Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Ray McGuire for NYC Mayor
Candidate Name: Ray McGuire
Office Seeking Election for: NYC Mayor
Explain, based on life experiences and accomplishments, why you believe you are best qualified to represent your district
I have the management chops to lead New York City out of this crisis and have spent my career helping companies survive and grow. I know how to tackle large challenges with high-stakes because of my business background. I have robust ideas for lifting our schools, saving small businesses, creating jobs, making housing more affordable, and reducing crime in a way that respects everyone's dignity. I am running because my life story, management experience, relationships, and vision give me a different perspective than those who have spent years in politics. I grew up with the same economic insecurity many New Yorkers feel today, and that personal story is at the heart of my candidacy. I want every child in New York City to get the same opportunity that I did. We need a mayor who will think big and advance bold ideas, a person who will bring in every expert and call in every favor.
Please identify any openly LGBTQ candidate for public office you have previously or presently endorsed?
Ray is a first time candidate.
If applicable, what legislation directly affecting the LGBTQ community have you introduced or co-sponsored? (indicate accordingly)
n/a
What LGBTQ organizations have you been involved with, either on a volunteer basis or professionally?
I have been a long time ally of the LGBTQ community in every sector from the business world to the arts to community organizations. Along with my wife Crystal, I executive produced and supported both financially and with other resources the award-winning film DIRTY LAUNDRY starring Loretta Devine, Jenifer Lewis and Rockmond Dunbar with gay black protaganists and which the Human Rights Campaign sponsored for a national film festival tour. I have also supported dozens of LGBTQ artists for over three decades through my work with The Studio Museum in Harlem, The Whitney Museum, ICP, Lincoln Center, and many others including Glenn Ligon and Julie Mehretu. As a Board Member of the New York Public Library I helped to bring the James Baldwin works to the Schomburg Center and participated in the celebration of James Baldwin’s life and work.
Do you consider yourself a member of the LGBTQ community?
No
Have you marched in Pride? Which marches and for approximately how many years?
I’ve only been a spectator, but I can’t wait to join this year.
Have you employed openly LGBTQ individuals previously? Do you employ any currently?
Throughout my career up to and including today, I’ve employed LGBTQ individuals. In fact, one of my career mentors was one of the few out gay men on Wall Street.
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?
Have you ever been arrested? If so please explain why and outcome of arrest.
I have not.
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, and in fact, we have hired formerly incarcerated individuals on the campaign.
Describe your legislative and policy vision for combatting systemic racism
My commitment to racial equity is weaved into every aspect of my effort to lead this city beginning with the team I have hired to run this campaign. Too often politicians use platitudes to address racial inequities, but I have a record in my career of actually getting it done. My vision for the city includes requiring communities of color in all boroughs and industries to have a seat at that table and concrete opportunities to live, work, and thrive. This is evident in my plan to invest in our children from cradle to career to close the achievement gap, and to rebuild the city’s economy by creating good paying jobs and providing equitable access to capital for small business and MWBEs to fully participate in the economic recovery and infrastructure development of the city.
Will you not seek, and refuse, the endorsement of Bill de Blasio?
I will accept the endorsement of anyone that cares as deeply as I do about the future of this city.
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?
This bridge was renamed in a political ploy and never should have happened.
What is your position on removing the Christopher Columbus statue in Columbus Circle and if so, what should replace it?
I would explore removing and replacing the statue only after extensive community input and collaboration.
Will you refuse contributions from real estate developers and all law enforcement unions or associations?
I am taking donations from a wide range of New Yorkers. As an outsider candidate who has not held public office and been able to take advantage of the resulting name recognition, I am depending on raising money to help level the playing field by taking my message directly to voters. As mayor my only allegiance will be to the best strategy and the best solution for the people of New York City.
Do you support reducing the budget of the NYPD and if so, by how much?
I don’t have a specific dollar amount to reduce the NYPD budget. As Mayor I will conduct a top to bottom review of the city’s entire public safety budget to identify spending that is ineffective at improving safety or does not track with his vision for a safe and just city. That review will start by looking at the $1.2B increase in the NYPD’s annual operations budget since 2010.
How would you have voted on the FY21 City Budget?
n/a
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.
