Chi Ossé

Level
City Council

Constituency
District 36

More Information
Campaign Site

2020 LID Questionnaire Response

Why are you running for City Council?

I am running for City Council because there are problems that need fixing, and I see myself as someone that can help. I am running because Black, Brown & vulnerable lives matter.

I jumped into this race after protesting and experiencing the over-aggression exhibited by the NYPD. I realized that the City Council was a major key to fixing law enforcement. Black Lives Matter goes beyond law enforcement killing and criminalizing Black people. My communinites have been redlined into districts where healthy foods, fair-priced housing units, and safe environments are inaccessible.

As a native to Central Brooklyn, I have plans to enact real change to help the district and City.

I am running for public office because our current electeds are not completing the work that/ needs to be done for all the people of NYC. Police brutality and militarization is at an all time high; small businesses are suffering immensely due to the pandemic our workers are under attack, and our climate (both globally and locally) is suffering.

I recognize everyone writes or says all of these statements. That is why we are running to make change now while running for the office. Action over promises.

What are the greatest struggles of your Council district?

Central Brooklyn’s challenges include public safety, affordable housing, protecting small ownership, small business survival, access to nutrition plus access to good education and gainful employment. ​This community is subjected to over-policing, with a school-to-prison pipeline carefully maintained, and a shadow of harassment hanging over the bodies of the innocent.

Unfair and unchecked rental rates strips renters of their decades-long sanctuary and throws them out into the cold. Poverty whips stress and uncertainty into the lives of thousands. Underfunded schools and overburdened teachers define this district’s education system while violence shakes the streets. This is the short list.

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

My running for office will be a co-governing experience. When I enter City Hall, in 2022, I want to work alongside LID to push legislation and support actions that fight for LGBTQ+ rights. I cannot do this alone. For example: I support the decriminilization of sex work and think it would be a huge step forward for our criminal justice system and LGBTQ+ rights. (Mainly for Trans Womxn of color.) The current statues exacerbate criminality and create health issues.

One of the major issues surrounding sex work is the idea of full decriminalization vs. the Nordic Model. When backing full decriminalization, it's worth saying that the Nordic model (which is in favor of prosecuting the clients of sex workers) doesn't go far enough. The Nordic Model, frequently presented as an alternative to full decriminalization, is insufficient as it weaponizes the criminal justice system to prevent sex workers from being able to earn a living. There is also the New Zealand model. For many years New Zealand followed the Nordic model, however in 2003 new legislation passed, the Prostitution Reform Act fully legalizing sex work for anyone over the age of 18, making New Zealand the first country to decriminalize sex work. This includes the purchase/selling of consensual sex between adults, as well as brothel keeping. This legislation also allows for employee benefits and labor protections under the law.​Once decriminalized, we will institute measures to protect & educate our citizens. Protections for sex workers will benefit all womxn of color. Instituting controls and regulations also serves as protection. Mandatory licensing alone should help lower sex trafficking and empower people to employ themselves.

LGBTQ+ representation in government is necessary, especially in the city of New York. As someone that was raised in this district and borough, there hasn’t been many out Black Queer political leaders that I was able to look up to.

When I am elected, I will be the first out Councilmember from the 36th district. Queer people of color are heavily marginialized groups in this country. We understand how those at the fringes of society are treated. If you can help the most underrepresented person in society you can definitely help everyone. I hope I inspire the next generation of Black Queer political leaders with my win in June.

And... I understand we are people. Not sideshows or extras to the movie. We do have some considerations and issues that need to be addressed. Yet, we are concerned with housing, economy, wellness, police misconduct et al

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

I would scrub biased variables -- like gender, age and address -- from the City Council’s employment applications. In line with the #FairShot Bill, I am currently supporting.

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

Gender equity means equal opportunity and access. Building an inter-community apparatus for generating education, employment and new businesses. Work to provide access to health insurance, housing and access to nutritious food - I can go on and on.

All of this can and will be achieved in collaboration with community based organizations. We must ease the burdens that threaten to tear communities apart.

Gender equity means being an example through my office and actions. Like we are now. I have a team of the best. We sought excellence not preconceived notions. This is a beautiful rainbow not a melting pot.

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

As I noted earlier, access to education and workforce development are two of the most important issues to address. This moment of crisis for homeless and runaway youth was recently detailed in a report from Speaker Corey Johnson. Providing real opportunities for employment and temporary/permanent housing must be combined. Stopping programs like NYC Unity Work Project, is literally tossing baby and bathwater.

The NYC Unity Work Project should have seen a substantial increase in funding this year. We should not be using this moment to give ALL our citizens all the tools they need to be prepared for a post pandemic New York City.That means that our members of the LGBTQIA+ community must find representation and administration within this city’s government.

As a Queer man I will push for return of the Unity Work Project, further funding for workforce and small business programs and new curriculum within our CUNY schools based on cutting edge industries.

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 believe that the NYPD’s budget should provide enough for officers to do their jobs and enjoy a livable wage. There is, however, much excess. With a thorough, auditing process I think we can reduce the NYPD’s by a minimum of 1.5 billion dollars within my first year in office.

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?

Coming out of this crisis, financial recovery for New York City needs to be approached with the understanding that there are concessions we must make in the short term for long term growth and stability. First: We must do everything in our power to avoid the creation of a substantially large demographic of debt ridden renters and homeowners. This will require a large scale initiative centered around increasing the capacity and function of existing agencies and programs whose functions focus on housing aid.

For small businesses, the unfortunate reality is that many of our beloved businesses are now gone, casualties of forces outside of their control. We should not allow this to depress our effort to build communities that have intra community supply chains they trust. We need to utilize target relief programs such as the New York Forward Loan Fund (NYFLF), along with greater access to grants and loans for those looking to start new businesses. I also plan to create a digital infrastructure pilot program, helping to match businesses with the tools and personnel needed to have a digital presence in the online marketplaces.

Then there is our workforce: Helping our workforce will need to be multi-faceted, focusing on a combination of improvements to education, workforce development, title classification and creation of new, forward thinking jobs. That means investing in a free CUNY system, bolstering our current workforce development programs, better community access to monetization of their own public space and city recognition and support of culturel, design and research entities and persons in their respective communities. To achieve this I plan to create in collaboration with community organizations a District 36 networking hub. Not only will this closer align the community and the city, it will allow new avenues for workplace education, hiring and retention. Lastly, I will focus on helping our residents have more access to Labor Unions whilst promoting more diversity and inclusion in Unions.

These actions will of course require substantial funding and questions will arise concerning how we will be able to pay for all of this. I believe the answer lies in looking at our budget at a micro level. I plan to push for expanding the powers of existing agencies or creating a new agency whose focus will be to audit our departments with the goal of finding inefficiencies within them while aiding in finding new, more efficient funding models. I first plan to use this framework to assess the NYPD budget, where I believe that at least 1.5 billion dollars could be cut within my first year and invested into more productive areas.

As a Council-member, I along with my colleagues will be responsible for holding our New Mayor accountable. The Mayor will have important decisions to make in the next year, we need to make sure that they are asking the right questions of our constituents, of us and of the State and that they are working with an agenda that is for the people.

If there is a second wave of COVID, my priorities will not change from where they are. I will continue to keep my community safe. My team will distribute PPE and food to families, individuals and CBOs regularly. I will also collaborate with state/local agencies and healthcare providers to support vaccinations, as the stockpile is made available in 2022.

We will however, have to further adjust to this crisis if we are to get out of it. Our businesses cannot remain closed. We have to create new codes, guidelines and procedures for small businesses, allowing them to remain open safely. To achieve this I plan to deploy COVID compliance officers. These officers would inspect businesses and ensure their infrastructure and practices can sufficiently combat the spread of COVID-19.

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

My climate goals and priorities will always be based on the best science available. Ensuring clean water, efficient energy and an end to food scarcity will require the most up to date research and methods. To attain this, I pledge to work with (and learn from) scientists and researchers both nationally and globally.

I will prioritize emissions regulations within the City Council’s purview while being an advocate for reducing general emissions. We will closely monitor global efforts to combat climate change.

When it comes to the conditions of pipelines, I would like to point out the efforts of grassroots organizations like No North Brooklyn Pipeline, The Sane Energy Project and Frack Outta Brooklyn. They understand that the NBK Pipeline is yet another example of environmental racism and inherently predatory. The largely unnecessary $185 Million dollar pipeline will guarantee increased cost for ratepayers and leave several communities, their homes, hospitals and commercial spaces at risk of exposure to methane, sinkholes, water contamination and infrastructural collapses. I have and will continue to stand with all who oppose the North Brooklyn Pipeline and aggressively rally against any future gas infrastructure. If we wish to create a less polluted New York City then we must end projects such as this.

In the Council, I will support and present legislation that will prioritize the need to get close to 100% renewable energy and ramp down emissions drastically in the next 8 years to avoid irreversible harm. I will use the IPCC as a resource and blueprint for necessary legislation to achieve emission reduction milestones. I will call on the need for city actions to support and be even more aggressive than the CLCPA.

I also plan to ​lower our PM2.5 levels by increasing the amount of greenspace in District 36 by five to six percentage points. By converting empty spaces (lots, abandoned spaces etc) into community owned green space we can create cleaner spaces in dense areas of Bedstuy, that double as spaces of relaxation, education and community coalescing. I also plan to expand the amount of street trees in my district which will help with PM2.5 and also provide other benefits such as reducing heat islands.

Retrofitting and weatherization is important. Another goal is to increase the number of small home and commercial owners to participate in the state program supporting retrofitting and weatherization. Part of the growth process is doing the “small” actions now to participate in the change.

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 will work to strengthen ties between labor unions, businesses and the community. I will serve as a mediator between parties, fostering constant dialogue. An important, overlooked, aspect of supporting unions is being a bridge for applicants looking for work. Driving community members to positions and guilds. Union jobs are viable markers to a better community.

In regard to the Association of Legislative Employees, I fully support their request for voluntary recognition. City Council staffers are the key cogs in the running of this city, without them our government would be inoperable. They must be paid wages that reflect their importance and should have the right to assemble and make their demands.

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

$53,116, $32,084 of the final amount is matchable. Our major sources of contributions have been in-district donors. Our campaign has outraised every other campaign in the race, we have the most in-district donors, and we are a part of the top ten campaigns with the most individual contributors, with most donations $1 - $175 in the set.

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

​I am not accepting contributions from law enforcement, corrections or real estate entities.

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

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 of DNA from children without consent form a parent or guardian: ​ Yes​

Henry Butler

Level
City Council

Constituency
District 36

More Information
Campaign Site

2020 LID Questionnaire Response

Why are you running for City Council?

This district is my home. I was born and raised here and I’m raising my family here now. I have been civically active in this community for nearly 25 years. I am currently the District Manager for Community Board 3 of Bedford Stuyvesant Brooklyn. In this role, I maintain strong relationships with elected officials and city commissioners. As such, I play an essential role in preparing the Board’s annual capital and expense budget request to the Office of Management and Budget. In addition, I currently serve as President of the influential Vanguard Independent Democratic Association Club. After earning a degree in Political Science from Hunter College, I began my career in public administration as Assistant Director of Lafayette Gardens Community Center under the New York City Housing Authority. I then served as a Case Worker for the Office of Child Support Enforcement. I was a member of Local 371 while employed by NYCHA and ACS. I then went on to become a conductor for the New York City Transit Authority. During my 14 years with the MTA, I was an active member of my union, TWU Local 100, serving as a Shop Steward in support of my fellow union members. I would later take on an even greater role serving as the union’s Political Organizer and Community Outreach Liaison for Brooklyn. 

What are the greatest struggles of your Council district?

Affordable housing for working and middle class families. We have a ton of low income housing and we have a ton of multi million dollar brownstones to purchase but we lack housing for individuals and families that make between $60,000 and $120,000 a year (60% - 120% of AMI). My goal is to create more affordable housing for folx in that income range. 

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

LID’s endorsement would be a tremendous honor. I support inclusiveness and equal rights for all. LGBTQ+ representation in government is extremely important as we want our governing bodies to be reflective of the populations they serve. We should strive for diversity of opinions in our democratically elected bodies because this is the best way to ensure that we have healthy debate from representatives that come from different backgrounds and have had different life experiences. 

