Alejandra Caraballo

Level
City Council

Constituency
District 35

More Information
Campaign Site

2020 LID Questionnaire Response

Why are you running for City Council?

I am a civil rights attorney, advocate, and activist. As part of my professional career I have worked entirely to advance the rights of LGBTQ people. I currently work at TLDEF as a staff attorney and my focus is on bringing national impact litigation to advance transgender rights. Prior to TLDEF, I worked at the New York Legal Assistance Group in the LGBTQ Law Project where I represented LGBTQ immigrants in removal proceedings and affirmative immigration applications for humanitarian relief.

I am running to refocus political power back to the community that has been ignored for so long, particularly on the issues of housing, police reform, and education. As housing committee chair of my community board, I have seen firsthand how our elected leaders have rubber stamped land use and rezoning provisions while ignoring community disapproval. I have also been a witness to the police brutality that lacks all accountability as I was nearly run over by a police cruiser and a family on my block was brutally attacked by NYPD officers during curfew for having a BBQ. Our community has been left without a voice for so long and I will help bring it back to make sure that the City Council actually represents them.

As someone who has represented sex workers, undocumented immigrants, LGBTQ+ people, and intimate partner violence and trafficking survivors, my values have been molded by those experiences of advocating and empowering my clients to have a voice. It has informed my strong internal sense of justice and equity for everyone. I intend to use my campaign and elected position to advocate and empower these communities as they have often been left without a voice. I will fight for justice for marginalized communities.

I ultimately seek to bring the sense of urgency that is required to tackle the monumental crises that face our great city due to COVID. The MTA is insolvent, we face a mass eviction crisis, and our communities face food insecurity like never before. These are artificial disasters waiting to happen and the consequences will be disproportionately born by those who can least afford it. However, these are all solvable issues. Our city has always come back from the crises of the past and I believe that I can help navigate our city through such a perilous time when many of the pessimists have labeled our city “dead.” Simply put, I am running to build a fairer New York for all residents and to get us past an unprecedented crisis by pushing for policies that makes our city stronger than it ever was before.

What are the greatest struggles of your Council district? 

Some of the greatest struggles in the district are dealing with the current pandemic. Crown Heights had one of the highest mortality rates for COVID in the country. This has left a crisis of access to food, healthcare, and housing stability. As the pandemic wears on these crises have only gotten worse as food banks struggle to meet demand, healthcare access is being disrupted, and an eviction tsunami looms over the horizon. These are entirely preventable issues that can be fixed through public policy. 

In addition, one of the biggest issues is the displacement of long term residents because of gentrification and a lack of housing affordability. Over the past few years, the current city councilwoman has rubber stamped rezonings for sites like the Bedford Armory without giving the community a say in the process. This is occurring again with the 960 Franklin project and other rezonings in the district. These projects lead to massive disruption and displacement of the community. We need leadership that will stand up to developers and instead work to create actual affordable housing. 

Why do you want LIDs endorsement? And what does LGBTQ+ representation in the government mean to you?

Despite several LGBQ candidates being in city council and state legislature positions, no openly trans person has ever been elected to a government position. It’s been far too long and we need a seat at the table. The community often talks about uplifting and centering trans women of color and it’s about time we actually do the hard work of giving us a seat at the table. We need a LGBTQ representation that actually has the T part.

What is one thing you would do while in office to make NYC government more inclusive?

I would focus on developing more pipelines to identify young LGBTQ and BIPOC talent that can become the civil service of tomorrow. We can’t just expect diversity to happen and we need to cultivate it through targeted grants and programs for students in high school and college. 

What does gender equity mean to you in your district and how can you improve upon it? 

This district is majority female with about 54% of the district identifying as female. Despite this, persistent income gaps have caused women to consistently earn less than men. We need to work to ensure that we empower women and do the hard work of ripping out patriarchal structures that ensure inequity for women. These problems are only magnified for gender minorities such the TGNB community. We need to empower the Human Rights Commission to be able to investigate more discrimination broadly to reduce the amount of discrimination for the TGNB communities and women more broadly.  

Approximately 40% of runaway and homeless youth are LGBTQ+. The NYC Unity Work Project would have provided training, job placement and development for these communities, but the program ($675k per year) was cut from the city’s budget in FY21. Do you commit to fighting for funding for this or similar programs? How will you support safety and wellness for homeless LGBTQ+ New Yorkers if you are elected? 

I commit to funding these vital programs. As a former legal services attorney, I saw first hand how LGBTQ youth were helped by crucial funding for programs such as job trainings, grants to community organizations, and shelters. It’s not a matter of just continuing to fund these programs but to also expand them to provide even more services and protections for LGBTQ youth.

The biggest issue with homeless LGBTQ New Yorkers is that the current shelter system is woefully inadequate. I’ve worked with shelters like Princess Janae Place, Marsha’s House, and Ali Forney Center in the past in various capacities. What I’ve seen across the board is that these organizations do not have the adequate funding or resources to fully support homeless LGBTQ New Yorkers due to their need for intensive programs such as social workers, mental healthcare, crisis counselors, and psychiatric support. The level of trauma our homeless youth suffer is tremendous and many of the orgs are not sufficiently set up to address these issues. Other shelters may offer these services but then the person is at risk of being in an environment that is not LGBTQ friendly. This serves as an incentive for many LGBTQ youth to stay in shelters that don’t provide all of the services that they need. 

We also need to revisit the entire shelter system model. We don't just need a right to shelter, we need a right to housing. We need to fundamentally revisit how we approach housing to create a housing first model rather than a shelter only model. This coupled with extensive social support would be far more effective than the shelter model we currently have. 

The NYPD’s budget is nearly $6 billion? If elected, will you work to reduce the NYPD’s and invest in non-policing alternatives? By how much? 

I am an abolitionist and I have a long term vision of moving away from carceral solutions towards society's problems. I have seen first hand how my clients have suffered at the hands of the criminal justice system. Throughout my legal career, I have had clients profiled by the police for being trans and subsequently harassed and abused by officers. They have been targeted for arrest for simply trying to survive through sex work. We cannot just solve our issues by locking people up. We must work to ensure a day where jails and prisons are no longer needed.

I support actually defunding the NYPD by a minimum of $3 billion, not through budgetary tricks by shifting officers to other agencies. This would be achieved by meaningful cuts in headcount and in military style equipment. We need to fundamentally reimagine what policing looks like in NYC. We need more social workers, legal services, and mental healthcare not more police. The money saved from defunding the NYPD can be used to fund increased direct services by non-profits, social workers, and legal services. The Council's role in this will be to close Rikers and build no new jails. Those billions of dollars can be better spent on building up communities rather than incarcerating them. 

In terms of particular agencies that should see increased funding, these would include greater funding for the department of education to provide more social workers and mental healthcare professionals instead of school resource officers. There need to be increased funding for the FDNY so that they are better equipped with mental health crisis units that can respond to individuals in crisis rather than police. Greater funding for the HHC to provide more direct mental healthcare through the NYC Cares program for the uninsured and more broadly for those with issues getting access to mental healthcare.

What is your plan to help the city financially recover from the economic crisis caused by COVID19? What will your priorities be if there is a second wave of COVID19?

The honest answer is that the city is not a metaphorical island that can recover on its own. We will need substantial help from the federal government if we are to recover to pre-COVID times. I would work extensively with our federal delegation and Biden administration officials to prioritize building our city back in an equitable manner that emphasizes uplifting those most impacted by the effects of COVID.

The second wave is already here. We need to ensure that the eviction moratorium is actually implemented so that no one loses housing in the middle of a pandemic. We need to ensure that our public hospitals have the supplies and staff necessary to deal with a second surge of COVID patients. As a member of the Kings County Hospital Community Advisory Board, I have been keeping up to date to make sure that our public hospitals can handle a second wave. Finally, we need to address the hunger crisis in our city. Since SNAP does not apply to so many households, in particular immigrants, there is a food security crisis that is currently happening. We need to increase funding directly to mutual aid groups that know their communities and are in the best position to distribute food. 

What if any initiatives do you propose to help with the climate crisis?

I support the renewable Rikers project. The closure of Rikers as a city jail is a unique opportunity to turn city owned land into a hub of green renewable energy such as solar, tidal, and wind energy. This will allow the city to move carbon intensive power generation away from traditionally lower income neighborhoods and focus on clean renewable energy.

What will you do to support labor unions if elected? Did you publicly support the  Association of Legislative Employees  (the union that represents council staffers) in their request for voluntary recognition?

As a former member of the organizing committee and bargaining committee of UAW Local 2325 at NYLAG, I know firsthand how important it is to have a union and collective bargaining. I publicly supported the voluntary recognition of the City Council union.

In the context of public unions, I would explicitly encourage organization and recruitment efforts by unions to allow unions access to new hires and employees and sharing information about public employees with union leadership. Create an opt out default where fees are collected by default but those wishing not to pay have to opt out rather than an opt in system. 

Finally, we need to create grants for union organizers so that they have the support they need to organize workers into unions.  

How much money has your campaign raised and what are your major sources

I have raised $10,696.59 with 123 donors which is about $60,000 in matching funds. I have nearly 30 in district donors and the vast majority of donors are from NYC. I am on track to meet the in district donor requirement of 75 by the January filing. 

Are you accepting campaign contributions from law enforcement sources?  Real Estate Sources?

Absolutely not. I have pledged to not take money from law enforcement unions or developers. 

Do you commit to using inclusive and gender neutral language in press releases and other announcements (e.g., “the people of the…” instead of “the men and women of the…”)?

Yes, as a transgender woman, I understand the importance of respecting everyone’s pronouns and making sure we eliminate unnecessary gendered language. 

Yes or no, do you support the following city council initiatives:

Intro 2047: Prevents landlords from discriminating against criminal legal system involved tenants: Yes 

Intro 2050: Allows noncitizens to vote in municipal elections: Yes

Reso 0923: Calls for the state to repeal Penal Law 240.37, known as the #WalkingWhileTrans Ban: Yes

Intro 1314/Fair Chance Act 2.0: Prohibits discriminatoin based on one’s arrest record, pending criminal accusations, or criminal convictions. Prevents employers from inquiring  about #WalkingWhileTrans Ban arrests: Yes

Intro 2012: Requires NYPD to report on custodial interrogations of minors: Yes

Intro 1529: Expands access to an attorney for tenants in eviction proceedings: Yes

DNA protection bill introduced by CM Richardson and CM Ayala: Prevents NYPD from collecting samples of DNA from children without consent form a parent or guardian: Yes

Crystal Hudson

Level
City Council

Constituency
District 35

More Information
Campaign Site

2020 LID Questionnaire Response

Why are you running for City Council? 

In 2013, I was a young professional working and living in Washington, D.C. when my mother first started exhibiting signs of Alzheimer’s disease. As the only child of a single mother, I spent an entire year traveling back and forth every weekend to tend to my mother’s needs, until I was finally able to return home to Brooklyn to care for her full-time. It was through this caregiving experience that I was called to public service, knowing that families like mine shouldn’t have to struggle as much as we have to ensure that our loved ones can age in place.

It is with that mission in mind that I have decided to run for New York City Council, representing Brooklyn’s 35th district, which encompasses the neighborhoods of Crown Heights, Prospect Heights, Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, and Bedford-Stuyvesant. My family has been in this community for three generations, and I want to ensure that families like mine can raise a family, have a good job with prevailing wages, and age with dignity at home. As the next New York City Council Member representing the 35th District, I will  fight for truly affordable housing; community safety led by those most impacted by over-policing and harm; the right to a world class education for every child; and a safe, secure place to live. Most of all, I am running to give back to a community that has given so much to me. 

My mother served as a nurse for over 40 years at hospitals across New York City and her unwavering compassion has always been an inspiration. I have long advocated for the rights of women, communities of color, immigrants, seniors, and the LGBTQ+ community, and I will carry that commitment to equity and justice with me as a Council Member. My 15 years of experience in public service, the private sector, community organizing, and as an entrepreneur have proven my ability to work hard, get things done, and build consensus.

With an unrelenting housing crisis, over-policing of communities of color, and a struggling economy compounded by a global pandemic that has disproportionately impacted Black and Latinx communities, our City is facing challenges never seen before. And although we have not seen much leadership from those in charge, we know that leadership exists. Just as we did in the face of 9/11 and Hurricane Sandy, the community has stepped in when our City’s leadership has not.   As the next City Council Member in the 35th District, I will forge progressive solutions to meet our urgent needs and will continue to follow the leadership in my community. We cannot afford anything less.

I have no doubt that we are resilient enough to get through the difficult months and years ahead. As the founder of Greater Prospect Heights Mutual Aid (GPHMA), I have seen firsthand the generosity of my neighbors amidst the COVID-19 crisis. But this is not surprising, because it is exactly the same compassion and love for neighbors I have witnessed in this community my entire life. The same neighbors who once kept an eye on me as a kid and have looked out for my mother since her Alzheimer's diagnosis, are now among the folks we have been arranging grocery deliveries and wellness calls for.