I will launch Emergency Social Services, a citywide 24/7 network of mental health, drug abuse, and homelessness specialists that will replace police intervention for non-criminal behavior. These teams will provide rapid response to help individuals in crisis. I will ensure individuals receive the long-term mental health and substance abuse services they require, rather than abandoning them after the immediate crisis has been addressed. I will also fund local support centers around the city to assess and refer individuals that can be stabilized without a trip to the emergency room. My administration will shift more resources to social services and mental health professionals who are better equipped to handle situations that today end up being assigned to police officers. NYPD officers have been forced to deal with any number of situations for which an armed response is not required. Shifting some of the responsibility for those interactions to social workers, healthcare specialists, or civilian staff is not only good for our communities and will avoid situations for which they are not properly trained. These responders would connect the person to mental health services with frequent follow ups. This will create a long-term solution by connecting the New Yorkers to care providers to treat the individual and not just the incident.
Should the NYPD Vice Squad be eliminated?
In my recently released plan for a Safe and Just New York, I committed to conduct a top to bottom review of all public safety spending and identify spending that is ineffective at improving safety or does not track with his vision for a safe and just city. Every agency and non-profit involved in contributing to public safety will have clear, streamlined metrics and public reporting on outcomes to ensure accountability. If a program isn’t working, I will be able to identify those issues and quickly shift resources to interventions that are proving effective. Vice has shown to be in need of such a review. At the same time, a commitment to a strong Human Trafficking Unit is necessary, as is a focussed effort to combat the victimization of children via the internet.
Should Dermot Shea be fired immediately?
I would not retain Commissioner Shea, and would instead appoint a police commissioner who reflects the values that I stand for, and is prepared to drive policing that is respectful, accountable and proportionate.
Should the NYPD Commissioner require confirmation by the City Council?
The hiring of the Commissioner and the responsibility of their performance starts and stops with me.
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?
Police officers need to follow the rules, just like everybody else. That’s it.
What reforms would you make to the Civilian Complaint Review Board? Would you support state legislation to make CCRB disciplinary determinations binding?
Changing the culture of the police department starts with appointing a commissioner who is committed to accountability and empowering that commissioner to impose accountability across the entire department. Ray will also increase funding and staffing for the CCRB, and ensure that they have access to disciplinary records, body camera footage, and other evidence that will allow them to expand and accelerate investigations of misconduct. In 2019, the average time it took for the CCRB to receive body camera footage was 42 days. Ray will require the NYPD to produce footage in 48 hours. The CCRB has been able to substantiate complaints 31 percent of the time with body camera footage, compared to 13 percent without, and to exonerate officers in 30 percent of claims with footage, compared to 20 percent, respectively. Over the last two decades, the NYPD has also failed to implement the recommendations of the CCRB in more than 70 percent of serious disciplinary matters. Ray would expect his police commissioner to make decisions fully informed by the findings of the CCRB, and to continue to base disciplinary actions on the NYPD disciplinary matrix. In cases in which the commissioner declines to act on the recommendation of the CCRB, that information will be publicly reported. And in cases of serious misconduct, if Ray does not agree with the disciplinary decision of the commissioner, he will be prepared to direct them to take additional actions. And he will hold himself and his entire team accountable — and expect New Yorkers to do the same.
What is your position on the plan to close Rikers and create four borough-based jails?
Rikers in its current form is clearly broken and needs to be shut down and replaced.
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?
As mayor, I will ensure that 311 intake forms are updated regularly to reflect emergent needs and issues facing New Yorkers. I also commit to quicker 311 response times, more efficient agency coordination, and increased staffing.
Do you support decriminalizing sex work? Will you pledge to oppose the Nordic model?
These are important questions with strongly held views in many directions and I look forward to a continuing dialogue and your continued input. I can assure you that any policy will reflect the core principles outlined below: - Providing pathways for sex workers to find other opportunities in the mainstream economy - Supporting those that might turn to sex work in the absence of alternatives - Enforcing existing anti-discrimination laws - Offering social services and support to sex workers looking for alternatives - Working with law enforcement to assure sex workers receive social service support - Developing a pathway to record expungement for sex worker arrest records - Prioritize NYPD efforts toward sex trafficking and violence
Do you oppose school screening, which exacerbates segregation? Which screens in your school district(s) will you advocate to abolish?
