Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Shaun Abreu for City Council District 7
Candidate Name: Shaun Abreu
Office Seeking Election for: City Council District 7
Explain, based on life experiences and accomplishments, why you believe you are best qualified to represent your district
City Council District 7, my home, is the most racially and socioeconomically diverse district in Manhattan, which requires a candidate who can answer to diverse policy needs and shifting demographics. I believe I am uniquely qualified to represent District 7 due to my personal connection with the district and my professional experiences. I am running to represent the place I’ve known my whole life, made up of families whose experiences I largely share. I lived in these homes, attended these schools, and built a career defending many Council District 7 residents as a tenants’ rights attorney. I am the son of Dominican immigrants and was born and raised in Washington Heights, where my family was evicted when I was a child. Soon after our eviction experience, my mother landed a job at Zabars, and my family moved to the Upper West Side, where I’ve resided for more than 15 years. While residing on the Upper West Side, I attended middle school in Manhattan Valley and later Columbia University where I received a B.A. in Political Science. I remain closely tied to my educational community as demonstrated through the support I am receiving from both the faculty at Columbia University and the families of the Manhattan Valley. Building on organic ties, I served as the deputy campaign manager on the sitting District 7 Council Member Mark Levine’s successful City Council race in 2013, where he won with 42% of the vote. This experience gave me critical insight into running a successful campaign, such as strengthening my relationships with community stakeholders like tenant association presidents or non-profit organizations, which are vital to winning. In addition, my work as a tenants rights’ attorney has prepared me to represent and fight for communities experiencing systematic oppression. I will continue to advocate for all constituents of District 7 through the increased enforcement of the anti-discrimination laws of the Commission on Human Rights, including those of LGBTQ and non-binary individuals. Finally, as a Spanish-speaking Dominican-American in a district with a strong Latinx presence, I will prioritize language justice and easy access to translated information, appealing to both English and Spanish speakers. As a 29-year old, I will also build grassroots momentum by connecting with the growing young professionals community in the district. Overall, I will be a Council Member for everyone, regardless of race or ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender presentation, and socio-economic status, and I am confident we will build the broadest coalition to deliver for our community.
Please identify any openly LGBTQ candidate for public office you have previously or presently endorsed?
Congressman-Elect Ritchie Torres.
If applicable, what legislation directly affecting the LGBTQ community have you introduced or co-sponsored? (indicate accordingly)
Not applicable.
What LGBTQ organizations have you been involved with, either on a volunteer basis or professionally?
In law School, I was heavily involved in organizing policy forums and symposiums conducted by the Tulane Journal of Law and Sexuality: Review of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity – the first student-edited law review in the country devoted solely to covering legal issues of interest to the LGBTQ+ community. The Journal is also the official legal journal of the National LGBT Bar Association.
Do you consider yourself a member of the LGBTQ community?
I consider myself an ally to the LGBTQ community. In the City Council, I will advocate for comprehensive healthcare and strong enforcement of anti-discrimination laws on behalf of the LGBTQ community, as well as more job opportunities for the trans community.
Have you marched in Pride? Which marches and for approximately how many years?
I’ve marched in two Pride parades in the past five years.
Have you employed openly LGBTQ individuals previously? Do you employ any currently?
I have not been in a position to hire employees before, however, I am committed to hire LGBTQ individuals on the campaign trail and in government, if elected.
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 attended the March On Washington in Washington D.C. this past summer, demanding long-lasting change to end systemic racism as the nation reeled from police killing of Black and Brown people. In addition, I attended several demonstrations in New York City for George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, as well as for Trayvon Martin in 2012, calling for an end to police brutality, and many protests in between.
Have you ever been arrested? If so please explain why and outcome of arrest.
In 2014, I was arrested under the NYPD’s flawed Broken Windows policy for alleged fare evasion and summoned to appear in court, which was subsequently dropped with no finding of guilt. In the City Council, I will oppose policing mechanisms designed to incarcerate communities of color.
Do you commit to visiting constituents who are incarcerated in state prisons and city jails?
Yes. Although incapacitated through incarceration, people in state prisons and jails are still members of our community and should be treated as such. We need to ensure that our incarcerated constituents have the resources they need to thrive and transition back into community life upon release.
