Maya Kornberg, She/Her/Hers
City Council District 39
Website: www.mayaforcouncil.com
QUESTIONNAIRE
1). Why do you want LID’s endorsement?
I would be honored to receive the endorsement of Lambda Independent Democrats
because it’s an organization that embodies many of the values I hold dear: acceptance,
tolerance, equality, and relentlessly standing against bigotry, hate, and violence. I, like
many allies, have been devastated and enraged by the Trump Administration's assault
on the LGBTQIA+ community and will stand in solidarity with LID and our LGBTQIA+
neighbors whether I receive this endorsement or not.
2). If you have previously held office, describe a time while elected that you
advocated and acted for the LGBTQIA+ community. If you have not held office,
describe a time you have advocated for the LGBTQIA+ community.
Some of my work has focused on political violence targeting candidates and electeds,
and the disparate impact of violence on candidates and electeds from marginalized
groups (including people of color, women, young people, members of the LGBTQIA+
community, and religious and ethnic minorities). I led research that raised awareness of
this issue and my team has successfully advocated for policy changes and changes to
campaign finance laws to support these groups. Up until going on maternity leave in
October 2024, I co-chaired the women and gender equity Employee Resource Group
(ERG) at the Brennan center, where we build community and advocate for staff who
identify as women or non-binary.
3). Are you accepting campaign contributions from law enforcement or for-profit
real estate?
I am not accepting campaign contributions from law enforcement or for-profit real estate
organizations or companies, Developers, lobbyists, or any corporate PACs.
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4). Has Mayor Eric Adams met the needs of the LGBTQIA+ community? Please
include “yes” or “no” in your answer.
No, I don’t believe that Mayor Eric Adams has done all that he should have to meet the
needs of the LGBTQIA+ community in New York City. One prime example is his
administration’s attempt to reduce city funding for the HIV and AIDS programs.
5). Are you committed to continuing and expanding city support for the Summer
Youth Employment Program Pride Initiative (SYEP Pride)?
If elected, I will work to continue and expand city support for the Summer Youth
Employment Program Pride initiative.
6). How will you support and empower the LGBTQIA+ community, particularly at
this time when LGBTQIA+ rights, and transgender rights in particular, are under
attack nationwide?
The Trump Administration has launched a disgusting assault on the LGBTQIA+
community with a particular fixation on the transgender community. It is crucial that we
not only stand strongly against any attempt to bring the MAGA-driven discrimination and
violence against our LGBTQIA+ neighbors to NYC and District 39, but that we actively
show support and allyship with the LGBTQIA+ community. This includes increased
tracking and prosecution of hate crimes against members of the LGBTQIA+ community,
as well as strongly calling out any acts of hate and discrimination. Furthermore, we
need to shore up funding for AIDS and HIV prevention and treatment at the city level in
the event the Trump Administration sets their sights on cutting federal funds for these
lifesaving programs.
7). How will you support and empower marginalized Brooklynites?
As a professor, I taught my students American political development, and history
teaches that discrimination on the basis of race, religion, gender identity, and sexual
orientation are baked into many of our institutions. The work of elected representatives
is to operate with an understanding of systemic obstacles that face marginalized
communities in this country. We must work to lift up underrepresented voices. As an
advocate, I work on creating these pipelines and promoting racial justice and gender
equity. As a City Council Member, I will remain committed to the work of dismantling
systems of oppression.
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8). Nonprofit organizations play a vital role in safeguarding the social safety net
for millions of New Yorkers. Nonprofit organizations, including LGBTQIA+
community centers, are more than contractors; they are essential partners in
addressing homelessness, hunger, healthcare, education, and more. However,
chronic delays in city payments have left these organizations on the brink of
collapse, threatening the services our most vulnerable residents rely on every
day.
Will you commit to prioritizing timely payments to nonprofits, working to break
down bureaucratic barriers that prevent timely payments, supporting financial
stability for nonprofits, and working to uphold our critical NYC safety net?
Yes, absolutely.
9). The city is currently behind the legally mandated timeline to close the jails on
Rikers Island by 2027? Are you committed to this deadline and if so, what will you
do to ensure the City meets it? If not, what steps do you propose taking to reduce
incarceration and uphold the civil rights and human dignity of individuals
confined in our City jails, particularly transgender, gender nonconforming, and
nonbinary people?
I believe our incarceration system in this country is shameful and, in many cases,
inhumane. I support the plan to close Rikers Island by 2027 and instead build more
humane borough-based alternatives. I will be a dogged representative who can take on
any mayoral administration to hold their feet to the fire to meet the required deadline,
while also working with them to get concrete information on delays and how to get the
closing back on track.
10). Do you support the proposed Haven Green development in the Lower East
Side, which would create much-needed housing for LGBTQ+ seniors, among
others? What other steps will you take to address the affordability crisis and
increase housing available to New Yorkers, particularly individuals moving here
to escape harmful red-state Policies?
I fully support the proposed Haven Green development, and I think the housing that it
provided for LGBTQ+ seniors is essential. As a renter, I feel the effects of the
affordable housing crisis. The shortage of affordable housing in NYC is a crucial issue
and addressing it is a top priority of mine. I’m excited that we passed City of Yes, and
think it is a first step in addressing the housing crisis. We must continue to prioritize
building new housing that centers sustainability and takes a creative approach to mixing
residential and commercial buildings to meet community needs. NYCHA plays a pivotal
role in providing affordable housing units for disadvantaged and underserved
communities. Legislative oversight has been a focus of my work as a political scientist
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and advocate. The City Council must play an active role in making sure that NYCHA
adequately delivers its services to residents and has the funds to both build new
affordable units and repair current units to the standard of living that residents deserve.
