Metro

Manhattan DA rivals take heat on crime

The three candidates vying for Manhattan district attorney are pushing platforms that are too soft for one of the nation’s premier crime-fighting offices, critics charged yesterday as voters head to the polls today.

All three candidates — Robert Morgenthau’s preferred successor, Cy Vance, former Judge Leslie Crocker Snyder and gun-control advocate Richard Aborn — have been vying for the “progressive” label.

They’ve placed what some observers say is too strong an emphasis on crime prevention, rehabilitation and alternatives to jail instead of cracking down by throwing criminals behind bars.

“You’d think they all came from Nancy Pelosi’s district,” said Henry Stern, the former city Parks commissioner who now runs the Web site New York Civic.

“This race is the polar opposite of most law-enforcement races,” Stern said, adding it reflects that “Manhattan is a liberal island.”

“They are all saying what they think the people want to hear,” Stern said. “What they really think? Who knows?”

The candidates had to defend themselves Sunday during a debate on WABC-TV/Channel 7, when asked, “Are you all tough enough?”

“I think that all of us would be tough on violent crime . . . but I think modern law enforcement really dictates a different view,” Crocker Snyder said.

“We can do both these things, be tough on violent crime . . . and yet have this advanced proactive prevent-crime view. I don’t believe that’s being soft on crime.”

Vance added that more is known about effective crime-busting techniques today than was in the 1980s, saying, “I’m going to be tough on crime . . . [but] I think it’s a false choice . . . of framing the issue ‘tough on crime versus soft on crime.’ ”

And Aborn, who is on leave as head of the Citizens Crime Commission, added, “I don’t cede for one second that violent crime should even come back,” but he said there is a “solemn obligation . . . to make sure we stop crime before it starts.”

Baruch College political expert Doug Muzzio said, “They’re bowing to the political reality” — Manhattan Democratic primary voters are often the most liberal slice of the electorate.

The DA’s race is the most closely watched race today, but there are also competitive races for comptroller and public advocate. Polls are open from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m.

maggie.haberman@nypost.com