Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Austin Shafran for City Council District 19
Candidate Name: Austin Shafran
Office Seeking Election for: City Council District 19
Explain, based on life experiences and accomplishments, why you believe you are best qualified to represent your district
We are facing unprecedented challenges due to COVID and the collateral damage which has affected our economy, schools, businesses, seniors, and every aspect of our daily lives. From issues with schools and parks that I've gone through with my own son to protecting our most vulnerable seniors as the son of two elderly parents at heightened risk for COVID, the recovery of our communities is a very personal fight for me. Having the experience of working for the past 15 years at the highest levels of city, state and federal government, coupled with running major policy/issue-based campaigns on the advocacy side gives me a unique perspective and skill set that will help me represent the district.
Please identify any openly LGBTQ candidate for public office you have previously or presently endorsed?
I've never endorsed any candidate for public office. However, I have worked extensively with many LGBTQ candidates and elected officials, over the past 15 years. Most recently to name just a few, I have worked with Rep Ritchie Torres, Council Speaker Corey Johnson, NYS Senator Brad Hoylman, Council Members Dromm and Van Bramer, and former Senator Tom Duane.
If applicable, what legislation directly affecting the LGBTQ community have you introduced or co-sponsored? (indicate accordingly)
None, as I've never been an elected official. However both in government and on the advocacy side I worked extensively on Marriage Equality, GENDA, the Dignity for All Students Act, the HIV Rent Cap, and decriminalization of syringe possession among many other legislative initiatives.
What LGBTQ organizations have you been involved with, either on a volunteer basis or professionally?
Housing Works
Do you consider yourself a member of the LGBTQ community?
Not a member but a friend.
Have you marched in Pride? Which marches and for approximately how many years?
Yes, 4 times from 2009-2012
Have you employed openly LGBTQ individuals previously? Do you employ any currently?
Yes and Yes
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 BLM protests this summer, organized and attended AIDS Free NY rallies with Housing Works and helped lead numerous press conferences and organizing events with the Senate Democratic Conference for Marriage Equality and GENDA.
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
In 2013 when I first ran for City Council, I was the only candidate in a very conservative district to come out forcefully against “Stop and Frisk” because I thought a fundamental principle of our system is that you shouldn’t have to ignore people’s civil rights and break the law in order to enforce it. I lost by about 150 votes in a five-way primary and was typically blasted for that stance, yet I don’t regret it for a minute and would take the same principled stance on similar issues of social and criminal justice today. Public safety procedures and even the way we look at law enforcement systematically needs to go through a wholesale makeover. From better utilizing community-based organizations and programs for things like gun violence and gang issues to shifting social service (mental health, homelessness, non-violent domestic disputes) calls away from the NYPD and more into the hands of trained and qualified social service experts is a more economical, safer and more equitable approach to public safety that we should be moving toward. The city needs to do a much better job of diversifying its police and public safety sector leadership and better training officers on how to handle certain types of disputes and we should be remodeling our police force into more specialized units that are better equipped to deal with specific situations in order to have expertly trained officers that are not generalists but rather specialists able to diffuse tough situations and keep everyone safe. We also need to move toward a more community-based rehabilitative approach to public safety and be less reliant on jail as a first and only option. I helped lead the fight on the state level to repeal the Rockefeller Drug Laws and cash bail reform, and we still need to do much more to reduce the sheer number of people that are being sent to jail. For those with drug addictions, mental illness (much of which we’ve seen criminalized) and homelessness, a community-based approach would prove far superior to simply throwing people behind bars. Shifting limited resources toward rehab and mental health programs, supervised temporary housing, workforce training and community service programs for non-violent offenders would reduce the current jail population while also getting at the root of public safety issues.
Will you not seek, and refuse, the endorsement of Bill de Blasio?
Yes I won't seek or accept the endorsement
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?
Support removal and would recommend a citywide discussion process with virtual town halls held in each borough to solicit replacement ideas, to be followed by a committee selection process.
