Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Grace Lee for NY Assembly District 65
Candidate Name: Grace Lee
Office Seeking Election for: New York State Assembly, 65th District
Campaign Address: 157 Duane St, Apt 2 New York, NY 10013
Campaign Website: www.graceleeforassembly.com
Campaign Telephone: 646-372-4244
Campaign Social Media Handles (Facebook/Twitter):
Twitter: @graceleefornyc | Facebook: @graceleefornyc | Instagram: @graceleefornyc
Campaign Contact (name/phone/email):
Al Benninghoff | al@graceleeforassembly.com | 646-373-4244
1. Explain, based on life experiences and accomplishments, why you believe you are best qualified to represent your district.
I am running for NYS Assembly in the 65th District because I want to protect our children and our families, and to bring effective leadership to the district
When I first heard from one of my mom friends that a greedy developer would be applying for a Brownfield Cleanup Program through the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) program on the lot across the street from my daughters school, we went down to the city archives to get more information.
We discovered that the site had been home to the largest thermometer factory in the country which produced 600,000 thermometers a day. Development on that site could expose our children to toxic levels of mercury exposure, and there were no real laws to protect the community. I co-founded a parent-led coalition called Children First to ensure the highest degree of accountability by the state agencies and developer involved.
In January 2020, working with Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer’s office, I was able to secure $50,000 for an independent engineer to represent our community in this process before the NYSDEC and the developer. I got the New York Times to write a front page story on the issue. And, I organized parents and local residents to submit a record number of public comments to the NYSDEC.
Our fight continues to this day, over 14 months later. But our fight did not need to go this far. In May 2019, New York State Senator Todd Kaminsky proposed legislation regulating the amount of mercury off-gassing allowed in public schools. In June 2019, Kaminsky’s bill passed both the assembly and the senate. Did our representatives seek to expand the regulations to cover our community? No. As a parent, this lack of political foresight was a red flag I could not ignore, for the sake of my children and all other children in the community.
As I have been going around the district, doing more research on the issues that impact our community and our state, I have heard too many people say exactly the same thing. The 65th Assembly District is facing urgent issues and the district needs an effective leader who knows how to get things done. Lower Manhattan has one of the highest concentrations of NYCHA housing. Tenant presidents are supporting me because they know I will stand up to improve the system. Lower Manhattan was hit hard by Superstorm Sandy and is vulnerable to increasing effects of climate change. Yet virtually nothing has been done in nearly 8 years. I am running to get the job done.
I continue to stay active in the community, and I also draw support from the members of a number of local advocacy groups like Keep FiDi Safe and Elizabeth Street Garden.
2. Do you now support or have you ever supported an openly LGBTQ candidate for public office?
Yes I have and I still do, even at the local level. I was a fierce advocate for Jonathan Gardenhire during his race for AD65 part B District Leader. He won his race, and I’m lucky to have earned his support this year. I have also supported Council Speaker Corey Johnson’s campaigns for office, among others.
3. If applicable, what legislation directly affecting the LGBT community have you introduced or co-sponsored? (indicate accordingly)
N/A.
If elected Assemblymember, the LGBT community can count on me as a consistent and steadfast ally, even when it is difficult. For example, I supported the push to legalize gestational surrogacy, despite the resistance that it generated from some political leaders in Manhattan.
4. What LGBT organizations have you been involved with, either on a volunteer basis or professionally?
I am on the Planned Parenthood President’s Circle, which, through their Margaret Sanger Center, offers a host of services for LGBT clients including hormone therapy. I have also been involved with GMHC and their annual AIDS walk.
5. If applicable, what LGBT organizations have you allocated funds to?
N/A. If elected Assemblymember, I will prioritize funding LGBT organizations and initiatives important to the LGBT community.
6. Do you consider yourself a member of the LGBT community?
No, I do not. I consider myself a consistent and aspiring ally of the LGBT community.
7. Have you marched in Pride? Which marches and for approximately how many years?
While I have not marched in Pride, I watched as a spectator on the sidelines in 2017. Now that all three of my children are coming of the age where they can understand and participate in community activism, I envision my daughters joining me at future rallies and marches.