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

Throughout my tenure whether it was at TWU Local 100, Community Board 3, or as President of Vanguard Independent Democratic Association, I have always made diversity and inclusion a major part of my work. Our political club has endorsed dozens of minority, LGBTQ+, and female candidates for office. Community Board 3 has become much more diverse since when I first got on the board over 15 years ago. As Council Member I pledge to increase diversity and inclusion as I make appointments to various boards and positions. In addition, I will look at expanding our Human Rights laws to ensure they are inclusive and as expansive and up to date as possible. 

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

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 support funding for runaway and homeless youth. I believe we need to fund programs and non-profits that specifically cater and are trusted by the clients they serve.

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 do not have a specific number in mind but I supported the FY21 budget which moved money out of NYPD. I would look to continue to build on that by further moving out services that do not impact public safety. I support demilitarizing the NYPD and would do a thorough review of the NYPD’s outside contracting budget to determine where additional cuts can be made without posing a threat to public 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?

I think it needs to be a combination of getting resources from state and federal funding made available to municipalities to stave off drastic budget cuts coupled with looking at ways our city can raise additional revenue from the 1% and large scale developers like MSG and Hudson Yards that currently pay zero property taxes. We need to stimulate our economy by getting small businesses access to capital and reducing fees and penalties so they can put money back into saving their businesses. I support large scale capital projects which will get people to work and also be a benefit to our city. 

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

We need a five borough coastal resilience program and get the capital dollars from the city, state, and federal government to implement said program. We cannot be reactive to the effects of climate change any longer and must be proactive as it will save billions of dollars in the long run as well as create both short and long term jobs in the process. There should also be job training programs available to help train and retrain workers so they have the tools needed to fulfill these job opportunities. 

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 come from a union family and was a member of a labor union for 24 years. I strongly support the rights of workers to organize. 

How much money has your campaign raised and what are your major sources? Are you accepting campaign contributions from law enforcement sources?  Real Estate Sources?

We have raised approximately $25,000. We are not taking money from Law Enforcement or Real Estate PACS. 

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

Do you agree to list Lambda Independent Democrats of Brooklyn on all materials where your endorsements are listed?

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: No

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 of DNA from children without consent form a parent or guardian: Yes

Jason L. Walker

Level
City Council

Constituency
District 36

More Information
Campaign Site

2020 LID Questionnaire Response

Why are you running for City Council?

I am running to support the advancement of communities most harmed by systemic political and economic violence and to build up our progressive movement has been harmed and stalled by the lack of bold, courageous leadership of our elected officials.

For over a decade, corporations, developers and big landlords have been able to wield more power over public policy and the lives of low-income and working class New Yorkers, playing a major role in the gentrification of our communities and hindering our ability to create real equitable access to housing and vital community services.

I am a young radical Black Queer millienal who has organized alongside a diversity of communities for the past 8 years. I want to serve on the City Council to help strengthen and develop real people power in the 36th District and to ensure that we regain and strengthen community control of our neighborhoods. It is my effort to advance our collective work against big money influence in our democracy, to push back against corporate greed, end the carceral state and systemic police violence, and stop the rise of hate in our society.

What are the greatest struggles of your Council district?

Homelessness is a major struggle in this district. Our District has the 4th highest number of family shelters in the borough and has the highest percentage rate of homeless students.

Gentrification has led to many people in District 36 without access to affordable housing. We've had a pandemic that has left thousands without jobs and behind in rent, while historic systemic racism and economic violence has created conditions in NYCHA that are both unhealthy and safe for the families struggling to survive there.

Our elders continue to struggle to navigate and access the city and it’s services and we are struggling to combat both police violence and community violence without the economic support and bold political leadership that is urgently needed to resolve both.

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

I am seeking LIDs endorsement to support the growth of political power of LGBTQ people, especially within the BIPOC community. Historically, the needs of BIPOC LGBTQ folks have not been effectively met on a public policy level. Political Clubs like LID are vital to increasing the political power and civic engagement of our community.

I have been really encouraged to see LID stepping into the movement to support Black LGBTQ communities. An endorsement from LID would strengthen this movement and the collective work of improving this city for LGBTQ+ people.

LGBTQ representation in the government means two primary things to me:

(1) Representation​ - ensuring that we have representation of LGBTQ people most marginalized working within government and go-governing on a community level.

(2) Legislation​ - our legislation must include and reflect communities most impacted. That means we need to have public policies that directly support Black Trans women and Black Queer youth.

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

Ensure that my staff is as diverse as my district. That meanings hiring a LGBT TGNC BIPOC person on my staff,

Hire more people who utilize government social services to deliver them. Many people who are reliant on our city social services can be hired to run and deliver them. BIPOC Queer and TGNC folk who have been out of work during the pandemic can be hired to deliver services and care to people in our city who rely on city programming.

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

Gender equity means ensuring that we diminish the historic inequalities that patriarchy has created by providing enhanced support to femmes, cis-women, and women of the trans experience.

What this would look like in my district is investing in the professional leadership development of femmes and womxn, investing in programs that support their entrepreneurship; dismantling policies that disproportionately benefit men and uphold patriarchy; ensuring that we have equal pay for equal work; and fully funding childcare.

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?

Two years ago, I led an organizing campaign through Queerocracy that won an additional $2 million from the Unity Project to increase the number of youth beds. From that campaign, we were invited to have discussions with the Unity Project about other proposals they were considering to help ensure that they will meet the needs of LGBTQ+ youth.

The work program was one of those projects. I will do all that is necessary to ensure that this funding is restored.

I will ensure that there are pathways and support to gainful employment including support in entrepreneurship, provide leadership development opportuniteis in our civic society (our community boards need a youth arm), and ensure that families have what they need to care for LGBTQ 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?

I will definitely do all that I can to ensure that the NYPD’s budget is reduced by $1 billion each year and swiftly redirect the money to support the development of a restorative/transformative justice system, increase the funding for the development and the expansion of grassroot community based organizations that can provide community care to decrease community violence.

Programs in my district like S.O.S Bed-Stuy and H.O.L.L.A have been doing the work to interrupt violence in our streets.

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 am 100% in alignment with the call to have a progressive city and state tax that will tap into the top earners who were able to gain a profit while our people in our city struggled. I am in favor of reducing the scope of work and defunding the NYPD to support the financial recovery of our city and support small businesses and help cancel rent.

My priorities will be to provide on-going rent relief, modeled after our city's HASA program, for those who have not been able to return to work, provide community support to help encourage mask wearing, and to provide financial support for home delivery food programs.

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

We need to reduce extraction and pollution; restore our marine life and quality air; and change our behavior in order to stop the climate crisis and restore our Earth.

My initiatives are specific to District 36. We can reduce our carbon emissions and restore our air quality by developing urbanized community farms that will reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, support our city’s compost efforts, while also providing low cost produce.

I would also ensure that we encourage more cycling, by ensuring that bike sharing docking stations, like Citi Bike, are located in low-income areas.

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 an organizer who deeply believes in the power of the worker. Unions are vital to manifesting the strength that is needed to protect workers from the inherent exploitative nature that corporations have in our current economic system. Unions strengthen and protect workers’ rights, secure fair and livable wages, and strengthen the value and power of democracy.

If elected, I will always stand next to unions to support the rights of workers.
I did not publicly support the Association of Legislative Employees as this issue was not on my radar. I am in great support their request for voluntary recognition.

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

My campaign has raised $13,000 as of this date. Our major sources of funding are all from individual community members.

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.

Do you agree to list Lambda Independent Democrats of Brooklyn on all materials where your endorsements are listed?

Definitely!

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 of DNA from children without consent form a parent or guardian: ​Yes

John J. Joyner, Jr.

Level
City Council

Constituency
District 36

More Information
Campaign Site

2020 LID Questionnaire Response

Why are you running for City Council? 

To develop legislation and be an advocate for the residents of my community and communities throughout the city.

What are the greatest struggles of your Council district?

Social Development, Affordable Housing, Economic Empowerment, Gun & Gang Violence, Family Supportive Services. 

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

As a member of the LBGTQ community, receiving the LAMBDA endorsement to me would mean I have the support of the very community which makes me, it would mean I would have an active force helping me help them. 

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

Break communication barriers by hosting town halls and meeting with the straight community and lbgtqia  community 

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

To me gender equity is having the right to participate, benefit and thrive from the very equality that has been fought so hard for, such as gender equity voting rights, and access to healthcare. I would like to host community townhalls between the LGBTQ + community and the heterosexual community having conversations around select topics.   

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 this funding and funding for similar programs, as a past homeless youth myself I understand the very importance of this funding.

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 NYPD’S budget should be cut by 2 billion dollars alternative non policing  like (ed) mental health in place of police, mediation organizations who prevent and stop situations so police wont have to be called. 

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 city needs to make an investment In a money generating idea and or company such as a new amusement park, here in NYC a big one maybe queens. I know it sounds weird in the midst of the pandemic but for years I’ve thought this would be a great idea. A second round of Covid-19 while elected would be preparedness of PPE personal protective equipment, businesses doing business at home, hospitals with the resources they need to keep themselves and their patients safe and alive, sanitization of our communities and schools. And access to the covid-19 vaccination for those who want it, and those who need it. 

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

4 Years ago, I developed a petition calling on every nyc school bus to become hybrid/electric to stop air pollution and cancer-causing smoke 

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 all Labor unions that fight for improvement and access to equality in opportunity

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

Sadly 200$, I’m planning to host a lot of creative events. Throughout the years my fundraising hasn’t been too aggressive, I figure now is the best time. 

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

 I will not be accepting donations for 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…”)?

I do commit. 

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

Robert M. Waterman

Level
City Council

Constituency
District 36

More Information
Campaign Site

2020 LID Questionnaire Response

Why are you running for City Council?

I am running for City Council because our community is in trouble. We do not have enough affordable housing, our schools are not good enough for our children AND our teachers, COVID-19 has ravaged our community, and our city simply is not working for us. As our City Council Member, I will put meeting the challenges we face front and center and demand our city do better so everyone who works 40 hours a week can find a decent place to live, support their family, give their children the education they need to succeed and retire with dignity.

What are the greatest struggles of your Council district?

●  Assessing sustainable and affordable housing, and the rising rate of homlesseness.

●  Inadequate funding to Title 1 schools, and the rising digital divide among marginalized youth.

●  Food insecurity.

●  COVID-19 recovery for small businesses, and access to PPE and testing for civilians.

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

It is important to promote inclusivity, tolerance and diversity at all levels of government and in all forms of life. LID brings together a community that has often acted as a catalyst for societal change and progression, your endorsement would mean I am in line with the progressive values that I insist exist within my team.

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

Increase visibility, and opportunity for members of the LGBTQ+ community at all levels of government, and usher in stricter punishment for discriminaiton and intolerance.

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

Gender equity means fairness of treatment for women and men, according to their respective needs in our district. When we talk about opportunity, we’re talking about ensuring opportunity is not limited simply on the basis of gender. My goal is to promote correcting for gender biases so that economic outcomes improve for all residents of the district.

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. When forced to survive without shelter, LGBTQ+ Youth are subjected to significant levels of violence and trauma creating and exacerbating mental health issues. Homeless LGBTQ+ New York Youth are children first, and deserve the special protections and funding that can support this vulnerable community and ultimately prevent LGBTQ+ youth homlesseness as a whole.

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 understand that decreasing the NYPD budget for FY21 by approximately 750 million is necessary to restore and expand critical infrastructure and programs that benefit Black, Latinx and other communities of color. This is fiscally prudent, sound policy, and morally necessary in this time of crisis—and would enhance, rather than risk public safety.

For every $1 NYPD receives

1. Homeless Services receive 29 cents

2. Department of Health 25 cents

3. Housing preservation 19 cents

4. Youth and Community Development 12 cents

5. Workforce investment 1 cent

Suggested Budget Cuts

●  Pay of NYPD officers who killed New Yorkers in 10 cases, who have not been fired: $13,731,612 25 + fringe and pension costs

●  Freeze New NYPD Hires. At least $208.5 million cut from the NYPD expense budget + $152.1 million in fringe = $360.6 Million.

