Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Denny Salas for NY Assembly District 65
Candidate Name: Denny Salas
Office Seeking Election for: NY Assembly District 65
Website: https://www.dennysalas.com
1. Explain, based on life experiences and accomplishments, why you believe you are best qualified to represent your district.
As a proud first-generation American, my immigrant story is like most New Yorkers. I grew up in poverty; we collected cans to turn in for money, and in a case of arson, we almost lost our lives when someone lit our house on fire while my family and I were inside.
My family faced several challenges, but our abiding faith in God and in one another kept us moving forward to reach our dreams.
With dogged persistence and hard work, my family was able to achieve the American Dream. Myself, I became a stockbroker, worked on Capitol Hill, as a lobbyist for small businesses, and I was most proud to be an organizer for Barack Obama. He inspired me to get into politics and it was eye-opening! In mobilizing voters, I often saw how our most vulnerable are marginalized and those with deep pockets continue to be enriched at the expense of who needs help the most.
Because of that, and the issues that have gone unsolved for far too long, I am the best candidate for New York State Assembly in the 65th District.
Every time I step outside my apartment, I see the possibilities that exist that can make our community better.
We can enact policies to increase economic opportunities; build more affordable homes and offer homeownership opportunities; improve our education system; make our streets safer for our Black, Latino, Jewish, LGBTQ, and Asian-American family & friends; help small businesses thrive again, and empower each of us to reclaim a larger piece of the pie that's been squeezed from us from one generation to the next.
2. Please identify any openly LGBTQ candidates for public office you have previously or presently endorsed?
I never have but I am a paying member of Stonewall Democrats and Lambda Independent Democrats in BK, and have attended several rallies expressing my support for the LGBTQ community.
3. If applicable what legislation directly affecting the LGBTQ community have you introduced or co-sponsored?
I haven’t been able to, but I seek to create a Black, Latino, Jewish, & LGBTQ Hate Crimes Taskforce Embedded in Every Police Department across our state when I’m in the assembly.
4. What LGBTQ organizations have you been involved with, either on a volunteer or professional basis?
Please see question 2.
5. If applicable, what LGBTQ organizations have you allocated funds to?
Stonewall Democrats, Lambda Independent Democrats, and Ali Forney Center.
6. Do you consider yourself a member of the LGBTQ community?
No, but my niece/goddaughter is.
7. Have you marched in any Pride parades? Which marches and for approximately how many years?
No, but I’ve attended the Pride Parade every year for the last ten years (when I lived in DC, and in NYC for the last 7+).
8. Have you employed openly LGBTQ individuals previously? Do you employ any currently?
Yes, through one of my consulting firms.
9. If you receive the Jim Owles endorsement, do you agree to identify the club on all literature and electronic materials where you list endorsements?
Absolutely!
10. What press conferences, demonstrations, rallies and protests in support of LGBTQ issues, pro choice legislation, criminal justice reform issues and the Resist Trump Movement have you attended and/or participated in?
A lot! On my Instagram: @realdennysalas, you’ll see two Highlights called Activism & Activism pt. 2, where you’ll see a full slate of rallies/gay pride, food drives, turkey drives, anti-Asian Hate Crime, Pro- immigration legislation, pro-housing rallies, etc. I’ve been very, very active.
And on 2/24 in front of City Hall, I attended a pro-LGBTQ rally against the Mayor’s appointment of a homophobe.
11. Have you ever been arrested in pursuit of legislation or for protesting an injustice? Please elaborate.
I have not.
12. If you are an incumbent, what have you accomplished in your most recent term?
N/A
13. For the following pieces of legislation, please answer if you are currently a sponsor or co- sponsor (if you are an incumbent), or if you will co-sponsor (if you are not an incumbent):
A. Fair and Timely Parole (S.1415A / A.4231A): A bill pending in Albany that would ensure access to the parole release process for incarcerated people in New York State. This bill insures that decisions on parole are not solely based on the nature of the original crimes but includes incarcerated peoples’ record of rehabilitation and assessment of current risk to public safety.
Write my own bill. My initial thought is yes, but I would have to look at statistics on the assessment of current risk to public safety and how accurate judgments have been.
