Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Alexa Avilés for City Council District 38
Candidate Name: Alexa Avilés
Office Seeking Election for: New York City Council District 38
Campaign Website: https://www.alexaforcouncil.com
Campaign Social Media Handles: @alexaforcouncil
1. Do you consider yourself a member of the LGBTQ community?
I consider myself an ally of the LGBTQ community.
2. If you answered “yes” to the first question, do you believe members of hate groups should be permitted to join the City Council LGBTQIA+ caucus? Do you believe the Republican party is a hate group? If you answered yes to both questions, do you support ejecting Republicans from the caucus?
No to the first and yes to the second. I support ejecting Republicans from the caucus.
3. What work have you done on behalf of the LGBTQ community? This can include endorsing LGBTQ candidates, drafting or advocating for legislation directly benefiting the LGBTQ community, working with LGBTQ organizations, allocating funds to LGBTQ organizations, marching in Pride parades, attending rallies/protests/press conferences in support of LGBTQ issues, and/or employing openly LGBTQ individuals. I have long been a champion of an inclusive and equitable New York, beyond just marching in parades and participating in Pride celebration events. My platform centers on education equity and inclusive housing for all, areas in which we see members of the LGBTQ suffer disproportionately year after year. I have co-sponsored Intro 66, 418, 728, and Reso 116. I have also stood with colleagues in support of Drag Queen Story Hour and in support of LGBTQ community members in other states that are under attack.
4. Has Mayor Eric Adams met the needs of the LGBTQ community? Please include “yes” or “no” in your answer, and explain your answer. No he has not. His proposed budget cuts have done harm to LGBTQ New Yorkers, slashing vital services that many in the community rely on.
5. Would you demand that the Mayor re-institute its office of LGBTQ affairs, with its leader being a member of the LGBTQ community chosen in consultation with the City Council LGBTQIA+ Caucus? Yes.
6. Have you made requests to the Office of the Mayor to demand inclusion of LGBTQ community in city administration and on city boards? Can you give examples? I have only made one recommendation for a person to serve on a City Board that was solicited through the progressive caucus.
7. Do you support reparations for slavery?
Yes.
8. Do you oppose all efforts to weaken bail reform?
Yes.
9. Do you support closing Rikers Island? Do you support the administration’s plan to open borough-based jails? Yes to the first and no to the second. We can’t incarcerate our way to a solution in the justice system. We must close Rikers and expand services to those who come into contact with it. We know that trans New Yorkers of color find themselves behind bars at a disproportionately higher rate and we need to build services to meet their needs.
10. Do you support legislation outlawing solitary confinement in all jails and prisons, including city jails, and do you support Intro 549 (regarding solitary confinement)? Yes.
11. 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? Yes, yes, yes, and yes. I have long spoken out against the carceral system and will continue in my capacity as City Councilmember should I be fortunate enough to be re-elected.
12. If elected, will you include in your office’s newsletter instructions for your constituents on how their loved ones can apply for clemency? Yes.
13. Do you commit to visiting constituents who are incarcerated in state prisons and city jails? When did you do so last? Sure. I have not been asked. But I have received letters from incarcerated individuals and family members for people who are not constituents.
14. Do you believe in the decriminalization of sex work? If so, do you support full decriminalization, including decriminalizing purchase and facilitation? Will you commit to opposing the Nordic model, which continues criminalizing purchase and facilitation while decriminalizing sale? Yes, yes, and yes.
15. What proposals will you advocate for to protect immigrants and further New York as a “Sanctuary City”? We will continue to fight for the decoupling of law enforcement agencies and immigration agencies. What makes us a Sanctuary City is our ability to support new arrivals on their journey to stabilizing and settling in our beautiful city.
16. Did you support legislation, which passed, to allow non-citizen New Yorkers to vote? Do you support the appeal of the case in which the law was held unconstitutional? Yes.
17. Do you support the establishment of supervised drug consumption spaces in your district?
Yes.
18. Do you support ending qualified immunity for police and other law enforcement individuals?
Yes.
19. 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, all of the following.
20. Should law enforcement "Vice Squads" be eliminated?
Yes.
21. Should the Gangs Database be abolished and do you / will you co-sponsor Intro 360 on the subject? Yes and I am a co-sponsor.
22. Do you support the Progressive Caucus’s requirement that members support cutting funding to NYPD in favor of alternative safety infrastructure? Yes.
23. What concretely have you done to improve access to reproductive healthcare? If elected, what more will you do? Be specific. This year, our council passed a very great package of bills protecting reproductive health care for NYC residents and for others needing abortion care from other places. We will continue to make sure everyone has access to abortion and other reproductive care.
24. Do you approve of Mayor Adams’ approach to sweeping homeless encampments?
Absolutely not.
25. Do you commit to speaking with restaurant and nightlife industry representatives before taking a position on any policies that affect their businesses? Yes.
26. Do you commit to speaking personally with liquor license applicants and license holders before opposing any bid for a liquor license? Likewise for an applicant seeking your support? Yes and yes.
27. 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? Yes.
28. Do you commit to removing the Christopher Columbus statue in Columbus Circle?
Yes.
29. Who did you support for Mayor in the 2021 Democratic primary? Did you make an endorsement in the general election? Dianne Morales. No, I did not.
30. Are you currently a member of the Progressive Caucus? If you are not currently an incumbent, will you join if elected? Yes.
31. Do you believe the Progressive Caucus should have qualifications to ensure that its members are actually progressive? Please explain. Yes. We need to actually stand for something. If the caucus is too vague on pressing issues we’ll never fight the meaningful fights or take the tough positions we need to to build a more inclusive, equitable New York. I’m glad the Caucus did the strategic work of defining what it stands for.
32. If you are a sitting Councilmember, name three votes you took in the City Council that differed from the position of the Speaker. I voted against the 2021 budget, I voted against extending pensions for NYPD and voted against a ban on non-UL certified batteries because it would not materially change anything or prevent fires.
33. The rules of the City Council often make it difficult to get a hearing and/or vote on bills of which the Speaker does not approve. Would you support, and introduce if necessary, legislation that could force the City Council to print, introduce, hold hearings on, and hold votes on legislation. Yes.
34. Will you refuse money from individuals or Political Action Committees representing the real estate industry or law enforcement unions/associations? Yes.
35. Will you refuse and refund any contributions from executives at corporations who donated funds to any of Donald Trump’s campaigns?
Yes.
36. With the continued boycott of Equinox fitness on the basis of owner Steve Ross’ support of Donald Trump and institution of “Don’t Say Gay” policies in his residential buildings, do you commit to opposing his application for a casino?
Yes.
37. If you receive the Jim Owles endorsement, do you agree to identify the club on all literature and electronic materials where you list endorsements?
Yes.