●  Disband NYPD from Homeless Outreach and Subway Diversion Programs, remove police from related roles and cut the related costs from the NYPD expense budget. At least $12.7 million cut from the NYPD + $7.3 million in fringe = $20 million

●  Remove NYPD from mental health response. Cut Mental Health Co-Response Teams. $4.8 Million.

●  Remove Police from Schools. This includes cutting $24 million from the NYPD expense budget and an additional savings of $308 million that the DOE currently pays the NYPD = $332 million

●  Public Relations Budget: $3.1 Million

Total: 750 million

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?

○  My plan is to support small businesses and marginalized communities that have been disproportionately impacted by the economic devastation due to covid-19. I will do this by championing legislation that allocates funding and support to those communities. I will advocate for increased access to rapid covid-19 testing and access to additional personal protective equipment.

○  If there is a second wave of covid-19 my focus will be public safety first. Emphasize contact tracing, aggressive testing measures and aligning with the national testing strategy and CDC recommendations - most importantly encouraging unanimous social distancing measures and mandated mask-wearing in all public settings.

What if any initiatives do you propose to help with the climate crisis?
I am a firm supporter of the Green New Deal. Not only because it creates a plan to decrease our carbon footprint, and lower greenhouse gas emissions, it also creates a myriad of jobs for hard-working middle class families.

○ Clean and renewable energy alternatives

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 emphatically support labor unions, I believe in the collective power of joining to ensure higher wages, benefits and to create better communities. Labor organizations fight admirably for a more just society and an economy that works for all of us, not just corporations and the wealthy.

●  While I support the labor unions and the collective rights of all workers, at this time I would like to consult with my team and gather all pertinent information before offering a comment on the independent formation of the Association of Legislative Employees labor union.

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

Approximately 111 Individual donations from community members much of which are donations under $100.

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

YES, Individuals who are employed by the NYPD who are family and friends.

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​

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​

Tahirah Moore

Level
City Council

Constituency
District 36

More Information
Campaign Site

2020 LID Questionnaire Response

Why are you running for City Council?  

Public servants should prioritize and be directed by the needs and input of the people that elect them. I am running to ensure that happens in the 36th Council District and NYC.

I envision a city, state, country and world where all people are treated equally. Where there is no poverty or racial injustice and the governmental systems do not perpetuate the oppression of people of color. I will work and do my part to shift the paradigm towards love and unity. I am working for a City where my people can live without the fear of their lives being taken because of their skin color or can apply for housing or a job and not be rejected because of their race, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity. I have committed my life to studying our governmental systems in order to reconstruct, plant and shift it towards true freedom and justice for all. 

What are the greatest struggles of your Council district?

Pre-COVID 19, there were already challenges that we were facing in the district. In the 36th District, we were grappling with deed theft, issues with the TPT program, lack of low-income to true affordable housing, gentrification, lack of funding for our schools, lack of repairs to our NYCHA buildings and the increase in gun violence. Now, because of the pandemic; we see the racial and economic disparities front and center. BedStuy and Crown Heights have been hit hard during the pandemic. Our NYCHA developments lacked testing sites and many were illegally evicted although an eviction moratorium is in place, small businesses closed down, our schools kept closing and re-opening. It has been trying for all of us.

My response to resolving these challenges is to first and foremost make sure the community is directly involved in the planning and resolution process. We can’t leave the people out. Next, I will work to get more protections in place to protect our homeowners from predatory practices that harm them and tenants from scrupulous landlords. I will push diligently for housing that is more in line with the AMI for the district and not those of outside of New York City like Westchester and other counties, where there are higher incomes that affect the members of my community in being able to afford rent or buy a home. Understanding the budget is stressed, I would work with my State and Federal elected counterparts to help with funding for our schools and NYCHA developments. When it comes to gun violence, I will continue to work with the community and the leaders of the Crisis Management System to develop an organic district specific community led approach to gun violence prevention. I will push to increase COVID 19 testing and mobile testing units throughout the district as well as ensuring this community is not left out in getting vaccinated and will push for more grants and low to no interest small business loans. 

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

I am a person who believes that love should not be constrained. While I do not identify as LGBTQ+, I support and stand wholeheartedly with the community and want to ensure that NYC is a city that treats everyone fairly and equally.

My career in service demonstrates that I have been and will remain a committed ally to the community. I have fought to protect the lives of my LGBTQ+ brother and sisters for years.

I agree with the saying those closest to the problem are closest to the solution. LGBTQ+ representation in government to me means having individuals that are directly impacted, that identify and are allied with the LGBTQ+ community serving in government. I will say that when it comes to District 36 and citywide, I have stood, protected and fought to make sure my LGBTQ+ brothers and sisters were being treated equally. I not only marched in parades and attended rallies, I helped to place LGBTQ+ orgs in my district. I worked with the family of our brother, Enrique L. Rios Jr. , that was a victim in the Pulse nightclub shooting ensuring they had the services and resources they needed. When Sage had issues not being received in the community with their housing and community center projects in Fort Greene, I worked with NYCHA to help the community to understand the org and the great services they offered. I am a true ally that has already done and will continue to do the work in my district and city. I want to work with LID on pushing forward legislation and policy that will support increased inclusive and protection for the LGBTQ+ community. I look forward to working with LID. 

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

I want to see more programs that support LGBTQ+ Youth (similar to the Unity Project). We need more programs like this because they help to support LGBTQ+ Youth in all aspects of their lives.

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

Gender equity in my district means that we treat all people as human beings with all people having access to equal opprtunities, being treated the same no matter the sex, race, economic status, or religion. It’s a world where those that identify as women, men, non-binary, or gender-fluid are all treated with love, dignity and respect.

I will ensure that no one is left out and that no one is treated better than the other. Our uniqueness and differences enrich the world and New York City’s communities. If we start there - with valuing all of us and our unique contributions to this great City - then racism, sexism, bias and hate will begin to disappear. Honestly, that is the best way to improve and shift the paradigm. 

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 would fight for safety and wellness for homeless LGBTQ+ New Yorkers first and foremost, lifting my voice and standing in solidarity to secure funding. I would work with the advocates and members of the community to support their budget priorities and ensure that the services and community based orgs that services homeless LGBTQ+ New Yorkers are funded and ungirded with what they need to service our fellow New Yorkers.

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. In fact, on November 6th, 2020, we cut the ribbon on a new community center in Marcy Houses. The space we used was an old police precinct. We took the police precinct and turned it into a community center; so when I say I support reducing PD’s budget, I mean it. Of course, I would work with the communities, advocates and my colleagues in government to develop the best plan of action for reducing the budget on a citywide level. I would support a $2 Billion reduction. 

The money should be diverted to schools, NYCHA, LGBTQ+ orgs in communities of color, the Crisis Management System (Cure Violence), Homeless Outreach at the Department of Social Services, Department of Social Services, substance use disorder treatment at Health+Hospitals, and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene for Health Engagement and Assessment Teams (HEAT). 

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 support NYS elected officials who are calling for tax increases for the rich. If the people in our city who are not wealthy can pull their resources together to help their neighbors in this pandemic then the billionaires in our city can do their part too. Time to fairly TAX the rich! I will stand with my colleagues in the Federal government calling for sufficient Covid relief that will help jump-start the economy and give American families a financial hand up.

My priorities if we have another serious spike (pray this does not happen) will be:

• Health

• Food Distribution

• Housing

• Education

• Public Safety
  

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

For too long, communities like mine have disproportionately been affected when it comes to environmental justice. Wastewater treatment plants and garbage dumps were and are in communities of color in far greater concentration than other communities. As a Council member, I would work to ensure that my community and communities like mine have access to clean water and alternative energy sources, as well as ensuring that there is access to things like composting, recycling and other environmentally forward programs. 

Additionally, I will work to make sure the SWAMP Act is fairly implemented. I will continue to support the city's divestment in fossil fuels. We also need to increase awareness around lead poisoning risks to children and ensure adequate testing is being done. For NYCHA residents, the infill housing actually takes away green space in some NYCHA developments. We need to replace that loss of space by investing in the local parks, providing small scatter green space sites. NYCHA residents deserve light and air like everybody else. 

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 Labor Unions, I will support and stand with them on their call for safe working conditions, living wages, paid sick leave protection and their right to continue collective bargaining. As a former city council staffer, I fully support the Association of Legislative Employees and always will. 

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

We have raised over $30,000 is 4 1/2 to 5 weeks. Our donations came from mostly individual donations with over 100 donations from inside the district and we hit our max in matching as well.

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

Do you agree to list Lambda Independent Democrats of Brooklyn on all materials where your endorsements are listed? 

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

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 Richards and CM Ayala: Prevents NYPD from collecting samples of DNA from children without consent form a parent or guardian: Yes

Brandon West

Level
City Council

Constituency
District 39

More Information
Campaign Site

2020 LID Questionnaire Response

Why are you running for City Council? 

I am in this race because I am tired of seeing working people of color living in substandard housing, breathing substandard air, and drinking polluted water. I am tired of seeing these same communities in terror from ICE, or working 2-3 jobs only to barely make ends meet, and finding themselves and their children regularly at the mercy of the NYPD merely for having the audacity to exist. Like so many of us in the movement, I am tired of begging the government for basic support, like helping people stay in their homes when a global pandemic keeps them from working. It is time that those of us leading these movements take our place in local, state, and federal government, and become the decision makers ourselves. District 39 is home to many of the racial, environmental, social, and economic injustices that plague our city and our country. Low-income communities of color in the district are often invisible, and I want to work with and for these communities, as well as the better served neighborhoods. 

What are the greatest struggles of your Council district?

There are so many issues facing this district, and a lot are interconnected. If I had to bring it all into one issue, I would say it’s responding to the austerity crisis as a result of bad planning, Covid-19, and an economic system that exploits people and gives all the power to real estate developers. This is all connected, but this means the current housing and eviction crisis. This means making sure we commit to dealing with climate change, and implementing a Green New Deal in NYC because we have some of the lowest elevation parts of Brooklyn in our district. This means finding the resources in our budget to support the things we want as a community. A lot of this will be held at the state level, but it greatly impacts our ability to get what we want and need. This also means making sure our schools are fully funded, safe, and that we support the many low income and students of color who are struggling the most now. Our school system is still one of the most segregated and many students will now be years behind once this pandemic is over. This will have cascading effects, even in the 39th. 

So what this all boils down to is we simply must tax the rich and bring in more revenue or nothing will be possible. I think this is all interconnected, but I think the issues our city faces in general are the issues this district faces, and I think we can work on both together if we reframe the answers not around what we can incrementally do with the limited political will we currently have, but frame it around what kind of City we want to live in.

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

I would celebrate the endorsement of Brooklyn’s largest LGBTQ+ political organization because I will fight alongside my LGBTQ+ siblings and comrades for their rights and safety, as they have fought for mine. The LGBTQ+ community has a proud tradition of bold resistance and joyful defiance in the face of hatred, discrimination, violence, neglect, and oppression. I take inspiration from the LGBTQ+ patrons at Stonewall who took a stand against the cops that had so long preyed on them, and the heroes of ACT-UP who demanded life when their country’s leaders wished they would die quietly.

Despite the victories won in those struggles and others, the LGBTQ+ community continues to face challenges: the seemingly endless murders of transgender people -- particularly Black trans women, the persistence of the HIV epidemic, longstanding discriminatory laws and fresh legislative attacks, the list goes on and on. We need to secure housing, healthcare, and safety from violence for LGBTQ+ New Yorkers. We need to make sure people with HIV have the treatments they need, and we need to do more to prevent HIV infections in the first place, including getting PrEP in more people’s hands. We need to decriminalize sex work. And we need City Council members who will use their position to lobby Albany policymakers for statewide goals like the Gender Recognition Act, and the repeal of the Walking While Trans Law. I mean to fight those battles with you in the City Council and I would be proud to have your support for that goal.