B. Elder Parole (S.15A / A.3475A): A bill pending in Albany that would allow elderly incarcerated people who have served at least 15 years in prison an opportunity to appear before the Parole Board for a chance at release.
Write my own bill. It would have to be 20-25 years if it’s a violent crime. If it’s not a violent crime, then I would lower it to 5-10 years.
14. If you will not co-sponsor any of the above legislation, why not?
N/A
15. Do you oppose the efforts to weaken bail reform as written
Bail reform has been very successful. I believe we need to reform our supervised release program. During an 18 month study by THE CITY, they found that 23% of the 134,000 individuals let free under the "supervised release" program were rearrested and charged with felonies. Within that number, 6.5% committed a violent felony - 8,710 New Yorkers who were subject to a life-altering event caused by leniency.
With Bail reform, we need to look at fixing a current flaw.
One such fix is the dichotomy between what was passed and what currently exists in text when deciding if a defendant should be remanded when in possession of an illegal weapon.
New York Penal Law 265.01-b (1) states: "
A person is guilty of criminal possession of a firearm when he or she:(1) possesses any firearm or; (2) lawfully possesses a firearm prior to the effective date of the chapter of the laws of two thousand thirteen which added this section subject to the registration requirements of subdivision sixteen-a of section 400.00 of this chapter and knowingly fails to register such firearm pursuant to such subdivision.
Criminal possession of a firearm is a class E felony."
But the current bail law places illegal weapon possession under the classification as a non-violent offender. The implication of that can rightly be questioned and corrected to align with an assumption that an individual carrying an illegal weapon could more than likely cause public harm.
16. Do you commit to visiting constituents who are incarcerated in state prisons and city jails? If incumbent, when did you do so last?
Yes.
17. Do you support legislation outlawing solitary confinement in all prisons statewide including city jails?
Yes.
18. When was the last time you were inside a correctional facility.
N/A
19. Do you believe sincere remorse and actions taken while incarcerated should be considered over the original crime in determinations of parole?
It depends on the severity of the crime. Some, to me, are unforgivable like child abuse/murder.
20. What do you believe should be done to ensure more clemencies are granted every year?
Create a task force independent of the governor’s office.
21. Will you publicly call on the governor to use her clemency power for the many incarcerated New Yorkers who can safely return home? Will you tweet out your support for this or issue a public statement? Would you be willing to be critical of a governor who does not exercise their power to grant clemencies and commutations to those worthy of release? Have you ever spoken out in such a way?
I’ve never been afraid to speak my mind, and I would always support clemency for a person who was either wrongfully convicted or has served an unfair amount of time for a non-violent crime.
22. Have you participated in any demonstrations or protests concerning clemency and parole?
No.
23. Will you affirmatively seek to hire formerly incarcerated individuals?
Yes.
24. Do you support legislation to prohibit discrimination against formerly incarcerated people in housing and employment?
100%
25. Do you believe in the decriminalization of sex work? Are you or will you co-sponsor the bill introduced by Julia Salazar (S.6419 / A. 8230), which fully decriminalizes sex work?
Yes.
26. Will you actively oppose legislation (S.6040 / A.7069) that would implement the dangerous Nordic model instead of the decriminalization of prostitution? Explain in detail your views on full decriminalization, the Nordic model, legalization, and the existing criminalization approach.
I support the legalization of sex work and do not support the Nordic model of criminalizing the sex buyer.
27. Do you support ending qualified immunity for police and other law enforcement individuals?
I do, but with mandatory liability insurance paid by the municipal for each officer to have.
28. What proposals will you advocate for to protect immigrants and further New York as a “Sanctuary State”?
Our immigrant community should have health insurance, and never allow ICE to operate in our state. Local law enforcement has the capacity to go after any violent criminals that may be hiding in our state.
29. Are you a sponsor of New York's Medical Aid in Dying Act (A.4321a/S.6471)? If not will you add your name and sponsor?
Undecided.
29. Do you support the establishment of supervised drug consumption spaces?
Undecided. I like the health delivery options of this, and believe that our current spaces have been successful.
30. Have you ever endorsed any member of the IDC or any candidates who challenged IDC members? Please identify all candidates
No.
31. Will you commit to ensuring diverse LGBTQ representation among your staff?
Yes.
