Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Brad Lander for NYC Mayor
Candidate Name: Brad Lander
Office Seeking Election for: NYC Mayor
Campaign Website: https://landerfornyc.com/
1. Based upon your life experiences and accomplishments, why do you believe you are best qualified to represent your district?
I am running for Mayor to bring honest, effective leadership back to the City Hall; to stand up and fight on behalf of NYC’s diverse communities against Trump, and to deliver a safer, more affordable, more livable, and better-run city for all New Yorkers. As New York City Comptroller, City Councilmember, and a nonprofit housing leader, I have developed and demonstrated the experience to lead our city.
As Comptroller, New York City’s chief financial officer and chief accountability officer, I manage a dedicated team of 700 professionals managing the pension funds of NYC retirees, auditing City agencies, underwriting the City’s bonds, and protecting our budget. I have consistently held the Adams Administration accountable, uncovered waste and abuse, and saved hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars. I sounded the alarm on Elon Musk’s attempt to steal $80 million from New Yorkers, and on Eric Adams’ $432 million no-bid contract with the unqualified vendor DocGo. I revealed gross deficiencies in the Administration’s failing efforts to get homeless people off the street and revealed its inadequate preparedness for the new normal of extreme weather and storms. In total, my audits and pension fund management have saved New York City taxpayers over $2.5 billion.
Under my stewardship, New York City’s public pension funds have earned strong returns and grown to record levels, with a broad and diversified investment approach. I have led the nation in “responsible investing,” leading shareholder advocacy to strengthen workers’ rights at Starbucks and Amazon, and adopting the boldest “net zero” plan of any pension fund in the US. My innovative investment in purchasing the loan portfolio of the defaulted Signature Bank is protecting nearly 35,000 rent-stabilized housing units.
Prior to being elected Comptroller in 2021, I served 12 years in the City Council, where I co-founded the Council’s Progressive Caucus and won transformative changes to strengthen NYC’s human rights law, expand workers’ rights, secure tenant protections, create affordable housing, desegregate my district’s public schools, and make streets safer.
Before entering elected office, I served as the executive director of the Fifth Avenue Committee and the Pratt Center for Community Development, two affordable housing and community development non-profit organizations in Brooklyn. Leaders at FAC and the Pratt Center taught me what it means to be a New Yorker – to never give up on your neighbors.
I am the candidate who best combines strong, experienced leadership and management experience in City government; outstanding public integrity; a bold vision aligned with the values of New Yorkers; and real solutions to tackle our toughest problems.
2. What LGBTQ organizations have you been involved with, either on a volunteer basis or professionally? What LGBTQ candidates have you endorsed?
I have endorsed the following LGBTQ candidates: Danny Dromm (2009, 2013, 2017), Jimmy van Bramer (2009, 2013, 2017, 2021), Carlos Menchaca (2013, 2017), Ritchie Torres (2013, 2017, 2020), Judge Debra Silber (2015), Cynthia Nixon (2018), Tiffany Caban (2019, 2021, 2023), Emilia Decaudin (2020), Elisa Crespo (2021), Samy Nemir Olivares (2022), Crystal Hudson (2021, 2023), Chi Osse (2021, 2023).
I have been an active ally and supporter of Lambda Independent Democrats for the past 20 years, and was proud to be endorsed by both Lambda Independent Democrats and Stonewall Democrats in 2021.
3. If you receive our endorsement, do you agree to identify the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club on all literature and electronic materials?
Yes, with pride. At a time when LGBTQ+ rights are in peril, I would be proud to receive and display Jim Owles endorsement as a meaningful declaration of my support for the community.
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’m proud to have a decades-long track record of both protest and progress on issues of LGBTQ equality, civil rights/racial justice, reproductive rights, and criminal justice, dating back to long before I was in office. I worked on these issues as a staffer at Fifth Avenue Committee and the Pratt Center, and engaged in civil disobedience when necessary.