This moment calls for us to envision and create pathways for stronger and more equitable communities for generations to come. It calls for us to be bold and reimagine what this city can be for our most marginalized New Yorkers. I am committed to being courageous, remaining unwavering in my values,  to speaking truth to power, to thinking big and being bold, and to re-envisioning a New York City that works for all of us, not just the privileged few.

What are the greatest struggles of your Council district?

Gentrification has taken hold across the neighborhoods of Crown Heights, Prospect Heights, Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, and Bed-Stuy - all which fall within the 35th Council District. As a result, the greatest struggles of this Council district are the lack of truly affordable housing for those most in need; employment opportunities, particularly for people experiencing multiple barriers to employment; and early education, daycare, and childcare options that are accessible to all families. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has left working families and small business owners struggling to stay afloat.

Why do you want LIDs endorsement? And what does LGBTQ+ representation in the government mean to you?

As a current LID board member, I would be honored to have the endorsement and support of my home political club. An endorsement from LID would also signal to the broader LGBTQ+ community that we can actually support, follow and uplift Black queer women, and not just talk about it. 

If elected, I will be the first Black queer woman ever elected to the New York City Council, which is hard to believe in 2020. But it is evidence that we still have so much further to go in terms of representation in government. Representation isn’t everything, but it absolutely matters. I expect to be held accountable for my actions as an elected official, knowing that I will bring the fullness of my intersectional identities to governing. 

What is one thing you would do while in office to make NYC government more inclusive?

Inclusive government means not only that queer Black women like myself see themselves represented in government, but that elected officials govern embracing an inside-outside strategy, advancing the issues that are of and from people closest to lived experiences of oppression. One thing to usher this process along would be to create workforce development and fellowship programs in city government for New Yorkers experiencing multiple barriers to employment, including Black trans women and those who have been incarcerated.

What does gender equity mean to you in your district and how can you improve upon it?

My district has long been represented by Black women who have broken barriers - like Mary Pinkett, the first Black woman elected to the New York City Council; and Letitia James, our current New York State Attorney General, and the first woman to serve as AG and first Black woman to hold a statewide role. Representation is critical, as is the policy that follows it. Gender equity in my district means that women and femmes who live and work in the 35th District who are essential workers - grocery workers, childcare providers, home health aides, domestic workers, educators and more, receive living wages with full benefits and hazard pay for putting their lives on the line. Gender equity in the 35th District means that the Council fully funds programs like afterschool, childcare, and summer youth employment so that working parents can rest assured that their children are cared for and invested in, especially at a time as critical as this (given the pandemic). Gender equity in the 35th District means that we continue to push for accessibility in our mass transit system so that people with disabilities - and the largely women of color workforce who care for people with disabilities - are able to move throughout our City safely and with ease. As the next City Council Member representing the 35th District, I will use the full suite of legislative, budgetary and land use tools at my discretion to ensure that gender equity is central in how we build back. 

Approximately 40% of runaway and homeless youth are LGBTQ+. The NYC Unity Work Project would have provided training, job placement and development for these communities, but the program ($675k per year) was cut from the city’s budget in FY21. Do you commit to fighting for funding for this or similar programs? How will you support safety and wellness for homeless LGBTQ+ New Yorkers if you are elected? 

So many of the programs marginalized New Yorkers need the most were cut, when they should have been the first programs to be saved. I would absolutely commit to fighting to fund The NYC Unity Work Project and other similar workforce development programs that serve those with the greatest barriers to the workforce, including but not limited to Black trans women and those who have been incarcerated.

New York City’s laws and policies in support of LGBTQ+ rights are robust, with some of the most inclusive protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Still, as a community, we have a long way to go to ensure equality; it is difficult to overstate some of the challenges facing so many New Yorkers in this current political climate. Should I become the first Black queer woman elected to the City Council, I commit to ensuring that queer voices are centered in my office and in my advocacy for the district and all New Yorkers. I will fight for increased and ultimately universal access to PrEP and other HIV treatments, gender-affirming health and mental health care, and the decriminalization of sex work.

When it comes to housing and the realities of homelessness faced by far too many LGBTQ+ New Yorkers, the lens through which I advance progressive housing policy in general is in fact a queer lens. In seeking to reform ULURP and requiring developers to build housing that includes set asides for those experiencing homelessness, LGBTQ+ people - and especially Black and Brown LGBTQ+ people who are currently housing insecure - will be among those who benefit the most. I look to expand efforts in my district where we have taken steps to open new housing options for folks who are among the most in need. Just last year, we celebrated the opening of Stonewall House, on the property of Ingersoll Houses in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, a 145-unit development specifically for LGBTQ+ seniors. Stonewall House is a model for our District and our City, and must continue to be expanded for young people and older adults who are on the margins of our community. Lastly, we need to remove all police from homeless services to keep our community safe.

The NYPD’s budget is nearly $6 billion? If elected, will you work to reduce the NYPD’s and invest in non-policing alternatives? By how much? 

I support reducing the NYPD budget by at least $1 billion because the advocates who have been doing this work for years, along with families directly impacted by police violence, have determined this as the most important first step in the fight for a more just system.

As documented by advocates like Communities United for Police Reform, the true size of the NYPD budget is close to $12 billion, which accounts for the tentacles of the agency that permeate so many other city agencies. There is no role for the NYPD in agencies like the New York City Department of Education, Administration for Children’s Services, or Department of Homeless Services. The dollars allocated to NYPD surveillance within each of these agencies should be reallocated to much needed social services and service-focused positions that allow New Yorkers a pathway to good-paying, unionized City jobs. Overall, the size of the NYPD must shrink and our investment in social services, youth services, education and public hospitals must scale to meet the urgent needs of a post-pandemic City. 

What is your plan to help the city financially recover from the economic crisis caused by COVID19? What will your priorities be if there is a second wave of COVID19?

Creating new revenue streams like legalizing marijuana (which should only be done by following the lead of advocates who have outlined how a just and equitable industry should be modeled) and introducing residential parking permits are just a couple of ways the city can start on the long road to financial and economic recovery.

With a second wave of COVID-19, my priorities would be to make sure every school community has what they need to continue learning for our youngest New Yorkers, and that healthcare providers and essential workers are receiving hazard pay and adequate personal protective equipment.

What if any initiatives do you propose to help with the climate crisis?

While the City has made important strides to combat the climate crisis, our work is far from over. We must help landlords comply with Local Law 97, which places carbon caps on most buildings larger than 25,000 square feet (roughly 50,000 residential and commercial properties across NYC) in time for its full implementation in 2024, especially in light of the stress building owners are under as a result of the pandemic. We must continue to invest in green infrastructure and transit like a 100% zero-emission City fleet, and scale opportunities for more blocks and buildings to purchase community solar. As a Council Member, I will also champion climate-focused pilot programs to potentially scale long-term, such as funding organizations to support the sustainable retrofitting of buildings across entire neighborhoods. 

What will you do to support labor unions if elected? Did you publicly support the  Association of Legislative Employees  (the union that represents council staffers) in their request for voluntary recognition?

New York City is a union city, and I am committed to ensuring that doesn’t change. I publicly supported the Association of Legislative Employees, and will always advocate for safe working conditions, fair pay, and collective bargaining for staff of the New York City Council.

How much money has your campaign raised and what are your major sources

To date, I have raised just over $83,000 from friends, neighbors, and fellow New Yorkers. I was among the first candidates in the race to qualify for matching funds, and have the most in-district donors to date.

Are you accepting campaign contributions from law enforcement sources?  Real Estate Sources?

I have, and will continue to refuse all money from police unions and real estate sources.

Do you commit to using inclusive and gender neutral language in press releases and other announcements (e.g., “the people of the…” instead of “the men and women of the…”)?

Yes, absolutely - I have always used inclusive and gender neutral language, and will continue doing so.

Yes or no, do you support the following city council initiatives:

Intro 2047: Prevents landlords from discriminating against criminal legal system involved tenants: Yes 

Intro 2050: Allows noncitizens to vote in municipal elections: Yes 

Reso 0923: Calls for the state to repeal Penal Law 240.37, known as the #WalkingWhileTrans Ban: Yes 

Intro 1314/Fair Chance Act 2.0: Prohibits discriminatoin based on one’s arrest record, pending criminal accusations, or criminal convictions. Prevents employers from inquiring  about #WalkingWhileTrans Ban arrests: Yes 

Intro 2012: Requires NYPD to report on custodial interrogations of minors: Yes 

Intro 1529: Expands access to an attorney for tenants in eviction proceedings: Yes 

DNA protection bill introduced by CM Richardson and CM Ayala: Prevents NYPD from collecting samples of DNA from children without consent form a parent or guardian: Yes

Hector Robertson

Level
City Council

Constituency
District 35

More Information
Campaign Site

2020 LID Questionnaire Response

Why are you running for City Council?  

I am running for City Council because the City of New York and the current City Council  have failed this city and this district. They have taken New Yorkers and Brooklynites for  granted and they are simply running this city business as usual. It’s time for change. There are so many issues in this district that the current City Council representative has  simple failed to address and I have personally experienced her disdain for my  community. Having worked as a community organizer and seeing firsthand the cry from  my community for leadership, I felt it was necessary for me to run in this race and  expand the range of help I can bring to the people. 

What are the greatest struggles of your Council district? 

Housing is the greatest struggle in the district. With more and more new building  constructed in the district and gentrification growing, housing remains one of the  biggest crises in the district and across the city. To make matters worse, COVID has now  added a new dimension to the housing issue. The moratorium on rent has expired and  tenants are now faced with possible evictions by their building owners. 

Why do you want LIDs endorsement? And what does LGBTQ+ representation in the  government mean to you?

I think about my cousin Timmy. A United States Army man who died of AIDS but he also lived in a country that did not accept him as a gay man. I remember his struggles and  those of my aunt trying to defend him from those who tried to harm him. LIDs  endorsement is significant in that as the City Council representative, this organization  will keep me focus on the various issues affecting LGBTQ+ brothers and sisters. 

What is one thing you would do while in office to make NYC government more  inclusive?

I will preserve and expand LGBTQ+ rights for all in the city and I will not allow the Human  Rights of LGBTQ+ residents of this district to be treated as a “gay issue”. I would focus  on protecting LGBTQ+ against violent hate crime, housing discrimination, employment discrimination, health services discrimination. 

What does gender equity mean to you in your district and how can you improve upon it?

Providing access to resources and opportunities should be the right afforded to every  citizen of the district and the city regardless of gender. Gender inequality is still a  problem in this country and around the world. The continued education on this issue  remains the best way to improve behavior. We should also consider demanding quotas  in the work place to improve accountability. 

Approximately 40% of runaway and homeless youth are LGBTQ+. The NYC Unity Work  Project would have provided training, job placement and development for these  communities, but the program ($675k per year) was cut from the city’s budget in FY21. Do  you commit to fighting for funding for this or similar programs? How will you support safety  and wellness for homeless LGBTQ+ New Yorkers if you are elected?  

I think it is important to restore these funds taken from this program and I will commit to  make it priority to fund this program once again and find the way to keep it from being  removed from the general budget. To support safety and wellness for homeless LGBTQ+  young people, I pledge to support organizations such as the Covenant House, The  National Coalition for the Homeless and New Alternatives to continue to provide shelter and services to the young homeless LGBTQ+. 

The NYPD’s budget is nearly $6 billion? If elected, will you work to reduce the NYPD’s and  invest in non-policing alternatives? By how much?  

Yes. The NYPD budget needs to be reviewed line item by line item to identify areas that  needs to be cut and redirect those funds to social needs in the district and across the  city. 

What is your plan to help the city financially recover from the economic crisis caused by  COVID19? What will your priorities be if there is a second wave of COVID19?

I would help business recover by making sure if there is a stimulus plan available, my  district business sector gets its share. I will ensure that if there is an application process,  it will be run directly out of my office to ensure everyone will have the same opportunity  to apply and receive the help they need. Second, I will ensure the city agencies are not  mired with red tapes (following safety guidelines) for small business owners for the  various city permits they require.

What if any initiatives do you propose to help with the climate crisis? 

I will support New York City Climate Mobilization Act; which was recently passed city  council. This bill is expected to keep the city in line with emissions reduction set by  the Paris Climate Agreement.  

What will you do to support labor unions if elected? Did you publicly support the Association  of Legislative Employees (the union that represents council staffers) in their request for  voluntary recognition? 

For many years, my family works as part of the NYC organized labor union. We are  union all the way. As a City Council member, I will continue to support NYC  organized labor union. 

How much money has your campaign raised and what are your major sources? Donations from friends, family and local business have funded my campaign so far.  We have few thousand dollars in the bank. 

Are you accepting campaign contributions from law enforcement sources? Real Estate  Sources? 

No. 

Do you commit to using inclusive and gender neutral language in press releases and other  announcements (e.g., “the people of the…” instead of “the men and women of the…”)?

