Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Carlina Rivera for US Congress NY-10

Candidate Name: Carlina Rivera

Office Seeking Election for: US Congress NY-10

Website: https://www.carlinarivera.nyc

1. Explain, based on life experiences and accomplishments, why you believe you are best qualified to represent your district.

I am a lifelong New Yorker and a Council Member currently representing the East Side of Manhattan. I was born in Bellevue Hospital and grew up in Section 8 housing with a single mother who emigrated from Puerto Rico to Brooklyn. I began my career in youth and afterschool programming in some of New York City’s highest-needs neighborhoods.

I also created and organized initiatives for seniors and New Yorkers experiencing homelessness at Good Old Lower East Side (GOLES), and helped to launch a recovery network that helped families during Hurricane Sandy, the 2nd Ave Explosion and the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to becoming a council member, I served as a community board member and organizer on landmark New York City infrastructure projects including Essex Crossing and the East Side Coastal Resiliency Project, creating affordable housing and a more resilient coastline for Lower Manhattan. As a New York City Council Member, I have a record of progressive wins, including:

- Bringing in over a billion dollars to my district to improve services, programs,

schools, parks, and cultural institutions

- Making New York City the first city in the nation to allocate municipal funding for abortion care

- Fighting for small business owners by helping them acquire pandemic relief aid, access personal protective equipment, and adhere to rapidly changing and unclear COVID compliance standards

- Negotiating workforce development programs for historically ignored lower income New Yorkers including construction of New York City’s first digital skills training center at Zero Irving with CUNY, Fedcap and Per Scholas

- Working to increase public safety through funding for community-based organizations offering violence interrupter services, late night youth programming, and counseling to cultivate overall community wellbeing

After two years of a pandemic-exacerbating inequities among so many of our

communities, the need for our government to adapt to a new generation and the issues we face has only become clearer. New Yorkers are hungry for leadership and vision that’s as bold as it is pragmatic in taking on those fights. I’m running for Congress in the district where I was born and raised to bring that leadership and vision to Washington, to continue delivering for the communities that made me who I am, and to help build a future for a city that every New Yorker can see themselves in.

2. Do you now support or have you ever supported an openly LGBTQ candidate for public office? Yes, many of which are now in office state and local office.

3. If applicable, what legislation directly affecting the LGBTQ community have you introduced or co-sponsored? (indicate accordingly). As a community activist and as Council Member, I fought for the New York State Legislature to pass the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA), which prohibits discrimination based on gender identity or expression, while providing protections for those who identify as gender non-conforming/non-binary and transgender. In 2020, I also passed Resolution 0923, which called upon the NYS Senate to pass the archaic criminal statute - widely known as the “Walking While Trans Ban” - that for decades had been used by law enforcement to target trans women of color. At the time, the “Walking While Trans Ban" was currently one of only two violations in the entire state penal code that can

never be sealed on your criminal record, which has led to thousands of New Yorkers unable to access public housing, renew immigration filings, or place their children placed in foster care. I also passed Resolution 1444, which calls for records to be sealed for anyone convicted under the Walking While Trans statute. Because of the resolution’s framing around sealing, the state sponsors amended their bill texts. I would absolutely support the expansion of such protections at the federal level. I also worked to baseline trans health navigators in our public hospital system, an unprecedented effort for LGBTQ healthcare policy and resources.

4. What LGBTQ organizations have you been involved with, either on a volunteer basis or professionally? Jim Owles; Stonewall Democratic Club of New York; Hetrick-Martin Institute;

5. If applicable, what LGBTQ organizations have you allocated funds to? Trevor Project; Ali Forney Center; Hetrick-Martin Institute; The Center; Pioneers Go East Collective; GMHC; Pride not Prejudice; Apicha; SAGE; LGBTQ Museum; Leslie Lohman Museum; Ackerman Institute for the Family; Drag Queen Story Hour

6. Do you consider yourself a member of the LGBTQ community? I consider myself an ally.

7. Have you marched in Pride? Which marches and for approximately how many years? Yes. Certainly throughout my City Council tenure of 5 years and during several Pride marches before that.

