Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Benjamin Kallos for Manhattan Borough President
Candidate Name: Benjamin Kallos
Office Seeking Election for: Manhattan Borough President
Explain, based on life experiences and accomplishments, why you believe you are best qualified to represent your district
I grew up right here in Manhattan. I graduated from the Bronx HIgh School of Science and our State University system.I am a tenant in a market rate one-bedroom apartment with my wife and daughter, and I can tell you first hand that even with thousands of vacant apartments, Manhattan still has an affordable housing crisis.
Living with a single mom, sharing a room with her, living with my grandparents, I was on free and reduced school lunch, and I was so ashamed for other kids to know I was poor that I didn’t eat. That’s why I fought to make school lunch free and want to feed every child dinner as part of universal afterschool.
Developers get billions in tax breaks, corrupt politicians get thousands in campaign contributions, and tenants like us pay for it all. That’s why, when I first ran for City Council, I refused big money from real estate developers, corporations, and lobbyists, then I wrote the law so more progressive candidates could run the right way and win.
When thousands of people took to the streets to demand that the City Council hold the NYPD accountable, I listened and voted to defund the NYPD.
I believe Manhattan deserves to be represented by someone who understands the problems that New Yorkers face every day, and as Borough President I will always be on the side of the people of Manhattan, not corporations or the wealthy 1%.
Please identify any openly LGBTQ candidate for public office you have previously or presently endorsed?
Corey Johnson, Tiffany Caban, Kat Brezler, and others.
If applicable, what legislation directly affecting the LGBTQ community have you introduced or co-sponsored? (indicate accordingly)
I was proud to author and pass Int. 1638 of 2017 or the Gender Sexuality Alliances in Middle and High Schools Act (GSA) with Council Member Danny Dromm. This law requires the DOE to report, for each middle and high school, whether such school has a gay-straight alliance or gender-sexuality alliance (GSA); the number of teachers and administrators who have received trainings related to supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning and gender non-conforming (LGBTQGNC) students; and a narrative description of the training offered by the department to support LGBTQGNC students, including whether any such training includes training related to GSAs. (https://legistar.council.nyc.gov/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=3066691&GUID=5CAC089B- E4B9-4793-9D0B-5CDB47731BEF&Options=ID|Text|&Search=1638 and https://benkallos.com/legislation/introduction-1638-2017-gender-sexuality-alliances-middle-and- high-schools-act ).
I also co-sponsored:
Int 0954-2018, with Speaker Corey Johnson, that allows individuals to change the sex designation on their birth record to conform to the individual’s gender identity. (https://legistar.council.nyc.gov/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=3521898&GUID=A052CA3B- 4FB7-4DD0-8318-5112E8422BA1&Options=Advanced&Search= )
Int. 1513 and Int. 1514 of 2019 ensuring transgender, gender non-conforming, and non- binary individuals never again experience a gap in accessing comprehensive mental health and substance treatment within a Department of Correction facility. (https://legistar.council.nyc.gov/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=3921537&GUID=90825BC6-31D3- 4D0F-A675-22E99257F5A7&Options=ID|Text|&Search=1513-A and https://legistar.council.nyc.gov/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=3921488&GUID=58A23CA5-C710- 4020-81A8-886C1A0BD963&Options=ID|Text|&Search=1514)
Int. 1530 of 2019 reporting on housing decisions made for transgender, gender nonconforming, and intersex individuals. (https://legistar.council.nyc.gov/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=3923930&GUID=B1A151BC- 6A80-4869-9CF4-380CCAF8A21B&Options=ID|Text|&Search=1530-A )
Int. 1535 of 2019 with Council Member Rosenthal, requiring the board of correction to convene a task force to address policies related to the treatment of transgender, gender nonconforming, non-binary, and intersex individuals in the department of correction. (https://legistar.council.nyc.gov/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=3923931&GUID=94F7EE69-D9E4- 45D2-8A98-A67C055EAE20&Options=ID|Text|&Search=1535 )
What LGBTQ organizations have you been involved with, either on a volunteer basis or professionally?
I am proud to fund the LGBT Center and SAGE Advocacy & Services for LGBT Elders.