And LGBTQ+ representation in government is critical. LGBTQ+ New Yorkers deserve representatives with firsthand experience of their needs -- as the old saying goes, “nothing about us, without us.” That’s why I would support LGBTQ+ candidates, particularly transgender candidates as trans New Yorkers are still waiting for representation in nearly every level of government from the City Council to Washington. I celebrate Rachel Levine’s nomination for assistant secretary of health in the Biden administration but we need far more like her.

In addition, as president of New Kings Democrats, I have very much appreciated working together with LID to bring transparency and accountability to the Brooklyn Democratic Party. I see LID as a strong ally in that work and would deeply appreciate an endorsement for that reason also.

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

I want to provide quality constituent services for everyone in District 39, but we need to be most thoughtful about how we serve populations that don’t traditionally have access to power, such as our immigrant communities. The largest immigrant community in District 39 is concentrated in Kensington, where the South Asian community is very strong and has been present for many years. Not only does this community face challenges that other communities of color face, in the vein of housing, transportation, affordability, and community support, but many people live in fear of ICE and deportations. I intend to work particularly hard to have a regular presence in this community. This will require developing and maintaining long-standing relationships with important organizations and groups like PAYS and DRUM to try and collaborate on projects and ideas. I intend to hire someone who can organize specifically in that community, who has deep ties and language skills. This will anchor a lot of the needed constituent services needed to support this community. I will work to prioritize needs in this part of the community as often as possible, and build the constituent services program out from there to other parts of the district.

The problem is that the Mayor plays off in speeches that we are Sanctuary City, and then coordinates with ICE and then acts as if he has no control altering the NYPD’s behavior. The first part is actually having a City that commits to the existing protections. A federal judge already ruled that ICE arrests at court are illegal. The Protect Our Courts Act in Albany needs to go to the Governor and get signed, and we need the City to apply pressure to make sure that happens. 

Also the work that activists have stepped in to do, like the Sunset Park ICE watch, are examples of community work that the government could support, either by providing resources, or helping community groups do that work with grants and funds to continue their programs. I would need to double check the legality of it, but I’m confident it’s possible. At a high level, the government has to be committed to the principals of a Sanctuary City, which it isn’t, and we have to better equip the people on the ground doing the work to protect their community. 

Language access  in general needs to be expanded at agencies throughout the city. While Local Law 30 in 2017 did improve access, we still lag in implementation, including services like 311, where there aren’t enough interpreters, and often people are given the wrong person over the line. 311 is flawed as it is, and I can’t imagine what it might be like for the many New Yorkers who do not speak English. Language access through 311 is one area I would focus on. We need to hire more front line service employers in all city agencies that directly interact with communities to meet language access needs. We need to put funding towards this work in a real substantial way. I also intend to make significant steps towards having staff and volunteers who are multilingual and can do constituent services in a substantive way. 

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

Gender equity means addressing the historic and ongoing biases of cis- and heterosexism to ensure a good life is available to people of every gender and that they are included in the decisions that affect them. This means doing away with binary language that excludes the full scope of gender diversity, providing safe bathrooms congruent with a person’s gender, streamlining the laborious process to obtain a legal name change, making sure inclusive curricula are in our schools, and so much more. It means a holistic perspective that goes beyond mere acknowledgement and acceptance to ensure everybody of every gender and gender expression can participate fully in public life.

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 am committed to fighting to restore more funding for this and other programs. Housing is an LGBTQ issue, and ending homelessness that disproportionately impacts queer youth will require a greater investment in expanding decommodified housing so that LGBTQ youth can thrive in this city with autonomy from unsupportive parents or the foster care system. For too many queer youth in this city, the only way to be eligible for subsidized housing is if they test HIV-positive and access these services through the HIV/AIDS Services Administration. LGBTQ homeless youth are not seen as a constituency that has a place in conversations about re-envisioning City planning, even though Park Slope was historically a lesbian neighborhood hub for queer youth, and we do not recognize how much this city and district’s culture were shaped by queer youth of previous generations. We need a new approach to planning and land use that meaningfully involves them.  One of my main priorities as a Council Member would be to work with the Speaker to create a Charter Revision Commission focused on land use, so that ULURP and the land use process can be radically changed to encourage the decommodification of housing. This would include requiring a Citywide Comprehensive Planning Framework that balances citywide needs with neighborhood priorities. This would also include the creation of an Office of Community Planning that would provide technical assistance to communities. We need to make sure these processes center queer youth who face the brunt of our disinvestment in affordable housing and community spaces threatened by gentrification, and our current investment as a society in punitive homophobic and transphobic laws, police violence and incarceration.

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? 

My top priority for my first term is addressing the economic impacts of COVID-19 by reallocating funding from the NYPD budget to community services. We must move away from a policing- and incarceration-focused form of community safety. The long-term vision is that our communities will have a say in how safety works in their neighborhoods. That means restorative justice. This also means that people have what they need to feel whole. I have been very active on this issue and was one of the organizers of the Occupy City Hall movement in Summer 2020, calling on the Mayor and the Council to defund the police. The “cuts” made to the 2021 budget were a joke. In the Council, I would advocate for a budget cut to NYPD of $3 billion. This should come from headcount, overtime, school safety agents, and capital projects (particularly the most problematic and dubiously legal ones, such as facial recognition software, which was recently used to target a protestor at his own home).

I am calling for a $3 billion decrease to NYPD’s budget in order to support our communities. The first shift would be school safety officers, followed by removing NYPD from Homeless Outreach and Subway Diversion Programs. This funding can go to adding more social workers and guidance counselors in schools, truly investing in restorative justice (ensuring that all schools have at least one full-time restorative justice coordinator, expanding the number of community schools, increasing DYCD’s budget (including expanding SYEP, COMPASS, and SONYC slots; expanding the scope of Beacon and Cornerstone services; and expanding the Learning Bridges model to provide permanent, universal, free childcare), and providing subsidies to get people into permanent homes. I think the community should also have an impact on what programs we choose for investment, and support participatory methods of working with my constituents on these priorities. I believe that the sheer scope of the police budget gives us space to create programs that will reduce what we associate with crime.

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 this economic crisis, we need borrowing power and new sources of revenue through taxing the rich, and the Council must organize to put pressure on our state government to provide that. In addition, the Council can create more and better jobs with the expansion of programs like universal pre-K and 3-K, investing in human services, and increasing targeted training and opportunities for workers to migrate towards new industries like resiliency and a Green New Deal. We need to hire people for the programs that serve our community, and those programs will increase employment. In fact, the climate legislation passed in 2019 (“CCPLA”), was predicted to create 150,000 new jobs over the next ten years. We should work with Albany and the Climate Action Council to ensure a portion of those jobs come to New York City. By also allocating funds for workforce development and adult education, we can connect people to skills for opportunities throughout their life.

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

For District 39, climate justice is a defining issue. This district is home to a Superfund site (the Gowanus Canal), and zone 1 and 2 emergency flood evacuation areas surrounding the Canal. In addition, public housing near the district is in desperate need of upgrades to make it an environmentally safe place for people to live. The environmental conditions that low income Black and Latinx people in particular live in are unmistakably tied to a lifetime of asthma, diabetes, hypertension, and even brain damage from lead in the water and in the walls. In 2020, this has come to a head with a pandemic that people with compromised immune systems (everything from asthma to Lupus), are much more susceptible to and that has disproportionately impacted Black and Latinx people. Reports from the summer on COVID deaths in New York City shows that Black New Yorkers have died at higher rates than any other group, even in areas where they are less than 10% of the population, like Staten Island.This is the result of many things, including substandard healthcare, but it is absolutely tied to the poor environmental conditions that working class people of color are forced to live in.

There are a number of clear things we must do to help communities endure all that has come with this terrible pandemic and the ongoing climate catastrophe. One, we need dramatic investment in public housing. We need to clean up the water tanks, repair basic infrastructure like elevators, repair the sewage and drainage systems, address mold and lead paint, and so much more. It will not be easy and it will not be cheap, which we should be clear is the result of intentional neglect by all levels of government, and which has compromised the health and well-being of generations of New Yorkers. Also, the first budget of the next administration of NYC must reflect investment in green building, resiliency, and other climate priorities as the number one priority. If we do not invest now we will have no future, full stop.

As we pursue a Green New Deal  for New York I will fight to codify language on a just transition for workers in the industrial sector to move into the green building sector, for contracts to go to POC-owned companies, to ensure that green jobs are union jobs and that those jobs go to folks living in frontline communities who have suffered the most from climate change and the pandemic. While the jobs aspect of GND often gets buried, the green energy sector in fact has enormous potential to create thousands of jobs in NYC and NYS, jobs that are desperately needed in the wake of the pandemic. A great example of this would be to support the construction of the proposed offshore wind turbine farm based at the South Brooklyn Army Terminal and green manufacturing jobs for working class and immigrant communities, and we need to build off of ideas like this.

In addition, I will throw all of my support behind the Public Power campaign to create a publicly owned, and democratically run utility that will also be under a mandate to use 100% renewable energy. This will empower working families who have been devastated financially (and otherwise) by the pandemic, ensure that families don’t have to deal with power outages on top of all the other challenges they are facing, while also taking NYC a huge step forward in terms of reducing dependence on fossil fuels. In addition to all that, guaranteed, eco-friendly energy will mean that the children of low income families of color will have the power sources they need for schoolwork.

I will also look to the recent historic climate legislation passed by NYS and NYC in 2019. Not only does the CLCPA set standards for emissions reduction, but it includes language for dedicated funding to go to frontline communities, many of whom are in NYC. On the NYC level, the Climate Mobilization Act, which turned into Local Law 97 plus this year's addition of Intro 1947, will reduce building emissions substantially without harming low-income renters. The retrofits promised in this bill should lead to real job creation. The funds for frontlines promised in the CLCPA should as well. I will work with elected officials at the state level to fight for the realization of those funds and for the community to play a leading role in determining how best to use the money to shore up communities against climate change. 

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, absolutely. I supported their effort to organize and will continue to do so. As a former Council staffer, this is important to me. Under no circumstance will I have someone working for me with a salary lower than $50,000 a year. Ideally all jobs should at a minimum provide a living wage equal to that for someone who is a single parent in the City, which is ~$65,000. Council staff are chronically underpaid, and overworked, which is why their unionization drive is so important.

I am no stranger to the labor movement. Both my parents were teacher union members, and a scholarship from their union helped me go to college. I myself was elected co-chair of the staff union at my job, Center for Popular Democracy, and which is part of the Washington-Baltimore Newspaper Guild/TNG-CWA Local 32035.  There is nothing stopping City Council from working to provide more information and resources for workers so that they understand their rights, and can engage in collective bargaining. As aCouncil member, I will also encourage the development of “organic leaders”, within workers in my district, and provide training and resources on how to better organize in their places of employment, even if they don’t have union representation. I will also work to make sure that we continue to fund pro-worker programs in the Department of Consumer and WorkerProtection.At the federal level, if the Protect the Right to Organize Act gets passed, it will give workers in the City more tools to expand and protect unionization.In Council, the strongest way to have an immediate impact on union workers is to help amplify their members' needs as they go to negotiate their contracts with the Mayor and private employers. Council can be supportive to the needs of rank and file workers when this process happens when their contracts are renegotiated.

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

We’ve raised more than $221,800, including expected matching funds. 70% of our donations were $27 or less.

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

I will not accept campaign donations from the real estate industry (including short-term rental platforms like AirBnb), anyone involved in the military-industrial complex, police and their unions, or any industry actively involved in the deterioration of our planet (such as fossil fuels). I have a very proactive team reviewing my campaign donations. While I have received few from folks in these industries (I’m sure they know I’m not their candidate), I have returned a few donations and will continue to review and return as necessary. 

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, we need to stop imposing a false gender binary.

Do you agree to list Lambda Independent Democrats of Brooklyn on all materials where your endorsements are listed?

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. Absolutely. I would also want to work closely with immigrant led organizations about how to do so in a way that members of this community would feel safe participating. In addition to giving immigrant New Yorkers a voice -- which they deserve to have -- it will send a powerful message to the rest of the country and maybe even a model for other cities and counties to adopt.