We need to build off of the progress achieved through programs like the Public Housing
Preservation Trust and City of Yes to continue to find creative solutions to build new
affordable housing units and maintain those already in existence. As a City Council
Member, I will work tirelessly to build legislative coalitions with colleagues and work with
the community to address this crisis and create responsive solutions.
11). What steps are you prepared to take to combat Trump Administration policies
that harm New Yorkers?
I recently released a plan to fight Trump here at home in NYC:
https://www.mayaforcouncil.com/fight-trump.
Trump took office and immediately took aim at our basic rights and values. I’ve spent
my career protecting our democracy. As your Council Member, I’ll continue standing up
to Trump and fighting to protect our democracy from City Hall. We must invest in our
schools and healthcare system, build robust civic engagement to restore trust in
government, organize for action, and protect our immigrant neighbors. We don’t have a
minute to waste. It’s time to take the fight to Trump.
Trump has threatened to dissolve the Department of Education and stop critical
conversations about issues like race from taking place in classrooms. But Washington
only provides between a tenth and quarter of funding for K-12 education. I know as an
educator that civic education is the bedrock of democracy. We must invest in our
schools, protect students from Trump’s immigration policies, and make sure classrooms
remain a place for critical thought and culturally responsive pedagogy.
Trump has directed agencies to roll back critical policies designed to limit CO2
emissions, and he revoked Biden’s plan to ensure half of all new vehicles are electric.
As with education, a majority of transportation infrastructure does not come from the
federal budget. We need to create a safe, accessible subway system; invest in bike
lanes; and promote sustainable building. We must protect congestion pricing and
double down on policies that support a growing population and plan for a warming
climate.
Trump says repealing the Affordable Care Act is one of his key priorities, and he has
threatened to further limit access to abortion by doing things like reinstating the 19th
Century Comstock Act (which bans the mailing of abortion pills). I’ve been teaching
about the Comstock Act for years now in my American political development course.
The original act directly targeted immigrant communities, women, and other
marginalized groups, and this reinstatement would do the same. We have to make sure
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that everyone has access to healthcare, which is a basic human right. And we have to
invest in women’s health, reproductive health, and maternal health as we face an attack
on women that disproportionately targets women of color.
Trump is undermining trust in our democratic institutions. When the President claims
that our election was rigged and breaks down basic checks and balances, he is
endangering the one thing all democracies rely on: trust. Research tells us that
Americans don’t think our institutions matter and don’t think politicians are listening to
them. I know from my work promoting responsive lawmaking in states, in Congress, and
in legislatures around the world that rebuilding trust in government is the most important
way to protect our democracy. Programs like participatory budgeting, platforms that
allow citizens to take an active part in legislation, inclusive town halls designed to meet
everyone, and civic education programs are more important than ever.
Trump is trying to seize more power for the presidency. I’ve studied Congress my entire
career, and the era most similar to this one is the Watergate era. Like Trump, Nixon
spied on citizens, used agencies to retaliate against political enemies, and lied to
Congress. In the election after the Watergate scandal, over 90 new members of
Congress were elected, and many of them ran to create change. In the 1970s,
Congress passed campaign finance reform, solidified their “power of the purse”, limited
presidential power in foreign wars, and made dramatic changes to legislative procedure.
We must similarly use this moment of profound disappointment as a catalyst for making
a more equitable and just city and country.
Trump is attacking the core of what makes NYC great. This is a city of immigrants. I’m
the proud granddaughter of immigrants who came to NYC because they were fleeing
discrimination. We need to expand legal services, rapid response, and language access
for immigrant communities; expand Temporary Protected Status; and make sure that
schools, hospitals, and other key community institutions are safe for all. Racism and
xenophobia are not new in this country, and we can learn from how marginalized groups
have rallied together in the past. We must get organized, get active, and band together
to protect our immigrant neighbors.
Please answer YES or NO to indicate support for, or opposition to, the following
city council initiatives:
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1). Int. 3093-A: Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New
York, in relation to access to gender-affirming care facilities and a cause of action
related to interference with gender-affirming care.
YES
2). Int. 3184-A: Local Law in relation to requiring the chair of the commission on
gender equity to develop a plan to support newly arrived migrants 24-years-old
and younger and transgender, gender non-conforming, non-binary, and intersex
newly arrived migrants.
YES
3). Int. 3183-A: Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New
York, in relation to requiring the commissioner of health and mental hygiene to
develop a health agenda to promote the health and wellbeing of transgender,
gender nonconforming, nonbinary, and intersex New Yorkers.
YES
4). Int. 3179-A: Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New
York, in relation to a public information and outreach campaign regarding legal
rights and resources available to Transgender, Gender Non-conforming, and
Nonbinary (TGNCNB) individuals.
YES
5). Int. 3105-Oversight: Ensuring Access to Supports for TGNCNB People in New
York City.
YES
6. Int. 0149-2024: The Sex Worker Protection Act, championed by LGBTQIA+
Caucus Co-Chair Council Member Tiffany Cabán, Council Member Crystal
Hudson.
YES
COMMITMENTS:
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If endorsed, do you commit to using LID’s full logo and full name on all materials
and other places where you list endorsees (with the exception of lists of specific
organizations (unions, etc) or elected officials)?
YES
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