Will you affirmatively seek to hire formerly incarcerated individuals?
Yes, absolutely – I would also draw upon their lived experiences to craft criminal justice reforms.
Describe your legislative and policy vision for combatting systemic racism
We have to be intentional in crafting legislation and policy that actively addresses and combats systemic racism, otherwise we are sustaining systematic oppression. I will prioritize pathways that promote accessible quality care and services for low-income communities. In an op-ed, I called for hospitals to adopt policies to advance equitable maternal/newborn care, particularly for women of color. Maternity wards can be transformed through the incorporation of holistic elements, and design elements that resemble home-like environments. Hybrid maternity wards are shown to improve maternal experience and outcomes while allowing mothers freedom of movement and choice. These wards are equipped with both medical and non-medical staff, including doctors, midwives, doulas, and family members in order to improve the quality of care and contribute to a positive birthing experience. Telemedicine also provides an opportunity to combat systemic racism in the area of health justice by connecting quality healthcare providers to communities that lack access to healthcare. Additionally, I will also support sustained funding to NYC CARES, a health care access program that guarantees low-cost and no-cost services to New Yorkers who do not qualify for or cannot afford health insurance through NYC Health + Hospitals system. This service critically provides access to care for people who are not eligible for Medicaid, such as undocumented immigrants. In the area of food justice, I advocated for the creation of an Emergency Food Voucher Program (EFV) program in a New York Daily News op-ed. This food security initiative would address hunger among immigrants, college students, and childless adults who are rendered ineligible for SNAP benefits by directly providing them with food vouchers. Additionally, in an op-ed in City Limits, I push for the City to establish a Voluntary Food Donation Program under which participating restaurants and grocers that are registered with the City would receive reduced licensing and renewal fees with the Department of Consumer & Worker Protection, if they donate food to emergency food providers, like soup kitchens, pantries, and food banks. Combined, these food security proposals would cater to low-income communities. Access to quality education is another area that sustains systematic oppression, which is why I will champion quality remote learning resources through the establishment of a public utility, which would create a pathway for Free Universal Broadband for low-income students. Finally, when a COVID-19 vaccine is ready, we must also ensure that distribution is based on health equity, which likely means that working-class families should be the first to receive them. Minority communities are likely to work in frontline jobs and live in densely populated neighborhoods, which could increase risk of infection among staff and the communities in which they work and live. Also, essential workers keep our economy running, so if they are the first to get the vaccine, our economy can roar back.
Will you not seek, and refuse, the endorsement of Bill de Blasio?
I will not seek and refuse an endorsement from Bill de Blasio.
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. I will support and sponsor the renaming of the former Queensboro Bridge.
What is your position on removing the Christopher Columbus statue in Columbus Circle and if so, what should replace it?
The Christopher Columbus statue in Columbus Circle serves as a constant reminder that our country was founded on stolen land and built by enslaved people. Replacing the statue can serve as an opportunity to address and reckon with our nation’s history of sustaining racial hierarchies and systematic oppression. I believe that a movement leader, such as Fannie Lou Hamer, should replace the statue to symbolize the progress we have made as well as how far we can go.
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 budget of the NYPD. As a Council Member, I will remain committed to fighting the longstanding budget inequities that contribute to funded systems of power. For example, we spend more money on policing than on mental health services, affordable housing, and youth programming combined. This results in the over-policing of communities of color and a lack of community-based resources to support working-families and our youth. We must be surgical with our spending in order to combat the intergenerational disparities in the areas of physical and behavioral health, housing, and education. This is why I will call on the City Council to fight for budget justice and work to reduce the Police Department’s operating budget by at least one billion dollars over the next four fiscal years. Furthermore, I will prioritize the funding of community-based programs and services for the communities that were hit hardest by COVID-19.
How would you have voted on the FY21 City Budget?
I would have voted no on the FY21 City budget due to the longstanding budget inequities that prioritize the militarization of police over social support for communities of color.
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 support the removal of the police from all of the listed interventions.
Should the NYPD Vice Squad be eliminated?
Yes. The discretionary powers of the NYPD Vice Squad is harmful to those who engage in sex work, as they disproportionately target and arrests Black and Brown people as well as people who identify as LGBTQ.
