Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Crystal Hudson for City Council District 35

Candidate Name: Crystal Hudson

Office Seeking Election for: City Council District 1

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

In 2013, I was a young professional working and living in Washington, D.C. when my mother first started exhibiting signs of Alzheimer’s disease. As the only child of a single mother, I spent an entire year traveling back and forth every weekend to tend to my mother’s needs, until I was finally able to return home to Brooklyn to care for her full-time. It was through this caregiving experience that I was called to public service, knowing that families like mine shouldn’t have to struggle as much as we have to ensure that our loved ones can age in place. It is with that mission in mind that I have decided to run for New York City Council, representing Brooklyn’s 35th district, which encompasses the neighborhoods of Crown Heights, Prospect Heights, Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, and Bedford-Stuyvesant. My family has been in this community for three generations, and I want to ensure that families like mine can raise a family, have a good job with prevailing wages, and age with dignity at home. As the next New York City Council Member representing the 35th District, I will fight for truly affordable housing; community safety led by those most impacted by over-policing and harm; the right to a world class education for every child; and a safe, secure place to live. Most of all, I am running to give back to a community that has given so much to me. My mother served as a nurse for over 40 years at hospitals across New York City and her unwavering compassion has always been an inspiration. I have long advocated for the rights of women, communities of color, immigrants, seniors, and the LGBTQ+ community, and I will carry that commitment to equity and justice with me as a Council Member. My 15 years of experience in public service, the private sector, community organizing, and as an entrepreneur have proven my ability to work hard, get things done, and build consensus. With an unrelenting housing crisis, over-policing of communities of color, and a struggling economy compounded by a global pandemic that has disproportionately impacted Black and Latinx communities, our City is facing challenges never seen before. And although we have not seen much leadership from those in charge, we know that leadership exists. Just as we did in the face of 9/11 and Hurricane Sandy, the community has stepped in when our City’s leadership has not. As the next City Council Member in the 35th District, I will forge progressive solutions to meet our urgent needs and will continue to follow the leadership in my community. We cannot afford anything less. I have no doubt that we are resilient enough to get through the difficult months and years ahead. As the founder of Greater Prospect Heights Mutual Aid (GPHMA), I have seen firsthand the generosity of my neighbors amidst the COVID-19 crisis. But this is not surprising, because it is exactly the same compassion and love for neighbors I have witnessed in this community my entire life. The same neighbors who once kept an eye on me as a kid and have looked out for my mother since her Alzheimer's diagnosis, are now among the folks we have been arranging grocery deliveries and wellness calls for. This moment calls for us to envision and create pathways for stronger and more equitable communities for generations to come. It calls for us to be bold and reimagine what this city can be for our most marginalized New Yorkers. I am committed to being courageous, remaining unwavering in my values, to speaking truth to power, to thinking big and being bold, and to re-envisioning a New York City that works for all of us, not just the privileged few.

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

As a first-time candidate, I have not had the opportunity to endorse any openly LGBTQ candidates for public office.

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

As a first-time candidate, I have not introduced or co-sponsored legislation directly affecting the LGBTQ community. However, in previous roles, I have supported principals in championing LGBTQ legilsative and budgetary priorities, and supervised staff who oversaw LGBTQ issues.

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

I am a current Board Member of Lambda Independent Democrats (LID); I was a Victory Empowerment Fellow with the Victory Fund; and when I worked in the WNBA, I spearheaded the team’s LGBTQ outreach in partnership with the Human Rights Campaign (HRC).

Do you consider yourself a member of the LGBTQ community?

I am a gay Black woman and proud member of the LGBTQ community. If elected, I will be the first Black queer woman to serve on the New York City Council.

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

Yes, I have marched in Brooklyn, Queens and New York City Pride every year for many years. As an out and proud gay teen growing up in New York City, I always found refuge at New York City pride celebrations.