I don’t think school screenings like the SHSAT should be the sole criteria. Admission criteria could also include grades, recommendations, essays, and extracurricular activities, which together creates a more meaningful assessment of every student. What’s most important is to get students who want to go to these schools earlier and better opportunities to prepare to apply - that includes the best tutoring, after school programing, and access to extracurriculars.
Describe what reforms you would make to the control of the NYC public school system.
My Cradle to Career plan ensures that young New Yorkers are supported across the continuum of their life. Too many kids are falling behind before they even get to pre-K, I will expand access to affordable, high-quality child care for infants and toddlers across the city to assure they enter ready to learn. I will launch Tutor NYC with 10,000 college students or recent graduates - a program that will jointly help schools make sure students are at their appropriate reading level and create pathways to opportunity for college-bound New Yorkers. Schools will be required to provide access to tutoring opportunities to families whose children are shown to be behind. I will hold myself accountable for ensuring that every child is able to make the transition from learning to read to reading to learn by 3rd grade. I will also ensure that in every neighborhood there is an excellent school to choose from by expanding choice for parents. Finally, and importantly, I will hold myself accountable for ensuring that a New York City schools’ diploma is not just a piece of paper by rethinking middle and high school, so that they serve as a pathway to college and a career.
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?
As mayor, I will make sure every New Yorker feels safe in their communities, but I recognize that drug misuse is too often criminalized instead of treated as a public health crisis. There is no reason New York City cannot deploy social services at the same speed we currently deploy police. I will create a citywide system of Emergency Social Services (ESS) operating 24 hours a day who will respond to all 911 calls that relate to mental health or substance misuse issues. I will also fund local support centers around the city to assess and refer individuals that can be stabilized without a trip to the emergency room.
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?
I did not support members of the IDC, but was not active in their defeat.
What will you do to support nightlife in NYC?
Nightlife is community. Nightlife is family. Nightlife fulfills a social need. Nightlife brings neighbors together, brings our city together and is an essential component of my comeback plan.
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?
The mayor does not make appointment decisions for community boards, but I will actively encourage their participation and membership.
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 will treat tech companies as partners in economic growth - something our current mayor has not done. I will use the mayoral bully pulpit and global network of business relationships to promote New York City as the best place for tech talent. In 2020, tech companies took enough new office space to accommodate over 22,000 workers, which makes it the only industry that has increased its footprint during the pandemic. I think we need to use every tool in the toolkit to bring these tech jobs and that includes financial incentives that are tied directly to job creation. I will also work with tech companies by creating a task force of tech community leaders to advise the city on policy and how we can anticipate emerging technologies, capitalize on them, and mitigate collateral effects. As Mayor, I will ensure that the communities most impacted by potential development are at table from concept to completion with strong, measurable community benefits built into these deals.
What role do you believe the local member should play in the approval of development proposals before the Council?
n/a
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?
We must invest in and allow for the development of more communal, shared, and supportive housing that meets the specific needs of New Yorkers who are experiencing homelessness. I will hold shelter operators and city agency staff accountable for helping individuals and families find and stay in permanent housing. The key though is stopping the conditions that have exacerbated the homelessness in our city and my housing plan is designed with that at its core: https://www.rayformayor.com/housing
What proposals will you advocate for to protect immigrants and further New York as a Sanctuary City?
I look forward to being an advocate and in discussion with federal elected leaders and local advocacy groups on creating a real path to citizenship while also working with local partners like New York Immigration Coalition to discuss various policies and strategies that protect the humanity and dignity of the undocumented living in New York City.
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.
