Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Brad Hoylman for Manhattan Borough President
Candidate Name: Brad Hoylman
Office Seeking Election for: Manhattan Borough President
Explain, based on life experiences and accomplishments, why you believe you are best qualified to represent your district
I have served in the Senate for 8 years, and I'm proud to have passed some of the most consequential pieces of progressive legislation; I took on the issue of child sexual abuse by passing the Child Victims Act with Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal. I passed the POLICE Stat Act, which for the first time is going to require police departments across the state to share data on the demographics of the people they are arresting and ticketing. It just went into effect today. I passed GENDA, for the first time establishing statewide antidiscrimination protections for transgender and non-binary New Yorkers. I took on anti-vaxxers by strengthening vaccine requirements for our kids. That one I’m really proud of - especially now during the pandemic— even though I’ve endured months of crazy, protests and even death threats. I helped to pass last year’s historic rent reforms. And I even passed legislation enabling the U.S. Congress to obtain Donald Trump’s state tax returns. I’ve taken on a lot of fights against powerful interests and made some righteous enemies, but if anything, it’s energized me to take on the daunting tasks ahead of us in Manhattan. I have a record of getting big things done in Albany. I’ll put that same energy into fighting for Manhattan as your Borough President.
Please identify any openly LGBTQ candidate for public office you have previously or presently endorsed?
Deborah Glick, Danny Dromm, Tom Duane, Rachel Lavine, Christine Quinn, Corey Johnson, Jimmy Van Bramer, Melissa Sklarz, Elisa Crespo, Danny O’Donnell, Sean Patrick Maloney, Ritchie Torres, Kristin Browde
If applicable, what legislation directly affecting the LGBTQ community have you introduced or co-sponsored? (indicate accordingly)
As a Senator, I passed legislation establishing the Stonewall National Monument; creating the Gender Expression Non-discrimination Act (GENDA) to protect transgender New Yorkers from bias and hate crimes; banning so-called “gay conversion therapy” on our kids; stopping use of the “gay and trans panic” defense used to justify crimes against the LGBTQ community; reinstating military benefits to LGBTQ veterans unfairly dismissed under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”; protecting LGBTQ runaway and homeless youth; helping LGBTQ parents who seek adoption and by legalizing gestational surrogacy; and increasing funding for AIDS/HIV treatment, prevention and housing.
What LGBTQ organizations have you been involved with, either on a volunteer basis or professionally?
Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club, Stonewall, Gay and Lesbian Indepdendent Democrats, LGBTQ Committee of NYC Bar, Congregation Beit Simchat Torah, Victory Fund (endorsed).
Do you consider yourself a member of the LGBTQ community?
Yes
Have you marched in Pride? Which marches and for approximately how many years?
Yes, I have marched in both the Heritage of Pride and Reclaim Pride; I’ve been marching in Pride for as long as I can remember, at least 20+ years
Have you employed openly LGBTQ individuals previously? Do you employ any currently?
Yes and yes.
What press conferences, demonstrations, rallies and protests in support of LGBT issues, pro-choice legislation, criminal justice issues and the Resist Trump Movement have you attended?
I’ve been an outspoken activist on progressive issues, in my role as Senator and a private citizen. I’ve walked hundreds of picket lines with labor groups, protested against the Trump administration and the trans ban, stood with tenants against abusive landlords, led the fight for GENDA, marched with local Black Lives Matter organizers this summer, helped lead the NYC Tax March against Trump
Have you ever been arrested? If so please explain why and outcome of arrest.
I was arrested for protesting outside the Governor’s office in the Capitol in 2015 over the rent regulation laws. I was arrested at a UN AIDS/HIV demonstration with Treatment Action Group (TAG) in 2013.
Do you commit to visiting constituents who are incarcerated in state prisons and city jails?
Yes.
Will you affirmatively seek to hire formerly incarcerated individuals?
Yes.
Describe your legislative and policy vision for combatting systemic racism
We need a systemic solution to systemic racism. That’s why I’m introducing legislation to redraw the public school lines to end the segregation of our public schools. I also introduced STAT Act, to require police departments to publicly report the demographics of every person who is arrested or cited and under what charges, and why I was proud to support the package of legislation in the senate to pass bail reform and the repeal of 50-a. As Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee I passed legislation requiring the demographic data of judges in our state courts, as well.
Will you not seek, and refuse, the endorsement of Bill de Blasio?
Yes.
In view of the fact that Ed Koch has been documented to have caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people with AIDS, and was blatantly racist, would you support and sponsor a bill to rename the former Queensboro Bridge?
Yes.
What is your position on removing the Christopher Columbus statue in Columbus Circle and if so, what should replace it?
Yes.
Will you refuse contributions from real estate developers and all law enforcement unions or associations?