8. Have you employed openly LGBT individuals previously? Do you employ any currently?
Yes, through my small business, I’ve contracted with and worked alongside openly LGBT individuals. My campaign also contracts with openly LGBT companies and individuals.
9. If you receive the endorsement, do you agree to identify the club on all literature and electronic materials where you list endorsements?
Yes, without question.
10. 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?
The 2016 election was a wakeup call for all of us. I immediately turned my attention to activism and working to help elect minorities and women to positions of power. I attended the Women’s Rights March here in NYC. In the 2018 midterm elections, I was the New York Events Director for Swing Left. This critical work helped flip the House of Representatives blue, and also opened my network to Democratic activists across the city, state, and country. Helping flip the House blue has been an incredibly important part of stopping the destructive Trump agenda, and I’m proud to say I played a role in making that happen. More recently, I’ve been advocating to close Rikers Island and push for decarceral criminal justice policies. We cannot incarcerate our way to public safety.
11. Have you ever been arrested? If so please explain why and outcome of arrest.
No. I have been to many protests and I am not opposed to being arrested for civil disobedience.
12. Will you advocate and sponsor legislation to mandate the review of sentences of incarcerated individuals over the age of 55 who have served in excess of 15 years to determine if they warrant release?
Yes.
13. Do you commit to visit constituents who are incarcerated in state prisons such as Bedford Correctional Facility?
Yes. Constituents that are incarcerated in state prisons are still constituents. They deserve to have their voices heard, just like anyone else.
14. Do you believe sincere remorse, risk of reoffending and actions taken while incarcerated should be considered over the original crime in determinations of parole?
Yes. Rehabilitation is a necessary but often ignored part of the process of incarceration. In fact, I would argue that the lack of rehabilitation efforts in our criminal justice system have led to such high rates of recidivism. Individuals who have served the time and taken the steps towards rehabilitation while incarcerated should be given every opportunity to be considered for parole and clemency.
15. Have you participated in any demonstrations or protests in relation to the issues of clemency and parole?
Not directly, but I have been a strong and consistent supporter of closing Rikers Island. In addition, I have publicly stated - despite criticism - that we should have waited to look at the data on bail reform before prematurely rolling back these hard won reforms.
16. Will you affirmatively seek to hire formerly incarcerated individuals?
Given the opportunity, I would consider any individual, formerly incarcerated or otherwise, on the merits for a job. I do not discriminate in any form or fashion.
17. Do you believe in the decriminalization of sex work? Are you sponsoring the bill introduced by Jessica Ramos?
Yes, I do. Sex work is work, and sex workers should have every right to a safe working environment with employee protections. We need to make sure that there are no more Yang Songs, and that sex workers are not exploited by law enforcement or sexaully harassed and assaulted by those in power. Decriminalizing sex work will decrease the likelihood that sex workers are abused, for example, by law enforcement officers who use their position of privilege and power.
18. Will you actively oppose legislation that would implement the dangerous Nordic model instead of decriminalization of prostitution?
Yes.
19. What proposals will you advocate for to protect immigrants and the further New York as a Sanctuary City?
Yes. My parents immigrated to America and through their hard work, they were able to provide me with an opportunity to succeed. My story is the story of the American dream. I want to make that dream a reality for all individuals. I will continue to advocate on the frontlines for our immigrant communities to be protected from the Trump administration’s harmful policies, and I will continue fighting for New York to be a Sanctuary City for immigrants regardless of who holds the powers to our nation’s highest offices. I am a strong supporter of the Greenlight NY legislation that granted long overdue drivers’ licenses to undocumented immigrants.
20. Will you advocate, including introducing legislation, to remove public funding from religious schools?
Given how underfunded our public schools are, I will take a hard look at all public education funding that is not efficiently or effectively used.
21. Do you support the establishment of supervised drug consumption spaces?
Yes.
22. Have you ever endorsed any member of the IDC or any candidates who challenged IDC members? Please identify all candidates
I did not support the former IDC members. The IDC should never have existed, and the long overdue removal of most of their members from office in 2018 was urgently needed.
23. Will you commit to hiring a member of the LGBT community to serve as a liaison to the community?
Yes, and I will ensure that they have a significant voice at the table.