Yes. 

Yes or no, do you support the following city council initiatives: 

Intro 2047: Prevents landlords from discriminating against criminal legal system involved  tenants: 🗹 Yes ☐ No 

Intro 2050: Allows noncitizens to vote in municipal elections: ☐ Yes 🗹 No 

Reso 0923: Calls for the state to repeal Penal Law 240.37, known as the  #WalkingWhileTrans Ban: 🗹 Yes ☐ No

Intro 1314/Fair Chance Act 2.0: Prohibits discriminatoin based on one’s arrest record,  pending criminal accusations, or criminal convictions. Prevents employers from inquiring  about #WalkingWhileTrans Ban arrests: 🗹 Yes ☐ No 

Intro 2012: Requires NYPD to report on custodial interrogations of minors: 🗹 Yes ☐ No

Intro 1529: Expands access to an attorney for tenants in eviction proceedings: 🗹 Yes ☐ No 

DNA protection bill introduced by CM Richardson and CM Ayala: Prevents NYPD from collecting samples fo DNA from children without consent form a parent or guardian: 🗹 Yes ☐ No

Michael Hollingsworth

Level
City Council

Constituency
District 35

More Information
Campaign Site

2020 LID Questionnaire Response

Why are you running for City Council? 

I have grown tired of depending on weak politicians who are reactive as opposed to proactive. Because I’m a housing activist, we’re used to identifying a problem (such as a pending eviction of a neighbor) and then taking action to solve it (we blockade the building). My main area of focus, and where I hope to usher in the most change, is around land use and rezoning. For far too long our electeds (specifically Brooklyn Dems) have pretended that they have no power or say in the decisions that displace our neighbors. For example, CM Laurie Cumbo took as much money as she could from developers and real estate interests and sold out our neighborhoods and now has the gall to talk about gentrification. It's not just that Cumbo et al are taking real estate money and then approving projects that displace people; it's something worse, where they are trying to convince people that predatory development and displacement is some kind of law of nature, and that we're stupid if we think that we should demand better or fight back, or if we think that our electeds should demand better or fight back. They're gaslighting us when we show them receipts on how developers have harmed us in the past (like at Atlantic Yards, East NY, Williamsburg, Hudson Yards, and on and on), and then tell us that we don't know how it works and that their decisions are actually going to help us. Our electeds have provided us with a limited vision of what's possible, and they refuse to see the full gravity of our housing crisis, or inequality in general, because it would require more courage than they can muster. I’m running for City Council because I’m not willing to make deals that displace my Black and brown neighbors.

What are the greatest struggles of your Council district?

I’m a Black tenant in a still majority Black tenant district, born and bred in Southern Crown Heights, so I truly believe that housing is the most logical starting point for figuring out how to solve many of the problems in a gentrifying district. Take the devastating number of Covid-19 deaths this past Spring in Brooklyn. We used to have full service hospitals all across the district, but those essential healthcare services disappeared to make way for mostly unaffordable housing. With fewer affordable apartments available to existing residents, our families found themselves cramped into apartments that aren’t adequately sized for things like social distancing during a pandemic. Over 6,000 people in Brooklyn died, and we now know that a significant percentage of those neighbors died needlessly because of overrun hospitals and cramped quarters where our elders didn't stand a chance. So we start with housing. 

Why do you want LIDs endorsement? And what does LGBTQ+ representation in the government mean to you?

 I want LID’s endorsement because I know that the Brooklyn LGBTQ+ community’s 40+ year effort to build power continues to be a success and is a model for social movements all over the city, and I want that kind of drive and resilience in addressing the needs of the 35th District. As a Black tenant, I know what it meant to me personally and to the housing movement to see leaders like Assembly Member Diana Richardson, State Senators Zellnor Myrie, and most recently my neighbor, Assembly Member-Elect Phara Souffrant-Forest ascend to the halls of power to speak on behalf of folks just like me. Representation matters, especially to young people.

What is one thing you would do while in office to make NYC government more inclusive?

There has been an encouraging increase in trans representation in Community Boards and now in the race for City Council. The time for NYC government to reflect the constituents it serves is long overdue. As a Black man, I know that lived experience is more valuable than academic degrees or political connect. This means we must make concerted efforts to recruit trans folx of color and LGBTQ+ activists to leadership positions in all levels of government, work that your organization has long championed and that is now bearing fruit. 

What does gender equity mean to you in your district and how can you improve upon it?

I try to treat everyone I interact with in the same way I would want to be treated, as a fellow human being. But I also recognize that gender and sexual identity has been used to oppress people in ways I can never comprehend. I want to help fight to level the playing field, and this will require more than just being gender-blind, just as claiming color-blindness doesn’t bring about racial equality. In my district, that means understanding that the role of a public servant is not to take center stage or increase one's own power, but to spread that power among the constituency, with the most marginalized voices taking center stage. Southern Crown Heights is run by Caribbean women, a large percentage of whom are nurses working all over the city. That's who I'm used to taking my cue from, and that is not going to change.

I support  allocating resources to community centers and social programs to help the transgender community, many of whom have been shunned by their families, thus are unhoused and find it hard to find employment and sometimes resort to sex work. I support legalizing sex work to make sure that sex workers have rights and protections on the job, just like any other workers ought to enjoy.

I also support hiring more women and non-binary people into positions of power. We should especially encourage women and non-binary people to build and run systems to ensure that victims of domestic violence can trust they will be heard and helped by city government, we can offer mental health care to those who cause harm and to survivors of harm.

Finally, I  support efforts to fund free preschool, childcare and parental leave. The PEW Research Center found that out of 41 developed countries, the U.S. is alone in its lack of paid parental leave. 

Approximately 40% of runaway and homeless youth are LGBTQ+. The NYC Unity Work Project would have provided training, job placement and development for these communities, but the program ($675k per year) was cut from the city’s budget in FY21. Do you commit to fighting for funding for this or similar programs? How will you support safety and wellness for homeless LGBTQ+ New Yorkers if you are elected?  

Absolutely. This year’s budget process was an absolute failure by those entrusted with our city’s most vulnerable residents. Our leaders made damn sure that police would have the funding they need to murder Black people, harass trans folx, entrap sex workers, and continue to attempt to address society’s problems with punitive and carceral non-solutions. I will talk about how we must reduce the NYPD budget in the next section, but I am indignant that once again our city’s budget has been balanced on the backs of poor, Black, brown, LGBTQ+ and homeless folx. And unfortunately the next council term doesn’t start until 2022, which means we have a formidable task ahead of us in 2021, because these folx cannot wait for people like our mayor and my council member to grow a conscience. We will fight as people on the margins always have - by putting our bodies on the line and demanding to be seen and heard. Safety and wellness for homeless LGBTQ+ New Yorkers is not terribly hard to achieve if you care about people more than developer profits. Case in point: The Bedford-Union Armory. I know the Brooklyn Pride Center will be an invaluable resource for LGBTQ+ homeless young people, providing services that Central Brooklyn desperately needs. But the Armory sits on public land. Nothing precluded turning it into 100% affordable housing with a significant set-aside for homeless LGBTQ+ young adults, and the city could have then leased the space to the Pride Center. We did our kids a disservice by not fighting even harder to kill that deal; permanent, affordable, stable housing is the only real way to ensure the safety and wellness of these young people.

The NYPD’s budget is nearly $6 billion? If elected, will you work to reduce the NYPD’s and invest in non-policing alternatives? By how much? 

I realize that the NYPD 2020 budget didn’t grow to 10.9 billion overnight, but instead accumulated over decades. I envision myself cutting as much as possible every year that I’m in office, diverting those funds to the same communities that have been overpoliced for decades, into our schools, housing, healthcare, job training/jobs. 

I support an immediate hiring freeze, reductions in the NYPD force, returning traffic enforcement to a separate unarmed department, and getting police out of schools. I also think police officers should be responsible for personal liability insurance. From 2015 to 2019 NYC taxpayers spent $119 million, $280 million, $335 million, $230 million, and $69 million settling complaints against the NYPD. This practice of the taxpayers paying for officers’ bad behavior, incompetence and brutality has got to stop.

What is your plan to help the city financially recover from the economic crisis caused by COVID19? What will your priorities be if there is a second wave of COVID19?

 To prevent painful cuts that will hurt our most marginalized community members, we’ll need to fight austerity budgets at both the city and state level. We can reallocate money from the NYPD budget to help prevent some of the most painful cuts and provide essential services. I also strongly believe that the city needs to expand programs that provide jobs for those who are struggling in a discriminatory labor market.

Unfortunately, the city can’t do everything when it comes to a crisis of this scale. That’s why we need to elect a true organizer. I will use my large staff budget to organize and educate my neighbors, so we can build a movement to tax the rich. We must use this power to pass the Budget Equity Act at the state level and regain some of the power Cuomo has stolen from the people. We will also need to organize to force Cuomo and the legislature to cancel rent during this crisis and make all COVID-19 testing and treatment free. We need a city council member who understands that while the city can’t do everything, we can absolutely organize to make sure poor and working class Black and brown communities get the resources we need.

What if any initiatives do you propose to help with the climate crisis?

The environment has always been deeply important to me--as someone who spent his childhood dealing with Asthma, greenspaces like Prospect Park and Brooklyn Botanic Garden were a refuge where I felt like I could truly breathe. With climate change bearing down on our communities, we need to take action immediately. I support the following measures at the city level to deal with this crisis: 

1. Divest City pension funds from all fossil fuel industries.

2. Reinstate the funding to achieve the city's goals of zero organic waste by 2030, and in the meantime support other organics collection streams such as farmers markets, community gardens, non-profits, private companies, and personal DIY’s.

3. Stop all proposed new fossil fuel infrastructure, as well as supporting plans to  draw down all existing fossil fuel infrastructure in the next decade.

4. Decrease the carbon footprints of existing buildings through retrofits and prioritize fully funding NYCHA, with protections for tenants so landlords cannot pass along any costs. 

5. Stop new development in zone 1 and 2 emergency evacuation zone floodplains and focus on coastal resiliency solutions instead.

6. Increase green, transit-oriented infrastructure, such as bike lanes and bus lanes, while centering and working with working-class communities of color to ensure that it meets their needs and respects their vision.

7. Reduce the city vehicle fleet by at least 25%, with a special focus on NYPD’s fleet.

8. Invest and protect public parks and green spaces, such as the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, which is currently threatened by developers.

What will you do to support labor unions if elected? Did you publicly support the  Association of Legislative Employees  (the union that represents council staffers) in their request for voluntary recognition?

I grew up in a union household and one of my first jobs ever was a union job in the BPL. I have also been a union grocery store worker. Workers and tenants are two faces of the working class. The first thing I’ll do is support the labor movement in their struggle.  If residents in my district are striking, I’ll join them on the picket lines. In terms of policy, all city contractors should have to agree to card check neutrality as a condition to gaining city contracts. We should also end the outsourcing of city services and bring them back into the public sphere where they would be unionized. I support legislation to guarantee workers fair and consistent scheduling, guarantee paid vacation time, and to prohibit treating employees as so-called independent contractors without benefits. I absolutely support the Association of Legislative Employees in their request for voluntary recognition.

How much money has your campaign raised and what are your major sources?

We are on track to meet our fundraising goal by the January filing deadline, with the primary sources being in-district and Brooklyn residents, small dollar donations from tenants and activists I’ve organized with.  

Are you accepting campaign contributions from law enforcement sources?  Real Estate Sources?

The Crown Heights Tenant Union was my entry into the world of activism. Since 2015, we have asked candidates running for office to sign a pledge not to accept real estate money, with Assemblymember Diana Richardson being the only candidate to sign the pledge initially. As of January 2021 Brooklyn will have three state senators (Salazar, Myrie, and Brisport) and four Assemblymembers (Souffrant-Forest, Mitaynes, Gallagher, and Richardson) who didn't take real estate money to win. As a lifelong Black, Brooklynite tenant who has witnessed firsthand the impact that the real estate industry has had on my neighbors and neighborhood, there is no way that I will ever accept big real estate’s money. Same goes for law enforcement: I will not take contributions from these organizations, nor will I accept money from elected officials or organizations that have received these contributions. Clean hands are clean hands, and there's no such thing when police unions are funding a candidate.

Do you commit to using inclusive and gender neutral language in press releases and other announcements (e.g., “the people of the…” instead of “the men and women of the…”)?

Absolutely. 