32. Who did you support for office in the following primaries or special elections: A) Mayor in 2021 B) President in 2016 and 2020 C) Governor and Attorney General in 2018?
President: Hillary Clinton & Joe Biden. Andrew Cuomo & Tish James
33. Have you made an endorsement in the current bid for Governor? If so, who?
I’m leaning towards Gov. Hochul.
34. Do you support term limits for statewide office holders? For State Legislators?
No.
35. Describe any legislation and policy changes that you support in order to address the ongoing effects of slavery, racism, colonialism, and discrimination.
CREATE A MODERN MITCHELL-LAMA HOUSING PROGRAM: The Mitchell-Lama Program was established in 1955 and spurred an incredible surge in New York homeownership for working and middle-class families. According to a Mitchell-Lama report, from the beginning of the program to its end in 1978, nearly 140,000 apartments were built for everyday New Yorkers.
This program was a success for working and middle-class families looking to live and grow their families in New York. But now, millennials are left struggling to meet their rent demands or have to move farther and farther away from the city because they can’t afford to live here. The dream of starting a family in the city they love is beyond their reach.
An Urban Institute study found that “Millennials are less likely to be homeowners than baby boomers and Gen Xers. The homeownership rate among millennials ages 25 to 34 is eight percentage points lower than baby boomers and 8.4 percentage points lower than Gen Xers in the same age group.” The study also indicated that:
• Increasing education debt has reduced millennials’ likelihood of owning a home, as debt rises their debt-to-income ratios and lowers their remaining income to save for a down payment.
• High rental costs make it difficult for millennials to save for a down payment.
• Obtaining a mortgage has become more challenging since the housing market crisis because of an unstable labor market and tightening credit standards.
• The supply of affordable housing has declined over the past decade, especially in areas where millennials prefer living.
Establishing a new Mitchell-Lama for this generation of middle-class Americans, who are more educated than any generation before them, will enhance the possibilities for the future of New York City.
My program would allow couples with a combined annual income of $350,000 or less to attain homeownership in New York.
This program will establish new and exciting co-op developments that provide an economic opportunity to generate wealth and income mobility for a generation that’s been battered by the Financial Crisis and now the COVID-19 pandemic.
EXPAND COMMUNITY LAND TRUSTS: Community Land Trusts are non-profit organizations that develop and stewards affordable housing, community gardens, civic buildings, commercial spaces, and other community assets on behalf of a community. These organizations balance individuals' needs to access land and maintain the security of tenure with a community's need to maintain affordability, economic diversity, and local access to essential services.
Community Land Trusts need expansive funding to maintain and expand affordability and create long- lasting community services access.
REIMAGINE AND EXPAND THE MANDATORY INCLUSIONARY HOUSING PROGRAM: The
Mandatory Inclusionary Housing (MIH) Program was established by Mayor De Blasio in 2016 to increase permanently affordable housing as a condition of residential development when building in an MIH zone.
In broad terms, the program has successfully increased affordable housing production (despite the most recent budget where funding was drastically cut) but has faced fair criticism around its implementation. In narrower terms, the program has failed due to its concentration of affordable housing in the lowest socioeconomic areas of New York City. Intergenerational income mobility, that core tenet of the American Dream, is predicated on access to the best schools and economic opportunity. Permanent affordable housing is more effective when built in the wealthiest areas of the city.
Further, the concentration of MIH affordable housing in the lowest socioeconomic areas makes the program more expensive for taxpayers while also limiting the development of more affordable housing units.
A study by NYU’s Furman Center found, “In many neighborhoods, including some that the city has already targeted for the new program, market rents are too low to justify new mid and high-rise construction, so additional density would offer no immediate value to developers that could be used to cross-subsidize affordable units. In these areas, inclusionary zoning will need to rely on direct city subsidy for the time being to generate any new units at all regardless of the income level they serve.
“Where high rents make additional density valuable, there is the capacity to cross-subsidize new affordable units without direct subsidy...”
Furthermore, a report commissioned by de Blasio’s administration found “MIH requirements work best in strong housing markets. Rental projects in moderate and weak markets do not achieve sufficient returns to achieve feasibility without subsidies...”