As a City Councilmember, I co-sponsored many pieces of legislation that made New York City a more welcoming and safe place for our LGBTQ+ and TGNC neighbors, including banning conversion therapy, allowing people to change the gender identity or utilize an “X” marker on their birth certificate, requiring HIV & AIDS education in public schools, compelling the City to collect gender pronouns on agency forms, and mandating gender-neutral single-stall bathrooms. I introduced a bill and resolution to adopt an inclusive dress code in our city’s public schools, developed in partnership with Girls for Gender Equity, that would be inclusive of different body types and gender identities, ensuring that TGNC students are not unfairly targeted or suspended for their personal appearance.
Alongside Public Advocate (then Councilmember) Jumaane Williams, I introduced and passed the Community Safety Act which prohibits bias-based profiling in law enforcement, including strong protections around gender identity and sexual orientation, which has been used as a precedent to protect Trans New Yorkers who have been profiled by the NYPD, like Linda Dominguez.
In the wake of the 2016 election, I founded #GetOrganizedBK which brought thousands of Brooklyn residents together to stand up to bigotry, corruption, and injustice of the Trump administration.
As Comptroller, in addition to the work listed in the answer to the next question, my office has published a yearly LGBTQIA+ Resource Guide, a comprehensive directory of organizations and services designed to address the various needs of the community in this city and as a commitment to protecting every New Yorker, irrespective of whom they love or how they identify.
After Trump’s re-election last year, Council Member Caban and I convened an emergency roundtable of trans leaders to discuss concrete steps the City can take to protect TGNCNB New Yorkers in response to the Trump administration’s attacks on this community. The roundtable was hosted with New Pride Agenda, the Ali Forney Center, Trans Equality, PFlag NYC, GLITS Inc., Black Trans Liberation, Trans Latina Network, and Trans formative Schools. In follow-up to this meeting, I wrote to the NYC Commission on Human Rights, asking them to begin an investigation into whether any health care institutions in New York City have violated the human rights law.
Last weekend, I joined the Hands Off protest with hundreds of volunteers from my campaign and endorsing groups like JFREJ, Brooklyn Indivisible, UWS Action group, denouncing the federal government’s egregious funding cuts and threats to our democracy. This coming week, we are holding a Hands Off Town Hall together with Indivisible Brooklyn, 504 Dems, WFP, and other groups, utilizing our campaign organizing infrastructure to help support efforts to fight back against Trump Administration cruelty, budget cuts, mass deportation, etc.
5. 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?
This is a critical moment for the City of New York to stand up for its values. Donald Trump’s presidency poses grave risks for New York City including the mass deportation of hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers. As mayor, I will stand up to Trump to protect every New Yorker.
When Trump was elected again in November 2024, I wasted no time in taking many steps to prepare for and fight back against the federal government’s harmful policies:
Publishing Protecting New York City, which provides a clear-eyed view of the risks that the Trump Administration poses to the city’s budget, economy, infrastructure, and people.
Publishing NYC’s Federal Funding: Outlook Under Trump, which offers a deeper dive into the many ways that federally-funded programs serve New Yorkers, and the risks this funding faces.
Releasing a new tool that tracks the amount of social and human services programs that rely upon federal funds.
Convening two roundtables of business, labor, civic, community, civil rights, and immigrant leaders to discuss concrete steps the City can take to protect immigrant families.
Convening a roundtable of trans leaders to discuss concrete steps the City can take to protect TGNCNB New Yorkers.
When Elon Musk stole $80 million from New York City’s bank account in federal FEMA reimbursements in February, I discovered the theft, sounded the alarm bell, and pressured the NYC Law Department to sue. As mayor, I will keep fighting Trump and Musk when they attack New Yorkers, every step of the way.