8. Have you employed openly LGBTQ individuals previously? Do you employ any currently? Yes, I am proud to have prioritized diversity in my staff, which has always included members of the LGBTQ+ community.

9. If you receive the endorsement, do you agree to identify the club on all literature and electronic materials where you list endorsements? Yes, proudly, as I have in prior races where I received the club’s support.

10. What press conferences, demonstrations, rallies and protests in support of LGBTQ issues, pro choice legislation, criminal justice issues and the Resist Trump Movement have you attended? With a background in organizing in the diverse Lower Manhattan area, my activism started well before my time in government. I have unapologetically joined a very large number of events, rallies and protests in support of our basic rights

and reforms and against Trumpist actions and rhetoric. They would include recent press conferences and rallies in the wake of SCOTUS’s Roe decision, one of which was to encourage passage of my reproductive rights legislation currently in the Council. I have joined with LGBTQ organizations to rally in support of greater healthcare access, against anti-LGBTQ hate, in opposition to leadership appointment at different levels of government, and in support of our trans siblings in light of increased attacks and in favor of repealing the Walking While Trans statute. And prior to and subsequent to my appointment as Chair of the Council’s Criminal Justice committee, I stood with advocates against solitary confinement and to shed light on deadly tragedies at Rikers.

11. Will you advocate for legislation to mandate the review of sentences of incarcerated individuals aged 55 and older who have served in excess of 15 years to determine if they warrant release? Yes.

12. Will you advocate for legislation that would ensure those appearing before the New York State Parole Board are considered for release from prison based on who they are today and not exclusively based on the nature of their crime? Yes.

13. Do you commit to visit constituents who are incarcerated in state prisons such as Bedford Correctional Facility? When was your last visit to visit incarcerated constituents? I have been to Rikers several times in the last few years and am planning a surprise visit very soon.

14. Have you participated in any demonstrations or protests in relation to the issues of clemency and parole? Yes.

15. Will you affirmatively seek to hire formerly incarcerated individuals? Yes.

16. Do you believe in the decriminalization of sex work? Yes.

17. Will you oppose any legislation that promotes the Nordic model Yes.

What proposals will you advocate for the protection of immigrants and further New York as a Sanctuary City? I support using the budget reconciliation process to win a path to citizenship for DREAMers, Temporary Protective Status holders and all essential workers, as the Congressional Hispanic Caucus has proposed. I also support the Dream and Promise Act (H.R. 6), sponsored by

Rep. Roybal-Allard, which would provide a path to citizenship for 3-4 million DREAMers and Temporary Protective Status (TPS) holders.

I believe that immigration status should not be a barrier for employment, access to healthcare, or housing. I have sponsored legislation calling on Congress to abolish ICE, held an emergency hearing to remove ICE’s access to our hospitals, and I will work with our federal leaders to push for immigration policies that undo the damage caused by the Trump Administration and create pathways to citizenship and make the visa process easier. I will also use my position to vehemently oppose anti-immigrant bias and xenophobia which I have a record of denouncing planned ICE raids on several occasions, and working to block harmful policies that leave families without benefits, and funding the organizations assisting with safe passage for unaccompanied minors.

With the Citizenship Act of 2021, we have a chance to turn a new leaf. Instead of reactivity or,

worse, complicity, we can choose restoration and justice. We must remain vigilant against unscrupulous or unlicensed practitioners who would prey on immigrant communities as the law is rolled out. We must demand law enforcement reform and community alternatives to policing. Finally, we must continue to embrace innovative public-private partnerships on immigration issues that have been successful over the last few years. The ICARE Initiative, for example, was a groundbreaking partnership between the Robin Hood Foundation and the New York City Council that funded deportation defense attorneys for unaccompanied children in New York.

Since its founding in 2014, ICARE has represented more than 2,500 such children. These are models we can replicate nationally.