I support President Biden and VP Harris' plan to expand affordable healthcare to all Americans, and would work to ensure New Yorkers benefit from that plan. New York City also makes no-cost coverage available to all New Yorkers, regardless of immigration status, through NYC Care. As Mayor I would make it a priority to get more New Yorkers enrolled for that coverage. My plan will bring doctors to the people by sending community health workers into communities with limited access to traditional health care facilities. We’ll do this by rolling out two mobile doctors offices in each of the five boroughs. These Doctors to the People Clinics will be staffed by H+H staff, who in addition to providing traditional support will be able to enroll those without coverage in NYC Care, and doctors who will see patients and provide routine primary care and annual check ups to New Yorkers in communities that are underserved by existing health care infrastructure. They will have consistent staffing and hours at the various locations across the boroughs where they set up and will be able to be deployed to up to 60 locations a month in each borough (30 days x 2 buses). Locations will be selected based on the density of uninsured New Yorkers nearby. We will also focus initially on NYCHA communities with high rates of uninsured residents. The consistent hours and staffing will ensure that New Yorkers know when a mobile doctors office will be in their community and that it will be staffed by the same people each time; allowing New Yorkers to plan for their healthcare and develop a relationship with the carers who serve their communities. The Covid-19 crisis has vividly demonstrated the need for increased access to primary care and these clinics will allow the most underserved communities to access quality care close to home. Under my plan, New Yorkers will be able to sign up online, via mobile app, on the telephone or in person when the Doctors to the People Clinics are in their area. We’ll also partner with NYCHA, CBOs, and other trusted local partners, to post public notice of when it’s coming to your neighborhood — in addition to a map on the website, making it easy and convenient to plan your visit. New Yorkers will also be able to request visits, suggest locations and, if there is enough demand at any given site, we’ll add capacity and stops. I will also expand primary and preventative care by funding community health centers and incentivizing recent graduates to work in underserved areas of the city by creating tuition forgiveness programs at CUNY and seeking similar participation from other NY State and private colleges. Additionally I will expand healthcare coverage by committing to expand funding for the NYC Cares program which provides primary care coverage to 30,000 low income New Yorkers.
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?
Top 3 issues you aim to address locally and legislatively
The economy, education, and public safety.
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?
We need to evaluate every agency’s budget, which requires a comprehensive approach, and instill accountability. When we have waste and inefficiency it takes resources away from the communities that need them most. The critical need for budget savings means that as mayor, I am going to be uniquely involved in setting priorities. I see this also as an opportunity to streamline how city government runs. What is important to me is that everyone has a seat at the table. My land use approach would be a community driven process to add density without hurting neighborhoods. I will always keep issues of equity and the culture that makes NYC so unique from being excluded.
Please explain your vision for the present powers of the office you are seeking and how you intend to exercise them?
I hope to make the case to New Yorkers that out of all candidates, only I have the management chops to successfully lead the city out of this crisis with a bold vision for lifting our schools, saving small businesses, creating jobs, making housing more affordable, and reducing crime in a way that respects everyone's dignity.
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. We will always be in touch.
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?
You can find more at rayformayor.com/policy, but here are several other proposals that will be key to making the LGBTQ+ community part of the most equitable comeback in NYC history: - Generations of unrelenting activism by the LGBTQ+ community have resulted in enshrining of strong legal protections in New York City. I am committed to protecting and increasing funding to the NYC Human Rights Commission as needed to ensure aggressive enforcement of hard-won anti discrimination laws. - I will build on the successes of the NYC Unity Project to migrate it into an official Office of LGTBQ+ Affairs reporting to a Deputy Mayor and tasked with working between all city agencies. This will ensure that all commitments to the LGTBQ+ community are carried out throughout every city agency. - NYC legally recognizes a non-binary gender and allows New Yorkers to self-attest to their own gender identity, but if we are committed to our non-binary, gender non-conforming, intersex and transgender communities being visible, there is further work to be done. My administration will engage in a full review of all administrative forms and documents throughout every city agency to ensure those options are clearly presented. - Violence against trans women of color continues nationwide and in New York City. New York City must set an example in addressing the root causes of this violence to make our communities safer for everyone. It is unacceptable that transgender and gender-expansive people are killed simply because of who they are. This is personal for me. Hate has no place in our city. - I lived through the AIDS crisis in New York City and fully committed to doing everything I can end the epidemic. PEP and PrEP programming through the NYC Department of Health will be expanded to ensure all New Yorkers are aware of their options and how to affordably access PEP and PrEP in every borough. Special focus will ensure that LGBTQ young people, especially in populations highly susceptible to transmissions, are educated on how to stay safe, stay healthy, and flourish. - This year, New York joined a number of U.S. cities and states in expanding the MWBE program to include LGBTQ-owned businesses. As additional businesses certify into the MWBE program, I will increase the city’s inclusive contracting goals in order to grow the pie for everyone.