 Yes or no, do you support the following city council initiatives:

Intro 2047: Prevents landlords from discriminating against criminal legal system involved tenants: Yes

Intro 2050: Allows noncitizens to vote in municipal elections: Yes

Reso 0923: Calls for the state to repeal Penal Law 240.37, known as the #WalkingWhileTrans Ban: Yes

Intro 1314/Fair Chance Act 2.0: Prohibits discriminatoin based on one’s arrest record, pending criminal accusations, or criminal convictions. Prevents employers from inquiring  about #WalkingWhileTrans Ban arrests: Yes

Intro 2012: Requires NYPD to report on custodial interrogations of minors: Yes

Intro 1529: Expands access to an attorney for tenants in eviction proceedings: Yes, I fully support Intro 1104 which expands the Right to Counsel to double the current income threshold as well as for cases in venues other than housing court (as well as appeals) - to tenants, an eviction is an eviction regardless of where it was filed. I also support Intro 1529 which provides funding for and coordination with trusted tenant organizations to do the outreach needed tenants need to know about these rights. These 2 bills had a veto-proof majority just prior to the pandemic yet didn't make it into the budget, so we'll have to fight for them!

DNA protection bill introduced by CM Richardson and CM Ayala: Prevents NYPD from collecting samples fo DNA from children without consent form a parent or guardian: Yes

Alexa Aviles

Level
City Council

Constituency
District 38

More Information
Campaign Site

2020 LID Questionnaire Response

Why are you running for City Council?  

I am running for my family, my neighbors, and the community organizations who are  working to improve the lives of everyday New Yorkers. I am running to represent this  District that I have called home for almost 20 years and where I am raising my two  daughters with my partner. My experiences keep me grounded in understanding the  everyday needs of the most vulnerable community members. I have worked with families  in our community for over a decade, witnessing people's daily challenges and triumphs  or progress These experiences have helped me seize opportunities to build bridges  between my community and decision-makers, who are often out of touch with our most  vulnerable neighbors. I am running for the families who have been left behind by our  public schools and displaced because of gentrification. I am running for immigrants who  have been terrorized by increasing threats made to their lives and families. I'm running to  lead change and to protect and uplift the vulnerable New Yorkers. They are the backbone  of our successes, regardless of the political shifting tides at the federal level. I believe we  can make a lasting change right now, in our backyards, to build safe, stable, and resilient  futures for ourselves and our families.  

What are the greatest struggles of your Council district? 

In addition to the City's long-standing disinvestment in our District, our community is  struggling. Our District has high poverty rates (Asian community 38% and Latinx  community 33%). More than 60% of our residents are rent-burdened (with half paying  more than 30% of their income in rent and half paying more than 50% of their incomes  on rent). Additional challenges that contribute to poverty are that approximately 40% of  residents lack a high school diploma which is a significant barrier to higher wage  opportunities. The pandemic has exacerbated the inequities our community has been  struggling with for decades. Our residents are profoundly concerned about continued loss  of earnings or opportunities for income growth, greater food insecurity, lack of childcare.  These challenges are further complicated by barriers to information due to language  inaccessibility, poor health outcomes, and educational challenges. The needs are  complex and varied across the District. Our most vulnerable community members, such  as our elders and immigrant individuals and families have been excluded from public programs and benefits, must be centered in our recovery efforts. The most critical concerns right now are survival, recovery, and obtaining access to the services that are  desperately needed.  

Why do you want LIDs endorsement? And what does LGBTQ+ representation in the  government mean to you? 

The LID endorsement is important to me and our campaign because it would reflect my  values of human dignity, fairness, and justice for all people. It is also important because  my vision is to build a strong, genuinely inclusive coalition that reflects the diversity (in  every dimension) of our beloved District. A LID endorsement would amplify our commitment to the LGBTQ+ community and reflects the importance we place on this  community in our District and citywide. 

As a Latinx person in this country, I have had firsthand experience throughout my life of  the negative impacts of being excluded and othered. I recognize and acknowledge I am  of privilege and others experience more profound compounding harms. I have a deep  commitment to representation and inclusion. Representation matters, not only because it  is the right and fair thing to do, but because diverse perspectives and approaches yield  more creative and improved outcomes. 

Far too often, public processes mistake feedback for meaningful engagement. We need  to create more spaces for meaningful dialogue to address the complex issues we face as  a community and society. I have spent many years building bridges and navigating  stakeholders' diverse interests, from philanthropy to government to individual residents. I  am committed to ensuring that decision-making tables include underrepresented voices  and perspectives. I will also work with my colleagues on what it means to meaningfully,  intentionally, and authentically engage the breadth of community voices that makes our  District so vibrant. 

What is one thing you would do while in office to make the NYC government more  inclusive? 

The two actions I would take that would advance our vision of inclusivity are 1)  appointing/hiring more people from underrepresented communities in decision-making  positions and 2) building the leadership bench. We would commit to ensuring our office  is inclusive, and our staff is representative. We must also demand that the City government also reflect that representation across agencies at all levels.

What does gender equity mean to you in your District, and how can you improve upon it? 

Gender equity means that we provide people of all genders necessary to repair the harms  of the past and give them what they need to succeed. Achieving gender equity is  intersectional, and we will achieve it when we address all forms of oppression (classism,  racism, ageism, and ableism). To advance gender justice in our District, we must fight to rebuild the social safety net and get the resources we need to address many of the critical  issues our community is facing as discussed above. We need the community, particularly  those most marginalized, to lead the solutions and path forward. Our campaign is  committed to that community and working to amplify, support, leverage the power of  elected officials to work for the We, and not just a few. 

Approximately 40% of runaway and homeless youth are LGBTQ+. The NYC Unity Work  Project would have provided training, job placement, and development for these communities,  but the program ($675k per year) was cut from the City's budget in FY21. Do you commit to  fighting for funding for this or similar programs? How will you support safety and wellness for  homeless LGBTQ+ New Yorkers if you are elected? 

These cuts were horrifying, and austerity measures have always harmed the people who  need support the most. I am committed to budget justice, and fighting against these kinds  of cuts to health, education, housing for the most vulnerable in our communities. I commit  to fighting for funding programs that support the health, safety, and wellness of runaway  and homeless youth who are LGBTQ+. 

The NYPD’s budget is nearly $6 billion? If elected, will you work to reduce the NYPD’s and  invest in non-policing alternatives? By how much?  

I am committed to reducing the NYPD budget and other carceral systems that continue  to harm our communities while in office. At a minimum, we need to reduce the NYPD  budget by - a real - $2 billion to start. 

What is your plan to help the City financially recover from the economic crisis caused by  COVID19? What will your priorities be if there is a second wave of COVID19? 

New York is undoubtedly facing a significant budget shortfall with projections ranging from  $16 billion to $59 billion, while a second wave seems to be at its initial stages. Securing  New Yorkers' health and safety, especially the most vulnerable, must drive our decision making process on how to allocate resources. Taxation is one of the surest ways to  address the need for revenues. The State mainly holds this power, and we must  strenuously advocate and build pressure around taxing the ultra-rich, taxing big business,  and legalizing marijuana. Simultaneously, we will make precision cuts to spending and  use any local taxation levers on those individuals and companies who have the most  wealth to generate additional income. Ensuring people are safe, have access to care and  necessities will be critical. We need a recovery plan that will address these basic needs,  including rent and mortgage relief, that includes rent relief for small businesses. 

What if any initiatives do you propose to help with the climate crisis?

The time is now to invest in a just transition from a fossil-fuel/extractive economy to a  clean, regenerative economy. The State legislature and the City Council have  collectively passed ambitious climate policies that center equity while seriously curbing  greenhouse gas emissions and creating sustainable green jobs. We must ensure full  funding and successful implementation of all these bills that work collectively to  generate revenue for frontline communities. We must continue to strengthen and build  on the wins and expand the impact's scope and depth. Advancing the commercial  waste zones, Renewable Rikers, decommissioning peaker plants and replacing  renewable sources are but a few critical high-impact projects that will advance climate  goals and support economic opportunities. 

Given the hazards our waterfront communities face, we must dedicate real resources  and effort to develop a comprehensive waterfront plan based on science, with the goal  of healthy, sustainable communities. With the defeat of the Industry City rezoning in  our District, there is an enormous opportunity to implement a proposal developed by  UPROSE called the GRID, an innovative plan calling for a green manufacturing district.  Lastly, we must continue building awareness in our communities about the urgency of  addressing climate change, shifting behavior as consumers (recycling, composting,  energy usage), and demanding accountability from our elected officials who fall short  on enacting laws to this end.  

What will you do to support labor unions if elected? Did you publicly support the Association  of Legislative Employees (the union representing council staffers) in their request for  voluntary recognition? 

I am grateful to live in a city and state with such a high concentration of labor unions and  members. Every facet of our lives, from the water we drink, sanitation, transportation, the  public schools our children attend, the hospitals we visit, etc., have benefitted from having  professional, hardworking union members. It has been especially crucial for People of  Color to gain access to well-paying jobs, pensions, and dignified retirement. In some  trades, there is still some work to do to remove barriers for People of Color, but overall  the labor movement is critical to protecting worker rights. While I do not belong to a union,  I am in a union household as my partner is a union delegate and long-standing member  of TWU 100, local 101. 

I would be a strong ally for NYC's labor movement, and I would be proud to stand with  them and use our office's power to support Legislative Employees who are organizing for  recognition. 

How much money has your campaign raised, and what are your major sources? 

Our campaign has raised $42,335 to date. The major sources are individual contributions  from New Yorkers across the City from family, friends, work, and community networks.

Are you accepting campaign contributions from law enforcement sources? Real Estate  Sources? 

No, our campaign is not accepting campaign contributions from law enforcement or real  estate sources.  

Do you commit to using inclusive and gender-neutral language in press releases and other  announcements (e.g., "the people of the…" instead of "the men and women of the…")? 

Yes, I commit to using inclusive and gender-neutral language in all communications  originated by our campaign and as an elected representative. 

Yes or no, do you support the following city council initiatives: 

Intro 2047: Prevents landlords from discriminating against criminal legal system involved  tenants: Yes 

Intro 2050: Allows noncitizens to vote in municipal elections:Yes 

Reso 0923: Calls for the State to repeal Penal Law 240.37, known as the #WalkingWhileTrans  Ban: Yes 

Intro 1314/Fair Chance Act 2.0: Prohibits discrimination based on one's arrest record, pending  criminal accusations, or criminal convictions. Prevents employers from inquiring about  #WalkingWhileTrans Ban arrests: Yes 

Intro 2012: Requires NYPD to report on custodial interrogations of minors: Yes 

Intro 1529: Expands access to an attorney for tenants in eviction proceedings: Yes 

DNA protection bill introduced by CM Richardson and CM Ayala: Prevents NYPD from collecting samples fo DNA from children without consent from a parent or guardian: Yes

Ceasar Zuniga

Level
City Council

Constituency
District 38

More Information
Campaign Site

2020 LID Questionnaire Response

Why are you running for City Council? 

I’m running for City Council to bring bold, thoughtful, and community-led leadership to our district.  Through my own upbringing, I’ve witnessed the struggles facing working class and immigrant communities, and have seen the power that having leaders who care deeply, listen to communities, build on community assets, and prioritize deep local engagement and advocacy can have on securing the services and rights working class communities deserve. I’ve dedicated my life to public service through a career working to bridge the opportunity gap for underserved children and families and I’m committed to working as a partner with our community to build the future I’d like to see for my sons and all children and families in our district. My experience as Chair of Community Board 7 has only strengthened these beliefs. We worked with local organizations, leaders, and partners to commission and analyze a Housing Study in our community, engaged over two years to understand  impacts of a broad waterfront rezoning, and more recently are trying to curb and mitigate the truck traffic on our streets. Now, more than ever, we need leaders who are present, engaged, and committed to working with the community to organize, end decades of top-down policy-making, and to advocate for community-led, bold solutions to the policy issues that most impact our district.

What are the greatest struggles of your Council district?

Lack of affordable housing is one of the most prominent issues in District 38, and COVID-19 has only amplified those challenges as income inequality and a tightening housing market contributed to displacement of long-time residents of District 38 long before the pandemic. The pandemic has also made clear the impact of unstable, low-wage jobs on the lives of families in our community. We need tailored support for small businesses, and access to workforce development and decent jobs that takes into account the needs of a working class, immigrant population. Our district is also home to one of the largest manufacturing waterfront communities with forces working to change its character without fully understanding the wide-reaching impacts. We need to champion community-led solutions that exist in our district that prioritize maintaining the industrial character of our waterfront, prioritize climate-forward industries, and bring accessible jobs that employ our working class communities. The waterfront is our biggest asset - managing and being a good steward of this asset is essential for the future of our community and the region.

Why do you want LIDs endorsement? And what does LGBTQ+ representation in the government mean to you?

As Brooklyn’s largest LGBTQ political club, Lambda Independent Democrats of Brooklyn is the leading voice for the LGBTQ community and speaks truth to power to those who often have been excluded from participating in the political process. LID has a proud history of supporting candidates and causes that have a proven track record of representing values and standing with the LGBTQ community. 

LGBTQ+ representation is vital to the success of Brooklyn, NYC and government as a whole. In addition to representation, we need to ensure LGBTQ+ voices are at the decision-making table. This means inviting organizations that are doing the work and represent the LGBTQ+ community to have a say in policy-making and have access to my team. I am also committed to ensuring my own team is diverse and representative of the community, to ensure we are walking the walk and integrating inclusive principles in all levels of our work. 