Reso 0923: Calls for the state to repeal Penal Law 240.37, known as the #WalkingWhileTrans Ban: Yes. It’s an outrage that trans people can barely walk down the street without the risk of police harassment and exposure to the violence of the carceral system. Repealing the #WalkingWhileTrans Ban is a precondition for restoring public spaces for everyone to feel safe and thrive in flourishing communities. Our movements wouldn’t be where they are today if it wasn’t for our Trans siblings who started the Stonewall Rebellion against police harassment and brutality, and we need to continue this fight.

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 of DNA from children without consent form a parent or guardian: Yes

Bridget Rein

Level
City Council

Constituency
District 39

More Information
Campaign Site

2020 LID Questionnaire Response

Why are you running for City Council?

I am running for City Council because I would like to support my community through real experience. I have, at least, over 18 years of experience at City Hall doing the business of the UFT. I am a teacher and an educator. I hope to bring all this knowledge to the City Council to achieve goals for my community such as, building two high schools and COVID-19 relief.

What are the greatest struggles of your Council district?

The greatest struggles of my Council district are keeping small businesses alive. Another challenge my district faces is a lack of community voice. As your Council member, I plan to take these challenges head on and make sure my community gets the best from their elected officials.

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

LID has not just been a Democratic Club where we share ideas...it has been family. LID represents the best and the brightest of leaders, such as Matt McMorrow, Scott Klein, and Jared Arader. LID has not just supported LGBTQ+ candidates, but supported good, progressive candidates. LID is not just an organization, it is a school of good democracy. LGBTQ+ representation would promote empathy throughout the Council. As we always say, we must walk a mile in someone’s shoes before criticizing them. We all must walk beside our LGBTQ+ community.

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

I would appoint a Director that will solely deal with discrimination and bias against members of the LGBTQ+ community. That Director will seek solutions for such

atrocities and will work with me to make our community more equal and safe for all.

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

In my district, gender equity means everything. As a Council member, it would be my responsibility to ensure the safety and well being of all my constituents. Everyone has the right to express themselves how they’d like and it is my job to ensure their safety in doing so.

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?

Of course, I will support any and all legislation to fight for funding for this or similar programs. As a teacher, I have empathy for our homeless youth as I have worked with young adults and children for many years. As your Council member, I will support safety and wellness for homeless LGBTQ+ New Yorkers by properly funding the programs that provide services directly to them.

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?

If elected, I will work to reduce the NYPD’s budget and allocate those funds to non-policing alternatives and social services. I am not sure by how much exactly, but I will work with LID to ensure that the cuts necessary are carried out.

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?

First and foremost, there needs to be an efficient and effective stimulus package for our first responders and members of the community. The relief effort will also support families that lost loved ones in nursing homes and hospitals due to COVID related circumstances. Also, I intend to support our small businesses, restaurants, and theatres. As for our community members, I urge that we freeze rent and ensure food security for all those who were financially impacted by the pandemic. All of these plans can be possible with the restructuring of the City Council budget.

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

As your Council Member, I will provide more funding for alternative forms of energy. We must lower our carbon footprint. Protecting the Earth and our environment is a top priority.

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 stood with labor unions all across the city my entire career. As a Council member, I will always ensure and advocate for the seating of union leaders and representatives to have a seat at the table. I did publicly 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?

I have raised over $80,000. My major sources of these donations come from the connections I have made as a union and community activist.

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

No, I am not accepting campaign contributions from law enforcement 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 do commit to using inclusive language in press releases and other announcements.

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 of DNA from children without consent form a parent or guardian: ​Yes​

Douglas Schneider

Level
City Council

Constituency
District 39

More Information
Campaign Site

2020 LID Questionnaire Response

Why are you running for City Council? 

I am running for City Council because so many people in our community are struggling with the impact of Covid-19; because we have an out of control, militarized and unaccountable police force that must be reformed; because traffic violence, especially in the 39th Council District, is an epidemic; and because our public school system is in crisis.

We need to reduce the burdens on our small businesses or they won’t survive. We need to get people assistance so that they don’t lose their apartments or homes. We need to demilitarize the NYPD, reallocate resources away from policing, implement policies that hold officers accountable, and eliminate the stranglehold that Pat Lynch and Ed Mullins, the two most destructive forces in NYC, have on our City. We need a transit strategy that protects bikers and pedestrians and remedies the dangerous street designs that we already know exist. We need to rebuild our economy post COVID in an equitable way - focusing on creating green jobs so that we’re not only putting people to work, but saving our planet from the existential threat of climate change. We need to make sure vulnerable employees have protection, benefits, and paid time off. And, after years and years of underfunding our public schools, we need to reinvest in our public schools, with a focus on communities of color.

I will bring to the Council my fifteen years of experience as a civil rights and criminal defense attorney, as someone who has fought the police in court and won; I will bring my lived experience as a public school parent, as someone who, in my family, was the parent responsible for supervising remote learning; I will bring to the Council my experience of both owning a small business and representing small businesses throughout the district; and, I will bring to the Council my years as a transportation safety advocate.

We need to elect leaders ready from day one to take on these challenging issues. I believe my experience, my passion, and my vision, make me the best candidate for the job.

What are the greatest struggles of your Council district?

Often, the greatest challenges facing the district are also the greatest opportunities. 

For example, one of the greatest challenges that the district faces is high levels of traffic violence. Unfortunately, the 39th Council District has seen an epidemic level of pedestrian and biker fatalities and serious injuries in the last ten years. Our streets are a disaster. 7th Avenue is a disaster; 9th Street is a disaster; Church Avenue and Caton Avenue are disasters; and, worst of them all, Ocean Parkway has proven time and time again to be a death trap.

However, the Covid-19 pandemic has opened the door for a comprehensive overhaul of our streets and sidewalks. Streets are being used for restaurants, for play spaces, and for education. This is a unique opportunity to fundamentally change our streets.

We need a comprehensive plan to expand the amount of open streets and make them one cohesive network instead of randomly strewn throughout the City. We need to turn some open streets into permanent play spaces and make them entirely car and bus free, the prime example being 4th Street between 4th and 5th Avenue.

We need to protect bikers and pedestrians by creating a connected network of protected bike lanes and eliminating the traffic behaviors that put bikers at risk such as midday truck deliveries & their dangerous double parking, and permitting the constant obstruction of bike lanes. We need to expand the use of red light and speed cameras to slow down traffic, and we need to make our sidewalks & crosswalks safer and more accessible, especially for people with mobility issues.

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

I have been a gay rights advocate and LGBTQ+ ally since a close friend came out to me when I was in high school in the early 1990s. My advocacy and allyship continued throughout college and law school. My first public advocacy for marriage equality was in 2002, when I was in law school and won a public speaking contest speaking against a Constitutional Amendment to define marriage as between one man and one woman. I was privileged to attend (and be interviewed after) the Mayor’s press conference the day of the Obergefell decision. 

As a civil rights attorney who represents employees in employment discrimination cases, I have successfully represented employees terminated because of who they love, how they identify, and HIV positive status.

Part of my platform when I was running for District Leader was to eliminate the barriers to TGNCNB participation on the County Committee. Once elected, I was proud to be an original co-sponsor of Emilia Decaudin’s successful amendment to the rules of the New York State Democratic Committee to be inclusive of individuals who identify as being outside the gender binary. As a member of the Brooklyn Democratic Party’s Task Force on Gender and Gender Identity, I was proud to use my privilege as a CIS gendered, straight white male, to stand up for my LGBTQ colleagues in the face of Frank Seddio’s bullying. I am proud to have passed a proposal that would remove the barriers to TGNCNB participation on the County Committee. 

LGBTQ+ representation in government means more than just electing LGBTQ+ legislators. It means allies like myself creating space for LGBTQ+ leadership, especially, but not limited to, on legislation specifically affecting the LGBTQ+ community. It means working in coalition with LGBTQ+ legislators, organizations, leaders and community members to pass legislation.

1 want LID’s endorsement because it would validate the work I have put in for over 20 years to continue to learn how to be a better ally. Getting LID’s endorsement means so much more to me than just important support in a single election. It is something I will keep with me long after my political life ends, both as a source of pride and as a reminder of the obligation I have to keep trying to be a better ally. I promise to always stand with you, fight with and for you, and organize with you.

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

The next City Council and Mayor must formulate a blueprint for ensuring people with limited English language proficiency  are given essential information in their native language, especially during times of crisis. That means bringing together trusted stakeholders from different sectors, including elected officials, religious leaders, non-profits, and non-English media, to ensure that essential information is being delivered to people with limited English proficiency. 

The 39th Council District is very linguistically diverse. Outside of English, Spanish, and Chinese, there are thousands of constituents who speak Bangla, Yiddish, Russian, and Urdu. Yet, New York City did almost no outreach about COVID in those languages. As Democratic District Leader in the 44th Assembly District, I was one of the first elected officials to host a community forum with the Department of Education about the Mayor’s original school reopening plan. When the DOE refused to provide interpreters for the event, I organized community members to provide simultaneous translation in Bangla, Urdu and Russian. I have also been fighting the Board of Elections to provide increased language access at the polls.

In a district as large as the 39th CD, having one office and expecting people to come to you, is a disservice to the community. I will open a second office in the Kensington/Boro Park part of the district, staffed with multilingual and culturally competent staff to assist constituents.

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

We must address the factors that drive the gender pay gap. Men and women are funneled into different jobs based upon antiquated gender norms. Women work in fields such as home health aides and child care that pay less and offer fewer benefits compared to the fields largely dominated by men. Women are driven out of the workplace or forced to work less than full-time hours because of societal expectations regarding childcare responsibilities. Finally, there is straight up discrimination.

All workers, and the economy, will benefit when the antiquated view of childcare as a women’s issue is relegated to the dustbin of history. We need policies that create more and more affordable early childcare, and before and after school programs. We need to support initiatives that increase educational attainment by women in the subjects that will prepare people for the jobs of tomorrow.

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 absolutely commit to restoring the funding for the NYC Unity Work Project and/or a similar program. The decision to delay its implementation was egregious. To put the decision in perspective, most of the money for the program could have been funded by significantly cutting the hundreds of millions of dollars spent on overtime for NYPD officers.

LGBTQ+ homelessness is a crisis that leads to high levels of sexual assault, domestic violence, substance abuse, HIV infection, and mental health crises. NYC needs to invest in proven ways to help LGBTQ+ homeless and prevent homelessness from happening. This includes emergency, transitional and permanent housing assistance; education and job assistance; physical and mental health services; and creating LGBTQ+ specific shelters.   

Finally, we must work to prevent youth homelessness by requiring schools to have a LGBTQ+-inclusive curriculum. Centering the needs of LGBTQ+ students goes far beyond classroom instruction. It means providing support and services for the unique issues that students are dealing with outside school walls. A school that does not try to engage students where they are runs a far higher risk of “losing” that student for the long-term.

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 civil rights and criminal defense attorney for over a decade, I have seen firsthand the over policing of communities of color, particularly in the Black community. I understand the root causes, big and small, of the NYPD’s unaccountable misconduct. From this experience, I have a comprehensive criminal justice platform focused on creating accountability, reallocation of resources, and decarceration. 

I believe we need to structurally change our approach to public safety in our city. We need to reduce the role that armed NYPD officers play in enforcement. The vast majority of calls that the NYPD responds to do not involve violent crime and do not require an armed response. We need to reassign these duties, and reallocate this funding, to institutions and service providers more equipped to deal with the issue. An armed response should be limited to responding to violent crimes, like rape or an active shooter, and situations that experience has shown often turn violent, like domestic violence calls. 

We also must massively reduce the NYPD’s budget. I support reallocating resources from the NYPD budget to agencies and programs that will help the recovery from the COVID-19 crisis, particularly in communities of color. This should include, but not be limited to, Summer Youth Employment Programs, investments in affordable housing, education, homeless services, mental health, aging, local community groups, and small business, particularly minority/women owned businesses. 

These changes must be accompanied by laws that hold NYPD officers accountable for their conduct in the streets and their perjury in the courts. The final decision on disciplinary issues must be removed from the NYPD Commissioner to a truly neutral body; Section 50-a should be abolished and the public should have full access to officers’ disciplinary records; and we need a system to track officer’s whose testimony was found incredible in court and impose real consequences for their perjury.