Yes.
Do you support reducing the budget of the NYPD and if so, by how much?
The NYPD budget has continued to grow year after year even as crime has declined. The budget can and should be reduced to eliminate some NYPD functions—i.e. homeless outreach, crisis mental health response, school safety—that could be better handled by public health and social service agencies.
How would you have voted on the FY21 City Budget?
Against.
Are you in favor of removing police from any of the following? a) Schools; b) Mental health response calls; c) Homeless outreach and social services; or d) Traffic enforcement.
Yes.
Should the NYPD Vice Squad be eliminated?
Yes.
Should Dermot Shea be fired immediately?
Yes.
Should the NYPD Commissioner require confirmation by the City Council?
Yes.
How would you recommend police officers be penalized for refusing to wear masks in public while on duty, in defiance of city and state rules?
I led a public charge to demand that commissioner Shea enforce the rule for wearing masks; much like MTA riders, police should be fined if they refuse to comply with the mandate.
What reforms would you make to the Civilian Complaint Review Board? Would you support state legislation to make CCRB disciplinary determinations binding?
I am a co-sponsor of legislation which would create a New York State Civilian Complaint Review Board. I support making CCRB disciplinary determinations for substantiated complaints binding.
What is your position on the plan to close Rikers and create four borough-based jails?
I support a movement toward decarceration. I don’t support the plan to create more jails; the prospect of spending billions of dollars that the City doesn’t have on new jails is an untenable solution. We need to focus on decarceration first.
Will you advocate for the Governor to review sentences of incarcerated individuals over the age 55 who have served in excess of 15 years to determine if they warrant release?
Yes, and I carry the Elder Parole bill in the Senate to address this issue.
It’s common knowledge that New York City’s 311 system is not adequately responsive to the public’s concerns. How would you alter the 311 system to combat these problems?
I would work with community leaders to study what the specific problems are and push for immediate fixes. To begin with, there needs to be a better coding system for 311 to ensure the concerns go to the correct department. The Borough President has a charter-mandated responsibility to oversee city services and I pledge to hold hearings in this regard.
Do you support decriminalizing sex work? Will you pledge to oppose the Nordic model?
Yes and yes.
Do you oppose school screening, which exacerbates segregation? Which screens in your school district(s) will you advocate to abolish?
Yes, I support reimagining the way we handle school admissions for public schools and moving away from standardized testing. I cosponsor legislation repealing Hecht-Calandra at the State level and returning to local control. It’s the only way we can begin to tackle the inequalities in our schools.
Describe what reforms you would make to the control of the NYC public school system.
We must reform mayoral control of the NYC public school system and cede power to Community Education Councils by giving them greater authority over budget, personnel and curriculum.
Do you support public funding of abortion?
Yes.
Do you support the creation of safe consumption sites? Would you support the use of NYC DOHMH authority to establish SCSs without NYSDOH authorization?
Yes and Yes. I co-sponsor legislation on the former.
Do you smoke or otherwise consume weed?
No.
Have you ever supported any of the members of the IDC? If so, who? What did you do to help defeat the IDC in 2018?
No, I have not supported members of the IDC. I supported efforts by Senator Gianaris to help candidates running against the IDC and lent staff members who volunteered on these campaigns. I expect to have endorsements from numerous Senators who defeated the IDC in this campaign.
What will you do to support nightlife in NYC?
We need to revitalize the borough and bring back small businesses, including bars, restaurants and music venues; it’s a top priority in this campaign. I sponsor legislation called Save Our Storefronts (www.saveourstorefronts.nyc). I sponsor legislation to repeal onerous Commercial Rent Tax for small biz below 96th Street during the pandemic. I sponsor legislation to restore 24/7 subway service. I have sponsored legislation to make permanent alcohol-to-go to assist restaurants and bars during the pandemic. I support Open Streets and outdoor dining and a return to indoor dining as soon as possible. I think onerous city-state regulations have made it difficult for bars and restaurants to operate before and during the pandemic and support creation of a central clearing house for these businesses.
Do you commit to speak with restaurant and nightlife industry representatives before taking a position on any policies that affect their businesses?
Yes.
Will you work to place restaurant, bar and club owners on community boards? Will you commit to not appointing or reappointing community board members who are hostile to food and beverage estalishments?
Yes, we need to diversify community boards to represent people from all walks of life, backgrounds and industries in our borough, including from food and beverage establishments.
Now that the cabaret law was repealed do you support amending the zoning resolution to allow patrons to dance at more venues and eliminate the restrictions against dancing?
Yes.
Did you oppose the de Blasio/Cuomo proposal (and giveaways) for bringing Amazon’s HQ2 to Long Island City?
Yes.