What is one thing you would do while in office to make NYC government more inclusive?

As Chair of Community Board 7, I made it a priority to create spaces and voices for those in our community who have often been excluded and marginalized from conversations; particularly on issues that will have lasting impacts in our neighborhood. As Chair, I championed inclusion by creating an Abilities & Access Committee tasked with creating and identifying ways we can continue to make more inclusive spaces in our community. As a City Council Member, I would prioritize this work, both in-district and city-wide to ensure community voices which have been historically excluded are at the decision-making table. We need structural reform, both in the way we conduct business, our land use, and our city charter to increase community engagement and ensure inclusion is at the heart of everything we do. 

What does gender equity mean to you in your district and how can you improve upon it?

We can’t talk about equity more broadly in our community without prioritizing and addressing gender inequity. It is deeply intersectional and relevant to how we should be thinking about all policy priorities in our district - from the over-policing of trans women of color, to the unequal burden of caregiving on mothers who are leaving the workforce at four times the rate of men since the pandemic, with Latinx mothers leaving at three times the rate of white women. 

 We can’t adopt a blanket approach to gender equity. We need to prioritize the diverse needs and priorities of girls, women, and transgender and gender non-conforming individuals across abilities, age, ethnicity/race, faith, gender expression, immigrant status, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status. Our campaign is committed to working with community leaders to ensure groups like LID and other equity-forward leaders are at the decision-making table, and that we are advocating for policies that integrate a gender-transformative lens and advocate for the needs of all New Yorkers. We will advocate for policies that champion gender pay equity, increase access to reproductive healthcare and childcare, and put protections against discrimination of our trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming neighbors. 

Approximately 40% of runaway and homeless youth are LGBTQ+. The NYC Unity Work Project would have provided training, job placement and development for these communities, but the program ($675k per year) was cut from the city’s budget in FY21. Do you commit to fighting for funding for this or similar programs? How will you support safety and wellness for homeless LGBTQ+ New Yorkers if you are elected?  

Youth need safe homes, period. Providing funding and services for LGBTQ homeless youth is essential to creating an equitable and safe NYC. As Council Member, I’ll fight for a budget that provides funds for not just homeless LGBTQ youth but for the vital social services that they rely on such as New Alternatives and Covenant House. 

The NYPD’s budget is nearly $6 billion? If elected, will you work to reduce the NYPD’s and invest in non-policing alternatives? By how much? 

The recent city budget shifted resources away from the non-profit and social services sector, the same sector on the front line protecting communities during the COVID-19 crisis while the NYPD continues to run with a blank check on spending. We can shift the responsibility of social service calls from the NYPD to more appropriate agencies; social workers, mental health workers, EMS, etc. Programs like the current city pilot to run police-free mental health response is a start. We need to redirect funds from the NYPD to youth services, education and afterschool programs, and workforce development programs that provide alternatives for young people. We have seen a significant impact in the lives of our young people when they have meaningful places to stay engaged in their community, away from violence and it is critically important to fund programming and services that support and fosters that development, particularly at a young age. 

What is your plan to help the city financially recover from the economic crisis caused by COVID19? What will your priorities be if there is a second wave of COVID19?  

Effective governance in times of crisis requires creative solutions and policies that bring together policy-makers across city and state lines. However, our elected officials across levels of government have failed to band together to create the sweeping policies that our communities need. The Mayor and Governor have aired their very public disagreements, often to the detriment of our communities. Our campaign is committed to working across city and state lines to hold leadership accountable and advocate for policies that prioritize the public health measures necessary to getting the virus under control like rigorous testing and tracing, resourcing the proper PPE for essential workers, and the protections, resource support and health care for those required to quarantine. Getting the virus under control is the necessary precursor to financial recovery, and will be essential to ensuring that we can keep schools open with the proper safety measures, and ensure businesses have the infrastructure and political support for maintaining safe, socially distanced operations. While federal funding will be a critical piece to financial recovery, our campaign will advocate for using tax increases on the ultra-wealthy to generate revenue to support critical social services, healthcare, and education which are at risk of being underfunded due to city budget deficits.  

In the likely case of a second wave of COVID, our priorities would be ensuring that increased lockdowns and restrictions on small businesses are paired with financial support, extending unemployment benefits, support expansion of paid sick days for gig workers, and rigorous testing and robust contract tracing to reduce transmission. 

What if any initiatives do you propose to help with the climate crisis? 

Years of racially-based housing policies place low-income communities near waterfronts and manufacturing zones, which are more severely impacted by the increasing prevalence of severe weather events and poor air quality. Air pollution due to truck traffic on and around the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway has been linked to higher rates of asthma and COVID-related risks. Our campaign aims to leverage the existing community-driven policies and proposals for a climate-resilient waterfront that prioritize restorative justice, place frontline communities in positions of leadership, and bring green jobs to community members to ensure they are able to take part in the resilience-based economic transformation of District 38. Specifically, we should be encouraging green manufacturing such as the off-shore wind hub facility along our waterfront, which would bring thousands of living wage jobs, create pipeline programs for workers, and further the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. 

What will you do to support labor unions if elected? Did you publicly support the  Association of Legislative Employees  (the union that represents council staffers) in their request for voluntary recognition? 

I have publicly supported the Association of Legislative Employees and think it’s crucial that workers have access and the support of labor unions. NY and NYC has a proud history and tradition of union representation and I will do all that I can in the Council to encourage diversity in membership recruitment and representation, break down barriers, and protect workers rights, particularly those who have been historically disenfranchised. As it relates to COVID, our campaign aims to deeply engage workers representatives to ensure they have a role in the design of coronavirus-related policies and safety procedures, as they have expert knowledge about their safety needs on the job and the resources needed for safe operations.

How much money has your campaign raised and what are your major sources?

Since launching a little over a month ago, our campaign has raised just over $4,000 from individual donors. 

Are you accepting campaign contributions from law enforcement sources?  Real Estate Sources? 

We are not accepting campaign contributions from law enforcement or real estate sources. 

Do you commit to using inclusive and gender neutral language in press releases and other announcements (e.g., “the people of the…” instead of “the men and women of the…”)?

Absolutely. It’s vitally important that we use language that is inclusive, doesn’t reinforce the gender binary, and acknowledges and affirms everyone’s identity. 

Yes or no, do you support the following city council initiatives:

Intro 2047: Prevents landlords from discriminating against criminal legal system involved tenants: Yes

Intro 2050: Allows noncitizens to vote in municipal elections: Yes

Reso 0923: Calls for the state to repeal Penal Law 240.37, known as the #WalkingWhileTrans Ban: Yes

Intro 1314/Fair Chance Act 2.0: Prohibits discriminatoin based on one’s arrest record, pending criminal accusations, or criminal convictions. Prevents employers from inquiring  about #WalkingWhileTrans Ban arrests: Yes

Intro 2012: Requires NYPD to report on custodial interrogations of minors: Yes

Intro 1529: Expands access to an attorney for tenants in eviction proceedings: Yes

DNA protection bill introduced by CM Richardson and CM Ayala: Prevents NYPD from collecting samples of DNA from children without consent form a parent or guardian: Yes

Jacqui Painter

Level
City Council

Constituency
District 38

More Information
Campaign Site

2020 LID Questionnaire Response

Why are you running for City Council? 

I grew up in District 38 and have seen firsthand the impacts of climate change, greed, speculation, and neglect on my community. I know we’re strongest when we lift each other up, and have endeavoured to do that, both in my career and in my activism. I know the people, the breadth of the challenges we face, and how to fix them. I’m running to be the progressive fighter my home needs.

What are the greatest struggles of your Council district?

Our District is a waterfront district extremely vulnerable to climate change. If we don’t take significant measures now, the result will be disastrous. I have seen firsthand the effects of climate change on the neighborhood I grew up in, when Hurricane Sandy inundated Red Hook with a toxic sludge of oil, runoff, and seawater. Eight years later, Red Hook still hasn’t recovered, with black molds and water damage threatening historic structures and affordable housing alike. Meanwhile, City Hall cares more about protecting the monied interests of multi-billion dollar boondoggles like Industry City than actually helping the most vulnerable in the district. 

District 38 is home to the largest and one of the oldest NYCHA campus: The Red Hook Houses. The Houses have long been on the city’s list for repairs, and are still recovering from damage caused by Sandy, nearly a decade after the fact. In early 2020, NYCHA finally began that long-delayed resiliency and rehabilitative construction work. This mismanaged construction has so far made matters worse. Our residents are now not only faced with a public health crisis from COVID, but also the added danger of the lead-contaminated soil being dug up outside their homes, an urban heat island effect with the removal of 537 trees, and unannounced gas and water outages. The reason for this is simple: the city does not care about the lives of lower-income black and brown communities. 

For the past several months, the Houses have had to endure gas and water outages for days at a time. We have 3 buildings that have been without gas for 4 months. In the middle of both a severe climate change weather and a pandemic. This is all in addition to the litany of other issues plaguing the Houses: leaking roofs, broken elevators, roach infestations, and wrongful evictions. Housing is a human right, and my campaign is uniquely committed to getting NYCHA to recognize them as such.

District 38 is a proud district with one of the most diverse immigrant populations in the city. Immigrant New Yorkers have been under heavy assault for years by the federal government as ICE terrorizes our neighbors. Unfortunately, NYC is a sanctuary city in name only. Every day ICE raids take place through the city and terrorize our immigrant community. This happens because ICE reigns freely and NYPD still cooperates and protects ICE in their operations. Furthermore, NYC courts turnover arrest records every day to DHS, which ICE uses to locate and make arrests. This has to end by sealing NYC courts, and barring the sharing of arrest records with DHS. There needs to be legislation passed that formally bans NYPD from collaborating, coordinating, or in any way supporting ICE operations. 

Many undocumented New Yorkers face deportation because they cannot afford any legal representation. This is why we need to vastly increase our funding for NYFUP - the coalition of non-profit organizations that provide free legal representation to undocumented immigrants. We should fully fund these organizations and pass a law that mandates that every undocumented immigrant facing legal proceedings must have free legal representation assigned to them.

Our undocumented neighbors contribute and reside in New York just like everyone else. They should be empowered to be equals and fully participate in all levels of society. This means having the right to vote in municipal elections, have city wide work permits, and be eligible to every social service the city provides. 

Why do you want LIDs endorsement? And what does LGBTQ+ representation in the government mean to you?

Representation in our local government means everything. Being a queer young woman, it means a lot to see people like me in positions of power within the government. Being a young girl, I remember distinctly not seeing hardly any women in government- and beginning to wonder if women even could be in government positions. I also remember how difficult it was to understand my bisexual identity with not a lot of information or people to look to. We need representation so every kid can grow up seeing someone just like them representing their community in politics. 

I’ve been an official member of LID for a little over a year now, and I’ve actually never felt so embraced and welcomed within an LGBTQ+ club. As a bisexual woman, a lot of times I’m shrugged off and labeled as “curious” or “sexually liberated”, even within some of the LGBTQ+ community. I believe in LID’s mission of inclusion and representation, and it would mean a lot to me to have the endorsement of Lambda Independent Democrats. 

What is one thing you would do while in office to make NYC government more inclusive?

Having an inclusive and diverse office is the biggest thing I can do locally. People historically left out of the process need to be brought in. This means hiring local staff that is representative of the entire community, with people from different backgrounds, genders, and sexual identities; and utilizing language access tools to ensure the office can communicate with all the communities in the district. We need our democracy to be inclusive, starting at the local level. 

What does gender equity mean to you in your district and how can you improve upon it?

Gender equity means everything to me. New York City is historically thought of as the most progressive city, but we still have a lot of work to do to eliminate the gender disparities. We need to actively work towards eliminating the wage gap between men, women, and those who don’t identify. This can be done by the City Council working towards passing laws of nondiscrimination of wages based on gender. 

Other gender issues that District 38 in particular is suffering from is healthcare and housing. We need to increase funds for health centers for women and LGBTQ+. Black, Latinx, Transgender, and Immigrant women are those who suffer the most with the lack of affordable and local heathcare. There are no LGBTQ+ shelters within District 38, and only a couple of women’s shelters. Not only do we need temporary places of protection for our women and LGBTQ+ communities, but we need to ensure our district has affordable housing options solely for them in order for them to feel safe and protected.

We also need to ensure that our city makes a real effort to bring gender and LGBTQ+ issues and topics into the classroom. This needs to be both in the public school system and through public awareness campaigns. Funding the organizations and programs that uplift our women and LGBTQ+ individuals is paramount to the goal of gender equality.

It’s past time that we achieve full gender equality in this city. We have to be more than progressive in words, but progressive in action.

Approximately 40% of runaway and homeless youth are LGBTQ+. The NYC Unity Work Project would have provided training, job placement and development for these communities, but the program ($675k per year) was cut from the city’s budget in FY21. Do you commit to fighting for funding for this or similar programs? How will you support safety and wellness for homeless LGBTQ+ New Yorkers if you are elected? 

