Candidate Answers to JOLDC: David Weprin for New York City Comptroller
Candidate Name: David Weprin
Office Seeking Election for: New York City Comptroller
Explain, based on life experiences and accomplishments, why you believe you are best qualified to represent your district.
I have extensive municipal finance experience. I’m the only candidate in this race who’s ever balanced budgets. I balanced 8 consecutive city budgets as Chair of the NYC Council Finance Committee, and I was Deputy Superintendent of Banking. I have the one of the most progressive legislative records in the state, authored the Adoptee Bill of Rights, Religious Garb Bill, have been leading the fight to alternatives to incarceration and was a key vote on marriage equality. But this job is about carrying out fiduciary responsibility to the taxpayers and pensioners.
Please identify any openly LGBTQ candidate for public office you have previously or presently endorsed?
Lynn Schulman, City council Christine Quinn, Mayor Danny Dromm, City Council Deborah Glick, Assembly Harry Bronson, Assembly Matt Titone, Assembly Tom Duane, Senate Danny O’Donnell, Assembly Jane Trichter, City Council Brad Hoyalman, Senate
If applicable, what legislation directly affecting the LGBTQ community have you introduced or co-sponsored? (indicate accordingly)
I have been a part of nearly every LGBTQ+ bill that came up in the City Council and Assembly. Chief among them are being a co-prime sponsor on Marriage Equality including giving a crucial speech on the floor and GENDA in the Assembly and in the City Council I voted for the first recognition of gay marriage in the state from other jurisdictions before it was legal in NY.
What LGBTQ organizations have you been involved with, either on a volunteer basis or professionally?
Stonewall Dems, Lesbian & Gay Democratic Club of Queens
Do you consider yourself a member of the LGBTQ community?
No
Have you marched in Pride? Which marches and for approximately how many years?
Every Pride Parade in Queens and Manhattan in the last 20 years
Have you employed openly LGBTQ individuals previously? Do you employ any currently?
Yes
What press conferences, demonstrations, rallies and protests in support of LGBT issues, pro-choice legislation, criminal justice issues and the Resist Trump Movement have you attended?
Many over the years including a gay marriage ceremony ahead of a Pride Parade with Assemblymember Dick Gottfried before marriage equality passed the legislature
Have you ever been arrested? If so please explain why and outcome of arrest.
No
Do you commit to visiting constituents who are incarcerated in state prisons and city jails?
As Chair of Corrections in the Assembly I have visited scores of state correctional facilities, local jails, and ICE detention facilities. I have worked hard to make sure that the inmate population is treated fairly and provided the needed resources for real rehabilitation. I have led the effort to ensure that the rights of immigrants who are detailed at local jails are fully protected.
Will you affirmatively seek to hire formerly incarcerated individuals?
Yes
Describe your legislative and policy vision for combatting systemic racism
Will you not seek, and refuse, the endorsement of Bill de Blasio?
We are not seeking the endorsement of Bill de Blasio
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 support the change in the name. I supported legislation in the past to change the name and would vocally support it in the future.
What is your position on removing the Christopher Columbus statue in Columbus Circle and if so, what should replace it?
No
Will you refuse contributions from real estate developers and all law enforcement unions or associations?
No
Do you support reducing the budget of the NYPD and if so, by how much?
I would support reallocating funding and make sure there is an increase in community policing, social workers, and people trained in dealing with mental health.
How would you have voted on the FY21 City Budget?
Yes
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.
Should the NYPD Vice Squad be eliminated?
Should Dermot Shea be fired immediately?
Should the NYPD Commissioner require confirmation by the City Council?
I would support this in fact when I was in the city council I introduced a bill to require City Council approval on all Commissioners
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?
Everyone must face penalties for refusing to wear a mask in public during the pandemic.
What reforms would you make to the Civilian Complaint Review Board? Would you support state legislation to make CCRB disciplinary determinations binding?
I support making CCRB determinations public.
What is your position on the plan to close Rikers and create four borough-based jails?
Support
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 and I have sponsored and supported legislation to do this as Chair of the Assembly Correction Committee.
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?
There needs to be a total overhaul of the 311 system
Do you support decriminalizing sex work? Will you pledge to 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 support creating more programs that outreach to underserved populations. We need to create more opportunity to bring an end to segregation in the City.
Describe what reforms you would make to the control of the NYC public school system.