What role do you believe the local member should play in the approval of development proposals before the Council?
The land review process for communities often seems rigged. Developers come in with pre-baked plans that are unresponsive to the needs of the neighborhood. I’d work on a precertification requirement to force developers to engage with the community and discuss what the real needs are before a plan is presented.
Do you support legislation to prohibit discrimination against formerly incarcerated people in housing?
Yes.
Do you oppose the removal of the nearly 300 homeless individuals from the Lucerne hotel due to pressure from some local residents?
Yes, I stood with activists in opposition to it and filed an affidavit in support of this lawsuit.
What proposals will you advocate for to protect immigrants and further New York as a Sanctuary City?
I was the prime sponsor of the Protect Our Courts Act, which provides legal protection against ICE arrests for immigrants going to and from court appearances. I am also the prime sponsor of the Access To Representation Act, which would create a statutory right to counsel in immigration proceedings (S.81) and legislation and legislation to prohibit the State and local governments from sharing information with the federal government for the purpose of compiling immigrant registries (S.798). We also helped secure Liberty Defense Project legal services funding for immigrants in the last two state budget cycles.
Do you support a single-payer universal health care system? Please elaborate on what policy and legislative steps the City can take to expand access and affordability.
Yes. I am a co-sponsor of the New York Health Act to create a single payer system in New York.
Who did you support for office in the following primaries or special elections: A) Mayor in 2013 B) Public Advocate in 2013 and 2019, C) President in 2016 and 2020 C) Governor and Attorney General in 2018?
(A) Quinn (B) Squadron; No Endorsement (C) Clinton; No Endorsement (D) No Endorsement; James
Top 3 issues you aim to address locally and legislatively
1. COVID-19 Recovery, particularly revenue to support public schools and public and supportive housing: This pandemic has only widened the social and economic chasm between the top 1% and the bottom 99% of Manhattanites. We see luxury condo towers sitting empty while thousands sleep on the street. Public housing is falling apart, but billionaires have only gotten richer during this public health crisis. We must do more to level the playing field for working families and reinvest in them the same way we’ve done in decades past. It starts with a fairer budget and higher taxes on the wealthy, including passage of my legislation to tax second and third (!) non-primary residences worth $5 million or more. 2. Small business survival: At least ⅓ of our small businesses are not going to survive the pandemic. I have a number of proposals that would help our small business owners survive until we can reopen fully again, including legislation to provide assistance with their rent and incentives for landlords to keep storefronts open. As indoor dining closes, government can’t leave business owners out to dry. I’ve shown I have the ability to negotiate, bring stakeholders together, and find solutions that work for everyone, such as the rent deal I worked out between the MTA and small businesses at Grand Central Terminal. 3. Mass Transit and Safe Streets: Our public transit network is our city’s lifeblood. We have to protect and expand our mass transit infrastructure by adding more bus and bike lanes. Open Streets has been an incredible success for pedestrians and has given restaurants a glimmer of hope. Cities all over the world are reimagining their use of street space that are greener, more pedestrian friendly, and add vibrancy to business districts. To reduce greenhouse gasses and make our streets safer, we should imagine a future Manhattan without cars and ensure that mass transit is fully funded.
Mayor de Blasio has indicated his intent to call a third Charter Revision Commission, what additional reforms would you support to 1) the budget process, 2) the land use process, and 3) the powers and duties of municipal offices?
Land use in the last two decades has focused mostly on upzoning and overbuilding luxury housing, apartments that are often bought and warehoused by out-of-town investors who won’t spend more than a few days in our neighborhoods. As the prime sponsor of the pied-a-terre tax in Albany, I’ve been fighting to counter this. I intend to use the Borough President’s planning and zoning powers to push aggressively for the repeal of 421-a, to end the failed 80/20 mix of mandatory inclusionary housing, and to mandate the construction of limited equity complexes like Mitchell-Lamas, HDFCs, or Chelsea’s Penn South in any future rezonings.
Please explain your vision for the present powers of the office you are seeking and how you intend to exercise them?
As Borough President, I intend to exercise all powers of the office, from budgeting to introducing legislation to planning and zoning, to empower and give budgeting authority to communities, protect the most vulnerable, and revitalize our borough. I will bring the same energy and creative problem-solving approach to the office that I brought to furthering progressive issues in the Senate.
Do you commit to working with Jim Owles during your campaign and while in office? What role can the club and the progressive LGBT community play in holding you accountable?
Yes. As a past president of an LGBTQ club, I know how important the community can be in holding elected officials accountable; I pledge to be transparent and keep an open line of communication with the community.
If you receive the endorsement, do you agree to identify the club on all literature and electronic materials where you list endorsements?
Yes.
What additional information would you like Jim Owles to consider when we are making our endorsement decisions?