STREAMLINE THE REVIEW PROCESS: New York’s Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) is a lengthy review procedure that can be shortened by 40–50% when involving affordable housing projects. At times, ULURP can act as a barrier in some of the wealthiest and unwelcoming
neighborhoods to diversity and inclusion by restricting the development of these necessary projects that have an immediate positive impact on the community.
ELIMINATE OFF-STREET PARKING REQUIREMENTS: Parking requirements are a burden on housing developments and counteract city goals, drive up development costs, and reduce space for additional housing. Eliminating this requirement can reduce vehicle congestion, reduce air pollution, create a more walkable city, and improve economic development.
CREATE A HOUSING VOUCHER PROGRAM TO INCREASE SOCIAL MOBILITY: Housing
vouchers, also known as Section 8, have helped numerous families keep a roof over their heads. The program has also led to many families facing difficulties in attaining housing in high opportunity areas because landlords hold an excessive amount of power over who can live within their developments.
A Seattle-based experiment called “Creating Moves to Opportunity” found a 40 percent boost in the share of families with vouchers who could move to better neighborhoods. The
program implemented a two-part strategy to increase the mobility of families with housing vouchers. The first part created a Family Facing Service that included:
• Opportunity area education to increase families’ knowledge and interest in opportunity areas.
• Rental application coaching to increase families’ competitiveness for private market rental units by working to understand and mitigate rental barriers.
• Housing search assistance to expand and improve families’ housing search process and leasing outcomes.
• Flexible financial assistance to defray housing search and lease-up expenses, such as application fees and security deposits.
The second part created a Landlord Facing Intervention program that included:
• Landlord engagement to make outreach to property owners and leasing agents in designated opportunity areas and promote the benefits of CMTO (and the voucher program) to encourage them to rent to CMTO families.
• Expedite lease-up processes to ensure fast processing times and minimize delays in leasing up due to PHA requirements.
• Damage mitigation insurance incentivizing property owners and landlords to participate in CMTO.
Full Economic Plan:
SUPERBLOCKS: Imagine a city where car traffic is relegated to major thruways while neighborhoods are reclaimed for people, creating burgeoning street-level communities, increased commerce for small businesses, more luxurious green spaces, and cleaner air free from exhaust and fumes.
Enter Superblocks.
Superblocks are the most immediate action we can undertake as a city to increase business activity and improve our air and noise pollution. Superblocks originated in Barcelona, Spain, and transformed that city’s streets into walkable public spaces, where pedestrians, cyclists, and citizens mix safely. Car traffic is banned for a large part of the day and evening (opening up at night for deliveries), allowing pedestrians to walk freely within their neighborhoods, particularly for social distancing and various reopening stages. Here’s a quick video on the concept.
How can this idea improve our economy? Healthier citizens, for starters. We know that particulate matter from exhaust — even in the most diminutive forms — can lead to respiratory illness, making us more susceptible to viruses like COVID-19.
According to Scientific American, “The U.S. cities hardest hit by COVID-19 so far are also cities with poor air quality: the New York, San Francisco, and Seattle metro areas. Areas with the best air quality, such as Maine, Vermont, and Hawaii, have fewer COVID-19 deaths per capita. Poor air quality is caused by industry and traffic. Social distancing policies improve air quality by decreasing the pollutants released by traffic and factories. Satellite photos show cleaner air over COVID-19 restricted areas.” Superblocks have been a boon for local businesses located within their organizational bounds.
Pedestrians roaming within superblocks have led to increased commerce and business activity. That increased activity has led to additional job gains as businesses hire more staff to meet rising demand.
It is incumbent upon elected officials to implement evidence-based policy and seize this rare opportunity to take back our city streets for its residents.
WAGE SUBSIDIES: Eighty-nine percent of the more than 200,000 businesses in New York
City employ fewer than 20 people. To revive our economy, we need to assist those small businesses as we continue to fight COVID-19 and the destruction it has left in its wake. To that end, the City Council should pass legislation offering small businesses wage subsidies to retain and hire new workers.
For small businesses with annual revenues between $0 — $200,000, the city would subsidize an additional $10 per hour salary per employee. There would be a sliding scale towards eliminating the subsidy for companies that make between $200,001 — $500,000 in revenues.
This program will provide a short-term stabilizing boost to its most vulnerable workers and businesses while creating a pathway toward the long-term economic stability and equity that our city deserves.
