August 20, 2007 @ 1:22 pm

David Soares: The Law

Keith Murphy

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NY DA: Democratic maverick. From VIBE's 2007 Juice issue.

"I don't think any rationally sane person can look at America's war on drugs and say it's working." Not exactly the words you'd expect coming from a district attorney, but the diligent, ambitious David Soares is not your typical D.A. Since winning the office in New York's Albany County in 2004, the Democratic maverick has been criticized by organizations (the Albany Police Officers Union, for example) for being soft on drugs. Critics point to Soares' crusade against mandatory sentencing drug laws that have disproportionately incarcerated poor people of color. Soares shot back by targeting high-end steroid distributors, implicating a parade of professional athletes in the process. Next up: creating alternative incarceration programs and locking up "the true drug kingpins and violent offenders." Notice has been served. NAME: David Soares
BIRTHDAY/AGE: 37
BORN: Brava, Cape Verde Island
RESIDES: Albany, New York PERSONAL MOTTO:
We have an obligation to hold people accountable who violate the law, but we also have an obligation to do everything possible to prevent people from making mistakes that impact their entire lives. SOMETHING I DO EVERY DAY FOR SANITY:
Still being able to walk into any place in the inner city and have credibility with the people to let them know that I haven’t abandoned them. PLACE WHERE I'M MOST PRODUCTIVE:
In the office, because that is the seat of power and the access that you're able to have in order to accomplish greater good for people. FAVORITE GOOD LUCK CHARM:
My Boston Red Sox hat [laughing]. I'm in Albany, New York with people doing double takes, questioning their decision to vote for me. MOST FRUSTRATING MOMENT:
Sending away a young African American male for the rest of his life for killing another African American male over something ridiculous. PERSON I ADMIRE MOST:
I never had to look far, because I have a brother-in-law who came into my life when I was 10 years old. He was the first person of color that I had ever saw wearing a suit to a white-collar job. He continues to be a great influence in my life. 5 YEARS AGO, MY GOAL WAS:
To be a prosecutor, continuing in my career in law enforcement because I believe that it's an honorable profession. 5 YEARS FROM NOW, MY GOAL IS:
To continue on the work that I'm doing and hope that it will transform my community. BIGGEST PROBLEM FACING OUR GENERATION:
I think materialism and instant gratification. I'm part of the cardboard breakdancing generation. I grew up with "The Message" by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious 5. They were talking about empowerment and that's all changed. FAVORITE BOOK, AND WHY:
King Leopold's Ghost (Mariner Books). It's an important book for me because it demonstrates what happened to the entire continent of Africa and how it has been exploited by wealthier nations. The acts that were set into motion continue to affect that great continent today. FAVORITE MOVIE, AND WHY:
Spider-man. I actually learned how to read from the Spider-man comics, so for that movie to come out was a dream come true.

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