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

Yes, I have hired, supervised, mentored, and coached LGBTQ individuals throughout my career both in the private and public sectors. In my previous role in the Public Advocate’s office and my current role in the New York City Council, I oversee LGBTQ outreach.

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 have attended countless events in support of my values. From protests to express outrage in light of the death of Eric Garner and rallies in solidarity with the Movement for Black Lives, to the Women’s March and rallying in support of anti-LGBTQ attacks targeting beloved establishments like Alibi Lounge in Harlem, I have always exercised the full scope of my first amendment rights and will continue to do so.

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

I have not been arrested.

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

Yes, I wholeheartedly commit to visiting constituents who are incarcerated or awaiting trial in city jails. As First Deputy Public Advocate for Community Engagement, I had the opportunity to visit students Eastern Correctional Facility through the Bard Prison Initiative. I am eager for New York City to play a more significant and seamless role in connecting our neighbors in the criminal justice system with direct connection to loved ones and the communities they are part of.

Will you affirmatively seek to hire formerly incarcerated individuals?

Yes, and this is something I feel passionately about. As the First Deputy Public Advocate for Community Engagement, I laid the groundwork for a fellowship program in City government specifically for folks who were previously incarcerated. As a Council Member, it is my vision to create a fellowship program for those who have been systematically left out of a pathway into public service, including formerly incarcerated folks and Black trans women.

Describe your legislative and policy vision for combatting systemic racism

My vision for combating systemic racism is that we must unapologetically center the experiences of Black and Indigenous folks, knowing that when our communities are safe and cared for, all other communities are safe and cared for. So many ills faced by communities of color - lack of access to housing or the ability to stay in one’s home; punitive discipline experienced by students; overwhelming exposure to hazardous living conditions and decay of infrastructure; and so many more - are too often the experiences of Black residents in my District, magnified because of the speed at which gentrification has transformed our neighborhoods. Race is the prism through which I view injustice, and I am a deep believer in an equity-centered approach to lawmaking and governance. Every issue that my platform is centered on - from educational justice and desegregating schools, to ending racist policing that locks up Black youth while white kids rarely interact with a police officer, to expanding accessibility at subway stations in the majority-Black parts of my district - are centered on the idea that when we target our interventions where disparities are the greatest, we can make the most collective progress. In short, when Black New Yorkers fare well, all of us fare well.

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

I have not and will not seek Bill de Blasio’s endorsement; and if offered to me, I will refuse it.

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, I will support and sponsor a bill to rename the former Queensboro Bridge.

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

I unapologetically support the removal of the Christopher Columbus statue in Columbus Circle, and also support the renaming of Columbus Circle. I would love to see this statue replaced by a Black and/or Indigenous activist who paved the way for folks like myself to serve in leadership.

Will you refuse contributions from real estate developers and all law enforcement unions or associations?

Yes, I have already done so as stated here: https://www.crystalforbk.com/our-principles

Do you support reducing the budget of the NYPD and if so, by how much?

I unequivocally support reducing the NYPD budget by at least $1 billion because the advocates who have been doing this work for years, along with families directly impacted by police violence, have determined this as the most important first step in the fight for a more just system. As documented by advocates like Communities United for Police Reform, the true size of the NYPD budget is close to $12 billion, which accounts for the tentacles of the agency that permeate so many other city agencies. There is no role for the NYPD in agencies like the New York City Department of Education, Administration for Children’s Services, or Department of Homeless Services. The dollars allocated to NYPD surveillance within each of these agencies should be reallocated to much needed social services and service-focused positions that allow New Yorkers a pathway to good-paying, unionized City jobs. Overall, the size of the NYPD must shrink and our investment in social services, youth services, education, and public hospitals must scale to meet the urgent needs of a post-pandemic City.

How would you have voted on the FY21 City Budget?

I would not have voted in favor of the FY21 City Budget, specifically because the Mayor decided to balance our fiscal crisis on the backs of working families who have had to bear the brunt of COVID-19 with illness, death, job loss, inadequate services, and more.