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?
Yes, the reduction should be reflective of other agencies cuts and a reassessment of what resources are needed to support a new NYPD structure after the removal of many of its current responsibilities.
How would you have voted on the FY21 City Budget?
No
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 removing police from B) Mental health response calls and c) Homeless outreach
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 by a 2/3rds majority
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?
Disciplinary punishment including loss of rank and suspension without pay
What reforms would you make to the Civilian Complaint Review Board? Would you support state legislation to make CCRB disciplinary determinations binding?
There should be more public input and a wider range of appointment powers to the CCRB including expanded powers of appointment for the City Council. Yes I support state legislation to make CCRB disciplinary determinations binding.
What is your position on the plan to close Rikers and create four borough-based jails?
I support the plan to close Rikers.
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?
The current searchable terms "dictionary" is very limited and responses take far too long for someone calling with an urgent but non emergency problem. We need more actual live operators with direct lines into city agencies to help connect people with government officials that can resolve their problems.
Do you support decriminalizing sex work? Will you pledge to oppose the Nordic model?
Yes and Yes.
Do you oppose school screening, which exacerbates segregation? Which screens in your school district(s) will you advocate to abolish?
Schools screenings including specialized high school exams and gifted/talented admissions programs need to be substantially reformed and we should move away from a complete reliance on test-based admissions. Tests should be just one criteria and they should be viewed on a "curve compared with other students in the same socio-economic strata.
Describe what reforms you would make to the control of the NYC public school system.
The current system of mayoral control is absolutely in need of substantial school governance reforms that do a far better job of taking into account the needs of parents, children and educators to improve educational quality and equality for all students. That requires greater transparency and accountability by the DOE, more input for parents and students in the decision making process, and much greater support for educators because a system that better serves teachers enables teachers to better serve our children. Reforms could be centered around a systems that reduces class sizes and racial disparity in graduation rates, closes the achievement gap, and raises teacher pay so we can continue to recruit and retain the best quality teachers. Schools work best when educators and parents are respected and included in program and policy planning - and that should be the basic principle behind reforms to mayoral control. • Greater access for parents and students through parent training centers, and expanded teacher input in program and policy planning. I would look to improve mayoral control with PEP reforms including reshaping the board composition to include a member directly appointed by the UFT and also taking greater steps to ensure the Chancellor doesn't have unlimited authority to make uninformed decisions; greater opportunities for CECs to publicly review and influence proposals by PEP and the Chancellor (e.g. school closures, co-locations); enhancing parental notification requirements on proposed actions; and strengthening public audits not just by the Comptroller but also by the Council of DOE's finances and procurement process.
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?
Yes and Yes
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?
No. I ran John Liu's first campaign in 2014 and his successful campaign in 2018 to defeat IDC member Tony Avella. I also worked with the NO-IDC coalition efforts. And my main opponent in the race is Tony Avella.
What will you do to support nightlife in NYC?
I would work to help streamline the regulatory burden on nightlife operators, improve lines of communications with operators and city agencies, reduce health/safety risks that often impair nightlife operations, and increase programmatic resources for the promotion of economic development initiatives.
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
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?
I would support expanding the ULURP process to ensure projects have a more rigorous approval process prior to approval. Members can use the deference tradition to block projects that don't meet labor standards and don't have significant community benefit, however if a project does not adhere to affordable housing and union job (card check) neutrality agreements than I would oppose it regardless of whether the local member supported it or not.
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 worked for the NY Immigration Coalition and ran the successful campaign in support of drivers licenses for undocumented immigrants. I also support and have advocated for non-citizen voting rights. We must expand legal, educational/literary and economic support services for immigrants and would pledge to continually support - with funding and legislative protections - NYC's role as a Sanctuary 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.
Yes, the city should be invested in community health centers with cost-free health services for al city residents and portable benefits for all part-time, full-time and freelance workers.