Do you consider yourself a member of the LGBTQ community?
I consider myself a part of the LGBTQIA+ community as an ally.
Have you marched in Pride? Which marches and for approximately how many years?
I have attended every NYC Pride in Manhattan since I’ve been a Council Member except in 2018, when I was on family leave.
Have you employed openly LGBTQ individuals previously? Do you employ any currently?
I have and currently employ members of staff who openly identify as members of the LGBTQIA community.
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?
Pride, Women’s March, March for Science, March for Our Lives, Global Climate Strike, Disability Pride, Rally Against Amazon in LIC, RWDSU, and City Hall, DACA Rally, Repeal 50A, Planned Parenthood Solidarity, Rise and Resist (Disability Non-March), Marijuana Justice, Black Lives Matter Marches, Kneeling through the Unconstitutional Curfew with Jumaane Williams, just to name a few.
Have you ever been arrested? If so please explain why and outcome of arrest.
As a teenager, I was issued a summons for trespassing in park under broken windows policing during the Guiliani administration, when I could not attend the appearance due to being away at State University of New York at Albany, with an exam the school would not postpone due to the appearance, a warrant was issued for my arrest. Some years later, the police arrived at the home of my mother to arrest me. I was able to appear later in court for the violation for adjournment in contemplation of dismissal.
Do you commit to visiting constituents who are incarcerated in state prisons and city jails?
Yes. As a law student I visited nearly every maximum security prison in the state of New York working as a student clerk in the Court of Claims doing research in support of pro se cases against state corrections. As a Council Member I have visited Riker’s Island which is why I know first hand that it must be closed. As Borough President I commit to visit any jails in Manhattan and Riker’s Island until it is closed.
Will you affirmatively seek to hire formerly incarcerated individuals?
I have been proud to provide opportunities for individuals with a criminal record in my office. I am also a proud co-sponsor of “Ban the Box.” I am currently working with P2A to create a pipeline for justice involved individuals into good paying jobs at labor unions. I would never violate “Ban the Box” law but am committed to recruiting, training, and hiring formerly incarcerated people.
Describe your legislative and policy vision for combating systemic racism?
As a person benefiting from white privilege, it is my responsibility to use that privilege to empower New Yorkers from all communities, particularly voices of color, black voices, and listen when they demand the end of practices that perpetuate systemic racism. That is why I voted no on last year’s budget and demanded that the Mayor defund the police and reinvest in communities, especially those of color, affected by over policing. I also support the desegregation of New York City public schools, since they are more segregated now that they were during Brown v. Board of Education. As Borough President, I will continue fighting systemic racism in every form it takes throughout Manhattan. (https://medium.com/@benkallos/george-floyd-trump-must-say-black-lives-matter-def4c1ee524 and https://benkallos.com/press-release/council-member-ben-kallos-floor-statement-fy-2021- budget-vote )
Will you not seek, and refuse, the endorsement of Bill de Blasio?
I have never endorsed or been endorsed by Bill de Blasio and I don’t plan to start now.
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?
We must acknowledge the effects colonialism had on our history. We must also acknowledge the genocide that men like Columbus were involved in committing against indigenous population that existed in this country prior to his arrival in 1492. Just as many communities throughout the country have engaged in discourse around spaces commemorating our racist past, we must also allow the community to engage in discourse around this space at Columbus Circle. As Borough President, I promise to make a space for the various affected communities to engage in active discourse and support any decision they reach.
Will you refuse contributions from real estate developers and all law enforcement unions or associations?
I have always refused contributions from real estate developers, corporations, and lobbyists. I have returned contributions from law enforcement, donated to bail funds, and will not take money from law enforcement unions or associations. I authored the new full public matching campaign finance system with the support of the Jim Owles Democratic Club so that for the first time candidates can run the right way and win.
Do you support reducing the budget of the NYPD and if so, by how much?