To ensure that the biggest city in the country is protected from the federal government’s turmoil and stands up to the dictatorial whims of President Trump, as Mayor, I will:
Ensure that New York City upholds our sanctuary city laws that protect immigrants who have committed no other crime than fleeing war, violence, and poverty. I will not allow ICE in our schools, hospitals, or shelters. I will rescind Eric Adams’ Executive Order granting ICE an office on Rikers’ Island.
To protect reproductive care and gender-affirming care, I will create a new authority – funded solely by City, State, and private dollars – to provide access to abortion, contraception, and gender-affirming care, so that New York City continue to provide those essential health services, funded/provided separately from H+H, so that federal funding for H+H is better protected.
Add at least $1 billion to the City’s General Reserve to create a “Protecting NYC” reserve that specifically addresses urgent funding needs that could arise from federal funding cuts. While the City will not be able to backstop all federal funding losses, the City should be stockpiling some resources to protect our schools and other critical programming over the next four years.
Convene a Joint City/State Emergency Task Force to evaluate impacts and responses in real time and take legal action when appropriate to stop illegal money grabbing, unlawful funding requirements and breaching of contracts.
Convene civic, business, labor, university, religious, and community leaders to discuss how to best prepare to protect New York City and those who may be targeted by the policies of the Trump Administration.
6. 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 or accept an endorsement from any individual who opposes the LGBTQ+ community and reproductive rights.
Public Advocate Jumaane Williams & I issued a joint statement when two of those individuals were hired by Mayor Adams, and I pledge to denounce any public figure who espouses homophobia and anti-choice views.
7. Do you support the unrestricted right to reproductive care and abortion?
Yes, I released a plan to protect New Yorker’s reproductive freedom (amidst escalating attacks on reproductive rights and the Project 2025 agenda. I am honored to have received the endorsement by BK Forge, a reproductive rights organization, as a champion of reproductive health care for all New Yorkers and for those traveling to New York to receive necessary healthcare.
8. Have you hosted, funded or otherwise supported Drag Story Hours in your community?
Yes. As a City CouncilmemberI funded “Drag Story Hour,” at the Brooklyn Public Library branches in my district.
9. What proposals will you support to increase the protection of immigrants and cement New York City’s status as a Sanctuary City?
As Mayor, I’ll make sure that we uphold our sanctuary city laws that protect immigrants who have committed no other crime than fleeing war, violence, and poverty. I will not allow ICE in our schools, hospitals, or shelters. I will rescind Eric Adams’ Executive Order granting ICE an office on Rikers’ Island.
The fear of City agencies assisting in immigration enforcement could cause families to avoid getting the help or services they need, and to choose not to report crimes or cooperate with local law enforcement, undermining our collective public health and safety. As my office detailed in a letter last month to the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, New York City should immediately implement the following to clarify the roles and responsibilities of City staff and contractors, protect immigrant New Yorkers, and promote the safety and security of our city:
Train all frontline City staff and contractors, including but not limited to shelter operators, service providers, and School Safety Agents, on the City’s non-cooperation laws.
Ensure that the training curriculum is up-to-date, comprehensive, and provides examples of potential scenarios.
Consult with immigration advocates on subjects to emphasize and prioritize based upon community feedback and experiences with City agencies.
Post signage in multiple languages in schools and shelters that clearly state the law, where nonpublic areas are, and the rights of New Yorkers when interacting with federal immigration authorities.
Issue citywide guidance clarifying that the language “immigration enforcement” and “non-local law enforcement” includes U.S. military personnel performing immigration enforcement.
Issue an Executive Order prohibiting City agencies, such as the Department of Correction, from sharing any information with federal immigration authorities unless the individual has been convicted of a violent or serious crime or identified as a possible match in the terrorist screening database and federal immigration authorities present a judicial warrant.
Ensure all City agencies have written policies on compliance with the City’s sanctuary laws and that agency staff are properly trained on compliance.
Ensure that all City contractors fully understand that the City’s sanctuary laws apply to them.
