Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Cesar Vargas for Staten Island Borough President

Candidate Name: Cesar Vargas

Office Seeking Election for: Staten Island Borough President

Explain, based on life experiences and accomplishments, why you believe you are best qualified to represent your district

Due to my advocacy work in Staten Island, I have connections in the Latino, African, South Asian, Albanian, and Turkish Immigrant communities on Staten Island, as well as undocumented LGBT immigrant communities. The prevalent issues each of these communities face center around access – access to resources for immigrant owned businesses, for newly arrived immigrants, for legal assistance, for language assistance, and for services generally. Further, I was undocumented for nearly 30 years and have experienced the consequences of our broken systems. I am an attorney, a soldier, and a Staten Islander, not a career politician. I come from the community I am seeking to serve, I have been an advocate for nearly 20 years and am uniquely equipped to address the needs of Staten Islanders.

Please identify any openly LGBTQ candidate for public office you have previously or presently endorsed?

Cynthia Nixon for Governor, Council Member Carlos Menchaca

If applicable, what legislation directly affecting the LGBTQ community have you introduced or co-sponsored? (indicate accordingly)

N/A

What LGBTQ organizations have you been involved with, either on a volunteer basis or professionally?

I volunteered with the Staten Island Pride Center and Staten Island L' Unicorns

Do you consider yourself a member of the LGBTQ community?

no

Have you marched in Pride? Which marches and for approximately how many years?

I've marched in NYC Pride 4 years ago and 2 years ago, and the Staten Island Rainbow Run consecutively for the last two years

Have you employed openly LGBTQ individuals previously? Do you employ any currently?

N/A not an employer

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 believe health care is a human right and also have been advocating for immigrant rights for 20 years, as a result I've supported, attended and/or organized too many conferences, demonstrations, rallies, and protests to count, even more so during the last 4 years. Most notably on Staten Island I attended the protest against the Irish Day Parade due to their prohibition of LGBT members from marching in the parade.

Have you ever been arrested? If so please explain why and outcome of arrest.

Yes, I've been arrested once for protesting President Trump's racist policies, I fought the arrest and it was eventually dismissed

Do you commit to visiting constituents who are incarcerated in state prisons and city jails?

As an attorney I believe that a person in incarceration should have access to legal counsel, whether it is a state/city prison, or a federal immigration prison.

Will you affirmatively seek to hire formerly incarcerated individuals?

Yes

Describe your legislative and policy vision for combatting systemic racism

A Borough President has no legislative power, however I will use the expansive bully pulpit of the borough president to combat institutional racism, education and environmental inequities , and allocate funding as appropriate.

Will you not seek, and refuse, the endorsement of Bill de Blasio?

Yes, I am focused on earning the community's support, not elected officials.

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, and I support the renaming of every bridge, street, and structure to ensure NYC's racist history is not honored here.

What is your position on removing the Christopher Columbus statue in Columbus Circle and if so, what should replace it?

Remove it, and replace it with a figure that actually respects and honors the Italian history of this nation.

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. Public safety is a concern for all communities and we should respect that, however we can re-define how we ensure public safety. A hiring freeze and reductions will be important as we evaluate how to meet the needs of the community without reflexively involving more NYPD every time there is a concern or issue. Further, I would reallocate funding to help address public safety by utilizing experts like social workers and trained professionals, instead of asking the NYPD to take on roles they are not trained for, such as caring for the unhoused, or those with mental health issues, etc.

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.

Yes, all of the above. However, there are circumstances that involve police involvement, for example in domestic dispute situations that can get violent very quick, or when a domestic violence survivor returns to the home to obtain their belongings, the presence of NYPD can be essential in order to ensure safety of the community.

Should the NYPD Vice Squad be eliminated?

Yes, they have a demonstrated history of targeting women and abusing their power, among other situations.

Should Dermot Shea be fired immediately?

NYPD needs to be structurally revamped, termination of one employee will not address the systemic racism embedded in the institution.

Should the NYPD Commissioner require confirmation by the City Council?

Yes - it will provide an extra layer of checks and balances to ensure confirmation is done by representatives most closely connected to their constituents.

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 first step is ensuring access to clean and proper PPE, including masks. In the line of duty, masks may be soiled or inadvertently removed, it is important to ensure police officers have ready access to clean and proper PPE. Next, if they have access, and despite encouragement refuse to wear masks, they must be subject to disciplinary proceedings.

What reforms would you make to the Civilian Complaint Review Board? Would you support state legislation to make CCRB disciplinary determinations binding?

I support an elected Civilian Complaint Review Board, and, I support legislation to make the determinations binding. I also support taking away the Commissioner's ultimate authority to decide whether to discipline an officer, instead it should be done by the CCRB.

What is your position on the plan to close Rikers and create four borough-based jails?

We are in dire need of restorative and transformative justice that requires thinking beyond the concept of jails. We must address the root causes of crime, which we know to be due to systemic inequality, and racial injustice, among other reasons. Concurrently, restorative justice involves providing support and services to the individual who committed the infraction to prevent recidivism.