I voted against the budget because it did not defund the NYPD, and I want at least $1 billion cut from the NYPD’s budget. I went as far as identifying $15 billion in spending cuts and proposed a billion dollars in spending to invest in low-income communities of color who have been hardest hit by over-policing, as a real alternative to the Mayor’s budget that reinvested in over-policing. To this day I continue to fight to defund NYPD and invest in social services like universal after- school, youth job programs, and legal services. (https://benkallos.com/press-release/council- member-ben-kallos-floor-statement-fy-2021-budget-vote and https://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/ny-ben-kallos-nyc-budget-20200616- pj7mzlz3dfhbrp3wuhbmoafvha-story.html )
How would you have voted on the FY21 City Budget?
I am the only candidate running for Manhattan Borough President who voted NO on the City Budget in June and again in December because it failed to defund the police and invest in communities harmed by over-policing. (https://benkallos.com/press-release/council-member- ben-kallos-floor-statement-fy-2021-budget-vote )
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 above.
Should the NYPD Vice Squad be eliminated?
Yes.
Should Dermot Shea be fired immediately?
Yes, he should have been fired as soon as police began mishandling the protests following the murder of George Floyd.
Should the NYPD Commissioner require confirmation by the City Council?
Yes, I am the only candidate in this race who proposed and testified that the City Council confirm the NYPD Commissioner during the Charter Revision Commission, see for yourself at https://benkallos.com/press-release/charter-revision-commission-testimony
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?
The city spent millions on N95 masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE) for police officers who never wore them while black and brown workers who were essential went without necessary PPE paying for the city’s malfeasance with their lives. Police should be required to wear masks and be suspended without pay until they agree to abide by all safety protocols for them and those around them.
What reforms would you make to the Civilian Complaint Review Board? Would you support state legislation to make CCRB disciplinary determinations binding?
I have fought to empower the CCRB through the Charter Revisions, including winning a budget increase for the CCRB, subpoena power, and jurisdiction over false statements in the course of an investigation. I fought for and still believe that the CCRB should be elected and sponsor legislation to give the CCRB binding power over the NYPD. I also support legislation to make their determinations binding. (https://benkallos.com/press-release/charter-revision-commission- testimony )
What is your position on the plan to close Rikers and create four borough-based jails?
We have a moral imperative to close Rikers. As a Council Member, I visited Rikers. Even when they knew a group of elected officials were visiting, when everything was prepped for us, I saw the deplorable conditions at this antiquated facility. I met two women who were shivering in a holding cell for hours, without food, or even a blanket. To have a truly just system, we must close Rikers for good, but we must do more than that. We must decriminalize poverty and change the bail system. The overwhelming majority of residents at Rikers are there on pre-trial detention. They have not been convicted of anything. If they were rich, they would be free to fight their case from the comfort of their homes. We cannot continue to have two separate justice systems based on race and wealth. We’ve already taken some bold steps to reduce the population of our jails, and we should fight for the smallest footprint we can for any new jails, but we cannot go back on our promise to close Rikers. While we move forward with the borough based jail plan, I believe we must first ensure we have fully fund our communities, especially those impacted by racist policies and over-policing. I believe in a decarceral world and I am willing to put in the work to create that reality for all of us.
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?
I am the only candidate running for Manhattan Borough President who has ever visited 311 operations, held hearings on the Mayor’s Management Report relating to 311, advocated for improvements to the 311 App, audited the 311 API and its data. As Borough President I would work with Community Boards and 311 to improve the system starting with an Open API to facilitate a public-private partnership with other software developers like me to finally make 311 work.
Do you support decriminalizing sex work? Will you pledge to oppose the Nordic model?
I support decriminalizing sex work. I oppose the Nordic model.
Do you oppose school screening, which exacerbates segregation? Which screens in your school district(s) will you advocate to abolish?
I oppose any school screening that is found to have a disparate impact that is exacerbating segregation. We should ensure diagnostics accurately identify student needs in order to provide them the resources they need to thrive. I recently authored a letter to the Chancellor endorsed by the New York Post for the City to create a citywide integrated online school where students could choose any program whether accelerated or enrichment or centered on learning styles. (https://benkallos.com/press-release/demand-desegregate-all-remote-learning-now-letter-mayor- de-blasio-and-doe-chancellor )
Describe what reforms you would make to the control of the NYC public school system.