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?
A) John Liu; B) Tish James, Jumaane Williams; C) Bernie Sanders (primary), Hillary Clinton (general); and C) Cynthia Nixon (primary) and Tish James (primary)
Top 3 issues you aim to address locally and legislatively
• Universal daycare, and a massive expansion of 3K and PreK to cover every district citywide, paid for I would propose to pay for by enacting legislation to mandate stop arm cameras be equipped on every school bus that could record, identity and fine motorists that illegally pass stopped school buses. • Economic and employment assistance, programs and services to help support COVID recovery efforts, including but not limited to municipal and private sector workforce development, training and placement programs and subsidies, sales tax cuts/holidays for small businesses, and instituting a program of zero interest loan payments to all eligible NYC workers who have lost their jobs or seen reduced salaries and work hours that could be paid for using the sale of new municipal bonds so the city can make up the difference between what the workers’ pre COVID salary was and what they’re making now if still employed (but with reduced hours/wages) or for those who are currently unemployed it would bridge the gap between unemployment benefits and their previous salary. • Property tax relief for homeowners and co-op and condo owners and reforming the current property tax classification and assessment system to employ more municipal assessors to move away from the overreliance on computer-based models.
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) Increased budgetary authority for the Council and mandatory red-lining of key social service funding areas; 2) Expanded ULRUP powers for the Council and strict housing/union job requirements; and 3) Weakening of the "strong mayor" system and going back to expanded powers for the Council and BPs that were in place prior to the charter revisions of the late 1980s.
Please explain your vision for the present powers of the office you are seeking and how you intend to exercise them?
From improving access to quality education resources/funding, reducing overcrowding and addressing school segregation to strengthening public transit systems especially in outer-borough transit deserts like Northeast Queens, to advancing workforce opportunities including pay equity, better support for our unionized workforce, and more community-based small business growth, to reshaping our approach to creating more affordable housing and addressing not only inequities in public housing and the homelessness crisis but actually attacking the root causes of these issues, my vision for a more progressive city is that opportunity is only as good as people’s access to it and ability to benefit equally from it. Especially in this post-COVID moment, the Council can be an incubator for policies that provide the vision, funding and governmental apparatus that is the foundation of a more progressive and equitable city. It can and should be an organizing body that puts all of the city’s many tools and resources behind a philosophy that we all serve and are responsible to each other – in good times and especially in crisis – and the way our city will be judged is not by the growth and success of billionaires but rather by those who simply want to provide a stable and supportive environment for themselves and their families.
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 would like to convene a weekly stakeholders table council with Jim Owles and other leading LGBT organizations to have an open line of communications about legislative/budgetary priorities to ensure that I am working on issues of importance to the LGBT community.
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?
First and foremost, I believe that public service can and should be a vehicle for community activism. I'm running for Council in the same community that raised me, where my wife and I are raising our two young sons (age 5 and 5 weeks), because I believe that people who love their community can help change it and challenging ourselves to make it better for every family is a collective responsibility. For someone like me who has worked at the highest levels of government and played a key role as an advocate and organizer at intersection of politics, public policy and the labor movement for the past 15 years, I have a unique skill set and strong experience to help our city and the neighborhood I live in move forward out of the COVID crisis. Seeing the fear, frustration and pain that COVID has brought to the communities and city that I’ve called home my entire life has moved me deeply and I want to do anything I can to help everyone I can so we can ALL come out of this crisis stronger, safer and better than we went into it. The collateral damage that we have seen due to COVID - which has affected our economy and workforce, schools, businesses, seniors, and every aspect of our daily lives – is a communal experience we all share and something that I've gone through with my own son and family. either everyone counts the same or nobody counts at all. The opportunities that have been afforded to me, coming from a labor union household and having worked as a part of unions and the progressive movement throughout my entire professional career means to me that I have a responsibility to pay that forward to people now who are less fortunate and future generations to come.