June 8, 2020

Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance

One Hogan Place
New York, NY 10013

Dear District Attorney Vance:

As elected representatives of the people of Manhattan, we are extraordinarily concerned with your efforts to
request bail on New Yorkers who are arrested in connection with the recent protests across the city.

We are particularly disappointed that during a pandemic you are trying to incarcerate more New Yorkers. We
know that jails have been a hotspot for COVID-19 transmission. Demanding the power to indefinitely
incarcerate people who are presumed to be innocent will undoubtedly result in more COVID-19 infections. As
elected officials, we are doing everything we can to minimize the spread of COVID-19.

Our concerns with your request are not only practical, however. The State Legislature and Governor Cuomo
have been clear about their intentions in the bills that have been passed and signed reforming the use of cash
bail in New York State. While you may not like the legislation, you must abide by it. To demand more power
from Governor Cuomo rather than follow the law as written is an affront to democracy and to the separation of
powers.

We are aware of and agree with your Friday afternoon promise not to prosecute charges of unlawful assembly
or disorderly conduct associated with the protests. The exercise of the First Amendment right to protest cannot
be criminalized in a free and democratic society. However, we have heard reports of peaceful protestors being
charged with assault in the second degree. This kind of overcharging is also unacceptable. Trumping up violent
charges against peaceful protestors is a silencing tactic and we will not stand for it.

Sincerely,

Dan Quart Jumaane Williams Yuh-Line Niou

Assemblymember, 73rd Public Advocate Assemblymember, 65th AD
AD
Carlina Rivera Linda Rosenthal Deborah Glick
Councilmember, 2nd CD Assemblymember, 67th AD Assemblymember, 66th AD

Keith Powers Harvey Epstein Ben Kallos

Councilmember, 4th CD Asssemblymember, 74th AD Councilmember, 5th CD