We need to eliminate the agencies and institutions that incentive arrests and over-policing. One of the prime examples is the office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor. Not only was the Special Narcotics Prosecutor created as part of the racist “war on drugs,” but it also has no place in a city that has dramatically changed its understanding and approach to narcotics and other drugs.  

We need to ban the NYPD’s participation in military surplus programs and eliminate its stockpile of military grade weapons. This summer we all were witness to a heavily militarized NYPD brutalizing peaceful protestors who were marching for justice after the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. This creates violence, it doesn’t stop it. 

Our policies, including our approach to the NYPD should have as a goal eliminating the stranglehold Pat Lynch of the PBA and Ed Mullins of the SBA have on the City. These two men are the most destructive forces in New York City politics and are propped up by the most senior, predominantly White and Republican officers, most of whom live outside NYC. Our goal should be to uplift the voices of the newer, largely officers of color, who are from, and live in, the communities they police. Our city will be a better place when these officers get rid of Lynch and Mullins, and take over the police unions. 

In order to reduce the size of the NYPD, our approach to the budget must be done very carefully. Because it is unionized, any reduction in staff would be based on “last in, first out.” This means it would be the newer officers, who predominantly live in NYC, and better represent NYC’s diversity, who would be let go, while the predominantly white officers who live outside NYC and represent the heart of the problem, would be strengthened.  

A better approach is to achieve the reduction in the NYPD’s numbers by attrition. Implement policies that incentivize those NYPD officers living outside NYC to leave the force. I believe the best approach is to require NYPD officers to live in, or within a small proximity of New York City. The City passed such a law in 1978, but it was struck down by the Court in 1980 because it conflicted with State law. There are currently several bills in Albany to change State law and I support those efforts. Even without a change in State law, we can achieve the same result by requiring all officers to live within a short proximity to NYC (say 5 miles). If passed, I believe a large number of the officers who live outside of NYC would retire. Not only will this result in a police force that better represents NYC, but it will break the control these officers have over the police unions, and the City. This should be accompanied by a hiring freeze on new officers.

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 first answer must come from Albany. We need to raise taxes on the billionaires in NY. While working families are struggling to pay rent, to put food on the table, to educate their children, the number of NYS billionaires has grown. They can and should pay.

But there are still ways the City can grow revenue or reduce expenditures or change our budgetary priorities. 

Reforming the NYPD would also have significant positive impact on the budget. This is more than reducing the size of the NYPD’s budget. The City spends between $200-$400 million a year in settlements and judgements in police misconduct cases. To put that in perspective, that amount more than covers the entire budget for the Summer Youth Employment Program. 

We must stop outsourcing City work and contracts. There are literally billions of dollars spent every year in this city on outside contractors instead of doing that work with city workers. Reducing that number would mean both better jobs and cost savings.

Small businesses are the driving force of New York City’s economy. If they can’t stay open, people are out of work. We need to pass a bill to control rent for small businesses. We need to focus regulatory enforcement on the most vital health & safety enforcement, and avoid putting additional financial pressure on businesses through excessive fines. We need to institute initiatives and pass legislation reducing the biggest liabilities of restaurants, bars, and venues, including a moratorium on sales tax and finding ways to reduce water bills (one of the largest liabilities in this industry).  

 It would be naïve to think that a pandemic like COVID-19 won’t happen again in the future. Contingency planning must start now and must be a regular part of the budget. We need to stockpile the medical items, equipment and PPE we know we will need. We need to have a plan to prevent or respond to surge capacity at hospitals. We need a plan with clear guidelines to keep schools and businesses open.

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

I would fight for policies that reduce carbon emissions while creating more good union jobs. NYC’s “Green New Deal” law, Local Law 97, will create tens of thousands of jobs through 2030 while slashing climate pollution from large buildings. I will support legislation to expand the bill to cover medium and smaller buildings as well. I will also support investments in renewable energy, housing infrastructure, and public waste management.

I would push for further investment in public transport, restoring New York City’s composting program, and investing in clean, renewable energy, especially in Black and Brown communities. As a result of environmental racism and a lack of investment in green policies has led to higher rates of asthma in Black and Brown communities. This has aided the disproportionate amount of deaths due to the COVID-19 pandemic (a respiratory disease) in Black and Brown communities compared to wealthier White communities.

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?

NYC still has a long way to go to ensure fairness and equality in the workplace.  

Unionization will go a long way toward addressing many of these issues because workers collectively have far greater power to insist on better working conditions, wages, and benefits.

I pledge to stand in solidarity with workers in NY attempting to unionize.  That means joining strikes, organizing protests, writing op-eds, drafting worker protection legislation (flexible scheduling, just cause protections. etc.), passing regulatory protections and holding employer oversight hearings.  I will educate others and speak loudly in favor of unionization, both to groups and individuals, to workers, employers and to colleagues.

Given my strong belief in the power of union, I would voluntarily recognize the Association of Legislative Employees  (the union that represents council staffers) in their request for voluntary recognition?

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

I have raised over $46,000 from over 360 contributors and will receive the maximum in matching funds. All of my contributions come from individuals and was raised locally. Over 50% came from people who live in the district, 70% from people who live in Brooklyn, and 80% from people who live in NYC.

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

Do you agree to list Lambda Independent Democrats of Brooklyn on all materials where your endorsements are listed?

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 - Absolutely, and excited it is about to happen.

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 of DNA from children without consent form a parent or guardian: Yes

Justin Krebs

Level
City Council

Constituency
District 39

More Information
Campaign Site

2020 LID Questionnaire Response

Why are you running for City Council?

I'm running for City Council because I’ve been a progressive movement-builder and organizer for 20 years; I love my home in Park Slope where my kids go to public school and my wife owns a small business; I’m ready to bring my range of experience from national campaigning to local organizing to serve my community and my city; and I love bringing people together in joyful ways to get big things done -- which is essential for our city and society.

I have the energy, creativity, and 20-year track record to bring our community together as we tackle some of the toughest challenges we have ever faced. Together we can create a more vibrant city that works for all of us. It will only happen if we organize together and shift power from big money and special interests to the people, which is the spirit of the political, cultural, and community work I’ve been doing throughout my career.

It’s what I’ve done in NYC around schools, culture and civic participation and what I’ve done leading the national campaigns team at MoveOn for the past 5 years as we’ve worked to save the ACA, organized Families Belong Together protests, rallied to Save the Post Office, fueled the 2018 Blue Wave, worked for impeachment, and so much more.

Now that we are through the Trump years, I want to fully turn my attention to our community and our city. This is our home where my wife Casey -- a nurse-midwife, birth educator, and business owner -- and I are living, working and raising our three small kids.

This is the city where I helped build the non-profit theater and cultural space The Tank 18 years ago -- a space that premieres more new work by emerging artists than any other in the city, that has survived countless real estate struggles, and given me clear perspectives about the challenges facing non-profits and small businesses, as well as allowed me to part of the city’s cultural fabric.

This is the city where we began the Living Liberally / Drinking Liberally world of progressive social clubs -- that have build political social capital across the country as well as being a platform to support local candidates and progressive insurgents for two decades using

Right now is an opportunity for New Yorkers citywide, and specifically folks in the 39th district, to come together with hope and optimism to work together to make New York the city we want. One that respects our main streets as the heartbeat of our neighborhoods and helps small businesses survive and thrive. A city that’s in every way a national leader on tackling the climate crisis. A New York that respects out culture -- out theaters, arts, restaurants, parks -- as essential. And one that provides an excellent education for all our students, invests in more teachers and less testing, and finally 70 years after Brown vs Board of Education, takes the steps to fully integrate our schools. And a city that puts values, creativity, equity, and boldness first in our post-pandemic recovery.

With all of these projects, again and again, we’ve seen we only get big things done when we work together -- investing in community, using social capital, building diverse teams and coalitions. This is work I can do, want to do, and love doing -- and I love doing it with neighbors, community members and allies, because that’s the only way to get it done.

What are the greatest struggles of your Council district?

The challenges we are facing today are the same one’s we have been facing for years, they have just been compounded by the COVID-19 crisis: a homeless crisis including 100k students who are in temporary housing, many more out of work and facing chronic food insecurity, schools underfunded and vastly inequitable, communities underserved while too many are overpoliced, workers exploited and small businesses facing devastation, people undervalued, a lack of investment in our commons -- our shared spaces and cultural resources -- and government that fails to be proactive.

Particularly in my district as well as city wide -- let’s make education a focus -- truly prioritizing high-quality education accessible to all our students in all our schools -- and marshaling the city’s resources and mobilizing our communities and every sector of city life to a vision the centers on true participation and equity in our schools. This district has taken great steps with the District 15 integration plan, and needs to support and build up on that to address the vast differences in how our families experience their local schools.

Another huge issue that hits every neighborhood in our district -- and around our city -- is how to bolster our main streets. They are the hearts of our neighborhoods, yet small businesses are being battered -- by the pandemic now, and by Amazon and corporate power more broadly. We need to make sure our retailers, restaurants, cafes, nightlife, cultural spots can survive this pandemic and be part of reviving our city afterward.

I’ve been trying to address these challenges and my community. I’ve helped establish a food pantry out of Camp Friendship and organize volunteers to serve and deliver multiple times a week.

I serve in the executive leadership of the School District 15 Presidents Council (which heavily overlaps with Council District 39) which has allowed me to organize alongside other parent leaders.

I’m building the campaign with the support of small business owners from across the district. And I’d build on all of these experiences in City Council.

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

LID may be a borough-wide club but it traditionally has a heavy presence in the 39th—the approval of LID would be a mark of authenticity, that folks who know our neighborhoods’ highs and lows see their agenda reflected in this campaign. That would mean the world to me.

Practically speaking, it also means that LID members would become effective ambassadors as we build bigger networks of supporters and validators across the 39th.

And as a club that is committed to LGBTQ+ issues, LID understands the importance of electing officials who will be true partners with the advocacy community in pushing for a more inclusive city -- for the LGBTQ+ as well as for issues at the intersection of sexual identity, gender, race, and economics -- all of which need to be addressed for the city to live up to its full potential.

Through my work in politics and in arts and culture, I’ve always sought to be an ally; as a City Council Member, I’d be part of the critical relationship between strong outside advocacy and strong inside allies who, together, can make change.

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

Fight for municipal broadband and a massive program of investing in technology training and give-aways in the communities that have least access right now, along with digital literacy in our schools and available for all, plus stronger data privacy laws across our system. While technology is not the answer to everything, creating a more even digital landscape that is accessible technically, linguistically, socially to all New Yorkers can transform the way government listens to constituents and provides services.

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

Gender equity is taking proactive steps to challenge the patriarchal systems that privilege cis, straight, men -- often white -- in our homes, streets and workforces. It’s the sea we’re all swimming in and moving toward gender equity requires active attention, proactive policies, community learning, and personal development.

It takes many forms, but here’s one example I’ve been seeing throughout the pandemic. In household after household, family after family, it’s often women who have carried the burden of changing their professional trajectories due to the shutdown. Women are dropping out of the workforce at a higher rate, taking on more responsibility for children, for eldercare, or for community service. And while these are all household-specific decisions and may be the right choices, the impact will be that women will lose footing in their professional trajectories.

What we can do: Expand access to childcare and eldercare, so less burden falls on women to do as unpaid labor; compensate those who are working as caregivers -- both professionally as nannies, nurses, and aides with better pay, faster access to vaccines, and affordable healthcare; as well as those doing this work unpaid in their own homes. We could prioritize schools with resources and cross-agency collaboration so that schools are open, safe and welcoming or more students, which will change the nature of pressure endorsed by parents and caregivers. And we can invest post-pandemic workforce development dollars toward parts of the population whose job prospects were hit hardest during the shutdown.

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 this fight. We are facing real economic challenges, but we aren’t a poor city. It’s about values and priorities, and together we can make this program—and expanded support like it—a priority.