I support UFT’s recent call for the end of Mayoral Control of our public schools. The pandemic has shown how inadequate the current mayoral control model has been in providing quality education for our students.
Do you support public funding of abortion?
Yes, absolutely and have personally funded Planned Parenthood.
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, I have requested these sites in my district.
Do you smoke or otherwise consume weed?
No, I do not smoke tobacco or marijuana.
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 never supported any member of the IDC. In fact, I worked to remove Pedro Espada following the first coup, endorsed all IDC challengers, and “adopted” Robert Jackson’s campaign in 2018.
What will you do to support nightlife in NYC?
Our City’s nightlife businesses will need massive investment post-pandemic to ensure its survival. As borough president I will be the loudest voice advocating for real relief for these businesses. I support plans allowing these businesses to receive cash grants paid for by their own sales tax collection, as proposed by the New York Hospitality Alliance. (https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/ny-revive-new-year-coronavirus-recovery-20210103- vp67n7d3k5bw3p3nanods3qxve-story.html )
Do you commit to speak with restaurant and nightlife industry representatives before taking a position on any policies that affect their businesses?
Yes, we have been working with New York Hospitality Alliance and New York State Restaurant Association on key legislation from legalizing outdoor dining, making it easier to transfer sidewalk cafes, to their highest priority getting sidewalk sheds down.
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 establishments?
Yes, I am proud to have proprietors of nightlife establishments serving on Community Board 8 where I have the most appointments. As borough president I will work to ensure more proprietors of nightlife establishments are appointed to more community boards.
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, as you know the repeal of the cabaret law was only the first step, and as the next Borough President I will need to work with Community Boards and the nightlife industry to amend the zoning resolution to allow dancing at more venues.
Did you oppose the de Blasio/Cuomo proposal (and giveaways) for bringing Amazon’s HQ2 to Long Island City?
Yes, I was an early and ongoing opponent to the deal as proposed. During the fight, I came under fire with AOC and other progressives when my Amazon “wish list” was exposed.
What role do you believe the local member should play in the approval of development proposals before the Council?
Our current zoning process is broken, driven almost completely by developers who can afford the million of dollars required to bring an application or drive a neighborhood upzoning at the City Planning Commission. Communities are caught in a “land use dance” forced to settle for affordable housing that rarely replaces what was lost or a park in the shadow of a tall building. Community boards and borough presidents go largely ignored while Council Members cut side deals. I’ve always thought elected officials were using zoning to print money for developers and selling out their communities in exchange for campaign cash. That’s why I refused real estate, corporate and lobbyist money from the very beginning.
As long as developers are leading the process, our communities will lose out. We need to take control. In my district, I organized residents for the first ever community-led neighborhood-wide rezoning, where we encouraged the development of more affordable housing, and said that 900 foot billionaires-only super-talls have no place here.
I am a co-prime sponsor of the comprehensive plan with Speaker Corey Johnson, with specific metrics around requirements for school seats, parks, affordable housing, and services for the homeless, we can finally see every neighborhood do their fair share to help and those with the least finally get their fair share. I have also proposed a Charter Amendment to give borough presidents and community boards a joint veto in the land use process.
Do you support legislation to prohibit discrimination against formerly incarcerated people in housing?
Yes, I am a proud co-sponsor of Int. 2047 of 2020 prohibiting housing discrimination on the basis of arrest or criminal record. (https://legistar.council.nyc.gov/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=4624864&GUID=727F0B98-C1D6- 4A6D-A12B-53356D35C065&Options=ID|Text|&Search=2047 )
Do you oppose the removal of the nearly 300 homeless individuals from the Lucerne hotel due to pressure from some local residents?
The residents of Lucerne must be treated with humanity and compassion. Months ago, I joined Upper West Side Open Hearts and Council Member Helen Rosenthal as we protested here outside of Gracie Mansion for six hours and into the late evening until Mayor de Blasio agreed to have the Director of Community Affairs meet with those who would be displaced. This treatment of vulnerable New Yorkers is unacceptable. Our Mayor and City cannot move people around like pawns on a chessboard just because they are homeless.