24. Will you commit to ensuring diverse LGBT representation among your staff?
Yes.
25. Who did you support for office in the following races A) mayor and Public Advocate in 2014 B) President in 2016 C) Governor and Attorney General 2018
A) Bill de Blasio and Tish James; B) Hillary Clinton in the General Election; C) Andrew Cuomo and Tish James
26. Describe any legislation and policy changes that you support in order to address the ongoing effects of slavery, racism, colonialism, and discrimination.
Racism and discrimination are hitting the Asian community very hard, no thanks to President Trump’s continued use of the phrase Chinese Virus. Reported attacks on Asian-Americans have increased by nearly 500% by some estimates. I would support any legislation and policy change that can have an impact. But all policy is intersectional, and I believe all policy needs to have an eye toward the institutionalized discrimination and racism that has impacted our country for centuries. For instance, AD65 has the largest concentration of NYCHA housing in all of Manhattan. NYCHA is some $30 billion under water, with some estimates ranging as high as $60 billion. Of course, this is intentional: the residents of NYCHA are largely brown and black of limited financial means. What was once a stepping stone to the middle class in New York has now become an area of frustration and immense concern. I will vigorously fight to fully fund NYCHA. I will also seek to enact lending standards to end the discriminatory policy of red lining that has deprived families of color the opportunity to build intergenerational wealth for decades. In addition, I support legislation that examines the benefits of providing reparations as one policy, and certainly not the only policy, to help combat the ongoing trauma of slavery and institutional racism in our country.
27. 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?
The Excelsior Scholarship Program should be extended to cover all students in New York State, regardless of income level and should be extended to cover graduate school programs as well. Furthermore, I will be a vocal supporter of debt relief for students. The explosion of student loan debt is one of the worst financial developments in American history, and it’s time that we do away with this economic burden that has handicapped millennials’ and Gen-Z’s ability to buy a home and start their families.
28. Do you support a single-payer universal health care system? Please elaborate.
Yes. Health care is a human right, and no New Yorker should be burdened by the high cost of health care when they need treatment. I am and will continue to be a strong advocate of a single-payer universal health care system.
29. Discuss your stance on reproductive rights, including access to contraceptives and abortion services.
I have always fully supported a woman’s right to choose. I have been a prominent supporter of Planned Parenthood and I was previously honored as part of Planned Parenthood’s Presidents’ Circle for having fundraised a significant amount of money towards protecting reproductive freedom.
30. Will you refuse money from individuals or Political Action Committees representing the real estate industry?
Yes. I am the only candidate in this race that has never taken money from real estate developers, real estate PACs, and corporate PACs. My opponent has taken real estate money in her 2016 campaign and her current campaign, despite her taking a pledge to not take real estate money.
31. Will you refuse and refund any contributions from executives at corporations complicit in the Trump agenda?
Absolutely. For example, I am the only candidate in this race that has never taken money from real estate.
32. Are you against the opening of casinos in New York owned and controlled by Trump mega-donor Sheldon Adelson?
Yes.
33. Will you cosponsor the legislation to prohibit evictions without good cause (previously S2892A)?
Yes. This is a necessity more than ever given the coronavirus pandemic. This, among other housing policies, will be the cornerstone of my agenda during my first term in office.
34. 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?
Yes. Housing insecurity has become a top concern in the district given the coronavirus pandemic. We must expedite emergency funding for shelters, as well as a new rent stabilization pact to prevent a spike in homelessness and destitution due to the current crisis.
35. What additional information would you like Jim Owles to consider when we are making our endorsements decisions?
I have been and will continue to be an unwavering ally to our LGBT communities. I have taken stances on positions even when they are politically unpopular, because I know that principle and values are more important than political expediency. For example, I took a firm commitment to not accept any money from real estate in my campaign for office and I actually stuck to my word. When it came to building affordable housing on the Elizabeth Street Garden site, I sought input from all sides on the issue, instead of rushing to judgment like some elected officials in Lower Manhattan ended up doing. I would like to thank the members of the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club for your consideration of my campaign, and I will look forward to partnering with you in advocating for our LGBT and other marginalized communities for years to come.