INCREASE BUSINESS EXPORT GRANTS BY TENFOLD: The current grant program to boost exports grant businesses up to $25,000, and non-profits up to $50,000, to promote their businesses worldwide. As currently devised, the Global NY program is not good enough.
More money is needed to assist our small companies to expand their foothold overseas. I propose we increase our export grants by a factor of ten to promote our New York businesses. The grants should be limited and given out on a sliding scale for companies that generate up to $2,500,000 in annual revenues.
My plan will increase export grants up to $500,000 for small businesses and up to $250,000 for non- profits.
remove the unincorporated business tax: Our small businesses operate in an unfriendly environment that limits their ability for growth, and we must remove unnecessary taxes that cause NYC to be a difficult place to succeed.
When companies register as a Limited Liability Corp (LLC), they are subjected to an additional 4% Unincorporated Business Tax (UBT), in addition to Medicare and Social Security taxes.
My plan includes removing the UBT for any small business with annual revenues under $5 million. Congestion pricing: Eliminate congestion pricing fees for all small business deliveries.
INCREASE RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT FUNDING: Former Fed chair of the Federal Ben Bernanke wrote: “Innovation and technological change are undoubtedly central to the growth process;
over the past 200 years or so, Innovation, technical advances, and investment in capital goods embodying new technologies have transformed economies around the world. In
recent decades, as this audience well knows, advances in semiconductor technology have radically changed many aspects of our lives, from communication to health care.”
New York has an opportunity to increase funding towards research & development projects that leads to a new era of businesses based in NYC. We need to budget around 5% of our annual expenses towards these projects. We will create homegrown startups, high-paying jobs, and ambitious new projects to lead us into the future.
FULLY FUND NY'S JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS: New York has and historically attracts the best talent worldwide. That talent creates new high-skilled businesses that can provide a pathway for increased opportunity and social mobility. The local talent pool is often left behind — many workers are not capable of executing the tasks for offered jobs.
A fully funded job training program can support our investments in supporting businesses exporting on the global stage and towards our research and development programs.
DESIGN DISASTER READY HIGH-SPEED WIRELESS INTERNET CAPABILITIES: As Climate
Change worsens, we must prepare for the accompanying extreme natural disasters that follow. Hurricane Sandy ravaged our city, and we cannot afford to be unprepared for any future incidents. We need to ensure our ability to communicate and have effective internet connectivity that’s resistant to natural disasters, which means we have to invest in disaster- proof and ready high-speed wireless internet.
In a recent Scientific American article, Daniel Cusik wrote, “Internet interruptions caused by extreme weather events sap billions of dollars annually from the global economy and can interfere with the delivery of essential data and services by governments, utilities, and first responders.” For our city to be prepared and forward-thinking, we need to explore using disaster-proof technology like millimeter waves to safely and securely transmit data.
Legislation to introduce these capabilities will create jobs and boost spending and city revenues.
RESTRICT NON-COMPETE CLAUSES: No company has the right to restrict a person’s livelihood. We need to ban the use of non-compete clauses.
TRANSFORM EMPTY STOREFRONTS TO SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE: Our city is overwhelmed
with empty storefronts that yield our neighborhoods no social benefit and add to an image of commercial blight. We can do better by transforming these spaces into a temporary community location that increases social cohesion (envision cafes, libraries, public concerts, etc.) while the landlords benefit from the generated activity.
This BloombergCityLab article explains:
“The idea, says co-founder Aaron Greiner, is to create a shortcut to “social infrastructure” in communities that need more welcoming public spaces — amenities like parks and libraries, where neighbors can interact with one another. And the kicker: In exchange for injecting Kendall Square with a little street-level energy, Greiner* and his team pay no rent: Agreements with property managers rely on the premise that the non-commercial activation of idle stores will draw more life (and business) to the surrounding area. Early signs have been promising.”
CREATE A NEW YORK RECONSTRUCTION FINANCE CORPORATION (RFC): The RFC was a
New Deal program that staved off collapse for many businesses during the Great Depression. It was an independent agency within the federal government — I’m calling for a city agency — that “set up lending systems to channel private capital into publicly desirable investments. It innovated new
insurance systems to guarantee those loans and delivered profits to businesses in peril during the Depression. Unionists, farmers, and consumers benefited as well, all without the government needing to spend a dime of taxpayer money.”