We have opened a hotel the same size of the Lucerne for the homeless in my district. I also co- founded the Eastside Taskforce for Homeless Outreach and Services (ETHOS) with Borough President Gale Brewer. Together we’ve opened supportive housing for formerly homeless women and children across the street from where I live and recently won a unanimous resolution in support of building a “safe haven” shelter 2 blocks from where I live.
What proposals will you advocate for to protect immigrants and further New York as a Sanctuary City?
New York City is and always will be a sanctuary city. I truly believe that we must do all we can to ensure that our undocumented population have access to healthcare, education, and city government. I believe access to voting is essential to ensure a more equitable society. I believe in restoring the right to vote for all non-citizens and I am a proud pre-introduction co-prime sponsor of Int. 1867-2020, allowing lawful permanent residents in New York city to vote in municipal elections. I support expanding the bill to cover all residents, regardless of immigration status. (https://legistar.council.nyc.gov/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=4313327&GUID=DF600BDA- B675-41D8-A8BD-282C38DC4C62&Options=Advanced&Search= )
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 Medicare for All. Let me tell you why: In 2012 I had severe stomach pain for a week. I finally paid the $50 for a visit to an Urgent Care, and the doctor there told me I had appendicitis and needed to be operated on immediately. That appendectomy and the subsequent hospital visit cost me $30,000. Even after my insurance, it still took me 5 years to pay off the cost of that visit. I was privileged to have health care. For many, an experience like that would have put them in debt for even longer or perhaps bankrupted them. In-country and City of billionaires that should not be the case. Just last month, when my doctor wanted to perform surgery with anesthesia, my insurance wouldn’t cover it, so the doctor had to perform the procedure with local anesthetic only. Health insurance companies shouldn’t be dictating treatment, doctors should.
Healthcare should be a human right. We need a healthcare system where every New Yorker has comprehensive coverage with equality of care and decreased administrative costs, and that’s what I’m fighting for. As Borough President, I will work to find additional locations for testing and vaccines to be distributed and I will work with our CBO’s to push for outreach in our most underserved communities.
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) No one for Mayor in 2013, (B) No one in 2013 and I was the first Manhattan elected official to endorse Jumaane Williams in 2019, (C) Hillary Clinton in 2016 and I was the first Manhattan elected official to endorse Elizabeth Warren, (D) Andrew Cuomo and Tish James.
Top 3 issues you aim to address locally and legislatively
Affordable Housing for All
I want to expand on Local Law 64 to ensure we have a full accounting of our affordable housing stock. We’ve got an affordable housing crisis, that never seems to go away despite generations of politicians promising to do something about it. That’s why I’ve always refused real estate money. All I want is for the people who live here, to be able to stay here, and not have to be forced out because they can no longer afford it. I know it sounds simple, but that’s the problem, and that’s one of the things that keeps me up at night.
While Albany and Washingnton figure out how to cancel rent and provide small homeowners with relief, the City must do what it can to deal with this crisis. Where others see a dead or dying city pointing to vacant apartments as proof, I see more vacancies than homeless families and the opportunity to house them all now, which is why I proposed a way to house all of the City’s homeless population immediately. For the first time ever there are more vacant apartments in the City than what would be needed to house every homeless person or family. My plan would even cost less than what we currently pay for shelters and hotel rooms. As borough president I would work with the Administration and City Council to provide every person who is currently unhoused an apartment. My plan would see the City start by renting apartments directly from private landlords, then sublet them to homeless New Yorkers. I would also encourage the City to begin buying some of the 4,600 homes and apartments for sale in New York City with 2 bedrooms or more, whose monthly payments would come in far below the $6,000 budgeted limit. The City currently spends over $6,000 per month to provide shelter for the unhoused population, median rents in Manhattan have dropped to below $3,000. Even by renting apartments in expensive Manhattan neighborhoods, the city would see savings and could cover utilities, groceries and social services. You can read more in my Op-Ed with Urban Pathways CEO Fred Shack. (https://www.amny.com/opinion/op-ed-new-york-city-has-enough-vacant- apartments-to-house-the-homeless-its-time-to-do-it/, https://streeteasy.com/for- sale/nyc/status:open%7Cprice:100000-999999%7Carea:100,300,400,200,500%7Cbeds%3E=2, and https://www.forbes.com/sites/danielcassady/2020/10/23/average-rent-in-manhattan-drops- below-3000-for-first-time-since 2011/?utm_campaign=forbes&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_term=Gordie