18. Will you advocate, including introducing legislation, to remove public funding from religious schools? Yes.

19. Do you support the establishment of safe consumption spaces? Yes.

20. Have you ever endorsed any member of the IDC or any candidates who challenged IDC members? Please identify all candidates I was one of the few elected officials at the time to actively join the anti-IDC campaign. I spent a considerable amount of my time and provided volunteers for campaigns in 2018 such as Jessica Ramos, Zellnor Myrie, Alessandra Biaggi, and John Liu, and I supported other progressive and/or true Democratic candidates upstate, in New York City, and Long Island that won their seats.

21. Will you commit to hiring a member of the LGBT community to serve as a liaison to the community? Yes, I currently have one, since taking office in 2018.

22. Will you commit to ensuring diverse LGBT representation among your staff? Yes.

23. Who did or do you support for office in the Democratic primary in the following races

A) mayor and comptroller in 2021 B) President in 2016 and 2020 C) Governor and Lt. Governor 2022 . My focus has been on Council, Assembly, State Senate and Congressional races, with a pick for Bernie in 2016.

24. Describe any federal legislation and policy changes that you support in order to address the ongoing effects of slavery, racism, colonialism, and discrimination I have a track record of utilizing a reparations framework in my approach to racial justice policy with an example being my legislation introduced in 2020 called the Community Opportunity to Purchase Act (COPA) in the New York City Council. This transformational policy would make home ownership and community wealth building possible for the Black and Brown communities excluded by racist housing policies. I have also advocated since my first term for the expansion of Community Land Trusts (CLT) and secured municipal funding for community organizations to bring more properties into this model. I believe the CLT ownership model that can keep communities in place while building cooperative wealth, and one that can be championed and expanded nationwide. I am in favor of federal efforts such as down payment assistance for communities of color that have suffered under redlining in the past. I also want to fully fund public housing to rehabilitate this system to a dignified level that residents, who are mostly people of color, can feel proud about.

As this all illustrates, housing is central to my plan to repair our history of racism, but we can also look at policies to reaffirm affirmative action, strong and targeted workforce development programs for green and tech jobs, and strengthen anti-discrimination statutes for workplaces, housing, and other areas of concern. Finally, we have to increase federal vigilance of white supremacist organizations, many of them bent on domestic terrorism, and continue investments made in organizations that are supporting communities experiencing hate crimes.

25. What legislation or other policy changes do you support in order to make college and graduate school affordable for poor, working-class, and middle-class Americans and to alleviate the crushing loan debt that many students and alumni are facing? I am for eliminating student debt. Our policy on this should be bold since Democrats will get attached for any amount we propose – might as well make it as impactful as possible. I am also in favor of the various proposals that would make college debt-free, including state and community colleges and Tribal and HBCU institutions. We should also expand and fund programs on student loan forgiveness like the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, which is woefully underserving its intended constituency. We can include more eligible, essential careers in these forgiveness programs and ensure that they are processing applications fairly and in greater numbers.

26. Do you support a single-payer universal health care system? Please elaborate. Yes. I support Medicare for All and believe there must be a robustly-funded public health system where facilities are reasonably situated near all communities. I have worked to ensure that New York City’s public system is available to all who need it, overseeing the rollout of NYC Care as Chair of the Council’s Hospitals Committee, ensuring culturally- appropriate healthcare navigators are available for the diverse users of the system, and working on innovative programming that expands specialized services for the LGBTQ community and initiatives that help reduce maternal mortality in Black communities. Even our public systems aren’t perfect, but we have more control over their outcomes and should invest in these networks of care, used by so many underserved Americans.

27. Discuss your stance on reproductive rights, including access to contraceptives and abortion services. Reproductive rights are fundamental and have been central to my legislative record in the City Council. In anticipation to threats against Roe, I helped create the nation’s first municipally-funded abortion access fund here in New York City, which is now being replicated across the country. I introduced and pass legislation providing long-acting reversible contraceptives through city-run sexual health clinics, and recently introduced a bill to provide free abortion pills at city medical sites. I not only believe in the right to choose but that pregnant people should have direct help from every level of government in accessing these healthcare services. I plan on supporting and championing Congressional action to enshrine reproductive rights into law and will join efforts to repeal the Hyde Amendment, which is an unjust targeted law that bars assistance to what I consider general healthcare.