Yes. We need to vastly expand funding for all organizations that provide housing for LGBTQ+ youth. Every dollar that’s in emergency housing saves lives.

We also need to increase funding for LGBTQ+ centers all over the city- into neighborhoods where there currently aren’t any. These organizations are integral to the LGBTQ+ community and provide housing services, mental health counseling, job training and placement, and legal services.

The NYPD’s budget is nearly $6 billion? If elected, will you work to reduce the NYPD’s and invest in non-policing alternatives? By how much? 

I support reducing the budget of the NYPD by at least 50% in the next fiscal year, with the ultimate goal of abolishing the NYPD and their budget. I support not just a hiring freeze, since with a 3%-5% rate of attrition per year, a hiring freeze is not enough; we need to substantially reduce the force that is currently working.

What is your plan to help the city financially recover from the economic crisis caused by COVID19? What will your priorities be if there is a second wave of COVID19?

COVID19 has devastated every community within our city and the new City Council will have to deal with a historic economic shortfall in the budget and a very present virus threat. We need a plan for both our healthcare system to contain and deal with the virus and one to initiate a fair and just economic recovery. The effects of COVID19 pandemic has disproportionately hurt Black and Latinx communities with both the death toll and economic depression. We need to propose legislation that funds our essential workers and bails out our small businesses. The pandemic has dramatically increased the amount New Yorkers are facing hunger and eviction. I will fight to fund programs that ensure food is widely available to those who need it and increase funding for building affordable housing. 

Furthermore, there isn’t sufficient funding for schools to be open safely, which is a crucial part of controlling the virus. The council needs to ensure schools have the proper safety equipment and enforcement of safety guidelines.

At the city level we cannot cancel rent in the Council, but I will pressure the state legislature to pass the Relief For All bill. At the city level we need to provide adequate funds for all social services crucial to the recovery to our city. 

What if any initiatives do you propose to help with the climate crisis?

Being a waterfront community, District 38 is extremely vulnerable to the effects of climate change. We’ve seen this with Hurricane Sandy, and we see it with the rising temperatures and sea levels that threaten our livelihood daily. 

Our planet, like our city, is in crisis mode. We have no choice but to fully fight for a drastic climate plan that will create millions of high-paying union jobs. This includes: 

• Full decarbonization of New York City and State by 2030. Which includes no new fossil fuel manufacturing plants or pipelines built in the city- and especially our waterfront community of District 38. 

• Expedite and urgently implement Red Hook’s NY Rising Community Reconstruction Plan, a resiliency plan brought about after Hurricane Sandy. Fully support and work towards public ownership of our utilities (Public Power). 

• A Green New Deal that prioritizes affordable, sustainable housing with green roofs, rainwater collection, and solar energy. 

Not only do we need to protect our current investments in public green spaces and transportation, we need to greatly expand them. I will fight for: 

• Robust funding for public parks, gardens, and waterfronts. Returning control of the MTA from Albany back to the city, which will allow for us to more aggressively modernize and climate-proof our transportation system. The construction of climate mitigation projects along the waterfront to protect our community from the next big storm. 

• Adequate funding for the proposed Brooklyn Greenway, a 26-mile long protected pedestrian and cyclist pathway along the waterfront to improve safety and transportation access throughout the district. 

• Fully support and advocate for expansion of the Upland Connector Streets project, a safe walkway method to connect the Sunset Park community to the waterfront. This will ensure a safer route to industrial waterfront jobs that so many of our neighbors depend on. 

• Utilize our maritime industrial properties for the manufacturing of wind and solar components. Advocate for offshore wind production like the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal site, which would in itself create hundreds of jobs by the proposed 2023 deadline. 

• Support The Movement for a Green New Deal’s Tax The Rich to Fund a Green New Deal plan: where taxing a small 5% on income over $500,000 would raise the $10 billion needed in order to fund things like green infrastructure jobs, renewable energy, upgrades to public transit, and energy efficient upgrades to all housing. 

Climate justice is racial justice. Communities of color are the most vulnerable to climate change- on purpose. Disproportionate pollution and fossil fuel infrastructures are always found more commonly in or next to neighborhoods with predominantly public housing and people of color. We need a Green New Deal for public housing more than ever. I pledge to fully support and fight for the proposed Green New Deal for NYCHA, which will: 

• Create tens of thousands of good, green jobs for NYCHA residents across the city

• Abolish NYCHA’s carbon pollution by switching to green energy sources

• Drastically reduce NYCHA’s utility costs

• Pair all repairs with new energy retrofits Reduce high rates of asthma among NYCHA residents by 18-30%

What will you do to support labor unions if elected? Did you publicly support the Association of Legislative Employees  (the union that represents council staffers) in their request for voluntary recognition?

Yes I support labor unions and yes I publicly support the Association of Legislative Employees request.

As a New York City teacher, my mother is a long time member of 1199. Thanks to my mom’s work, she was able to provide a decent life for me growing up in Red Hook. Through her, I learned how important workers rights are and how hard unions have to fight to secure benefits for their members. This reaffirmed for me how vital collective bargaining is to ensure an even playing field between workers and their employers.

It is critical to protect workers’ right to unionize. Companies in NYC are notorious for retaliating against employees who try to organize and many times fire them. Although stated as illegal in the Labor act, many companies get away with it due to the lack of enforcement and the little resources workers have. I would fight to implement high financial and criminal penalties in the city level for violations of the Labor act and direct funds in the NYC labor department to investigate and prosecute companies who violate this basic right to organize. There needs to be high financial penalties for bad faith bargaining from employers and I will hold them accountable to the NLRB.

Also, I would work with unions to develop a program that can make it easier for workers who want to unionize to know their rights and get connected to unions that will represent them in that process.

How much money has your campaign raised and what are your major sources

Since my announcement a month ago I have raised $5,000 and will continue to raise from local community donations. Our campaign took a brief pause during election week to volunteer and GOTV for Biden and democrats across the county.

Are you accepting campaign contributions from law enforcement sources?  Real Estate Sources?

No.

Do you commit to using inclusive and gender neutral language in press releases and other announcements (e.g., “the people of the…” instead of “the men and women of the…”)?

Yes!

Yes or no, do you support the following city council initiatives:

Intro 2047: Prevents landlords from discriminating against criminal legal system involved tenants: Yes

Intro 2050: Allows noncitizens to vote in municipal elections:Yes - this is a crucial step to increasing our democracy in New York City and lifting up more than 1 million working members of our city.

Reso 0923: Calls for the state to repeal Penal Law 240.37, known as the #WalkingWhileTrans Ban: Yes

Intro 1314/Fair Chance Act 2.0: Prohibits discrimination based on one’s arrest record, pending criminal accusations, or criminal convictions. Prevents employers from inquiring  about #WalkingWhileTrans Ban arrests: Yes

Intro 2012: Requires NYPD to report on custodial interrogations of minors: Yes

Intro 1529: Expands access to an attorney for tenants in eviction proceedings: Yes

DNA protection bill introduced by CM Richardson and CM Ayala: Prevents NYPD from collecting samples fo DNA from children without consent form a parent or guardian: Yes

Blake Morris

Level
City Council

Constituency
District 40

More Information
Campaign Site

2020 LID Questionnaire Response

Why are you running for City Council? 

The district needs smart and effective representation. The city needs a process for clear and transparent decision-making, which I will advocate strongly for if elected.

What are the greatest struggles of your Council district?

Confronting the challenges of COVID economics, the need for real affordable housing and eviction prevention, improved transportation and opportunities for recreation throughout the district.

Why do you want LIDs endorsement? And what does LGBTQ+ representation in the government mean to you?

Allowing all the voices of the district and city to be heard in a meaningful way. Vox Pop.

What is one thing you would do while in office to make NYC government more inclusive?

Create a portal that anyone can supply their email address and pick topics by subject or agency or zip code or city council district or by community board to receive real time notifications of events, meetings and city decisions/initiatives.

What does gender equity mean to you in your district and how can you improve upon it?

Remove the gender distinctions where possible, which I think should be everywhere. Let’s start with bathrooms.

Approximately 40% of runaway and homeless youth are LGBTQ+. The NYC Unity Work Project would have provided training, job placement and development for these communities, but the program ($675k per year) was cut from the city's budget in FY21. Do you commit to fighting for funding for this or similar programs? How will you support safety and wellness for homeless LGBTQ+ New Yorkers if you are elected? 

Restore the funding and start a youth hostel model type program to accommodate this population and keep them safe. 

The NYPD's budget is nearly $6 billion? If elected, will you work to reduce the NYPD's and invest in non-policing alternatives? By how much? 

I would propose zero budgeting. Start with what we want police to do per task and how much we want to spend for that task. Put the NYC Patrol guide on line and conduct a citywide public meeting review procedure for the public to decide what police are supposed to do and how they will do it.

What is your plan to help the city financially recover from the economic crisis caused by COVID19? What will your priorities be if there is a second wave of COVID19?

End all property tax abatement programs at once. Impose 10% surcharge on city income tax over $400k in income. Keep ALL businesses open provided that that there is 100% digital comprehensive contact tracing.

What if any initiatives do you propose to help with the climate crisis?

Remove ALL Tolls from bridges and tunnels and replace with MTA gas tax for entire service area including all suburban counties, electric charging stations on city streets, and massive conservation initiative for insulating buildings.

What will you do to support labor unions if elected? Did you publicly support the  Association of Legislative Employees  (the union that represents council staffers) in their request for voluntary recognition?

Support collective bargaining for all workers

How much money has your campaign raised and what are your major sources?

Raised $12,000. The residents of District 40, exclusively.

Are you accepting campaign contributions from law enforcement sources?  Real Estate Sources?

NO

Do you commit to using inclusive and gender neutral language in press releases and other announcements (e.g., "the people of the..." instead of "the men and women of the...")?

YES

Yes or no, do you support the following city council initiatives:

Intro 2047: Prevents landlords from discriminating against criminal legal system involved tenants: Requires investigation on consequences and methods from other localities that have adopted this proposal.

 2050: Allows noncitizens to vote in municipal elections: If the district supports this proposal, then I would support a city wide referendum on it.

Reso 0923: Calls for the state to repeal Penal Law 240.37, known as the #WalkingWhileTrans Ban: Yes

Intro 1314/Fair Chance Act 2.0: Prohibits discrimination based on one's arrest record, pending criminal accusations, or criminal convictions. Prevents employers from inquiring about #WalkingWhileTrans Ban arrests: Yes

Intro 2012: Requires NYPD to report on custodial interrogations of minors: Yes

Intro 1529: Expands access to an attorney for tenants in eviction proceedings: Yes

DNA Collection of minors: YES. Put the NYC Patrol guide on line and conduct a citywide public meeting review procedure for the public to decide what police are supposed to do and how they will do it.

Josh Pierre

Level
City Council

Constituency
District 40

More Information
Campaign Site

2020 LID Questionnaire Response

Why are you running for City Council? 

As an immigrant to Flatbush, I’ve grown up in my community understanding the struggles of working class people--and I’m tired of a system that under-delivers and fails to support our most vulnerable community members. I've dedicated my life to bettering my community since my days as a boy scout planting trees in our local parks, and I’m running because I want to take my experience and drive to the City Council to continue delivering for my neighbors. 

I am the son of a mechanic and Home Health Aide who was an 1199 member. I attended under-resourced public schools here before getting a degree in accounting and finance from Baruch College, becoming the first member of my family to graduate from college. Most recently, I’ve served as the Brooklyn Borough Director for the Office of the New York City Comptroller. I was a member of the Organization of Staff Analysts (OAS) and through my work with the Comptroller’s Office, helped create thousands of units of affordable housing throughout the city. 

As we confront a multitude of crises and challenges, I want to do more for the community that has given me so much. I believe that access to housing and healthcare are human rights, and that  quality education is critical to our community’s success. I believe that local government has a duty to its residents to ensure that everyone has access to the resources and opportunities they need to survive and thrive. As an immigrant, a member of the LGBTQ+ community, a Black man, I believe that we can do more to make our city a more fair and just place for all New Yorkers.

As a City Council Member, I will be a proactive and engaged leader who will be a strong advocate for everyone in the 40th district.  

What are the greatest struggles of your Council district?

The 40th Council District reflects many of the issues faced by central Brooklyn, many of these issues are being exacerbated by COVID19 and the current recession. Housing, from displacement to affordability, to homelessess, has been a major issue in our district. We have a rising unemployment and food security issue, which you can see from the long lines at the food pantries. Social justice issues such as police brutality and attacks on Trans people more common than in other communities. 

Why do you want LIDs endorsement? And what does LGBTQ+ representation in the government mean to you?