Include training of frontline staff in City contracts going forward and consider including noncooperation language in contracts and service agreements moving forward to make explicit noncooperation with immigration enforcement authorities in compliance with the law is an explicit condition of receiving City funds.
Restore funding for the Rapid Response Legal Collaborative, which provides rapid response legal assistance to those detained by ICE, or at imminent risk of detention and deportation, who may not have the right to see an immigration judge, or are otherwise facing a fast-track to removal.
Restore ActionNYC in schools, libraries, and hospitals which connect New Yorkers to safe and free immigration legal services.
Expand MOIA’s Know Your Rights program.
Leverage the tools in existence to educate New Yorkers on their rights.
Include in the Know Your Rights curriculum rights when interacting with NYPD.
Create plain language, multilingual resources for New Yorkers and distribute them through public schools.
Plan for how to protect City workers that may lose their work authorization due to cancellation of DACA or TPS.
Include advocating for the state to explore novel ideas such as state issued work authorization for public employees.
Work with NYPD to ensure that street vending violations are only issued civil, not criminal, summons consistent with the Criminal Justice Reform Act of 2016.
10. How will you represent the most vulnerable, including individuals experiencing homelessness and asylum seekers? Have you ever opposed any shelter in your district?
I have never opposed a shelter in my district. When I was a City Councilmember, I led efforts to welcome several new shelters, leading the Coalition for the Homeless to award a “Compassionate Communities Award” to the Kensington neighborhoods, and supporting two shelters that are around the corner from my home.
As New York City has seen the arrival of over 150,000 people seeking asylum over the past few years, I pushed for a common-sense management approach that uses City dollars more efficiently while setting new arrivals up for success. Our investigation into the Adams Administration’s implementation of its 60-day shelter limit for asylum-seeking families revealed that City Hall has subjected over 37,000 people to repetitive screenings for shelter alternatives, disrupted families’ efforts to obtain work authorization and legal status, and uprooted children from the schools where they made connections.
A better approach is possible: one that is more effective, more compassionate, and better for NYC economically. As mayor, I will build on the City’s Asylum Application Help Center and network of immigrant service providers — and on the example of Jewish Family Services of Western New York, who are taking over the DocGo contract — to make smart investments in legal services to help families apply for asylum and work authorization, along with case management, ESL, workforce development, and placement assistance to help them obtain jobs so they can move out of shelter. This will more effectively decrease the shelter population and save on sheltering costs via real supports, rather than by kicking people out of shelter on arbitrary timelines.
New York City's long history of immigration is a big part of what makes this city the best in the world. I am proud to help New York City continue this tradition of welcoming immigrants, helping them resettle, and viewing support to immigrants as an investment in our shared future — by providing the results-oriented management and better-functioning public systems that will connect people to employment and out of shelter.
My #1 campaign commitment is to end street homelessness for people with serious mental illness, as outlined in my comprehensive, ready-on-day-one “Safer for All” plan. Coming out of the pandemic, the number of people with serious mental illness sleeping on our streets and subways has grown significantly, and sporadic incidents of random violence have heightened public attention and fear. But it does not have to be this way.
Achieving this goal will require mayoral leadership, and a better-coordinated continuum of care between city agencies, hospitals, and social service providers, so we stop sweeping people from subway to street to hospital to jail, and back again. I support increased flexibility for involuntary hospitalization when individuals are a danger to themselves or others. But ultimately, we must connect people to housing with services, or they will simply wind up right back on the streets. That’s why the heart of my plan is a “Housing First” approach, which moves people directly from the street into existing supportive housing/SRO units with wraparound services.
This model has proven effective at getting and keeping people housed 70-90% of the time. This will make NYC a safer city, and a more compassionate one.
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.
I support this resolution, and I support the New York for All Act. (Comptrollers do not formally co-sponsor legislation). As answered above (in question 10) I will ensure that New York City will honor its role as a sanctuary city, going beyond existing law. I support enhancing the state’s sanctuary laws.
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.