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, I am in favor of removing police from schools, mental health response calls, homeless outreach and services, and traffic enforcement. The dollars allocated to NYPD surveillance within each of these agencies should be reallocated to much needed social services and service-focused positions that allow New Yorkers a pathway to good-paying, unionized City jobs. Overall, the size of the NYPD must shrink and our investment in social services, youth services, education, and public hospitals must scale to meet the urgent needs of a post-pandemic City. As expressed by CPR, “the NYPD must act in a just, fair and safe way that is accountable to local communities when doing their jobs. Police are not above the law, and therefore must be held accountable for their actions with timely, meaningful consequences for misconduct. There should be zero tolerance for abuse of power and brutality by NYPD officers.” My long term vision for public safety is one in which members of my community can call for help from trusted neighbors, mental health professionals, and folks trained in de-escalation when incidents like “quality of life complaints,” mental health crises, domestic disputes, and even gun violence take place. Our City has found it far too convenient to seek out the NYPD as the be-all, end-all first responders, when 911 calls rarely result in justice, de-escalation, or safety for people who have experienced harm. Long-term, I would like our city to consider how we might train more credible messengers in meaningful de-escalation, support sustained efforts in neighbors connecting with one another to develop safety plans when a neighbor experiencing heightened stress may be at risk, or when a local business or a neighbor might be disturbing others. There are countless ways for us to keep ourselves safe and not involve law enforcement - as a Council Member, I hope that my office can be a beacon of connectivity and responsiveness to support community members when folks experience distress.

Should the NYPD Vice Squad be eliminated?

Yes, as exposed by a recent expose in ProPublica, the NYPD Vice Squad is rife with racist corruption. We must eliminate Vice and ensure that we have real safety options in place for sex workers who are in need.

Should Dermot Shea be fired immediately?

Yes, Dermot Shea has demonstrated disdain for New Yorkers, evidenced by the way the Department handled the protests in solidarity with the Movement for Black Lives.

Should the NYPD Commissioner require confirmation by the City Council?

Yes, the NYPD Commissioner should require confirmation by the City Council. I am eager to see a Commissioner who is civilianized, has a proactive, community-centered approach to policing, and is able to acknowledge and take action on the entrenched anti-Black racism in the force.

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?

Leadership must model good behavior, and I would hope that officers would feel inclined to protect not only themselves, but their families, and the general public they have committed to protect and serve. Police must be required to wear masks and that enforcement has to come from the very top of the Agency, as well as from the union. Those who do not wear masks should be put on limited desk duty; and those who are repeat offenders should be suspended without pay.

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

I would completely remove all NYPD discipline from the PD itself, and through Charter reform, give the CCRB the authority to set binding decisions on how police discipline should be handled. I would absolutely support state legislation to make CCRB disciplinary determinations binding, and look forward to working with my colleagues in Albany and allies in the movement for police reform to build the inside-outside strategy we need to make this happen.

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

While I agree with the vote to close Rikers, I do not agree with the decision to create four new borough-based jails. I envision a City in which Black and brown folks are free from carceral systems as we know them, and where real accountability and healing can take place when harm is caused in our communities.

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, I will advocate for the release of people who are aging in prison, especially in light of the pandemic.

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?

While 311 was a critical innovation at the time of its inception, we must revolutionize the system to meet our 21st century needs. I will work with the next Administration to support an investment in the technology our City needs so that 311 is readily responsive to New Yorkers’ needs, while using the power of the Council’s oversight ability to ensure public accountability for its operations.

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

Yes, I support the full decriminalization of sex work, and pledge to oppose the Nordic model. I also want to ensure that our City safeguards children - especially youth of color and Black girls in particular - who are disproportionately trafficked from group homes and foster care. I will unapologetically protect young people who are trafficked into sex work without question, ensuring that our City provides safe housing and support to young people seeking stability and financial resources to survive.

