Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Erik Bottcher for City Council District 3
Candidate Name: Erik Bottcher
Office Seeking Election for: New York City Council District 3
Campaign Website: https://www.erikbottcher.com/
Campaign Social Media Handles: @ebottcher (IG & Twitter)
1. Do you consider yourself a member of the LGBTQ community? Yes
2. If you answered “yes” to the first question, do you believe members of hate groups should be permitted to join the City Council LGBTQIA+ caucus? Do you believe the Republican party is a hate group? If you answered yes to both questions, do you support ejecting Republicans from the caucus? I wouldn’t favor ejecting them from the caucus based on party affiliation alone, but reserve the right to do so in the future.
3. What work have you done on behalf of the LGBTQ community? This can include endorsing LGBTQ candidates, drafting or advocating for legislation directly benefiting the LGBTQ community, working with LGBTQ organizations, allocating funds to LGBTQ organizations, marching in Pride parades, attending rallies/protests/press conferences in support of LGBTQ issues, and/or employing openly LGBTQ individuals. I’ve been working on LGBTQ issues throughout my professional career. More recently, during my tenure as a City Council Member, I’ve passed legislation that will require the NYC Department of Education to distribute suicide prevention resources to all students, introduced a resolution urging the State legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, the Gender Identity Respect, Dignity and Safety Act, legislation by Senator Julia Salazar and Assemblymember Nily Rozic which would help ensure the appropriate treatment and placement of incarcerated people based upon their gender identity. When the federal government botched the initial response to the monkeypox epidemic, I helped lead the fight to raise awareness and to get more vaccines for our community. When bigots came to Chelsea and the Village to shut down drag story hour, I stood up against them, and we sent a message to the whole country that that kind of hatred and ignorance is not welcomed in our city. Our community responded as nightlife patrons have been drugged and robbed in bars and clubs, and I organized the distribution of nightlife safety tips and helped spread awareness, while ensuring that law enforcement investigated with all the resources at their disposal. I’ve advocated for funding in the budget for programs that serve our community.
4. Has Mayor Eric Adams met the needs of the LGBTQ community? Please include “yes” or “no” in your answer, and explain your answer.
No. Our community has great needs that have not been met in many areas, including housing, mental health, education, and more.
5. Would you demand that the Mayor re-institute its office of LGBTQ affairs, with its leader being a member of the LGBTQ community chosen in consultation with the City Council LGBTQIA+ Caucus?
Yes
6. Have you made requests to the Office of the Mayor to demand inclusion of LGBTQ community in city administration and on city boards? Can you give examples? I haven’t made specific requests though I support more representation.
7. Do you support reparations for slavery? Yes
8. Do you oppose all efforts to weaken bail reform? The discovery process has reportedly caused delays in our justice system which has resulted in longer wait times.
9. Do you support closing Rikers Island? Do you support the administration’s plan to open borough-based jails? Yes
10. Do you support legislation outlawing solitary confinement in all jails and prisons, including city jails, and do you support Intro 549 (regarding solitary confinement)? Yes
11. Will you publicly call on the governor to use her clemency power for the many incarcerated New Yorkers who can safely return home? Will you tweet out your support for this or issue a public statement? Would you be willing to be critical of a governor who does not exercise their power to grant clemencies and commutations to those worthy of release? Have you ever spoken out in such a way? Yes
12. If elected, will you include in your office’s newsletter instructions for your constituents on how their loved ones can apply for clemency? Yes
13. Do you commit to visiting constituents who are incarcerated in state prisons and city jails? When did you do so last? Yes. I visited Judith Clark in 2016.