Should Dermot Shea be fired immediately?
Yes.
Should the NYPD Commissioner require confirmation by the City Council?
Yes. I believe that the City Council should require the same confirmations as we do at the federal level with presidential appointments.
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?
I believe that police officers that fail to comply with the guidelines recommended by the city and state should be withheld from service until they demonstrate a commitment to compliance. The failure to comply with masks should also be used to dock them under disciplinary procedures, making them unfit to serve.
What reforms would you make to the Civilian Complaint Review Board? Would you support state legislation to make CCRB disciplinary determinations binding?
The Council can implement legislation to remove the Police Commissioner’s appointment powers to the Civilian Complaint Review Board, granting them to the Public Advocate or City Council instead. The City Council can act to expand the class of actions that give rise to misconduct and discipline. I will also embrace Comptroller Stringer’s plan to remove the NYPD Office of Trials, which reviews the most serious CCRB cases, from the Police Department jurisdiction. Its judges should not be appointed by the commissioner. I would also support state legislation making CCBR disciplinary determinations binding.
What is your position on the plan to close Rikers and create four borough-based jails?
While I agree with the decision to close Rikers Island, I do not agree with spending billions of dollars on new jails. These dollars, especially during this fiscal crisis, should be used to support our students, low-income families, seniors, justice-involved people, and disabled people. Instead, the City should focus its efforts on shrinking the population at Rikers through decarceration efforts, such as supervised release, alternatives to Incarceration, and voluntary therapeutic beds at health facilities.
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 – I support Elder Parole.
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?
Today, New York City’s 311 system engages more than 42 million individual contacts per year, but we do not have the capacity to meet this demand. Accordingly, I’ll push for investments in additional non-emergency personnel, additional technology, and a more streamlined response system.
Do you support decriminalizing sex work? Will you pledge to oppose the Nordic model?
I support the decriminalization of sex work and will pledge to oppose the Nordic Model and fight for labor protections for sex workers.
Do you oppose school screening, which exacerbates segregation? Which screens in your school district(s) will you advocate to abolish?
Yes, I will advocate to abolish school screenings. As Council Member, I will oppose any approach that continues to leave Black and Brown students out of our specialized high schools. Specifically, I will advocate for diversifying our public schools, both racially and socioeconomically, by getting rid of admission screens, utilizing lotteries and set-asides for students from under-represented communities. This will help make the student body more inclusive. Additionally, the City Council can make our public schools more equitable and inclusive by dedicating resources that would allow low-income students of color, in communities like mine, to thrive academically and compete. Without resources, segregation in schools will not be remedied, nor will we be able to achieve equity or inclusion. This is why I will fight for investments in universal after-school programs, which would be especially important to addressing the achievement gap that students are likely to face because of remote learning. I will also embrace Free Universal Broadband for low-income students, which would help facilitate remote learning, particularly for Black and Brown students who cannot afford wifi.
Describe what reforms you would make to the control of the NYC public school system.
I oppose Mayoral Control as it exists and will support efforts for Municipal Control, giving the City Council a greater ability to legislate education reforms and go beyond its oversight powers. Further, the City Council should be given advise and consent powers on the appointment of the Department of Education Chancellor.
Do you support public funding of abortion?
Absolutely. I will work to secure more discretionary funding for organizations like New York Abortion Access Fund, which provides people with monetary resources for abortions.
Do you support the creation of safe consumption sites? Would you support the use of NYC DOHMH authority to establish SCSs without NYSDOH authorization?
Yes to both questions.
Do you smoke or otherwise consume weed?
I have in the past.
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 have not. I donated to Ross Barkan in 2018 to help defeat Senator Martin Golden.
What will you do to support nightlife in NYC?