%2F&fbclid=IwAR3tBZLBABScikeqNsTcJzkSAnwvrxu8mg1-4cdgfHGeYnIX1NZt- ERzJGM#64348cac688d )
Automatic Benefits / Barrier Free Benefits
I introduced legislation to remove barriers to benefits with “Automatic Benefits,” resulting in a collaboration with the Federal government and Intuit on free and open source software to determine eligibility, and study by the city on how to better deliver benefits. As Borough President I will continue to work with the Federal and State government to remove barriers and provide benefits automatically. (https://benkallos.com/press-release/automatic-benefits-support- low-income-new-yorkers, https://benkallos.com/press-release/hhs-and-intuit-release-app-fight- poverty-nationwide, and https://www1.nyc.gov/site/opportunity/reports/local-law-60.page )
Retirement Security for All
New Yorkers face the same problem as many Americans: employers do not provide a retirement plan at work. If we don’t address our inadequate retirement system, 2 out of every 5 older American households will fall into poverty or near-poverty when they retire at 62. Along with this human toll, massive downward mobility among the elderly will hurt our economy, cutting demand and jobs while increasing the need for more government and social spending. (https://www.economicpolicyresearch.org/resource-library/research/downward-mobility-in- retirement )
Due to federal inaction, 43 states (https://cri.georgetown.edu/states/ ) (and the city of Seattle) have made various proposals to expand their residents’ access to retirement coverage. New York State is one of 11 that has passed reforms into law.
That’s why I introduced legislation that will create a required program for workers in the city. Our plan requires employers with more than 5 employees to automatically deduct a percentage of their workers’ pay and forward it to city-facilitated, not-for-profit IRAs. Such accounts will be individually owned and professionally managed by an independent board. While employers are required to participate, employees maintain the right to change their contribution rates or opt-out of the program. (https://benkallos.com/press-release/retirement-security-all-offer-savings-new- york-city-private-sector-workers-moves )
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?
In 2019, I proposed 72 recommendations for amendments to the Charter, 16 of which were included in the City Council Report to the 2019 New York City Charter Revision Commission, with 9 of my recommendations included in whole or in part by the Preliminary Staff Report. I then submitted a final fifteen recommendations on ethics, city budget, land use, elections and redistricting, and empowering the offices of the Public Advocate and Borough President. You can see for yourself how much was included in all five of the final ballot questions.
My original testimony highlighted 3 main areas:
Budget: Create a budget that anyone can review with budgeted amounts, actual spending, and a plan for the future, and create the lockbox we need to protect congestion pricing from unscrupulous politicians.
Land Use: Empower communities in land use by changing the makeup of decision-making boards to have fewer mayoral appointments and include representation from the city council.
Protect the Will of the People to Enshrine Campaign Finance and Ethics Reforms in the Charter: Reforms that are essential to the functioning of our democracy, established through previous referenda, local law, and city council rules, should be enshrined in the City Charter.
Read all 72 recommendations for amendment to the Charter Revision Commission at https://benkallos.com/press-release/2019-charter-revision-commission-testimony
Here is a summary:
Create New Rights for New Yorkers
Create a New York City Bill of Rights to recognize certain inalienable rights and guide and restrain our government as it makes decisions moving forward.
Support Mayoral Charter Commission Proposals
Empower small donors and get big money out of politics by eliminating the cap on publicly matched campaign funds.
Increase the matching funds ratio from 6:1 to 8:1, consider expanding to 10:1.
Lower the contribution limits to $2,000 for citywide, $1,500 for borough and $1,000 for city council.
Establish term limits for community boards of four terms of two years and consider term limits for leadership and lifetime term limits.
Provide urban planners and other technical resources for every community board.
Protect and Improve the Charter
Require amendment of anything original established in the Charter by a vote of the people to be amended or removed only by another vote of the people.
