ plan “is rooted in evidence-based practices” that have “been proven to work” in cities like Los Angeles and Denver.

“Anybody who is saying that this is going to increase crime . . . is continuing the fearmonger­ing that has so pervaded the city for way too long,” spokespers­on Erica Vladimer told The Post. “Restorativ­e justice is one piece of this public-safety plan, and what it requires is consent of survivors to participat­e in restorativ­e justice.”

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