As an LGBTQ+ Black man I know that progress we have made is lopped sided. Advances made in other LGBTQ communities have not reached our Black communities. To be both Black and LGBTQ is to be both ahead and behind on various levels. I have lived on both sides of this and want to use the power of the City government to move both communities towards social economic equity on healthcare, education, housing, social services, and access to opportunities. I’m a longtime member of LID and would like to make history by being among the first LID members to sit on the City Council.

What is one thing you would do while in office to make the NYC government more inclusive?

Our government should represent the diversity of the people in NYC that it represents, yet too many qualified women, LGBTQ+, Black & Latinx, and immigrant New Yorkers are excluded from government. I would support legislation to mandate and fund Chief Diversity Officers for NYC’s governmental agencies. By creating roles specifically responsible for diversity, we would be able to hold agencies accountable for diversity and inclusion in their workforces, and agencies would be required to re-examine current exclusionary practices. 

I would also commit to hiring diverse voices in my Council office, as well as supporting diverse candidates for Kings County Committee, Community Board appointees, and other positions.

What does gender equity mean to you in your district and how can you improve upon it?

To me, gender equity means that women, trans, and gender non-conforming / non-binary folks are treated equitably, and can receive equitable access to critical services and protections. In my district, two areas of improvement are in healthcare and small business services. 

In healthcare, I would support equitable access to maternal health care as well as continued public funding for abortion care. The LGBTQ+ communities and the Black communities, especially Black women and trans individuals, deserve equitable access to abortion and healthcare.

I would also be a strong champion for increasing the City’s support for our small businesses. Many of the businesses in my community are immigrant or Black-owned, and these community institutions have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. I believe that we must provide relief specifically for these institutions, make the cap on platform fees (Seamless, Grubhub, etc) permanent, and more.

Approximately 40% of runaway and homeless youth are LGBTQ+. The NYC Unity Work Project would have provided training, job placement and development for these communities, but the program ($675k per year) was cut from the city’s budget in FY21. Do you commit to fighting for funding for this or similar programs? How will you support safety and wellness for homeless LGBTQ+ New Yorkers if you are elected? 

Yes, I will fight for funding for this project and other services for homeless LGBTQ+ New Yorkers. In my district, I see both the causes and impacts of homelessness every single day. I see it in the families displaced by gentrification and high rents, in the faces of the people who need mental health or substance abuse services but are unable to attain them, in the kids in our schools coming from shelters and facing extremely difficult odds for achieving the life they deserve. 

The City and the State have done far too little to ensure that individuals who are homeless have permanent affordable housing, and we should be moving forward with a number of policies designed to both reduce the incidence of homelessness and help those who have become homeless find permanent affordable housing.  This includes better enforcement of rent laws and re-regulation of all previously deregulated housing; a vacancy tax on warehoused apartments that big landlords use to artificially drive up the market rate of housing, and programs like Housing Stability Supports (HSS), a state program that provides direct income supplements to keep people from becoming homeless in the first place. Studies from the NYC Comptroller’s office while I worked there show that investments in programs like HSS more than pay for themselves by avoiding the many costs incurred by the city for both direct outcomes of homelessness, and the social costs for every homeless child in terms of their physical health, mental health, educational achievement and future earning potential.

Additionally, I believe that the Council must take an active role in reimagining policing in our city, including mandating that social services and mental health workers respond to the homeless and people in crisis instead of armed police officers.

The NYPD’s budget is nearly $6 billion? If elected, will you work to reduce the NYPD’s and invest in non-policing alternatives? By how much? 

I fully support large and significant changes to the scope and size of the NYPD, and I believe the NYPD’s budget needs to be cut by at least $1 billion. I believe that the armed officers, untrained in de-escalation, are not the people to address complaints about the homeless, disputes, and issues where one of the people involved suffers from a mental illness, and that social service agencies would be better able to respond. I also think that the NYPD shouldn’t be patrolling certain areas, like public parks for example, where dedicated security personnel already patrol, or placed in schools. Further, I would look to reduce the budget of the NYPD’s PR division. The NYPD will have to find a way to get their overtime bills under control, they must ensure these transitions are seamless, as well as get used to a smaller discretionary budget fund. 

What is your plan to help the city financially recover from the economic crisis caused by COVID19? What will your priorities be if there is a second wave of COVID19?

In order to keep running the city that made the wealthiest New Yorkers rich, we need to ensure that our City receives support from those who can afford to pay more and who have gotten tax break after tax break from Washington. We must have a wealth tax in order to fund housing initiatives, equitable public education, employment programs, and small business support to help New Yorkers recover from this crisis. Specific policy priorities for me if there is a second wave would include: broadband/internet access for students and low-income families so that they can access schooling; childcare for working-class families; protecting and providing for essential workers in healthcare, transportation, and more; stopping layoffs of critical public employees; and increased small business relief, especially to minority, women, and immigrant-owned businesses that are struggling now.

I would also advocate strongly for state and federal initiatives along these lines, such as a pied-a-terre tax and federal COVID-19 relief/stimulus funding.

What if any initiatives do you propose to help with the climate crisis?

Climate change is disproportionately impacting communities of color and working-class communities both locally and internationally. Especially as a member of the Afro-Caribbean diaspora, I understand that many of these communities are the first to be hurt by sea level rise, sea garbage, and negative health impacts (asthma, cancer, etc). Black and working-class communities aren’t able to by their way out of climate change, so we must do everything we can not only to reduce carbon emissions but also to ensure racial and health justice for the communities that are the most hurt. 

In terms of specific initiatives, I would support the five borough resiliency bill, the Renewable Riker’s bills, the expansion of alternative modes of transportation such as public transportation and bicycles, increased green spaces and equitable access to public parks in NYC, the expansion of composting in NYC, strict building emissions caps, the expansion of lead poisoning investigations (especially in BIPOC communities), and phasing out diesel vehicles as fast as possible.

What will you do to support labor unions if elected? Did you publicly support the  Association of Legislative Employees  (the union that represents council staffers) in their request for voluntary recognition?

Workers cannot and should not be treated as expendable, and I will support both labor unions as well as voluntary recognition of the ALE. I would support legislation to move us away from an at-will employment model to one where workers aren’t terminated without just cause. I would also strengthen protections for and expand the sick-leave requirement for gig workers, require hazard pay for essential employees, and expand social safety net / savings plans for NYC’s workers.

How much money has your campaign raised and what are your major sources?

Our campaign has raised upwards of $35,000. Our major sources of contributions have been individuals and in-district residents. As of the July 2020 filing, our campaign had hundreds of in-district donors, demonstrating the grassroots support that we have on the ground in District 40.

Are you accepting campaign contributions from law enforcement sources?  Real Estate Sources?

I won’t accept contributions from law enforcement sources, real estate developers, or corporate PACs. Police unions like the NYCPBA are on the far-right and have now even endorsed President Trump--a known sexist, xenophobe, and a racist. Real estate developers are now buying up property, uprooting residents, and gentrifying neighborhoods with their never ending development. I will stand in opposition to the goals of these organizations if elected.

Do you commit to using inclusive and gender neutral language in press releases and other announcements (e.g., “the people of the…” instead of “the men and women of the…”)?

Yes, I believe that gender neutral language helps make our city more inclusive, and both our campaign and my office would use such language in our communications as much as possible.

Yes or no, do you support the following city council initiatives:

Intro 2047: Prevents landlords from discriminating against criminal legal system involved tenants: Yes

Intro 2050: Allows noncitizens to vote in municipal elections:Yes

Reso 0923: Calls for the state to repeal Penal Law 240.37, known as the #WalkingWhileTrans Ban: Yes

Intro 1314/Fair Chance Act 2.0: Prohibits discriminatoin based on one’s arrest record, pending criminal accusations, or criminal convictions. Prevents employers from inquiring  about #WalkingWhileTrans Ban arrests: Yes

Intro 2012: Requires NYPD to report on custodial interrogations of minors: Yes 

Intro 1529: Expands access to an attorney for tenants in eviction proceedings: Yes

DNA protection bill introduced by CM Richardson and CM Ayala: Prevents NYPD from collecting samples fo DNA from children without consent form a parent or guardian: Yes

Kenya Handy-Hilliard

Level
City Council

Constituency
District 40

More Information
Campaign Site

2020 LID Questionnaire Response

Why are you running for City Council?

I decided to run after working in the NYC Department Of Investigation (DOI) and having a “behind the scenes” perspective of NYC government. I became more and more frustrated by the City’s inability to adequately respond to the convergence of a health pandemic, the historic social justice pandemic, and economic crisis. I witnessed what happens when the government does not have a plan for the future, and it baffles me. Agencies were fumbling to set up a “work from home” process and protocol, bureaucracy impeded quick and streamlined NYPD accountability during the protests, and the Mayor and the Council played performative politics with the budget. I felt my only choice was to quit my comfortable agency position and use the knowledge I’ve gained throughout my career to hold the government more accountable and to make serving my community directly, my job.

What are the greatest struggles of your Council district?

District 40 and Central Brooklyn at large are suffering from a confluence of COVID exacerbated struggles. COVID ripped through the district like wildfire and we lost so many of our friends/family/neighbors. Many in the district lost their jobs, which led to widespread food insecurity. Renters are heavily rent burdened, and our district’s renters will be in a precarious position once the moratorium on evictions is lifted. Homelessness was already a growing issue due to overdevelopment and the imbalance between cost of living increases and wage stagnation, pre-COVID. However, it will continue to increase as time goes by as a result of massive job loss and the unstable economy of our City’s small businesses. Additionally, our small homeowners are in an increasingly tenuous situation as many are on fixed incomes, teetering into foreclosure and are in danger of prevalent crimes like mortgage fraud and deed theft. Our schools have been struggling before COVID, however, the chasm in our education system is widening due to inequities in broadband access and other challenges with remote learning. Lastly, gun violence has gripped our communities, more frequently than before. And we are losing the untapped talents and resources of our young people due to said violence. We are a traumatized community that is just trying to survive this global health pandemic and all the ills exacerbated by it.

Why do you want LIDs endorsement? And what does LGBTQ+ representation in the government mean to you?

LID has been a stalwart in championing the rights of LGBTQ+ people and ensuring that elected officials address issues that affect members of queer communities head on and celebrate queer people with humanity and pride. LID’s endorsement will not only help me to create a broad, diverse coalition; it will help to ensure that my policies, and social agenda will be intersectional, nuanced, and effective for everyone. LID and other LGBTQ+ organizations will help me direct discretionary funding to support those Community Based Organizations that are providing much-needed services and resources that make a tangible difference in the lives of our communities.

LGBTQ+ representation in government helps to create a more responsive government that recognizes the unique challenges faced by various expressions of sexuality. As a student of intersectional social movements, I believe it is important to acknowledge all aspects of human identity and empower people to live their truth without fear of harassment or discrimination. It is the role of the government to ensure those protections, so that kids like mine can grow up with a greater spectrum of examples to identify with without fear, but with greater love, acceptance and celebration of the human experience.

What is one thing you would do while in office to make the NYC government more inclusive?

Our government needs to build and earn the trust of the LGBTQ+ community and more broadly, people with intersecting identities, because they have experienced institutional violence from the government. I strongly believe that the NYPD is not the only agency that needs to address its inherent biases and inability to serve New York’s diverse population. It is clear from my experience that agencies throughout City government are not equipped to address the nuances of the issues of the LGBTQ+ community. Although discrimination training has been implemented, in the past, I have only seen an one-hour video during government staff orientation. We need to create programs and policies to build an inclusive space for LGBTQ+. We need to institute:

• Data survey-- we need to do a gap analysis on the treatment of and attitude towards LGBTQ+ people within government. We need to have data to assess how to transform the system within the government.

• Cultural competency training -- mandate government workers to undergo cultural competency at least once or twice a year. We need to build the language and tools to foster the environment people with intersecting identities need. This includes ensuring that government materials use gender neutral terminology.

• Fellowship program -- we need to diversify access and increase pathways into the government for LGBTQ+ people and folks with intersecting identities. People may be interested in working in government but do not know how to participate or navigate the system, and a fellowship program may provide the support people need to better understand how to leverage their power within government.

I will also look to engage and work with LID membership and other LGBTQ+ groups to find other ways to make City government more inclusive as well.

What does gender equity mean to you in your district and how can you improve upon it?

It is important to note that I am keenly aware that gender identity is a social construct, that it is fluid, and my response is from a cis-gendered Black womxn’s perspective.

Gender equity in my district means a lot to me because: the majority of our households are run by Black womxn; the distribution of our healthcare and social service systems are mainly run, maintained, and administered by Black immigrant womxn; and we have a burgeoning Transgender and non-binary community in the district. Unfortunately, the current patriarchal and heteronormative systems that we operate under is violent, has real-life consequences, and serve to further marginalize womxn, transgender people, and non-binary people.