In essence, an NYRFC will foster private-public partnerships to save our businesses from collapse for various sectors.
EXPAND COMMUNITY BANKS: A community bank is a depository institution that is typically locally owned and operated. Community banks tend to focus on the businesses' and families' needs, where they retain branches and offices. Lending decisions are made by people who understand the local needs of families and businesses. Employees often reside within the communities they serve.
Expanding community banks in New York will generate local dollars and local jobs for local businesses.
EMPOWER WORKERS' VOICES: With the threat of COVID-19 among us, our essential workers need a say over their workplace's quality and safety. In a recently released report by Clean Slate for Worker Power, they recommend (and I support) the following:
• Mandate elected safety stewards in every workplace.
• Empower safety stewards to provide information, assist in enforcement, and help workers' collective action related to safety.
• Create a sector-wide network of safety stewards.
• Require safety stewards to report anonymized data regarding safety complaints to a government agency.
• Require disclosure of safety steward reports.
• Require the creation of workplace safety and health committees with elected members.
• Empower workplace committees to adapt and implement safety and health standards and to have the discretion to request negotiations over new standards.
• Empower workplace committees to file safety complaints internally and with government agencies; and Protect workers from retaliation for participating in committee activities.
• Create sectoral safety and health commissions to negotiate baseline safety and health standards.
• Alternatively, give sectoral commissions "meet and confer" rights to request information and discuss safety standards.
• Include community organizations in sectoral safety and health commissions.
TRACK AND INVALIDATE DISCRIMINATORY FINES: People of color suffer endemic systematic racism, even in liberal cities. Recently, reports of police targeting and fining black business owners at disproportionate amounts and rates have surfaced. I will rescind and invalidate all these fines and hold those targeting minority business owners accountable.
Fine and Punish Discriminatory Lending Practices: A 2019 Small Business Report by the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta found the following:
Minority-owned firms’ loan applications tended to have worse outcomes (not controlling for other firm characteristics):
• On average, Black- and Hispanic-owned firm applicants received approval for smaller shares of the financing they sought than White-owned small businesses that applied for financing. Larger percentages of Black- and Hispanic-owned firm applicants did not receive any of the financings they applied for — 38% and 33%, respectively —
compared to 24% of Asian-owned firm applicants and 20% of White-owned business applicants.
• A larger share of White-owned business applicants received approval for all the financing they applied for 49%, compared to 39% of Asian-, 35% of Hispanic-, and 31% of Black- owned firm applicants.
Minority-owned firms more frequently applied for potentially higher-cost and less-transparent credit products:
• Hispanic-owned firm applicants sought merchant cash advance products more regularly than did White-owned businesses: 15% compared with 8%.
• Black-owned business applicants applied for factoring more frequently than White- owned firm applicants (7% and 3%, respectively).
The time for racist business practices is over. Any financing institution that is found to have discriminated in their lending practices will be fined, forced to offer the terms the applicant sought, or face the consequence of being shut down.
Moreover, financial institutions that serve New York will be mandated to disclose the quantity and amount of loans distributed and the race and socioeconomic profile of the applicant. This quarterly requirement will help determine if there is any adverse lending occurring.
Full Education Plan:
PUBLIC/PRIVATE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS: We live in New York and have access to the most extensive breadth of industries. Our state has professions ranging from our world-class educational institutions, research, development, fashion, finance, technology, media, advertising, real estate, culinary arts, and performance arts.
The list goes on and on.
Yet, we fail to utilize access to these industries to provide our students with career pathways. It is a failure of imagination and leadership on our part, and it stops now.
I propose creating new afterschool programs beginning in elementary school and going through high school that focus on developing real-world skills for our state's students. Hence, they have a pathway to a fruitful and long-last career.
These new programs will be designed using the professional expertise of the various industries our state has to offer and be taught by professionals within the respective industries.
The benefits would be twofold:
• Our students, especially in some of our lower-socioeconomic areas, will be exposed to professions that they never thought possible and be prepared by developing relationships and mentors that will guide them to achieve their dream of working in any of the occupations that they seek.
• Employers will have access to a homegrown talent pool and ensure that they do not experience a shortage of talent for future job openings that they will seek to fulfill.