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

Yes, I oppose school screenings that exacerbate racial segregation. In my District, I have been staunchly in support of the elimination of Gifted & Talented programs, the abolition of middle school screens, and the SHSAT. Young people must not be evaluated on one sole exam to determine their future - especially when these methods clearly yield racially biased results.

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

I don’t believe our current version of mayoral control works, as students, parents, teachers, and staff are essentially left out of the decision making process. We need mayoral control that includes the voices of whole school communities, and centers the contributions of those who have firsthand knowledge of and experience within the school system. Especially in light of COVID-19, it has been abundantly clear that students, parents, educators and school staff are almost an afterthought in safe school reopening. The next Mayor must ensure that there are real participatory processes to put the most critical voices in our school communities first. Further, knowing that the Council has little jurisdiction over the DOE - but can take full advantage of aggressive oversight, budget priorities, and direct work with schools at the local level - as a New York City Council Member, I will work with my colleagues in New York State to fight for the full implementation of the Campaign for Fiscal Equity. I will make full use of the City Council’s oversight functions to ensure that a racial equity agenda that centers students of color, students with disabilities, and LGBTQ students will be front and center. When it comes to ending the school to prison pipeline, I will fight to ensure we eliminate cops from New York City schools, expand funding for restorative justice in schools, put an end to punitive discipline, and ensure that we have social workers and mental health practitioners to support the needs of all students in New York City - especially in light of the hardships of the pandemic.

Do you support public funding of abortion?

Absolutely - as a Council Member, I will continue to ensure that the New York City Council directly funds abotion services for New Yorkers at trusted providers.

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 support the creation of safe consumption sites and support NYC DOHMH establishing safe consumption sites to ensure that New Yorkers can remain safe and free of criminal surveillance.

Do you smoke or otherwise consume weed?

I consume weed on an as-needed basis, and haven’t had the need as of late. I’ve been using CBD oils and tinctures instead.

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 members of the IDC. In fact, I actively worked to defeat members of the IDC in 2018 -- most notably in support of current New York State Senators Zellnor Myrie and Alessandra Biaggi, for whom I co-hosted fundraisers and volunteered with voter outreach.

What will you do to support nightlife in NYC?

I am currently a volunteer with New York Nightlife United (NNU), where I have helped to identify deserving artists and venues to receive financial relief. I will work to ensure that in a post-pandemic recovery, we focus our energy on bringing back nightlife, the arts, hospitality, and the restaurant industry. We must provide grants and low or no-interest loans so business owners can get up and running as soon as it is safe to do so. We must also heed the lessons we learned in Summer 2020 to permanently extend New York City’s open streets program, outdoor dining, and other ways to activate physical spaces so New Yorkers feel safe and welcome to return to the things that make New York City so special.

Do you commit to speak with restaurant and nightlife industry representatives before taking a position on any policies that affect their businesses?

Yes, I will ensure that I maintain close communication with leaders and workers in the restaurant and nightlife industries before taking positions on policies that impact their businesses. I’m extremely proud to have a number of close relationships with restaurants and nightlife venue owners in District 35, and am excited to remain in close relationships with even more folks.

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, as a former member of Brooklyn Community Board 8, I know how important it is to work alongside restaurants, bar owners, and club owners to ensure safe and welcoming spaces for all in our community, while also ensuring that neighbors are able to entrust business owners to maintain establishments that are respectful of the surrounding community. As a member of Community Board 8, I was extremely proud to advocate on behalf of a beloved neighborhood bar, Ode to Babel, a small, Black-owned, queer-centered bar in Disitrict 35 that continued to bear the brunt of racist enforcement by NYPD and neighbors who could not stand the idea of queer people of color finding refuge together at a Black-owned establishment.

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 look forward to advancing a zoning resolution that allows patrons to dance at more venues, and also protects establishments that cater to LGBTQ+ communities and communities of color who continue to bear the brunt of MARCH raids.

Did you oppose the de Blasio/Cuomo proposal (and giveaways) for bringing Amazon’s HQ2 to Long Island City?