28. Will you refuse money from individuals or Political Action Committees representing the real estate? I have committed to vetting individuals and have pledged to not take fossil fuel, defense company, or pharmaceutical monies.

29. Will you refuse money from police and corrections unions? Yes.

30. Will you refuse and refund any contributions from executives at corporations complicit in the Trump agenda? Yes.

What additional information would you like Jim Owles to consider when we are making our endorsements decisions? My core values are rooted in the neighborhoods, communities, and city that raised me. Right now, generations of New Yorkers face fewer prospects for access to higher education without crippling loans, dignified and stable work, financial stability, permanent affordable housing, and environmental security than generations past. While change takes time, we can only achieve it with practical and productive leaders whose life experiences reflect deep roots in the communities they represent.

I have those deep roots and the lived experience to address the issues New Yorkers face

on the ground, and I have demonstrated the political will, drive, and coalition-building ability to pass legislation and secure resources that deliver real progress as urgently as the moment demands — and if we’ve learned nothing else in the past two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s that our governing institutions are in desperate need of a reboot to cut through the noise, and to put it simply, take care of people.

My vision for NY-10 is representation that is as bold, inclusive, and diverse as the district itself. New York is at a crossroads, and I am running for Congress to turn my love for New York into a vision for the city that everyone can see themselves in. As a Member of Congress, I will be an unrelenting advocate for and driver of new solutions as the city rebounds from the pandemic and rebuilds for the future. From reproductive justice and gun violence to housing affordability, workforce development, and transit access, my deep understanding of the city’s most pressing problems — and its limitless potential — makes me uniquely capable of pulling the levers of Congressional power in order to revitalize our city, improve our quality of life, and keep New York affordable for the people and families who live here.

I would be honored to have the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club endorsement, as I have in past races, to continue our partnership into my first Congressional term.

31. If you resign in the middle of your term, will you let the voters decide? Do you plan to serve your term and not send a vacancy to the county committee? I intend to complete my congressional term.

32. Who are you supporting for Speaker/Democratic leader in 2023? To be determined.

33. 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 a city bill to rename the former Queensboro Bridge? Do you authorize the use of your name for such a purpose? Yes and would like communities near the bridge to engage in a renaming process.

34. What is your position on removing the Christopher Columbus statue in Columbus Circle and if so, what should replace it? I have always stated that these decisions should be up to community members, just as I have encouraged conversations between neighbors and local agencies on other sites.

35. What is your position on FOSTA/SESTA, passed in 2018? Do you or will you sponsor the Safe Workers Study Act which has been introduced by Elizabeth Warren and co- sponsored by Reps. Barbara Lee and Ron Wyden and a host of other sponsors including

Bernie Sanders. Yes. We should always remain open to studying or adjusting legislation to account for shortfalls.

36. Do you support the class-wide scheduling of Fentanyl-related substances, which groups like Human Rights Watch have argued would worsen pretrial detention, mass incarceration, and racial disparities? We need a public health approach to the opioid crisis that gets at treatment and prevention.

37. Do you support the Green New Deal? Yes.

38. President Biden has not granted a single pardon or commutation. When have you publicly demanded that Biden do more on this issue? Will you pledge to publicly speak out about this in 2022? Yes, just as during the worst prison COVID waves, I called for commutations and pardons of incarcerated persons that demonstrated all the qualifications meriting such or that presented with severe health issues.

39. Do you commit to not supporting Joe Manchin or Kyrsten Sinema? Will you consider supporting a primary opponent? I am certainly disturbed by their lack of cooperation with the rest of the Democratic Caucus in the Senate. I tend to only support out-of-state candidates once they are Democratic nominees in general elections, but would certainly look at primary challengers and consider support as races formalize.

40. Some members of congress indicate they will only support incumbents regardless of their politics and regardless of who is presenting them a primary. Are you one of them? No.