As the son of a public school teacher and UFT member, I know the importance of fighting for our public schools. I will dedicate the audit and investigative powers of the Comptroller’s Office to ensuring that the Department of Education is properly spending our tax dollars to give our kids the best possible education. We’ve heard too many stories of bloated administrative budgets, outside consultant sweetheart do-nothing contracts and dollars that don’t trickle down to the classroom. Every classroom in New York City must be equipped with the tools our kids need to succeed. Moreover, our city has not done enough to fix the still very real issue of school segregation. If we ever have a chance at improving the socioeconomic divisions that are our reality, we must fight to make sure our schools reflect the true diversity of our great city. It’s in our kids’ schools where the building blocks for realizing this goal will be achieved.
Do you support public funding of abortion?
Yes
Do you support the creation of safe consumption sites? Would you support the use of NYC DOHMH authority to establish SCSs without NYSDOH authorization?
Do you smoke or otherwise consume weed?
No
Have you ever supported any of the members of the IDC? If so, who? What did you do to help defeat the IDC in 2018?
No
What will you do to support nightlife in NYC?
I have been fighting for nightlife and restaurants to open up safely during the Pandemic. I called for the partial reopening of restaurants in the summer.
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?
N/A
Now that the cabaret law was repealed do you support amending the zoning resolution to allow patrons to dance at more venues and eliminate the restrictions against dancing?
Yes
Did you oppose the de Blasio/Cuomo proposal (and giveaways) for bringing Amazon’s HQ2 to Long Island City?
No
What role do you believe the local member should play in the approval of development proposals before the Council?
N/A
Do you support legislation to prohibit discrimination against formerly incarcerated people in housing?
Yes and I have sponsored many bills that would do this.
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?
As Comptroller, I will establish a New American, Diversity & Inclusion Task Force that will examine and correct the shortcomings regarding access to capital and financial services for underserved communities, improve contracting opportunities for Minority and Women Owned Businesses, and enhance the ability of immigrants to build careers and businesses by opening up opportunities and eliminating roadblocks to success.
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 am a co-prime sponsor of the bill in the Assembly.
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) Christine Quinn B) 2013 - Reshma Sajuani, 2019 - Did not endorse C) 2016 - Hillary Clinton, 2020 - Joe Biden D) Andrew Cuomo and Letitia James
Top 3 issues you aim to address locally and legislatively
1. Protect the pensions of seniors and pensioners 2. Support NYC’s recovery post the fiscal crisis brought on by the pandemic 3. Make the office of the Comptroller a five borough office by opening satellite offices in every borough
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?
Please explain your vision for the present powers of the office you are seeking and how you intend to exercise them?
As New York City’s top fiscal watchdog, I will make it a priority to safeguard our tax dollars and ensure that they are used for the programs and services we need. Our tax dollars should strengthen our schools, improve our public transit and enhance our quality of life, not be spent on bloated administrative budgets, unnecessary and redundant bureaucracy or programs that don’t help New Yorkers. My Fiscal Watchdog Plan will save the city tens of millions of dollars annually, and allocate these funds to better uses that help all New Yorkers. Making sure that MWBEs are fully engaged in the contracting process is a top priority. Through the audit function, yearly, not every four years, I will be a strong focus on ensuring their success.
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?
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 am proud to have the most elected official endorsements in the race including: Senator U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi (Queens), U.S. Rep. Greg Meeks and the Queens County Democratic Party, NYS Senator Joseph Addabbo (Queens), NYS Assembly Members Michael Benedetto (Bronx), Steven Cymbrowitz (Brooklyn), Dick Gottfried (Manhattan), Rebecca Seawright (Manhattan), Vivian Cook (Queens), Jenifer Rajkumar (Queens), Jeff Aubry (Queens), Cathy Nolan (Queens), Maritza Davilla (Brooklyn), Bill Colton (Brooklyn), Stacey Pheffer Amato (Queens), Helene Weinstein, Chair of the Assembly Ways and Means Committee (Brooklyn), former Assembly Member Michael DenDekker (Queens), NYC Council Members Adrienne Adams (Queens), Karen Koslowitz (Queens), Barry Grodenchik (Queens), Peter Koo (Queens), and Paul Vallone (Queens), the NYS Court Officers Association, the NYC Fire Marshals Benevolent Association, the Uniformed Sanitationmen’s Association, former Congress Member Steve Israel, the former Chair of the DCCC who represented part of Queens in the House of Representatives, former Lt. Governor Richard Ravitch, former New York Attorney General G. Oliver Koppell, Manhattan’s Downtown Independent Democrats, East River Democratic Club, Lexington Democratic Club, Tilden Democratic Club and Village Reform Democratic Club, and Brooklyn’s Seneca Democratic Club.