I am committed to revitalizing nightlife and the hospitality industry in NYC impacted by the pandemic. Among other things, I will advocate for: An increased budget for the Office of Nightlife in order to increase staff capacity, while providing the necessary resources needed to fulfill its mandate. This budget allocation will be essential for non-NYPD public safety responses; Ongoing economic relief for the nightlife businesses; The standardization of the processing in liquor renewal licenses as well as sidewalk cafe permits across community boards; The elimination of the Commercial Rent Tax (CRT), which is calculated based on rent rather than income. Due to this disproportionate calculation, this tax targets businesses south of 96th street; Sustained caps on delivery fees; The amendment of the NYC Department of Health’s Letter Grade inspection system that introduces a “due process” into the inspection system so that inspections are held at the discretion of a judge, and one that issues violations proportional to the offense; Regulations on the duration of time scaffolding can stay up for construction projects. While scaffolding provides necessary protection for people traveling through active sites of construction, it can have detrimental effects for businesses (including restaurants and bars). The negative appearance of scaffolding can culminate in the loss of business and revenue, and subsequently a reduction of employee hours and layoffs, and ultimately business closure. By enacting guidelines that call for aesthetically pleasing scaffolding while penalizing scaffolding that remains for unnecessary periods of time, we can help to revitalize business for bars and restaurants.
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 to both questions.
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?
Yes.
What role do you believe the local member should play in the approval of development proposals before the Council?
While I will not subscribe to member deference, I plan to work with my Council colleagues to support land use proposals that are informed by the impacted community and create both deeply affordable housing and good-paying jobs. I will fight to require higher set-asides for permanent affordable housing while championing a “Universal Certificate of No Harassment,” requiring building owners to prove they have not engaged in harassment prior to demolishing or making significant alterations to their buildings. This would provide fairness, because building owners would no longer profit from harassment on the backs of its tenants. Further, I will support Public Advocate Jumaane Williams’ Intro No. 52 proposed legislation, requiring the ULURP process to incorporate racial and ethnic impact as part of the environmental impact statement. I will also advocate for legally binding mechanisms obligating developers to meet covenants that are favorable to neighborhood residents in a defined encatchment area, such as providing for local job requirements and adequate training for local residents to qualify for those jobs. Additionally, I will be in favor of revamping the FRESH program to better serve its goal and ensure good labor standards are tied to this zoning incentive. Finally, I will fight for the continued use of the City's loan structure for subsidized developments that disincentivizes developers/landlords or deregulating apartments at the end of a regulatory term agreement (e.g., balloon structured loans).
Do you support legislation to prohibit discrimination against formerly incarcerated people in housing?
Yes. We must also create supportive, transitional housing, and employment, for formerly incarcerated individuals. We can achieve this through a dedicated initiative between the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice (MOCJ) and the Department of Housing and Preservation (HPD).
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?
To defend and protect Sanctuary City status, we must ensure that law enforcement agencies and courts are complying with sanctuary city policies and withoholding from placing undocumented immigrants at risk of ICE apprenhension. Additional measures can be pursued to protect immigrants under Sanctuary policy. For instance, if an undocumented immigrant is unlawfully detained, I would support their release by working with non-profit legal service providers to draft an amicus brief in support of their release. To have them released, I’d also be willing to fundraise to establish a legal fund to sue ICE and other parties, if they choose to pursue the private route. Ultimately, we need to protect immigrants everywhere – beyond our court system. Immigrant rights are human rights. In terms of providing undocumented peopel with social services, I have advocated for food justice and health inititiatives to expand access to undocumented populations. AT the onset of COVID-19, I championed an Emergency Food Vouchers plan to improve public health, specifically food security among low-income families. This voucher program would provide vouchers for undocumented immigrants, single-adults with no dependents, and part-time college students, who are either excluded or benefit-capped from SNAP. Considering the Trump Administration’s attitude towards undocumented immigrants, the City must step in for food insecure immigrant families. I hope that the Biden-Harris Administration nullifies these SNAP restrictions, and to the extent it does not, count on me to advocate all levels of government to ensure families are food secure. In the same vein, healthcare opportunities should be provided to all during the current public health and economic crisis, regardless of immigration status. This is why I support sustained funding to NYC CARES, a health care access program that guarantees low-cost and no-cost services to New Yorkers who do not qualify for or cannot afford health insurance, including undocumented immigrants.
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.