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 former board member of the New York Civil Liberties Union, the need to transform the NYPD is an issue I’ve had the opportunity to work on -- and so many organizations have pushed it to the forefront over the past year.

We need to move funding from the police and fully fund community service programs in health, education, mental health, job training and more that address systemic challenges and inequities. I signed onto a letter to defund the police department by $1 billion in June 2020 and worked within MoveOn as MoveOn to organizationally move towards these goals as well. I stand by that and would vote for budgets that moved $2-3 billion more than that into education, health and mental health, and job development programs.

I would remove NYPD from our schools, and also follow Brad Lander’s proposal to move traffic enforcement out of NYPD’s domain.

And then we need to look at successful models like the Fortune Society to develop the top-tier programs that support people who have been caught up in and failed by our criminal justice system—helping reacclimate folks for successful re-engagement in our city life.

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?

Let’s start the conversation with investment, not cuts. Yes, we’re going to face challenges. But pitting two impacted groups or slashed services against each other is the wrong way about it. Let’s name priorities frome health to education to environmental justice to investing in the commons to workforce development -- and make investments and choices from there. We are and we can be an abundant city -- rich with resources, innovation and creativity when actually marshaled in a clear direction.

Our solutions for the pandemic aren’t unique to the pandemic -- they are solutions to the problems that already existed before coronavirus that have now been exposed. This is a place where local elected officials have some direct power -- to invest in childcare, healthcare, and other direct support for impacted workers. This means ensuring that schools both during and after the pandemic are serving all students and families, providing relief and support for small businesses so our main streets remain vital and are here to meet us on the other side, prioritizing food security for all, and branching into green infrastructure to take advantage of low interest rates and invest more heavily in strengthening our city and providing jobs to do so.

Small businesses, the cultural sector, and restaurants, bars and cafes are all part of the economic engine of our city—as it’s safe to reopen, these will be the basis of a ground-up economic recovery, allowing New Yorkers to spend dollars that go back into communities and into neighbors’ households and bring our city back to life.

This is also where we need to use our organizing power and our platforms to advocate to state and federal entities for real relief -- from direct payments to programs that cancel/reduce rent to increasing revenue with fair progressive taxation. We need them to act, and we have to treat ourselves as organizers and emissaries, lifting up the voices of the impacted, centering the stories of workers and families and individuals hit hardest. We need to make sure all measures include undocumented workers. That we, as a city, track data of who is impacted -- in their health, jobs, and community health -- with explicit understanding of race and income. Then we need to direct solutions with that knowledge. And we need to make sure those most impacted are part of the discussions and planning for solutions.

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

NYC can be a leader in every regard against climate change/

• Get our fleets off of fossil fuels

• Divest from new pipelines

• Turbocharging our work to retrofit buildings

• Use our purchasing and pension power to force structural changes.

• Implement and enforce the Climate Mobilization 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 would work actively with labor to identify where they want allyship—not just through legislation, but pressure on rezoning discussions, use of oversight and committee work, and showing up in person. I also think it’s critical that we take the fight against corporate monopolies for a host of reasons—not the least of which is to push them to respect workers and recognize unions. And, yes, I support the unionization of Council staffers.

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

I have raised the maximum I can spend -- all from individuals, many in district or around the borough.

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—this is something we have been increasingly attentive to at MoveOn over my time there, and I’d bring that to my work in the council as well.

Do you agree to list Lambda Independent Democrats of Brooklyn on all materials where your endorsements are listed?

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

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 of DNA from children without consent form a parent or guardian: Yes

Shahana Hanif

Level
City Council

Constituency
District 39

More Information
Campaign Site

2020 LID Questionnaire Response

Why are you running for City Council?

Growing up, I have seen how politics, civic engagement initiatives, and changes in NYC neighborhoods have failed to include the needs of those who are most marginalized — especially BIPOC, women, immigrants, working-class people, and New Yorkers with mobility issues and accessibility needs. This is seen through policies and programs that systematically marginalize and disproportionately harm myself and other people in these vulnerable communities. I see this in District 39, where (1) schools in District 15 are deeply segregated by race and class, (2) more affluent nearby neighborhoods have more robust public services and open spaces than neighborhoods like Borough Park and Kensington, and (3) government outreach and programs are not accessible to limited English proficient community members across the district and especially in Kensington. I’m running for City Council to end these inequities across my District and across our city, and to ensure that communities who are often left out and excluded from the conversation in government can have a voice at the table.

Kensington is my home and where my father arrived as a ship jumper 30 years ago from Bangladesh, settling in the largest working-class Bangladeshi enclave in Brooklyn. It's where my sisters and I attended PS 230 and where my lived experiences politicized me to be the woman I am today. I am a Lupus survivor, and since diagnosis at 17, I have not rested in fighting to create a feminist, livable city that radically prioritizes physical and mental healthcare for all. 

Lupus nearly killed me and took a crippling toll on my physical and emotional health. I underwent aggressive chemotherapy for months, lost all my hair and gained weight, and was left bed-ridden in hospitals across the City and at home. My immigrant family, not having the English proficiency to navigate a nebulous healthcare system, was left at the mercy of an uncaring bureaucracy as I fought for my life. 

As the disease worsened, I had to have both hips and my left shoulder replaced. I was rejected for Access-A-Ride, leaving me no choice but to go up and down the stairs of subway stations without elevators and escalators as a disabled woman. I’ve had to crowdfund at a young age to pay for my medical expenses. I struggled with severe self-esteem issues while my body deteriorated with disabilities. 

My rheumatologist told me it would take a lot of grit and strength to survive. Now, I am channeling that strength to run for office and fight for those who are also struggling to survive in this City.

My story is a familiar one to many who live with chronic illness and disabilities. People continue to be in pain because of the City’s inability to provide free healthcare, free transit, and free education.  Surviving an incurable illness, and going through our City’s healthcare system of hospitals, health coverage, and prescriptions was the catalyst for my desire to run for office. I am fighting for a City that prioritizes wellness, joy, liberation, and a society that puts people over profit. 

What are the greatest struggles of your Council district?

My District’s residents have lost loved ones, jobs, and stability during COVID-19. These struggles are not new to my District, but the pandemic has destabilized thousands of families in my district, particularly Black and brown residents, and immigrants in my community. Three of the greatest struggles in my Council district are: 

(1) working-class, immigrant, and LGBT residents losing work during COVID-19, and being further priced out of the district;

(2) the impact of remote learning on students and women caretakers in a heavily segregated school district; and

(3) access to culturally informed and language accessible healthcare, during the pandemic and beyond.

 On creating better jobs for working-class, immigrant, LGBT, and New Yorkers of color in District 39… 

The communities who’ve experienced some of the highest rates of COVID-19 are also the same communities who’ve lost income, jobs, and stability during this crisis. Our City’s recovery from COVID-19 must center working-class, immigrant, LGBT, and New Yorkers of color, who’ve experienced higher rates of job loss than white, straight, affluent communities, and may have been blocked from receiving available relief and government support during the pandemic. 

The economic impacts of the pandemic will have long lasting and permanent effects. As Council Member, I will work to alleviate economic injustices through (1) working with the State and other nonprofits to create stipends for folks who are unemployed, particularly undocumented folks who were uneligible for State and Federal assistance, (2) expand support for BIPOC, LGBT, and immigrant-owned businesses who lost a substantial amount of income from the pandemic through local grantmaking and expanding the MWBE program, and (3) build a pipeline of quality jobs through expanding green jobs, job-training programs, and apprenticeships, with specific emphasis on hiring LGBT, immigrant, and New Yorkers or color. I will also fight to make sure workers in my District are entering are safe, particularly for LGBT and workers of color. For instance, I will support legislation that protects workers from termination without just cause, while pushing on State colleagues to pass legislation that ensures workers have access to gender-neutral restrooms.

On the impact of remote learning in a heavily segregated school district...

Throughout my life, I have attended schools in Brooklyn from pre-K at PS 230 to undergrad at CUNY - Brooklyn College. During my time as a student, I have personally witnessed the egregious inequities and immoral budget cuts, resulting in a school system that fails to care for students and families. These issues continue to worsen during the COVID-19 pandemic, as outreach fails to center multilingual families, working parents are expected to fill the role of teacher, and educators are not provided proper PPE or support. 

Recognizing these issues, I have worked to advocate for students and their families throughout my career. As the Director of Organizing and Community Engagement at Council Member Brad Lander’s office, I have worked closely with the School Construction Authority and schools in the district to secure funding through Participatory Budgeting to repair our school buildings. In this role, I have also worked alongside students and parents in advocating for their needs to create an accessible, equitable, and inclusive education system - throughout the pandemic, I have interfaced between families and school administration to secure access to digital devices and stable internet connection for students. In addition, as a Lupus survivor and a daughter of immigrants, I recognize that our City’s education system has to incorporate accommodations for students with disabilities and to provide a language accessible education.

As per the D15 Diversity Plan (a community-based planning process created to decrease segregation in public schools within School District 15 and beyond), I will also push for Culturally Responsive Pedagogy in the classroom as a method of community building and supporting racial, cultural, and socioeconomic differences within the classroom. I will work to end the school-to-prison pipeline, removing carceral forms of justice from schools, prioritizing transformative care and hiring socially conscious guidance counselors in schools. Finally, as a former CUNY student, I will advocate for tuition-free CUNY and prioritize providing support for CUNY students who are experiencing homelessness and food insecurity Finally, in my advocacy, I am careful and intentional to center and uplift our school administrators, paraprofessionals, staff, and teachers - workers who have been denied agency and proper protections throughout this pandemic.

Relatedly, I recently wrote an op-ed about the disparate impact of remote learning on Bangaldeshi families in my district: https://bklyner.com/opinion-i-wish-our-city-and-schools-stepped-up-for-immigrant-mothers/.

On having an inclusive, safe, and accessible healthcare system and sex education in New York City…

As a Lupus survivor, access to healthcare is personal for me. My experiences of having to navigate through a nebulous healthcare system revealed to me how broken and inaccessible it is to so many New Yorkers.  First and foremost, it is important to ensure that every New Yorker, regardless of insurance or citizenship status, can access healthcare. It is crucial that the City Council show its formal support for Medicare for All. However, until our federal government meets this demand, it is crucial that the Council do everything in its power, especially during a global pandemic, to expand health coverage for all New Yorkers. 

Funding must also be expanded towards health centered community organizations and clinics to adequately reach low-income, undocumented, and uninsured New Yorkers: this means better funding NYC Care and partnering with programs like IDNYC, using my constituent services arm to expand enrollment centers, outreach, scope, and legitimacy.

To make reproductive health information and care accessible to all New Yorkers, the City Council can invest in and fund community based clinics to provide STI/STD testing, condoms, and access to birth control. The City Council also needs to advocate for inclusive, intersectional, and comprehensive sex education in schools. Lack of language accessibility and culturally informed outreach often bars many New Yorkers - especially New Yorkers of color and immigrant New Yorkers - from accessing City resources. 

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

I am a feminist community organizer working to build safe spaces for LGBTQ+ Muslims in Kensington. I have a deep investment in young, LGBTQ+ communities that are less likely to proactively attend programming or receive public services: organizing with community based organizations like Arts & Democracy and DRUM - Desis Rising Up & Moving, and committing to political education with Muslim and/or South Asian families. I’m applying for an endorsement from LID to continue building bridges and learning with LGBTQ+ organizers on how to transform our values into action. To me, LGBTQ+ representation in government means electing leaders who are committed to centering intersectional LGBTQ+ priorities (like universal healthcare, affordable housing, and fighting mass incarceration), building with diverse queer communities, and uplifting those at the margins.

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

Language inaccessibility prevents communities of color and immigrants from fully participating in the political process (through volunteering or voting), and ensuring that accurately translated materials are distributed is critical for deep engagement. As a campaign, we are practicing language justice and are making our campaign materials available in multiple languages. You can see our commitment in practice with the recent school reopening surveys that our campaign released in English, Spanish, and Bangla. I’ve also been building with Bangla ethnic newspapers and regularly appear on news shows hosted by Time Television, TBN, Sandwip to speak on the state of politics in NYC and issues impacting working-class communities. This was a critical way to get out the vote in the 2020 primaries and it will be a critical way to get out the vote next June as well.  