It is crucial that we enact policies that have strong love ethics to expand and strengthen gender equity. Central Brooklyn has historically been a traditional immigrant enclave, mostly from the Caribbean community, which has strong patriarchal values. In the past, the community was vocally and violently discriminatory towards LGBTQ+ community members, and restricted gender expression. I am happy to see that things are changing, but folks are still being harmed by bad policies. We need policies to be changed. That is why I am committed to working with my colleagues not only on the City level, but on the federal and state levels to make sure the LGBTQ+ community becomes a Constitutionally protected class against discrimination.

I believe I can improve upon gender equity by being intersectional as I govern. I will hire a diverse and intentionally representative staff that will always highlight, include, and celebrate the nuances of our collective experiences and humanity. My team and I will encourage intersectional conversations, inclusive policies and educational opportunities that address everyone’s nuances and needs. We will illustrate that issues like wage disparities, homelessness, violence (domestic violence and street violence), access to medical care, and sex work aren’t just “womxn issues.” That Black Trans youth are more likely to be victims of the four than any other group. It is important that we use every tool in our community to have people feel safe in their skin.

Approximately 40% of runaway and homeless youth are LGBTQ+. The NYC Unity Work Project would have provided training, job placement and development for these communities, but the program ($675k per year) was cut from the city’s budget in FY21. Do you commit to fighting for funding for this or similar programs? How will you support safety and wellness for homeless LGBTQ+ New Yorkers if you are elected? 

Yes. I commit to fighting for funding for LGBTQ+ people experiencing homelessness and similar programs and to leverage outside networks to help support as well.

I will support safety and wellness for homeless LGBTQ+ (especially our youth) by holding the Department of Homeless Services (DHS) accountable and to ensure it is doing everything in its power to prioritize the protection and advancement of vulnerable communities. I will also ensure that DHS has the mechanisms they need to work with other agencies and CBOs to create wrap around services to help get these communities and others transitioned out of poverty. I will also examine ways we can work with DHS & ACS to prevent homelessness amongst LGBTQ+ youths who have “aged-out” of the foster care system. And lastly, I will make sure that DHS is maximizing the funding they already have to make effective investments in the safety/security of LGBTQ+ homeless, especially our Trans community and youth.

The NYPD’s budget is nearly $6 billion? If elected, will you work to reduce the NYPD’s and invest in non-policing alternatives? By how much? 

Yes. I think the NYPD is tasked with way too much and operates with very little oversight. I would shift non-violent/domestic/mental health calls away from the NYPD and towards peer advocates and specially trained social workers. And I’m glad to see there is an attempt to do so. I would also call for the cancelation of agency MOUs that have them responsible for enforcing City agency violations. This includes, but is not limited to, the enforcement of restaurant and bar infractions, especially LGBTQ+ establishments that lead to frivolous summonses, and are used to harass patrons. I would also support the decriminalization of sex work. Since the NYPD uses it as an excuse to harass LGBTQ+ folks and Black/Brown womxn, and are inadequate at investigating and solving violent crimes, disappearances or murders of Trans and Black womxn sex workers.

I would start with the initial $1.1 billion dollars designated by the Comptroller’s office, then work to see where there are more cost savings. I would then move that money to invest in Department of Education programs that we know help to prevent crime, homelessness and/or victimization. I will also ensure that the City makes substantial investments in nonprofit organizations and CBOs that adequately support homeless and troubled youth, provide effective medical and trauma resources, permanent specialty housing, etc. I will also support major procurement and contracting restructuring to make sure that nonprofit access to said funding is streamlined and without the proverbial bureaucratic impediments. No need to reinvent the wheel, there are a lot of great resources on the ground that are doing the work, they just need more funding.

What is your plan to help the city financially recover from the economic crisis caused by COVID19? What will your priorities be if there is a second wave of COVID19?

We will need innovative ways to ensure our City is economically and environmentally sustainable, and that quality job opportunities are created for residents of the district in the process. With a growing $9 billion deficit, our City’s government has to make some hard budgeting choices and we will need to mitigate cuts to important social services for New Yorkers in need, reducing funding to nonprofits that work effectively on the ground, and cuts to critical educational programming. These Programs to Eliminate the Gap (PEG) cuts will have dire implications, and will continue to marginalize already underserved communities. There needs to be a larger risk management strategy for agencies to address the areas that precipitate waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayer dollars. We need to rethink both the City’s private and nonprofit contracting apparatuses. Additionally, it is imperative that we think of new and creative ways to save our small businesses, especially our M/WBEs, to preserve existing jobs, increase new job opportunities, and keep local economies thriving.

My priorities, if there’s a second wave, is to ensure that my district has access to timely information and critical supplies. I will work to ensure that residents have adequate access to PPE and that our local food supply remains intact. I will also be holding the City accountable for a concrete and tangible plan that is clearly articulated and equitably executed. I will also be looking to our shelter system to ensure that our homeless population has the same access and resources as everyone else in the district, and to ensure that agencies are not discriminatory in their administration and enforcement of shelter-in-place policies.

What if any initiatives do you propose to help with the climate crisis?

As we imagine the future of our community, it is important that we explore ways to improve the community’s economy, health, housing, and more through an environmental justice lens. District 40 needs resources to cultivate an environmentally friendly community, and understand the value of open green spaces. This means we need to enact policies and support programs that: improve upon the legislative gains of the Council’s commitment to a local Green New Deal; and, push to transition to a “Green Economy” by bringing sustainable jobs and programs that provide education and training on climate crisis and collaborate with the district on district-specific solutions.

To the question, it’s important that we activate remaining vacant lots, not for affordable housing, but for green spaces. This could include community gardens, farmer’s markets, urban farms to address food insecurity, reflection spaces to address our collective traumas and honor those we lost during COVID, art installations, concert gardens, and much more. We need to take a community based approach in determining what we want our landscape to look like. The Council Member’s job is to be an amplifier for their community’s wants, needs and desires. And to hold the City accountable when there’s not an equal distribution of services that tend to such demands.

What will you do to support labor unions if elected? Did you publicly support the  Association of Legislative Employees  (the union that represents council staffers) in their request for voluntary recognition?

I am currently seeking their endorsement now. When in office, just like with LID, I will champion their issues and work with them on perfecting legislative and policy initiatives.

As a former staffer on all levels of government, I wholeheartedly support the Legislative Employees Union. I know how hypocritical elected officials can be when it comes to their own staff, as I have experienced, so I am all for staffers unionizing.

How much money has your campaign raised and what are your major sources?

I’ve raised $20k mostly from family and friends. Will raise $50k by the January 15th filing deadline.

Are you accepting campaign contributions from law enforcement sources?  Real Estate Sources?

No, I am not accepting campaign contributions from law enforcement organizations or real estate sources.

Do you commit to using inclusive and gender neutral language in press releases and other announcements (e.g., “the people of the…” instead of “the men and women of the…”)?

Yes. Words matter.

Yes or no, do you support the following city council initiatives:

Intro 2047: Prevents landlords from discriminating against criminal legal system involved tenants: Yes

Intro 2050: Allows noncitizens to vote in municipal elections:Yes

Reso 0923: Calls for the state to repeal Penal Law 240.37, known as the #WalkingWhileTrans Ban: Yes

Intro 1314/Fair Chance Act 2.0: Prohibits discriminatoin based on one’s arrest record, pending criminal accusations, or criminal convictions. Prevents employers from inquiring  about #WalkingWhileTrans Ban arrests: Yes

Intro 2012: Requires NYPD to report on custodial interrogations of minors: Yes 

Intro 1529: Expands access to an attorney for tenants in eviction proceedings: Yes

DNA protection bill introduced by CM Richardson and CM Ayala: Prevents NYPD from collecting samples fo DNA from children without consent form a parent or guardian: Yes

Wilfredo Florentino

Level
City Council

Constituency
District 42

More Information
Campaign Site

2020 LID Questionnaire Response

Why are you running for City Council? 

I have dedicated my life to service, from serving as a Brooklyn Community Board Member for the past 11 years (Chair of the Transportation Committee for the majority of that time), to serving in the United States Army during the era of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell,” to founding with my husband the only Theater Company in Brooklyn dedicated to producing socially relevant theater, to serving as a Board Member of the New Lots Nehemiah Homeowners Association, whose parent organization represents over 5,000 homeowners in East New York and Brownsville, and advocating for causes that promote equity, justice and transparency. Running for New York City Council to represent all the members of the 42nd District is an extension of that service.

What are the greatest struggles of your Council district?

The issues in our district are rooted in decades of racial discrimination, disenfranchisement and disinvestment: access to quality schools, poor and inadequate transportation infrastructure, among others.  Our district is a transit desert and ADA accessibility or actionable initiatives to rectify that disparity haven’t been prioritized by the city. Our district is also a food desert, and we must ensure that our neighbors have access to fresh and healthy food options. 

Why do you want LIDs endorsement? And what does LGBTQ+ representation in the government mean to you?

As a gay Afro-Latinx husband and father, I understand intimately that representation matters. I’ve been a member of LID for over 10 years and stand in solidarity with its mission, vision, policy platform and the equality of all LGBTQ+ persons. LGBTQ+ representation means not only ensuring that the New York City Council is representative of the spectrum of the LGBTQ+ experience, but that we advance and prioritize policies that ensure our inalienable rights.

What is one thing you would do while in office to make NYC government more inclusive?

We must actively engage women, new immigrants, and communities of color in our government. Paid family leave, equal-pay policies, skills-development, training, and entrepreneurship programs for communities of color (available in multiple languages for immigrants) must be prioritized to support and empower historically disadvantaged groups.

What does gender equity mean to you in your district and how can you improve upon it?

Gender equity in my district means ensuring and advancing the economic mobility, social inclusion, leadership and civic participation of women and girls; from parity in community board appointments, apprenticeship, training and entrepreneurial opportunities engaging in targeted outreach to increase gender equity. 

Approximately 40% of runaway and homeless youth are LGBTQ+. The NYC Unity Work Project would have provided training, job placement and development for these communities, but the program ($675k per year) was cut from the city’s budget in FY21. Do you commit to fighting for funding for this or similar programs? How will you support safety and wellness for homeless LGBTQ+ New Yorkers if you are elected? 

Homeless LGBTQ+ New Yorkers must be guaranteed employment opportunities, job security, safe and affordable housing and transportation, and access to financial services. I commit to fighting for programs that empower our most vulnerable. 

The NYPD’s budget is nearly $6 billion? If elected, will you work to reduce the NYPD’s and invest in non-policing alternatives? By how much? 

As a veteran of the United States Army, it is unconscionable that the NYPD has weapons that we used as part of military exercises. I support defunding the NYPD by at least $1 billion, reinvesting in community led initiatives, and eliminating the NYPDs involvement in social services, traffic enforcement and school safety. 

What is your plan to help the city financially recover from the economic crisis caused by COVID19? What will your priorities be if there is a second wave of COVID19?

The New York City Council must implement a progressive policy plan to raise municipal revenue. This plan should include, but not be limited to: a millionaries/billionarires tax, a pied de tierre tax, local earned income tax credit, commuter tax, progressive fees and fine structure, conservation pricing, income based service fees, fines based on income, and a luxury tax, among others. Additionally, cannabis legalization should be implemented by the Legislature and the governor guaranteeing that not only the communities that have been decimated by the drug wars but those unjustly incarcerated will benefit.

What if any initiatives do you propose to help with the climate crisis?

Our district includes zone 1, and 2 emergency evacuation zones. I support the Green New Deal which includes no new development in these zones. Additionally, we must invest in public parks and community gardens, and end their privatization. 

What will you do to support labor unions if elected? Did you publicly support the  Association of Legislative Employees  (the union that represents council staffers) in their request for voluntary recognition?

We must work to increase union density in NYC. Our working families deserve representation, collective power, workplace pride and fair treatment. As a former New York City Council staffer, I have been active and vocal in supporting the recognition of the Association of Legislative Employees. 

How much money has your campaign raised and what are your major sources

Our campaign has raised over 20,000. All of our donations have come from grassroots, small dollar donors. Our average donation is ~$44.

Are you accepting campaign contributions from law enforcement sources?  Real Estate Sources?

No.

Do you commit to using inclusive and gender neutral language in press releases and other announcements (e.g., “the people of the…” instead of “the men and women of the…”)?

Absolutely.

Yes or no, do you support the following city council initiatives:

Intro 2047: Prevents landlords from discriminating against criminal legal system involved tenants: Yes

Intro 2050: Allows noncitizens to vote in municipal elections:Yes

Reso 0923: Calls for the state to repeal Penal Law 240.37, known as the #WalkingWhileTrans Ban: Yes

Intro 1314/Fair Chance Act 2.0: Prohibits discriminatoin based on one’s arrest record, pending criminal accusations, or criminal convictions. Prevents employers from inquiring  about #WalkingWhileTrans Ban arrests: Yes

Intro 2012: Requires NYPD to report on custodial interrogations of minors: Yes

Intro 1529: Expands access to an attorney for tenants in eviction proceedings: Yes

DNA protection bill introduced by CM Richardson and CM Ayala: Prevents NYPD from collecting samples fo DNA from children without consent form a parent or guardian: Yes