While I support some version of a universal single-payer healthcare system, I have some concerns about certain elements of the New York Health Act S.3577 (Rivera) / A.5248 (Gottfried). Specifically, regarding the provisions that would not allow unions to keep their current benefits. I am concerned that union members will lose the option to select full coverage because of a legislation provision that makes union members accountable for paying a portion of a proposed payroll. Additionally, it is crucial that unions are able to keep union-controlled welfare funds, to which the City contributes over $1,000 per member. These accounts pay for a variety of expenses, including prescription drugs, eyeglasses, among other things. In terms of expanding access and affordability, I will support sustained funding for NYC Cares to help ensure that H+H has a steady stream of patients allowing it to compete with private hospitals, thereby increasing the public demand for their services. Therefore, increased demand necessitates that we keep H+H hospitals and clinics open in order to provide low, no-cost services to those in need, including undocumented immigrants. Additionally, Medicaid-funded care coordination programs through Medicaid expansion provide an opportunity for expanded access to services and intensive care management for vulnerable populations, including those with mental health and substance use disorders.
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?
For the 2013 Mayoral race, I supported Bill De Blasio. I supported Tish James for Public Advocate in 2013, and Jumaane Williams in 2019. Finally, for the President the presidential elections, I supported Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Joe Biden in 2020.
Top 3 issues you aim to address locally and legislatively
As a Council Member, I will prioritize the issues of housing justice, food security, and reform of the criminal legal system. By prioritizing these issue areas, I will be actively working to combat racial and systemic inequalities. Housing Justice: From a housing justice standpoint, I have advocated for the expansion of Right to Counsel. As a tenants’ rights attorney and having been formerly evicted, I know how important this program could be. The City must expand the Right to Counsel law, which guarantees that low-income families falling below 200% of the federal poverty line have access to free attorneys in housing court. In a show of remarkable success, this law allowed 84 percent of families facing eviction to stay in their homes, and I am fortunate to be part of these efforts. By legislative design, the law does not cover most low-income New Yorkers. In an op ed, I called for the immediate expansion of right to counsel to all zip codes and for income coverage to be expanded, at least 400% above the federal poverty line. Right to counsel has consistently proven to keep families in their homes, preventing evictions and homelessness. I will also support the extension and continuation of eviction moratoriums. Further, I authored a New York Daily News op-ed, calling for the State legislature to effectuate a viable path for a rent forgiveness grant to keep families in their homes without bearing rent costs, while ensuring buildings will be well-maintained. As a candidate and Council Member, I will work to lobby the New York State legislature to make this a reality. Food Security: In terms of food security, I will work to establish the City Council Committee on Food Sustainability, the first of its kind, to oversee all agencies that are responsible for implementing food policy and to ensure that resources are reaching food-insecure populations. To promote food justice in schools, I will advocate to establish more in-school food pantries and fund the creation of deli-style cafeterias options that promote fruit and vegetable consumption among students. Additionally, I will dedicate dollars to expand the Community School Model, which will provide access to mental health services, recreational activities, food pantries, expanded learning opportunities, and more. Further, I will set up citywide initiatives to support nonprofits in establishing urban farms within schools, public housing, and senior supportive housing to provide greater access to fresh, healthy foods through sustainable farming. Finally, I have previously spearheaded efforts aimed at advancing food justice. In a New York Daily News op-ed, I called on the City to create an Emergency Food Voucher Program (EFV), to address hunger among immigrants, college students, and childless adults who are rendered ineligible for SNAP benefits by providing them with food vouchers directly. I also advocated for the City to establish a Voluntary Food Donation Program, in a City Limits op-ed, under which participating restaurants and grocers that are registered with the City would receive reduced licensing and renewal fees with the Department of Consumer & Worker Protection, if they donate food to emergency food providers, like soup kitchens, pantries, and food banks. Reforming the Criminal Legal System: In terms of reforming the criminal legal system, I will fight for increased accountability of police officers and further transparency on issues of misconduct. Misconduct can range from inappropriate use of excessive force to violating department rules, such as the use of chokeholds or the knee to restrain individuals. The Council can support the execution of this vision by passing legislation granting the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) legally binding authority on police misconduct and excessive use of force findings, and requiring CCRB recommendations to be issued to the Mayor, not the Police Commissioner. If recommendations are issued to the Mayor, then the Mayor would no longer be able to deflect blame to the Police Commissioner, while also being able to reign in the power Police Commissioners have over discipline. Further, the Council can implement legislation to remove the Police Commissioner’s appointment powers to the Civilian Complaint Review Board, granting them to the Public Advocate or City Council instead. The City Council can act to expand the class of actions that give rise to misconduct and discipline. I will also embrace Comptroller Stringer’s plan to remove the NYPD Office of Trials, which reviews the most serious CCRB cases, from the Police Department jurisdiction. Its judges should not be appointed by the commissioner. Further, in the spirit of transparency akin to the repeal of 50A, I would support Senator Brian Benjamin’s recently introduced bill that would require New York City to disclose details of NYPD settlements. As taxpayers, I firmly believe we have a right to know how our taxes are being spent. I would support legislation that would require the NYPD Inspector General to share information about how they track individuals in the department’s controversial “gang database,” which resulted in the mass arrests of 103 individuals in Grant Houses and Manhattanville, located in Council District 7. Finally, I would push for legislation that will require greater disclosure by district attorneys detailing cases brought, cases dismissed and the race and gender of cases resolved by plea agreement and brought to trial.
