Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Nantasha Williams for City Council District 27
Candidate Name: Nantasha Williams
Office Seeking Election for: City Council District 27
Explain, based on life experiences and accomplishments, why you believe you are best qualified to represent your district
I am running because I believe I am the best qualified candidate in the race with experience in government, organizing and advocacy. I believe that I have the clearest vision for how I can use the NYC Council to build a better community for homeowners, seniors, the youth and workers of my district.
Please identify any openly LGBTQ candidate for public office you have previously or presently endorsed?
Cynthia Nixon
If applicable, what legislation directly affecting the LGBTQ community have you introduced or co-sponsored? (indicate accordingly)
N/A- I have not held public office before.
What LGBTQ organizations have you been involved with, either on a volunteer basis or professionally?
I was a volunteer at the Milk Foundation, GMHC, Aids Walk, Harm Reduction Coalition.
Do you consider yourself a member of the LGBTQ community?
I consider myself to be an accomplice of the LGBTQ community.
Have you marched in Pride? Which marches and for approximately how many years?
Yes, in 2017.
Have you employed openly LGBTQ individuals previously? Do you employ any currently?
Yes. We have 2 LGBTQ individuals as part of my campaign team.
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 was a national organizer for the Women’s March in 2017 & 2018. I have attended over 20 rallies and protests that range in all of the above topics mentioned.
Have you ever been arrested? If so please explain why and outcome of arrest.
No
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
I will advocate to ensure that we invest more resources in the communities that have suffered the most and we end the school to prison pipeline by reforming our public education system to be more comprehensive and provide a host of wrap around services to students in need.
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?
I support the removal. Sojourner Truth.
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?
I support reducing the NYPD budget but I am not going to throw out an arbitrary number. I need to review the entire budget and understand where we can make cuts that do not impact our public safely.
How would you have voted on the FY21 City Budget?
Yes, I would have voted for this budget even though it didn't meaningfully cut the NYPD's budget. I would have voted yes because voting no would have put the budget at jeopardy of going to the state receivership and have Cuomo involved, which would have been a disaster.
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?
There should be a dock in their pay that goes up the more times they are in violation.
What reforms would you make to the Civilian Complaint Review Board? Would you support state legislation to make CCRB disciplinary determinations binding?
Yes I would. I support more civilian appointments to the CCRB so there is a power balance shift away from City Hall.
What is your position on the plan to close Rikers and create four borough-based jails?
I support closing Rikers Island. I believe there needs to be more community input on the citing of the borough based jails. I do believe that we need to cite the jails as close to the courthouse as possible as a means to speed up hearings so detainees can be heard sooner and out sooner.
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.
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?
311 needs to have more than just operator fielding calls that end up getting unresolved in a timely manner. We need operators to be able to immediately transfer callers to the expert like mental health professionals and other specialists who know the subject matter.
Do you support decriminalizing sex work? Will you pledge to oppose the Nordic model?
Yes. I also will support legislation that enhances and provides resources to prevent sexual harassment, sexual discrimination, trafficking, and educate our citizens on the severity of these issues. I oppose the Nordic model.
Do you oppose school screening, which exacerbates segregation? Which screens in your school district(s) will you advocate to abolish?
Yes, I oppose non comprehensive school screening.
Describe what reforms you would make to the control of the NYC public school system.
I support re-evaluating Mayoral Control to incorporate the opinions of stakeholders like CECs who come directly from the community. It is important for local school districts to have some level of latitude to make independent decisions that break away from the one size fits all model coming out of Tweed.
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?
I am still learning about safe consumption sites that are open in other countries and would like to see how they are fairing before committing to a position. I believe we need to stop criminalizing addictions and get people help.
Do you smoke or otherwise consume weed?
I have in the past but currently do not.
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?
Never. I am very close with Diana Richardson who helped defeat Jesse Hamilton in Brooklyn.
What will you do to support nightlife in NYC?
We must provide zero interest grants for small business relief and get these businesses open for customers in a safe but non intrusive manner. We should waive all non-essential life threatening fines so these businesses can use the dollars they have and invest in their 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, I want my community boards to be reflective of those with ties and interests in the community. I also believe that there can be conflicts of interests given community boards review liquor licenses of these establishments. A subcommittee or task force might be the proper way to provide a venue for issues that arise.
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?
I was in support bringing business and opportunity to Queens but not at the expense of exploiting workers and union busting.
What role do you believe the local member should play in the approval of development proposals before the Council?
The ULURP process provides a forum that encourages communal discussion to determine what proposals are the best for addressing the needs of specific communities. For far too long the system is setup so that developers come in with a project and it is basically a situation where they say "hey, take it or leave it". We need to reform this process to truly include the affected community’s input and have those concerns implemented by the developer in order for the project to proceed. More needs to be done to make CBA's legally binding and help developers accountable to whatever they agreed to.
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.
What proposals will you advocate for to protect immigrants and further New York as a Sanctuary City?
I would support continued funding for Immigration Initiatives, Adult Literacy, Citizenship Assistance and legal services for unaccompanied minors and immigrant workers.
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 but understand that public service workers need to be carved out of that because they have fought for decades for robust healthcare as part of their contracts and they are entitled to maintaining that healthcare which they collectively bargained for.
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?
I respect the right of privacy of one’s vote. When I become a public official, I will make public my endorsements and who I vote for.
Top 3 issues you aim to address locally and legislatively
COVID-19 aftermath. Affordable Housing crisis. Support for our Small Businesses.
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?
1. The council should have more power and impact over the budget. The mayor has way too much power. 2. We need full ULURP reform that adds expanded studies on community impacts for projects as part of ULURP. Communities should have great say over developments that will change the character of their neighborhood. 3. The Council should have to vote to confirm Mayoral appointments to commissioner level positions and higher.
Please explain your vision for the present powers of the office you are seeking and how you intend to exercise them?
The City Council is a co-equal branch of our city government and needs to act like it. I would urge the Speaker and council leadership to exert their charter given powers to the fullest extent possible so we are not just pushed around all the time by City Hall like in years past.
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, I intend to have an ongoing dialogue with the club on issues of importance to your members.
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?