I support this resolution, and I support the Access to Representation Act. My office produced an economic impact analysis in support of this bill which clearly demonstrated the value that immigrant New Yorkers contribute to our City.
12. 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.
13. Do you oppose the death penalty?
Yes
14. Do you support outlawing solitary confinement?
Yes.
15. 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. As an elected official, I have visited Rikers Island, the Brooklyn House of Detention, and the Metropolitan Detention Center, each on multiple occasions.
As Comptroller, I have supported the Elder Parole and Fair & Timely Parole bills, which create release opportunities for those who’ve shown remorse and rehabilitation. I also opposed budget cuts to alternatives-to-incarceration programs, warning they undermine decarceration and public safety goals. I have advocated for ending incarceration for technical parole violations and for record expungement after a set time to emphasize that people deserve second chances when they no longer pose a threat.
16. Do you commit to working to change our penal system toward a restorative rather than a retributive model of justice?
I am committed to ensuring that restorative justice has a place within our penal system and have consistently supported reforms. I was one of the earliest elected officials in New York City to support closing Rikers Island, and remain committed to that goal. As a Council Member, I spearheaded the passage of the Reckless Driver Accountability Act, which takes an evidence-backed, restorative justice approach to changing driver behavior and holding reckless drivers accountable. I am committed to working with restorative justice advocates to find other places within the penal system where restorative justice can play a role.
Yes
17. 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?
18. Who did you support for mayor in the 2021 Democratic primary election?
Maya Wiley
19. Which 2025 Democratic candidates have you removed from your consideration? Have you endorsed anyone? If so, who?
I am proud to be a member of the “DREAM” – Don’t Rank Eric or Andrew for Mayor – endorsed by the Working Families Party and other organizations. I have removed both Eric Adams and Andrew Cuomo from consideration.
20. Do you support the renaming of the Ed Koch bridge and will you work towards the renaming including sponsoring such legislation?
Yes. If a bill were passed in the City Council to rename the bridge, I would sign it.
21. What are your plans to address rent affordability in NYC? Did you vote for “City of Yes”? If not, please explain.
Yes, I voted for City of Yes. New York City’s affordability crisis is crushing families and straining the City’s economy. I’ve been a leader in the fight for more affordable housing in NYC for decades, from my time at Fifth Avenue Committee & the Pratt Center, in the campaigns to save the rent laws and reform 421-a, and through the Gowanus Rezoning (the biggest affordable housing rezoning in recent years, and one of the only ones supported by its community board). As Comptroller, I’ve made historic investments in housing affordability, issuing $2 billion in social bonds (the first in the City’s history) that have financed thousands of units of low-income housing, and an innovative investment of pension fund dollars that saved the 35,000 units of rent-stabilized housing put at risk by the failure of Signature Bank.
As Mayor, I will increase affordable housing for all incomes:
Declare a temporary emergency for housing to expedite growth by streamlining and expediting ULURP and convening a new Citizens Assembly to build a shared, community-driven vision for adding 500,000 new units of housing over 10 years to lay the groundwork for long-term comprehensive planning. Rezoning actions that are in compliance with these plans for housing growth would go through a new, alternative 90-day public review process and would not be subject to Council review or adoption.
Increase housing density on key sites ripe for development – including 4 of the City’s 12 municipal golf courses and other state and city owned land – by working in partnership with faith-based institutions to invest in their houses of worship while creating new housing, and identifying large, stalled privately-owned development sites and working with developers to get shovels in the ground.
Make it easier to build the housing New Yorkers need, by enabling co-living and co-housing models, simplifying zoning through form-based zoning in appropriate situations, expanding safe basements and accessory dwelling units, launching Home Share NYC, reviving the original City of Yes proposal by putting it on the ballot to voters, and investing City capital to develop new affordable housing through NYCHA and the NYCHA Preservation Trust.