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, but more than that we need accountability mechanisms in place so that the Governor actually acts. Over the years, advocates have sent numerous appeals for commutations of sentences, especially during the pandemic, and the governor has failed to act.

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 would combat this problem by localizing 311 and ensuring language access - immigrants use 311 but cannot access it due to language access and because of how unwieldy it is. Further I support localizing 311 to ensure there is borough-based rapid response.

Do you support decriminalizing sex work? Will you pledge to oppose the Nordic model?

I support decriminalizing sex work. Sex workers who are criminalized are further relegated to the shadows, becoming more vulnerable for abuse by unscrupulous officers and others. I pledge to uplift the voices of the impacted and ensure any model that is implemented or solution that is proposed is community-driven.

Do you oppose school screening, which exacerbates segregation? Which screens in your school district(s) will you advocate to abolish?

Yes, I believe it is important to abolish screening that exacerbates segregation in schools so that students are admitted from across the achievement spectrum. However, it is equally important to ensure that these students and their families are provided with adequate support to ensure they are not being admitted just to fail. They must be supported educationally and with resources as appropriate to set them up for success.

Describe what reforms you would make to the control of the NYC public school system.

COVID-19 highlighted not just the inequities that were exacerbated by the pandemic, but the long-standing deficiencies in infrastructure. It is important that there is expert input when it comes to the public schools, from mental health, epidemiological and medical experts to first responders in order to insure the schools are prepared for the next natural disaster just as much as they are for the next public health emergency.

Do you support public funding of abortion?

Yes. I support public funding for health care for all, especially funding addressing health inequities and areas that have been historically underfunded.

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, as long as the establishment of safe consumption sites adequately addresses not just the needs of the impacted but also the community where the site is located. This involves allocating resources for mental health experts, social workers, and staff to ensure adequate supervision in and out of the sites.

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?

I have not supported members of the IDC. In 2018,I supported members like Jessica Ramos and State Senators Salazar and Myrie to defeat the IDC.

What will you do to support nightlife in NYC?

Many businesses have been negatively impacted by the pandemic. One of my initiatives during the first 100 days of office is to establish and Office of Small Businesses that would allow business owners access to resources addressing their needs and allowing them to re-open safely.

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, it is important to me that the community members that are impacted by any situation have a direct say in the solutions that are generated to address the concerns.

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, I love dancing

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?

Local members should be allowed to influence the development proposals before the Council, however local communities should have greater influence and authority to disapprove mega developments that will negatively impact their community.

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 support and will advocate for non-citizen voting in municipal elections, ICE out of NYC/abolishing ICE, and no collaboration between city agencies and ICE

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 Borough President has no legislative powers but I will be a strong advocate that healthcare is a human right and no New Yorker should go without health care, especially due to immigration status acting as a dis-qualifier. The City must expand access and affordability, and I will also continue to advocate for a public hospital on Staten Island, the only borough that does not have one.

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 B) Public Advocate 2013 - Letiticia James and 2019 Jumaane Williams C) Bernie Sanders in 2016 and Bernie Sanders in 2020 C) Cynthia Nixon for Governor and Zephyr Teachout for Attorney General in 2018

Top 3 issues you aim to address locally and legislatively

A borough president is not able to pass laws, however if elected I want to confront the aggressive development that has been displacing communities of color on Staten Island, support legislation that grants non-citizens the right to vote in municipal elections, and support legislation investing in adult literacy in immigrant communities. Most immediately, I want to allocate resources to better address the COVID-19 testing and vaccine needs of Staten Islanders, specifically investing in the home-based program so Staten Islanders can be tested and vaccinated in the comfort of their home and in their communities. Additionally, I want to clean up existing green spaces, for example Veterans Park in the north shore of Staten Island has elevated levels of lead and arsenic which poses health challenges to the community.

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?

On all 3 points, I support a more participatory process that allows community members, especially communities of color, to have more power and say over the budget, land use, and authorities of municipal offices.

Please explain your vision for the present powers of the office you are seeking and how you intend to exercise them?

Staten Island is the most conservative borough in NYC, and we have witnessed the acute impact of long-standing racial inequality which have exacerbated the harms caused by chronic deficiencies in infrastructure and access to resources. We need to make sure Staten Island is a more just, safe, and prosperous borough for all Staten Islanders, and we need to confront the inequities that have been further exposed by the pandemic. I intend to do that, in part by uplifting the voices of the impacted and supporting/implementing community-driven solutions. Further, during the first 100 days in office, I intend to establish a group of offices specializing in the areas of need that are prevalent across Staten Island that will allow Staten Islanders to expeditiously access the resources they need.

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. The club and the community can do their part in remaining civically engaged, and uplifting the voices of communities of color, including undocumented immigrants, who have historically been sidelined by the political machine.

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?

I was a late-comer into the election for Staten Island Borough President, becoming a citizen just 3 weeks ago and I chose to focus my campaign on connecting with Staten Islanders, more than 2100 of whom signed my petition for Borough President. As a result, I do not have any endorsements at this time but I have immense community support. Further, as mentioned above, I am a formerly undocumented immigrant and have been advocating for the needs of the immigrant community for nearly 20 years and understand the challenges we all face. A vote for me is a vote for our communities