 A lack of language access permeates every public service that the city fails to provide, particularly an inclusive and democratic government. I’m committed to continuing language accessible services and legal aid both as a means to get vital immigration-related information to my community in Bangla and challenge voter suppression by helping community members on their path to citizenship or bring them into the campaign to fight for noncitizen voting access in municipal elections. While the City promises translation and interpretation services, the majority of limited English proficient speakers do not receive the services they need. The implications of this are stark - staff at COVID-19 testing sites have not been able to provide accessible communication for folks whose primary language is not English. It is not enough to simply tell folks to get tested and be protected from COVID-19, it is important that folks are able to access the resources and services they need to survive the pandemic.

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

COVID-19 has exacerbated gender inequities in schools, the home, and other workplaces. Women in my district are bearing the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic: from carrying a disproportionate share of caretaking and remote learning responsibilities, to working at frontlines without adequate PPE, to quarantining in unsafe conditions with violent partners. Creating gender equity in my districts means addressing these real-life challenges that are setting women in my district back — particularly LGBT, immigrant, and women of color. As Council Member, I will build a more equitable District by pushing for more high-quality, affordable childcare slots in District 39, particularly in Kensington, where only 8 percent of the neighborhood’s children under the age of 2 could be served by available licensed child care spaces. I will also support working-class and undocumented women in the workforce by pushing for bills of rights legislation for both undocumented workers and those in the gig economy, which will include protections for fair wages, sexual harassment protections, discrimination protections, paid time off, paid sick, and access to affordable health benefits. Finally, I will equip survivors of gender-based and intimate partner violence with liberatory tools grounded in their safety and joy, using restorative approaches to dismantle pain and trauma. I will do this through legal protections such as ensuring that survivors can terminate their lease early without financial concerns or back rent concerns from landlords, the creation of a lock change policy, and expanding protections for domestic violence survivors within the City’s current Human Rights Law to ensure that survivors are not discriminated against in housing and employment. Finally, if elected to office, I will be the first woman to represent District 39. As Council Member, I will use my position to push for more women and non-binary New Yorkers running for office, and will partner with civic-minded organization to ensure there is a pipeline of LGBT, Black and brown, and immigrant women and non-binary New Yorkers candidates.

I recently wrote an op-ed about this for the Gotham Gazette, take a look here: https://www.gothamgazette.com/opinion/10016-nyc-schools-communities-families-recover-covid-women-leadership

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?

Our City’s homelessness crisis hits LGBTQ+ New Yorkers particularly hard, including young LGBTQ+ New Yorkers, who comprise 40 percent of runaway and homeless youth in NYC. Experiencing homelessness at a young age puts people at risk of chronic homelessness, and can limit access to programs that can help young people find stability, like job-training programs, apprenticeships, and college. As Council Member, I will fight to fund programs that support homeless LGBTQ+ New Yorkers, such as NYC Unity Works, while increasing awareness of these job-training programs through targeted outreach and advertising in LGBTQ+ centers and nonprofits that serve young New Yorkers of color and immigrant New Yorkers.

Of course, we cannot end the homelessness crisis without housing. As Council Member, I will fight for more truly permanent affordable housing by expanding community land trusts (CLTs). I will also support the safety and wellness of homeless LGBTQ+ New Yorkers by expanding LGBTQ+ centered health clinics and practitioners in the City — including expanding access to services for STI/STD testing, gender affirming surgery, hormone therapy, PrEp access, contraceptive access, and mental health services. Noting the real violence that the NYPD has caused within LGBTQ+ communities, I will also advocate for removing NYPD from all mental health emergencies. 

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?

If elected to office, one of my priorities will be to seriously reduce the NYPD’s budget. True community safety does not come from policing, but rather community investments such as affordable housing, access to mental healthcare, youth programming, accessible open spaces, and streetscape infrastructure. The City has had to make budget cuts to so many crucial City agencies due to the COVID-19 pandemic, yet despite the requests of Black and brown activists, organizers, and communities, the City Council voted to pass a budget that gave the NYPD billions of dollars. While other agencies such as the Department of Parks and Recreation and Department of Sanitation had their staff and services cut, the NYPD was able to hire 900 new cadets. Now more than ever, we need to invest back into communities and neighborhoods. When people are able to have adequate food, shelter, healthcare, and other basic necessities, it lessens “crime” in neighborhoods and makes the community feel safe. Therefore, I believe that the City needs to divest from the NYPD by demilitarizing the department and reducing over-policing — and reinvest back into community resources and infrastructure. As Council Member, I pledge to vote no on any budget that doesn’t cut at least $1 billion from NYPD’s FY23 budget. I will fight for a just budget that works for all New Yorkers.

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 economic crisis caused by COVID-19 has meant acute joblessness and widespread closing of small businesses, disproportionately impacting immigrant, BIPOC, working-class, and LGBTQ+ New Yorkers. Financial recovery mandates immediate and overwhelming relief - so, in the short term, this means (1) mobilizing my colleagues in Council, the state legislature, and federal agencies to provide more comprehensive stimulus checks to New Yorkers suffering, and (2) providing funds to nonprofits and community based organizations to provide care and grants for undocumented residents who cannot receive aid. 

All recovery plans should center COVID-19 relief for small businesses, particularly through introducing legislation providing a right to counsel for small businesses employees, creating an undocumented workers bill of rights, and retrofitting small businesses with PPE. I will provide additional support to industries that have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, particularly small, immigrant, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ owned businesses and the taxi industry, through (1) empowering local businesses to fight gentrification, (2) hosting workshops on entrepreneurial opportunities, and (3) cancelling medallion debt. In the long term, recovery means investing in our City’s youth of color (like through properly funding youth job training programs such as the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) and fostering more opportunities for trade and vocational programs in schools). 

Financial recovery also means investing in new, green union jobs for communities that have been harmed by both the pandemic and decades of environmental racism. While climate change deniers use job creation and preservation as an argument against more stringent climate change regulations, protecting the environment mandates new green jobs to enact green community works and infrastructure - from community solar to public plazas. As a Council Member, I will invest in a Green Collar Jobs initiative, and work with local organizations and community groups to ensure BIPOC New Yorkers are entering living-wage, meaningful careers in green energy and infrastructure. I will also advocate within the City Council to ensure these positions are union jobs — providing additional job security and stability, and protections for Black, brown, and low-income New Yorkers. 

As the city faces its second wave of COVID-19, I would urge the council to prioritize (1) fostering adequate communication between educators and multilingual families through building out a strong and culturally/linguistically competent constituent services arm, (2) bridging the digital divide to equitize and incentivize remote schooling and work through investing in community wifi, (3) expanding open streets to allow for safer socialization, and (4) mobilizing coalitions between constituents, colleagues throughout Council, the State legislature, and Federal government to provide immediate financial relief for New Yorkers.

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

Helping with the climate crisis requires better funding and support for green open spaces, particularly in communities lacking public parks and urban heat islands. Parks are not an aesthetic luxury, but rather a buffer for climate change and a space for civic engagement. In tangible initiatives, I propose increasing programmatic funding to partner with local cultural organizations to activate plazas and public spaces throughout the district and through open street public programming. I will create green jobs through park stewardship, and I will allocate funding to proper maintenance and public programming. I will host community town halls in open spaces for constituents to speak out about issues that matter to them, particularly following hate crimes, as our public parks need to be safer, more accessible, and intentional about gender inclusion. 

Addressing the climate crisis means proactively increasing climate resiliency, which mandates advocating for an increase in affordable and public housing in the district, while ensuring that existing housing is preserved and protected from environmental hazards and the worst impacts of the climate crisis. As District 39’s Council Member, I would advocate for an environmental justice special use district to prioritize environmental and social justice concerns: looking to the Minneapolis City Council’s implementation of Green Zones that prioritize both public health impacts of environmental justice and investment in community development, I see exciting and transformational potential in land use processes that incorporate more stringent, racially conscious, community driven criteria. 

The Gowanus Rezoning, which falls in my District, is a history of poor land use policies, a superfund site, and natural disasters like Hurricane Sandy have led to consistent flooding, sewage overflows, and utility outages in Gowanus. The land use and planning process around the Gowanus Rezoning has actively excluded our most vulnerable constituents: NYCHA residents, low-income tenants, immigrant-owned small businesses, and Black and brown families facing displacement and those who are the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. I propose initiatives to weatherize homes and community centers throughout the District, preparing for increased heat vulnerability, by focusing on green roofs, cooling centers, and rooftop solar. This has been a longstanding priority of mine as well, as I have mobilized community members to allocate funding to solar roofs on libraries throughout the District through Participatory Budgeting. Heat resiliency should be a leading legislative and constituent priority for more Council Members, especially because heat vulnerability impacts frontline communities, BIPOC, low income, and elderly community members most severely, and will only accelerate as temperatures increase and building infrastructure continues to crumble.

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 a part of the Association of Legislative Employees, and fought with my colleagues to be unionized. I learned how challenging it is to do so, and as Council Member I will fight to protect my staffers’ right to be unionized.

More generally, supporting organized labor is deeply personal.  I am deeply familiar with the precarity of construction work in working-class communities. In his early years as a construction laborer, my father collapsed from a scaffold and was left with a permanent disability in his legs. Many Bangladeshi immigrants, particularly from Kensington in my District, are employed in the building trades. I grew up in Kensington with a keen understanding of how many working-class community members relied on and continue to rely on the availability of construction work to make a living and survive in this City. I am an ardent advocate for construction workers like my father and will continue to be an advocate for worker protections and unionizing. I’ve worked closely with workers to receive language accessible OSHA training in Kensington, where the Bangladeshi community dominates the construction field. I am a strong proponent and advocate of the NYS Scaffold Law. In 2017, I helped organize and stood alongside Desis Rising Up & Moving (DRUM) after Sirajul Hoque, a Bangladeshi community member, fell to his death from a scaffold. I am committed to protecting and expanding the Scaffold Law. This is an issue that affects many communities across the City, and I will continue to be an advocate for workers in the City Council.

I will continue my advocacy and support for labor unions if elected, particularly through organizing with taxi drivers to pass substantial reforms. There has been no momentum within the City Council to advocate for classifying drivers as employees instead of independent contractors, despite repeated systemic injustices, from a lack of desperately needed and comprehensive healthcare, to a failure to provide legal protections for vulnerable drivers. This, compounded with the lack of ridership due to the pandemic and debts incurred from the medallion crisis, has highlighted a need for a champion in the City Council for drivers. This means providing independent drivers with healthcare and pension funds, working with the State to provide drivers with labor protections, and expanding legal resources and aid for constituents. 

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

As of December 15, 2020 we are the first campaign in District 39 to receive the full payout of public matching funds amounting to $160,444! Our campaign has raised over $60K at the time of submitting this endorsement form. The majority of these donations are under $175 and mostly from NYC. As of our statement 5 filing, I had the largest amount of small dollar donations, the largest amount in matchable funds, and the most donations from Brooklyn residents (and likely the most donations from residents of the district) of any D39 candidate. As a first time candidate from a working-class community, I’ve been able to raise close over $60K already through relational organizing, my deep connections rooted in the district, and the hype and excitement around my campaign in both the press and on social media.

We have the most multiethnic, multiracial, intergenerational, and diverse group of supporters through my decades long track record of organizing within the district both as a resident, a community organizer in and outside of the nonprofit sector, and as the Director of Organizing & Community Engagement at City Council Member Brad Lander’s office. My campaign has galvanized excitement among young women, Jewish and Muslim faith-based communities, parent leaders and educators, leftists, liberals, disabled and sick people, youth, survivors of sexual assault, taxi drivers in Kensington, and working-class immigrants and children of immigrants. We are activating this coalition through relational organizing and intentional base building among constituents that have historically been ignored by the political establishment. 

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

No, and I have publicly committed to not accepting contributions from either one of those 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!

Do you agree to list Lambda Independent Democrats of Brooklyn on all materials where your endorsements are listed?

Yes, absolutely.

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

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

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

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

4. 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

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

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

7. 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