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?
First, I would support reforms that require greater transparency to the New York Police Department’s (NYPD) opaque budget. The NYPD budget’s size and lack of transparency requires more scrutiny and transparency, not only from a social justice perspective, but also in terms of fiscal responsibility, as we need to be surgical with spending amid our City’s historic revenue loss. Transparency on line-item spending and NYPD privately raised funds can better serve justice and provide a better picture of where to dedicate our tax-dollars. Second, I will advocate to move towards a comprehensive and efficient land use process – similar to that advocated by Speaker Corey Jackson that remedy processing shortcomings such as the lack of coordination between City agencies. Additionally, one that streamlines its planning mandates into a single process and connects its policy and land use planning to the City’s budget priorities. This comprehensive process should include a planning framework designed to correct neighborhood disparities and decades of disinvestment in communities of color, while supporting equitable growth in high-opportunity neighborhoods. Third, in terms of powers and duties of municipal offices, I will support advise and consent of the City Council in the appointment of the New York Police Department Commissioner, New York City School’s Chancellor, and members to the Civilian Complaint Review Board.
Please explain your vision for the present powers of the office you are seeking and how you intend to exercise them?
Council Members have three distinct powers that contribute to the governance of the city: budgetary power, legislative power, and the allocation of discretionary funds. In terms of exercising budgetary powers, I will actively promote budget equity so there is not a disproportionate amount of resources used to fund systems of power that oppress marginalized communities. Further, I will vote on fair and just budgets that fund community-based programming and initiatives. My main priorities in this area are housing justice, food security, reform of the criminal legal system, and increasing access to after-school programs. I will utilize legislative powers to advance racial and economic equity. More specifically, I will fight to increase accountability and transparency within the police department, supporting legislation that grants the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) legally binding authority over police misconduct and excessive use of force findings. Additionally, I will use ULURP as a mechanism to create jobs, truly affordable housing, and as a way to tax luxury developments. Finally, regarding the allocation of discretionary funds, I will prioritize capital improvements for schools and playgrounds on NYCHA campuses and community centers.
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 - absolutely. Similar to the response provided regarding combating racial inequity, I believe that Council Members have a duty to intentionally craft policy and legislation that actively advance the rights and protections of the LGBTQ community. In terms of accountability, the club and the progressive LGBTQ community can work closely with my dedicated staff member to further strengthen the Jim Owles platform. My philosophy is that people who are the most proximate to the issues are the best equipped to provide solutions that work. I will strive to be an active listener and engaging partner for the union and its members. In essence, I will lead vis-a-vis thoughtful, strategic collaboration. This means joining protests on issues we care about, collaborating on press conferences and rallies, to create pressure on elected officials and government officials to advance our objectives. It means co-authoring op-eds and policy papers to push the needle on important legislation.
If you receive the endorsement, do you agree to identify the club on all literature and electronic materials where you list endorsements?
Absolutely. It would be an honor to receive an endorsement, and an even greater honor to display the Jim Owles endorsement on all printed and digital campaign literature.
What additional information would you like Jim Owles to consider when we are making our endorsement decisions?
We are committed to building a broad coalition of support and using our professional experiences to deliver on the progress we’ve made and lift our neighbors in need.