Advance specific opportunities for neighborhood and transit-oriented growth and rezonings in Long Island City and along the proposed Interborough Express, which will connect Jackson Heights in Queens and Bay Ridge in Brooklyn.
Develop long-term comprehensive and regional plans, working with communities and the New York City Council to develop a long-term, citywide, comprehensive plan within two years of declaring the emergency to supplant the emergency process and create a permanent framework for streamlining ULURP and ensuring communities get their fair share of investments in school seats, parks, and critical infrastructure. Brad will also convene a Mayoral Panel on regional growth to develop and advance proposals for housing growth in New York City’s suburbs.
22. What are your plans regarding short-term housing?
I oppose intro 1107, which would further exacerbate the affordable housing crisis by allowing the conversion of existing residential space to short-term rental/hotel uses.
Additionally as part of my housing plan to tackle New York City’s intersecting challenges of housing affordability for both young and aging New Yorkers, I will create HomeShare NYC a new program that will connect homeowners who have extra space (e.g. retirees and empty nesters) with housing seekers looking to rent those spaces on a longer term basis (i.e. with leases for housing on a monthly or annual basis). This innovative program would add an estimated 10,000 rooms to rental housing supply, provide additional income to an estimated 10,000 homeowners, strengthen social connections and reduce loneliness, and increase economic security by helping older adults age in place and provide affordable housing for younger people.
23. Do you support fully divesting city pension funds from Tesla?
As Comptroller, I have called for the New York City Law Department to initiate securities litigation against Tesla, suing the Board of Directors for losses the City’s pension funds have incurred due to their failures to provide independent oversight, ensure a full-time CEO, and provide accurate information to the SEC and to shareholders; and for governance changes to correct those serious shortcomings.
In recent years, I have worked to hold Tesla accountable to shareholders, including the City’s teachers, firefighters, and other city workers who rely on their pensions in retirement. In the last three years, my office has led the pension systems to 1) vote against director nominees for failures of corporate governance, 2) vote against Elon Musk’s egregious pay package, 3) challenge the board over Musk’s antisemitism.
In recent months, since Musk took over DOGE, he has further abdicated his responsibility to shareholders while the stock has plummeted 50% from its peak. And yet, Tesla continues to assert that they’re highly dependent on his active leadership. This is not just misleading – it’s legally significant. That’s why I announced last week that I am calling for securities litigation against Tesla. This upcoming shareholder season, I will continue to hold their feet to the fire, pushing for new leadership.
Securities litigation could recover losses the City’s pension funds have incurred, and win governance changes that could address Tesla’s serious shortcomings more effectively than divestment. If Tesla does not make the necessary changes, or if the Law Department refuses to submit such litigation, I will support pushing for divestment.
24. Based upon your life experiences and accomplishments, why should we believe you would be a dynamic and progressive voice in elected office?
My track record over the past three decades shows that I will be a dynamic and progressive voice in elected office. Before entering public office, I served as the executive director of the Fifth Avenue Committee and the Pratt Center for Community Development, two affordable housing and community development non-profit organizations in Brooklyn. Leaders at FAC and the Pratt Center taught me what it means to be a New Yorker – to never give up on your neighbors.
As the son of a public school guidance counselor and a proud graduate of public elementary, middle, and high school – just like my two kids Marek and Rosa – ensuring all our public schools receive the support and resources they need to build a more equitable education system is a top priority.
My record as a City Council member and as the New York City Comptroller has been as a champion for racial justice and workers rights. As Mayor I will bring these progressive values and innovative solutions to tackle the biggest issues facing our city. In the City Council,I co-founded the progressive caucus and the national organization Local Progress I passed a broad array of legislation to help working New Yorkers, from fast-food workers to freelancers, win good jobs and living wages.
I passed legislation strengthening the New York City Human Rights Law, making sure that it is the strongest in the country.
I co-sponsored the Community Safety Act, helping to end discriminatory stop-and-frisk by the NYPD and create the Office of the NYPD Inspector General.
