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/
1. Based upon your life experiences and accomplishments, why do you believe you are best qualified to represent your district?
I was raised by a mother who worked as a substance abuse counselor, using her own life experience to help others often struggling against compounding issues of poverty, trauma, and addiction. She inspired me to envision and fight for a fair, just, and equitable New York where no one should ever have to live in poverty or become justice-involved. Our communities should be vibrant, dignified, supported, and led by the solidarity of the working class; not the wealthy and
well-connected.
I am seeking the endorsement of Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club because we are deeply aligned on our core values — that New Yorkers and working people worldwide deserve human rights, dignity, and freedom. I’ve fought for a New York City that works for the many, not just the wealthy few. I’ve fought for fully funding our schools and educators in the New York City budget — from early childhood through CUNY. I’ve stood up to dangerous budget cuts that slash vital public services that make New York City work for the multiracial working class. As chair of the immigration committee, I’ve fought to keep families together and stood strong against cruel policies of mass deportation and incarceration. I’ve stood beside striking workers who fight for livable wages and fair workplaces for all. I’ve supported legislation that seeks to eliminate discrimination in senior care and other critical services across the city. I will continue to fight for these issues in my next term in office. With such uncertainty and consistent attack from the federal government, it will be important to have seasoned, steady leadership that can defend and build.
2. What LGBTQ organizations have you been involved with, either on a volunteer basis or professionally? What LGBTQ candidates have you endorsed?
I’ve endorsed LGBTQ candidates including Councilmember Tiffany Cabán, who co-chairs the LGBTQIA Caucus in City Council, as well as State Senator Jabari Brisport, who became the first LGBTQ person of color elected to New York’s legislature in 2020.
3. If you receive our endorsement, do you agree to identify the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club on all literature and electronic materials?
Yes
4. What press conferences, demonstrations, rallies and protests in support of LGBT issues, pro-choice legislation, racial justice, criminal justice have you attended, including rallies specifically against Donald Trump?
I have attended countless rallies in support of human rights, dignity, and freedom for all — from protesting at the Rent Guidelines Board meeting in 2023 as the Mayor’s appointees approved a rent hike on millions of tenants, to standing with
thousands of immigrant New Yorkers against the second Trump administration’s cruel agenda just after his second election in 2024. A few recent rallies I’ve led and participated in over the last several weeks include: an 1/16/25 rally to defend our city’s long-standing sanctuary city laws against attacks from the Mayor and his alignment with Trump administration; a 1/23/25 rally to invest in our parks and community spaces and protect them from cuts; a 2/6/25 rally to protest the Trump administration’s attempts to bring ICE into hospitals, schools, and houses of worship, and a 2/20/25 rally to invest in mental health care.
5. Will you seek or accept endorsements of individuals who oppose LGBTQ+ and reproductive rights, such as Ruben Diaz Sr., Fernando Cabrera or Erick Salgado? Will you pledge to denounce their homophobia and anti-choice positions in the event you receive an endorsement from such individuals?
No, I will not seek the endorsement of individuals who oppose LGBTQ+ and reproductive rights, and I would denounce these dangerous positions readily.
6. In light of the upcoming Trump Administration’s war on women, the LGBTQ+ community, racial minorities and immigrants, what are your plans to organize and combat the Trump agenda?
We must do everything in our power to resist and protect our people. This will be using all the tools in the toolbox while also being strategic. This administration thrives on chaos. We must not get lost in the malay, but be clear and brave. We need to also build collective power to withstand the challenges ahead and this means, building awareness, empowering folks, using the bully pulpit, strengthening the laws, etc.
7. Do you support the unrestricted right to reproductive care and abortion?
Yes
8. Have you hosted, funded or otherwise supported Drag Story Hours in your community?
I support Drag Story Hours in my district, and would fight to protect these programs in our libraries.
9. What proposals will do you support to increase the protection of immigrants and cement New York City’s status as a Sanctuary City?
District 38 is a community of immigrants. We must fight to strengthen protection for our neighbors, whether they’ve been here for decades or months.
In 2023 with CM Hanif, we passed Int. 569 a worker bill of rights and outreach requirements for immigrant workers. As Chair of the Immigration Committee at the Council, we have been defending our sanctuary laws from Mayor Adams and fighting for budget increases for the services to our community. This past year, we were able to add $10 Million to Adult Literacy — the largest increase in decades.
Earlier this month, I co-sponsored Res. 708 with CM Cabán, condemning Donald Trump’s threat to carry out mass deportations against immigrants in the United States. I am expecting to pass resolutions supporting Res. 0714 NY For All and Res. 0717 Access to Representation Act, both that I have co-sponsored, calling for state level action and resources for immigrant communities who are under dire threat in the current administration. If we need, we will explore other policies to close potential loopholes and strengthen protections for our immigrant residents. There are many avenues we can — and must — take in the coming weeks and months to protect our neighbors, including, but not limited to: providing legal representation, establishing immigration integration centers and ensuring language access. With the New York Immigration Coalition, we just recently launched a Language Interpreter Bank.
10. How will you represent the most vulnerable, including individuals experiencing homelessness and asylum seekers? Have you ever opposed any shelter in your district?
New York is safer when all New Yorkers have a safe and stable place to live — from long-term residents to asylum seekers who’ve recently arrived in New York, fleeing dangerous situations in their country of origin. I have never opposed a shelter in my district. To combat homelessness, New Yorkers need permanent homes. Locally, we need to get the Mayor to fully fund FHEPS vouchers (city council is suing to compel him to follow the law), and invest in building the capacity of the Commission for Human Rights to pursue source of income discrimination, which is prevalent in our city and prevents us from ending homelessness in NYC.