Require public engagement in government policymaking, including by creating a process through which residents can propose legislation to be heard and voted on by the city council and then signed or vetoed by the mayor.
Review the Charter to identify powers that are being ignored, and propose a system of checks and balances that allows for different parts of our government to act when those with the primary responsibility fail to do so.
Remove outdated references from the Charter like a duty to maintain telegraph.
Remove references to specific wages in the Charter that are now illegal poverty wages.
Improve Democracy
Stop matching big dollars (over $175 for city council and borough president or $250 citywide) with public dollars.
Provide Democracy Vouchers so that everyone can participate in the political system.
Eliminate “war chests” that allow candidates to raise vast amounts of money over multiple election cycles.
Kill all the zombie committees by terminating all campaign committees after each election.
Run student voter registration drives in the classroom with mock voting and civic engagement as part of every child’s education to teach a new generation of New Yorkers to take back their government.
Implement all changes now in time for 2021.
Eliminate draconian petition requirements in favor of ballot access triggered by qualification for public dollars.
Implement automatic voter registration.
Separate Voter Assistance and Campaign Finance so the administration of the public matching funds system is done impartially and separated from legislative advocacy, voter registration, and voter engagement.
Remove post-census half term because having an election in 2021 for a two-year term is wasteful and can be avoided with new technology.
Establish lifetime term limits for elected officials.
Ethics Reforms to End Patronage and Corruption
Limit the number of provisional employees allowed to replace civil servants.
Publicly post all jobs for at least 14 days prior to conducting interviews.
Instate lifetime ban on lobbying for elected officials and agency heads.
Eliminate salaries of elected officials from Charter and tie them to the Consumer Price Index.
Protect elected officials and independent agencies from retaliation with protections for their office’s budget and from termination other than for cause.
Permanently Reform City Council
Permanently make the city council a full time job and prohibit all outside income.
Permanently equalize compensation for all council members by banning “lulus.”
Expand prohibition against serving political party leadership to council members.
Budgets for council members must remain equal, with transparent formula to account for difference in geographical and land cost challenges.
Permanently standardize formula for council members’ discretionary budgets for their districts.
Limit Speaker’s discretionary budget to 50% of the allocation of all 50 other members of the city council in order to ensure fairness and an equitable distribution of funds.
Provide full 7 days public notice online of upcoming votes.
Legislation should include problem, solutions, evaluation, metrics, and sunset.
Eliminate excessive reports, studies and taskforce laws by empowering city council to request information or adopt rules and regulations.
Mandate inclusion of experts from academia and private sector in the adoption of laws and regulations of government.
Empower Residents through the City Council and Borough Presidents
Adopt the New York City Council Report to the New York City Charter Revision Commission of 2010.
Expand city council’s power of advice and consent to all agency heads.
Allow city council to remove agency heads for cause and borough boards to begin a process against borough commissioners for cause.
Establish a right of visitation at all city facilities for all elected officials upon notice or reasonable cause.
Empower borough presidents to oversee capital projects.
Give binding power of approval or disapproval on all land use decisions where a community board, borough board, and borough president all vote in favor or in opposition.
Provide environmental studies for any community board, council member or borough president initiated zoning text amendment or rezoning.
End automatic reappointment and open community boards with standardized applications.
Automatic removal of community board members for non-attendance.
Prohibit political party officials or lobbyists from serving on community boards.
Mandatory training for all community board members on conflicts of interest, city budget, and land use, including landmarks, Board of Standards and Appeals, and ULURP.
Empower Communities in Land Use Decisions
Weaken mayoral control of land use boards and commissions by empowering borough presidents and city council.
Allow for meaningful public review with community notice and public hearings at initiation of land use applications with city agencies.
Protect potential landmarks from eternal limbo with 6 months to respond and another 6 months to vote on calendaring proposed landmarks with codification of protections for items under consideration.
Redefine “Major Concessions” to cover more city land that is being privatized.
Require wage and job standards following a city land use action.
Limit land use approvals by requiring groundbreaking within 3 years and project completion within a total of 5 years or lapse back for renewal, a new developer, or a new purpose.