14. Do you believe in the decriminalization of sex work? If so, do you support full decriminalization, including decriminalizing purchase and facilitation? Will you commit to opposing the Nordic model, which continues criminalizing purchase and facilitation while decriminalizing sale? Yes
15. What proposals will you advocate for to protect immigrants and further New York as a “Sanctuary City”?
One need only look at my track record as a Council Member to see my dedication to immigrant communities. The district I represent has become the primary arrival point for tens of thousands of asylum-seekers arriving in New York via bus. I was there at the Port Authority Bus Terminal to welcome them alongside the New York Immigration Coalition and other volunteers. I am there at the hotels at which they are being housed to ensure that they’re being properly cared for. I am there at our local schools to ensure that the asylum seeking children are being welcomed and provided for and properly educated. I speak loudly and publicly on television, on the radio, in print media and social media, about the need to welcome our new neighbors to treat them with the love and care that they deserve as human beings. At the City Council I’m a strong supporter of pro immigrant legislation, programs serving our immigrants, and much more. I’ll continue to be a steadfast supporter of immigrant communities.
16. Did you support legislation, which passed, to allow non-citizen New Yorkers to vote? Do you support the appeal of the case in which the law was held unconstitutional? Yes
17. Do you support the establishment of supervised drug consumption spaces in your district? Yes
18. Do you support ending qualified immunity for police and other law enforcement individuals? Yes
19. 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. I’d like to reduce police involvement as much as is practicable.
20. Should law enforcement "Vice Squads" be eliminated? Yes
21. Should the Gangs Database be abolished and do you / will you co-sponsor on the subject? I haven’t signed on to this legislation at this time.
22. Do you support the Progressive Caucus’s requirement that members support cutting funding to NYPD in favor of alternative safety infrastructure? No
23. What concretely have you done to improve access to reproductive healthcare? If elected, what more will you do? Be specific. I’m proud that our budget last year included $1 million towards expanding access to abortion care in New York City - the largest commitment of municipal funds by any city in the United States. I co-sponsored the “NYC Abortion Rights Act” legislative package, which safeguarded and expanded abortion and reproductive health care in the City. In the wake of the Supreme Court’s June overturning of Roe v. Wade, the “NYC Abortion Rights Act” expanded reproductive health services across the five boroughs and protected those seeking access to care. It also codified New York City’s role as a destination and safe harbor for abortion care, protecting against attacks on the reproductive healthcare services from other states.
24. Do you approve of Mayor Adams’ approach to sweeping homeless encampments? No
25. Do you commit to speaking with restaurant and nightlife industry representatives before taking a position on any policies that affect their businesses? Yes
26. Do you commit to speaking personally with liquor license applicants and license holders before opposing any bid for a liquor license? Likewise for an applicant seeking your support? Yes
27. 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 a city bill to rename the former Queensboro Bridge? Do you authorize the use of your name for such a purpose? Yes
28. Do you commit to removing the Christopher Columbus statue in Columbus Circle? It should be renamed to honor the Lenape people
29. Who did you support for Mayor in the 2021 Democratic primary? Did you make an endorsement in the general election? No endorsement in the primary. Eric Adams in the general.
30. Are you currently a member of the Progressive Caucus? If you are not currently an incumbent, will you join if elected? I am not.
31. Do you believe the Progressive Caucus should have qualifications to ensure that its members are actually progressive? Please explain. Yes
32. If you are a sitting Councilmember, name three votes you took in the City Council that differed from the position of the Speaker.
33. The rules of the City Council often make it difficult to get a hearing and/or vote on bills of which the Speaker does not approve. Would you support, and introduce if necessary, legislation that could force the City Council to print, introduce, hold hearings on, and hold votes on legislation. Yes
34. Will you refuse money from individuals or Political Action Committees representing the real estate industry or law enforcement unions/associations? Yes
35. Will you refuse and refund any contributions from executives at corporations who donated funds to any of Donald Trump’s campaigns? Yes
36. With the continued boycott of Equinox fitness on the basis of owner Steve Ross’ support of Donald Trump and institution of “Don’t Say Gay” policies in his residential buildings, do you commit to opposing his application for a casino? In advance of the public process, I am not taking a position on any of the casino applications.
37. If you receive the Jim Owles endorsement, do you agree to identify the club on all literature and electronic materials where you list endorsements? Yes