Yes, I unapologetically opposed Amazon’s HQ2 and developments similar to them - Industry City, the Flushing Rezoning and more - that have neglected to actually prioritize community needs.

What role do you believe the local member should play in the approval of development proposals before the Council?

The Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) needs to be radically transformed so that communities are driving land use and zoning needs - not private developers. Local Council Members must be unapologetically committed to ensuring that communities can set forth binding commitments for land use. I look forward to my office launching comprehensive, participatory planning processes so communities can determine their own needs, not developers. I am also staunchly opposed to member deference, and think it is short-sighted to believe that a rezoning in one borough will not have a direct impact on the other boroughs.

Do you support legislation to prohibit discrimination against formerly incarcerated people in housing?

Yes, people who are formerly incarcerated should be able to live wherever they are able to and where they have a support system, including at NYCHA, which currently prohibits most formerly incarcerated people from officially living on the premises. In addition to life experience, I would ensure that we enforce the current laws that prohibit discrimination due to race, source of income, gender, sexuality, English proficiency, and more.

Do you oppose the removal of the nearly 300 homeless individuals from the Lucerne hotel due to pressure from some local residents?

Yes, I oppose their removal -- the residents at the Lucerne hotel should remain in the location they are in, especially during a pandemic. People experiencing homelessness are all of our neighbors, and we each have a role to play in providing safe and welcoming shelter to people who are in need. The Upper West Side is no exception.

What proposals will you advocate for to protect immigrants and further New York as a Sanctuary City?

I am the daughter of Jamaican and Honduran immigrants, with deep roots in Brooklyn that span across three generations. My commitment to immigrant communities is one that centers the lived experiences of immigrants - those who have been here for the majority of their lives, like my mother, and those who have recently arrived to the United States seeking work and the means to support their families, like so many of my neighbors and community members. I am deeply committed to ensuring that New York City remains a sanctuary city to the fullest extent of the definition, that we extend voting rights to non-citizens, that immigrant communities feel safe and fully seen when they are looking to access City services, and that immigrant communities know that elected officials stand with them, no matter what. As a staunch defender of sanctuary policies and vision for their significant expansion, I would fight to ensure that our local government, under no circumstances cooperates with ICE, that we fully fund programs and services that support immigrant communities in the languages they speak, and that if and when a community member is deported or detained, we provide the impacted family with the full suite of resources that are needed - financial, legal, socio-emotional and otherwise - especially if a primary income earner is no longer in the home.

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, I support a single-payer universal health care system. Now more than ever, we must ensure that all communities have access to robust healthcare. When it comes to expanding healthcare to underserved communities and focusing on the issues that are within the jurisdiction of the City, NYC Cares must be more robustly resourced, advertised, and implemented across New York City to ensure those who are most vulnerable and left out of our existing healthcare infrastructure - especially undocumented folks - feel safe seeking care, not only when experiencing a healthcare crisis, but for regular, preventative care without fear of intervention from the criminal legal or immigration systems. Further, the New York City Council should conduct robust oversight of the first few years of NYC Cares and serve as partners in marketing its existence to constituents with the help of trusted immigration advocacy organizations and service providers.

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?

I was living in Washington DC in 2013 and was not registered to vote in New York City that year. In 2019, I supported current New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and went on to serve as a member of his senior team; I supported Hillary Clinton for President in 2016 and Joe Biden for President in 2020; and in 2018, I supported Cynthia Nixon for Governor and Letitia James for Attorney General.