Make 197-a plans binding and require the Department of City Planning and applicable city agencies to include them in any subsequent land use decisions.
Protect any land used as a park from real estate development.
Enforce fair share provisions of the Charter.
Achieve fair housing and affordable housing goals in every district.
Protect residents in rent regulated housing from displacement by new affordable housing development.
Bridge the Digital Divide with Universal Broadband and Improved Cable and Phone
Require franchise agreements to guarantee universal access to every New Yorker of every income without censorship.
Empower residents in franchise process by giving votes to public advocate, borough presidents, and city council.
Empower city council to participate in the selection of a franchise and to vote on final franchise agreements.
Save Money with Better Contracts
Any benefit legislated by government for the private sector must also automatically apply to public sector city employees as a minimum benefit.
Stop overpaying by adding borough president and city council appointments to procurement board and, when bids are more expensive, allow purchasing from retail market.
Create enforcement mechanism for Charter requirement to compare cost to in-sourcing any time out-sourcing is considered.
Notify affected borough presidents, community boards, and council members when the contracting process begins so that all may have a voice in key elements of requests for proposals, and encourage local residents to respond or to play a role in evaluations of any received proposal.
Empower Residents in the Budget Process
Require that the City make the budget and spending available in real time so residents have accounting software for government to track every penny.
Make hiding money “off budget” illegal.
Require scoping of capital projects prior to allocations to prevent massive overruns and delays.
Track fiscal impact of public policy during and after implementation.
Focus on the Mayor’s Management by requiring a hearing on the Mayor’s Management Report following the current requirement for hearings on the Mayor’s Preliminary Management Report.
Create a budget lockbox for public transit.
Read the details on all 72 proposals at https://benkallos.com/press-release/2019-charter- revision-commission-testimony
Please explain your vision for the present powers of the office you are seeking and how you intend to exercise them?
Gale Brewer has been a transformational borough president. She has used the reach of her office to be visible all through the borough. Many see this office as being “ceremonial,” I don’t. The Borough President is Manhattan’s fixer. I would consider it my number one job to fix problems, no matter how small or large. Passing a law to establish a taskforce does not fix the problem.
When agencies point fingers, and nobody is willing to take responsibility, I bring all the stakeholders to the table and lock the doors until we get to a solution.
As a Council Member, I've done this with the Eastside Task Force for Homeless Outreach and Services (ETHOS) to get homeless New Yorkers services and the East River Esplanade Taskforce, where we got the Parks Department to take responsibility for our waterfront and begin turning it into a 21st century resilient park. I've gotten the MTA and DOT to sit down together to clear obstacles from new dedicated bus lanes and protected bike lanes so our streets move faster and more safely for all. Now I’m working with Borough President Gale Brewer and Community Board leaders to identify new sites for poll sites to fix the long lines that we see every election.
As Borough President, I will expand on those issues boroughwide and meet any community group and continue to be the most accessible elected official in the city by continuing to hold “Ben in Your Building” meetings with tenants everywhere.
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?
The Jim Owles Democartic Club is one of the most independent political clubs in the city of New York that is willing to speak truth to power and stand up to anyone. Although we usually agree, I am sure it will come up, and I will be more than happy to come discuss my position, listen, learn, and perhaps I will be convinced, either way, I always come to the club.
Accountability is at the core of how I do my job. Each month I meet in person, now over zoom, with constituents about whatever they want. I even make house calls, now also over zoom, called Ben in Your Building. Whether it is a political club, tenant association, or any group, I will always show up.
If you receive the endorsement, do you agree to identify the club on all literature and electronic materials where you list endorsements?
Yes, I will list your endorsement on our website and all relevant literature.
What additional information would you like Jim Owles to consider when we are making our endorsement decisions?
The Jim Owles Democratic Club joined me in two consecutive Charter Revision Commissions to when systemic reforms of politics in our city. First, supporting an increase in public matching and reduction in contribution limits. In 2019, the Jim Owles Democratic CLub was one of the few political clubs in the city that joined me in standing up to the Real Estate Board of New York in winning term limits, urban planners, and transparency for Community Boards.