I have fought to clear the backlog of people stuck in the shelter system, which seems to only be growing. We also need to ensure that shelters are safe, provide wraparound services, and provide pathways into permanent housing. We will continue to advocate that our state-level colleagues invest in funding both housing development and preservation, as well as tenant protections and policies. We must work on shifting the narrative from blaming individuals to acknowledging a systemic problem that needs a systemic response.
11. If incumbent, are you a co-sponsor of Resolution 2970, introduced by Council Member Shahana Hanif? If not yet elected, will you promise to co-sponsor the resolution? The text urges the NYS Legislature to pass the New York for All Act, which would ensure
state and local resources are not used to facilitate federal immigration enforcement. If not, please explain.
Yes, I have co-sponsored this legislation.
12. If incumbent, are you a co-sponsor of Resolution 2917, introduced by Council Member Crystal Hudson? If not yet elected, will you promise to co-sponsor the resolution? The text endorses the Access to Representation Act, which would establish a “universal right to counsel” for indigent New Yorkers who are subject to removal proceedings under federal immigration law. If not, please explain.
Yes, I have co-sponsored this legislation.
13. Will you join our efforts to pass legislation mandating 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? The legislation is commonly known as the New York Elder Parole Bill.
Yes
14. Do you oppose the death penalty?
Yes
15. Do you support outlawing solitary confinement?
Yes. Unfortunately, we have been fighting the mayor on this issue in court.
16. Do you commit to visit constituents who are incarcerated? Will you work to secure the release of individuals who have demonstrated sincere remorse, worked toward rehabilitation and are not deemed a threat to society?
Yes. I have family members who are incarcerated. I know personally what horrific places Rikers Island and many upstate prisons are.
However, since taking office, I have made an unannounced visit to Rikers Island, which showed the same horrifying conditions you hear about from directly impacted people, their family members and activists. I have a very long history of fighting against mass incarceration, conditions of confinement and the need for our system to stop harming people in the process. If we cannot address harms and provide the tools to help people succeed, we are just fueling this death spiral of harm.
17. Do you commit to working to change our penal system toward a restorative rather than a retributive model of justice?
Yes
18. Do you commit to make applications for clemencies available to your constituency including a link to an application in a constituent newsletter? Will you submit it to our club?
Yes
19. Who did you support for mayor in the 2021 Democratic primary election?
Maya Wiley
20. Which 2025 Democratic candidates have you removed from your consideration? Have you endorsed anyone? If so, who?
I have not made mayoral endorsements yet this cycle, but I will not support Eric Adams or Andrew Cuomo.
21. Do you support the renaming of the Ed Koch bridge and will you work towards the renaming including sponsoring such legislation?
Yes
22. What are your plans to address rent affordability in NYC? Did you vote for “City of Yes”? If not, please explain.
I strongly support strengthening the rights of tenants, and expanding truly affordable housing for all New Yorkers. In terms of affordability, I support ending Mayor Adams’ rent hikes on rent-stabilized tenants via a citywide rent freeze, and giving tenants a stronger voice on the Rent Guidelines Board. I also support expanding rights of tenants, and have done so during my time on the council. In 2024, I introduced and passed legislation that requires tenant education and outreach on residential vacate orders due to damage caused by devastating fires (Int. 0006). I’ve also endorsed expanding the Right to Counsel to cover all renters citywide, giving everyone fighting eviction the same legal representation at no cost, and preventing further rises in housing instability and homelessness. As part of the Progressive Caucus, we fought and won significant investments through our Homes Now Homes for Generations campaign in the city budget for affordable housing.
I voted Yes on the City of Yes, after seeing several modifications and because of the City For All package which the progressive Caucus advocated hard for. City
For All secured investments in making housing more affordable through significant capital investments, investments to expand the workforce, expand homeownership opportunities, investments in housing vouchers and restoring NYCHA vacant unit readiness while adding several hundred million for repairs. I, with my colleagues in the progressive caucus, fought hard to leverage investments in NYCHA, FHEPS, homeownership, tenant protection, and preservation programs.
23. What are your plans regarding short-term housing?
I support maintaining our current regulations on AirBnB. Opening the door to expanding AirBnB’s operation in New York City sets the city’s housing market to be sold for profit for tourists at a moment when working-class New Yorkers cannot afford rent. I think we must continue to closely monitor the law and its impacts.
24. Based upon your life experiences and accomplishments, why should we believe you would be a dynamic and progressive voice in elected office?
I am a principled legislator who stands with my community – of movement, grounded in movement – despite the political pressure, external challenges or threats of punishment. Throughout our three campaigns for elected office, we’ve built strong grassroots campaigns that are multi-racial, multi-lingual, and cross-generational. Our people-powered campaigns fight for policies that deliver for the working-class, not the city’s wealthiest residents. Our stances are popular with young voters, women, and people of color. Our events teach our volunteers how to organize, connect with their fellow New Yorkers, and build community and solidarity. Our organizing is the type of work so desperately needed right now because it builds community and makes people realize that collective power can produce change. It is the perfect antidote to the conspiratorial self-interest billionaire politics that has taken over our country.
25. What additional information would you like the Jim Owles club to consider when we are making our endorsement decision?
I hope my record and actions speak for itself and I hope I have continued to earn your partnership and support to protect and build a New York City for All!
26. Are you a potential candidate for City Council speaker in the upcoming term? If so, what is your platform?
Not at the present, no.