36. 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 believe in student loan forgiveness depending on income level after ten years, but that is something that has to be done at the federal level.
37. Do you support a single-payer universal health care system? Do you or will you co-sponsor the New York Health Act? Please elaborate.
Single-payer would cripple our economy. I do support a public option.
38. Discuss your stance on reproductive rights, including access to contraceptives and abortion services.
I fully support a women’s right to choose and believe that NY be a safe haven by offering room and transport, and recovery services for out-of-state Americans when Roe vs. Wade inevitably gets overturned.
39. Will you refuse money from individuals or Political Action Committees representing the real estate industry or law enforcement unions/associations?
N/A.
40. Will you refuse and refund any contributions from executives at corporations complicit in the Trump agenda?
Yes.
41. Will you cosponsor the legislation to prohibit evictions without good cause (S.3082 / A.5573)?
With modifications to protect small landlords and the rent increase range. Small landlords still need funds for repairs and to keep up with NYC’s costly regulations.
42. Will you push for the passage of Home Stability Support (HSS) to bridge the difference between the public assistance shelter allowance and fair market rents for NY's 95,000 homeless? Will you co-sponsor S.856 / A.6032, which amends the Social Services Law to create a statewide rent supplement for families and individuals who are eligible for public assistance benefits and who face eviction, homelessness, or loss of housing due to domestic violence or hazardous living conditions?
Yes to both.
43. What should happen to 421-a? Would you end it, mend it, continue it?
Mend it with greater tax breaks and a rule to untie it from AMI to allow for greater affordability.
44. Do you support legalizing accessory dwelling units?
Yes.
45. Do you support more state funding for NYCHA? If so, how much?
Yes by about $10-$15 Billion over a ten year period.
46. Do you, or will you, co-sponsor the Climate and Community Investment Act? (S.4264A / A.6967) If you are an incumbent and do not currently co-sponsor this bill, why not?
Yes.
47. Do you support the New York Public Banking Act (S.1762A / A. 8290? If you are an incumbent and do not currently co-sponsor this bill, why not?
Yes, I mention a version of it in a previous response.
48. Do you support the New Deal for CUNY (S.4461 / A.5843)? If you are an incumbent and do not currently co-sponsor this bill, why not?
Yes.
49. 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?
It’s worthwhile to name it after a hero deserving of the honor of the LGBTQ community. I’m not that. I am an ally, but I’m not worthy of that honor…yet.
50. What is your position on removing the Christopher Columbus statue in Columbus Circle and if so, what should replace it?‘
Undecided.
51. Do you support reducing the budget of law enforcement throughout the state, and if so, by how much?
No.
52. 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.
For traffic enforcement, yes.
53. Should law enforcements "Vice Squads" be eliminated?
Modified to focus on drug trafficking and illegal gambling.
54. How would you recommend law enforcement officers be penalized for refusing to wear masks in public while on duty, in defiance of city and state rules?
Leave it to their Commanding Officer.
55. What reforms would you make to the Civilian Complaint Review Board? Would you support state legislation to make CCRB disciplinary determinations binding?
Yes, make disciplinary determinations binding.
56. What will you do to support nightlife in New York State?
Let the party go on! Please see my economic policies above.
57. Do you commit to speak with restaurant and nightlife industry representatives before taking a position on any policies that affect their businesses?
Absolutely!
58. Do you commit to speak personally with liquor license applicants and license holders before opposing any bid for a liquor license? Likewise for an applicant seeking your support?
I believe a business has the right to exist, and outdated and exclusionary barriers for entrepreneurs are completely unnecessary. There is no reason a restaurant/bar has to go through a community board process to startup. It’s nonsensical.
59. What are the top 3 issues you aim to address locally and legislatively?
Public Safety, Education, NYCHA/Homeownership Opportunities for working-class New Yorkers.
60. How much money do you presently have in your campaign account?
N/A
61. What additional information would you like members The Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club to consider when we are making our endorsement decision concerning your candidacy?
I am the best candidate in this race because I’m not going to lie to you and tell you what you want to hear. I will be honest and respectful, even if we disagree. I care about allowing our majority-minority district have a chance to achieve the American Dream, just like my family was able to. That is the driving force behind my campaign: the community.