Top 3 issues you aim to address locally and legislatively

My top issues are based on the idea that everyone in the 35th District - from birth to death - is able to not just survive, but thrive with the dignity and respect that we all deserve. The diversity of the 35th District and the richness of our local history reminds us that there is a place for all of us in the neighborhoods of Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights, Crown Heights and Bed-Stuy. Namely: 1. Education: Every young person in our City deserves access to a high-quality, comprehensive education that meets their needs - yet, we know that Black kids and children of color are more likely than their white counterparts to attend under-resourced schools and receive a sub-par education. As Council Member for the 35th District, first, I will work with my colleagues in the State legislature to ensure our schools are fully funded. At the City level, I will work to eliminate punitive forms of punishment from our schools that disproportionately impact students of color, particularly Black girls; remove police from our schools and retrain the workforce for municipal jobs; and eliminate gifted and talented programs that favor some students and not all students. 2. Affordable housing: There is likely no greater issue that unites most New Yorkers than access to affordable housing. A central reason I am running for City Council is because I believe that everyone deserves a truly affordable and safe place to live. Over the last several years, we have seen the abysmal lack of moral courage by our City’s leadership to build truly affordable housing for New Yorkers experiencing housing insecurity and homelessness. The numbers don’t lie: over 60,000 New Yorkers sleep in shelters per night, and the economic impact of the current pandemic has only exacerbated housing insecurity. And yet, this administration has spent the last several years focused on building and preserving housing that has never been accessible to people experiencing homelessness. Land use and zoning are one of the Council’s most important powers. New York City’s Uniform Land Use Review Process (ULURP) is intentionally opaque, leaving it almost impossible for anyone other than private developers and lobbyists to intervene. Rezonings in our City have decimated communities across the boroughs with little to no meaningful input from residents. Development projects like Atlantic Yards/Pacific Park, right here in District 35, have pushed longtime residents out and created chaos, endless construction, and little accountability for those who remain. As Council Member for the 35th District, first, I will work to dismantle the ULURP as we know it; ensure the Department of Housing Preservation & Development (HPD) subsidizes deeply affordable housing (0-80% AMI); and expand the right to counsel to all tenants in New York City who seek representation in housing court. 3. Shifting away from punitive justice and towards true community accountability: My long term vision for the criminal justice system in New York City is to create one that treats those interacting with the system as humans worthy of care and compassion; centers the experiences and leadership of victims of police violence and their families; and keeps police as far away from our youth as possible. As Council Member for the 35th District, I will make sure we defund the NYPD by at least $1 billion; decriminalize low-level offenses and ensure fewer people interact with the system to begin with; and address gun violence as the public health crisis that it is, and secure funding for cure violence groups and community-based programs.

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 a third Charter Revision Commission, I would push for 1) the budget process to include significant participatory input from all New Yorkers; 2) that we overhaul the Uniform Land Use Review Process and require community-led planning efforts to be binding agreements, and 3) that we expand CCRB’s powers to implement disciplinary actions for NYPD officers who have founded complaints.

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

The New York City Council’s most important powers are those of approval of New York City’s $90 billion budget, land use, oversight of City agencies, and passing legislation in areas that are not preempted by State and Federal law. I intend to make full use of my role as a City Council Member to overhaul the Uniform Land Use Review Process (ULURP) so community needs on land use are driving our decisions, rather than developers’ desire to make a profit; ensure that our decision-making around the City budget treats the process as one that reflects our morals and values; and ensure that I advance legislation with deep accountability to communities who are most impacted by the issues at hand.

Do you commit to working with Jim Owles during your campaign and while in office? What role can the club and the progressive LGBT community play in holding you accountable?

Yes, I commit to working with Jim Owles during my campaign and while in office. I look forward to serving as an active club participant and remaining in close dialogue with the progressive LGBTQ+ community, particularly with folks who are directly impacted by the issues coming before me for budgetary and legislative consideration, to ensure that I carry the voice of my community in my decision making.

If you receive the endorsement, do you agree to identify the club on all literature and electronic materials where you list endorsements?

Yes, I look forward to proudly identifying Jim Owles on all literature and electronic materials where I list endorsements.

What additional information would you like Jim Owles to consider when we are making our endorsement decisions?

If elected, I will be the first Black queer woman elected to the New York City Council. I would be honored to have Jim Owles by my side to make history this June.