I led efforts to desegregate the middle schools of Brooklyn’s District 15.
My “fair work week” legislation ended cruel and erratic scheduling for fast-food and retail workers, giving them advance notice of their schedules, and a pathway to full-time work.
My “just cause” legislation ended arbitrary firings in the fast-food industry, and provided a model for job stability that New York City can build upon.
I passed the nation’s first law to guarantee a living wage for Uber, Lyft, and other for-hire drivers, putting more than $500 million in the pockets of drivers rather than Uber and Lyft’s bank accounts, without disruption to customers or a loss of service.
I introduced and passed the first law in the country requiring minimum pay for deliveristas working for DoorDash, Grubhub, Seamless, Uber Eats, and other food service apps — and fought successfully to preserve the law when lobbyists sought to undercut it at City Hall and quash it in the courts.
I worked with the Freelancers Union to create and pass the “Freelance Isn’t Free Act,” which gives groundbreaking protections to independent contractors to ensure they are paid on time and in full, and hundreds of freelancers have now recovered millions of dollars they were owed.
As Comptroller, I have continued to lead on expanding workers’ rights, enforcing key law labor, launching innovative new projects and resources, championing new legislation, and supporting workers efforts to defend hard fought protections:
Since 2022, the Comptroller's Office has recovered over $8 million in owed wages and civil penalties in enforcement of prevailing wages and 421a wage protections for construction, building service, and temporary office workers.
I created a new Workers’ Rights team within the Office of the Comptroller, which works across the labor and progressive movements to advance new projects and organizing, including the Employer Violations Dashboard and accompanying Employer Wall of Shame, an Immigrant Workers Resource Guide, and regular Workers’ Rights Convenings that bring together stakeholders from labor, worker centers, academia, government, and advocacy.
I have fought alongside deliveristas and Uber and Lyft drivers to defend the minimum pay protections he passed in the Council from corporate efforts to undermine them.
As Mayor, I will prioritize the rights, safety, and dignity of all New Yorkers by creating an Office of Workers’ Rights to lead a citywide strategy for stronger labor protections, immigrant rights, and economic justice. Our city must remain a beacon of opportunity, where immigrants seeking refuge are protected, where every worker—regardless of status—earns fair wages and benefits, and where our communities are safe and thriving. I will uphold our sanctuary city laws, defend reproductive rights, and ensure that all New Yorkers—regardless of race, faith, gender identity, or background—are free from discrimination and violence. Public safety must be holistic: policing plays a role in preventing crime and removing illegal guns, but true safety also requires investments in mental health care, substance abuse treatment, education, and economic opportunity. I will take a coordinated, data-driven approach to combating violence, hate crimes, and systemic injustices—ensuring fairness, transparency, and accountability at every level of city government.
25. What additional information would you like the Jim Owles club to consider when we are making our endorsement decision?
I have the broadest political support of any candidate in the field, and the best chance to beat Andrew Cuomo in the final round of ranked-choice voting.
I won citywide office in 2021 by building a broad coalition of working- and middle-class, progressive, liberal, and moderate Democrats, across race and neighborhoods, as well as unions, Democratic political clubs, and other endorses. That coalition included most voters who voted for Maya Wiley or Kathryn Garcia, plus a strong showing with outer-borough voters of color, many of whom voted for Eric Adams.
I already have the backing of a diverse array of elected officials and organizations, and there will be much more to come.
I am ahead of pace to reach the spending cap in the race, having raised over $7 million (including actual and anticipated matching funds, so I will hit the spending limit for the race ($8.3 million) — and I did it without taking contributions from lobbyists, corporate PACs, real estate developers, fossil fuel execs, or private equity & hedge fund managers. I will therefore have the resources necessary to spend and win the race, a great campaign team that won my citywide race in 2021, and the broad coalition needed.
26. Are you a potential candidate for City Council speaker in the upcoming term? If so, what is your platform?
N/A