Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Gale Brewer for City Council District 6
Candidate Name: Gale Brewer
Office Seeking Election for: City Council District 6
Explain, based on life experiences and accomplishments, why you believe you are best qualified to represent your district
The 6th District has been my home for 50 years and I have participated in its civic life as a parent of foster children, Chief of Staff for then Council Member Ruth Messinger, Community Board member, Council Member (2002-2013), and Manhattan Borough President (2014-2021); and have advocated for women's rights, tenants rights, substance abuse treatment, permanent housing for the homeless, environmental justice and parks, alternatives to incarceration, and better schools.
Please identify any openly LGBTQ candidate for public office you have previously or presently endorsed?
At Jim Owles, I was the deciding vote for Richie Torres' endorsement for Congress! In past races for state legislature, I have endorsed Deborah Glick, Brad Hoylman, Danny O'Donnell and in the Council Rosie Mendez and Corey Johnson.
If applicable, what legislation directly affecting the LGBTQ community have you introduced or co-sponsored? (indicate accordingly)
Many bills supportive of the LGBTQ community as a Council Member and the author of Paid Sick Leave and the Fair Chance Act.
What LGBTQ organizations have you been involved with, either on a volunteer basis or professionally?
SAGE, The Center, GMHC, Pat Martin and Paulette Thomas-Martin, Harlem Pride, The Ali Forney Center, NYPD GOAL, Stonewall Dems, Stonewall Vets, GLID
Do you consider yourself a member of the LGBTQ community?
No
Have you marched in Pride? Which marches and for approximately how many years?
Yes for many years, first with the Ryan Health Center Center and with the City Council and my own office contingent as Borough President
Have you employed openly LGBTQ individuals previously? Do you employ any currently?
Yes, many in the past and currently in key positions.
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?
Attended press conferences to end the Muslim Ban, stop people from getting deported, BLM in Harlem and elsewhere, keep funding for Planned Parenthood, and many more. Organized and implemented a BLM on Centre St near Foley Sq. with black professional artists.
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?
Yes
Will you affirmatively seek to hire formerly incarcerated individuals?
Yes (Have done so)
Describe your legislative and policy vision for combatting systemic racism
Schools: Fully fund schools in communities of color, hire more principals and teachers of color, provide a curriculum that speaks to the history and culture of the school community. Focus on issues of environmental justice. Police reform that eliminates racist conduct by police officers. All relevant legislation should be subjected to a disparate impact analysis.
Will you not seek, and refuse, the endorsement of Bill de Blasio?
Yes
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.
What is your position on removing the Christopher Columbus statue in Columbus Circle and if so, what should replace it?
The Plaza around the Monument could become its own Monument testifying to the historical consequences of the Columbus "discovery" of the New World, displaying historical accounts and testimonies utilizing passive and interactive media, such as info panels, QRs, and other technology as well as works of art.
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, to repurpose toward social workers, violence interrupters, and programs that focus on alternatives to incarceration.
How would you have voted on the FY21 City Budget?
I don't know.
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 to all but Traffic Enforcement. This group does not want to be supervised by DOT.
Should the NYPD Vice Squad be eliminated?
N/A
Should Dermot Shea be fired immediately?
No
Should the NYPD Commissioner require confirmation by the City Council?
Yes
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?
I have written to the Mayor and NYPD many times in response to constituents complaining about officers not wearing masks. Officers should be disciplined for violations of departmental rules.
What reforms would you make to the Civilian Complaint Review Board? Would you support state legislation to make CCRB disciplinary determinations binding?
Final disciplinary should be under the CCRB. Yes.
What is your position on the plan to close Rikers and create four borough-based jails?
I have supported closing Rikers and creating a new jail on White Street although the community in Chinatown is opposed to its proposed size.
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
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?
311 needs a unionized, professional staff and less outside consultant staffing. And better follow up with responses to constituent concerns as well as a new category of approaches.
Do you support decriminalizing sex work? Will you pledge to oppose the Nordic model?
Yes
Do you oppose school screening, which exacerbates segregation? Which screens in your school district(s) will you advocate to abolish?
District 3 has already stopped some screening in middle schools. Schools that are underutilized need support such as arts focus, dual language or a writing theme to attract new students.
Describe what reforms you would make to the control of the NYC public school system.
More power given to CECs and the PEP, requirement for greater transparency of DOE budget, more autonomy for principals, dedicated funding for a social worker in every school, city wide music and art in every school, and require that every school building be equipped with high speed internet.
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?
Yes
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?
Nightlife brings 300,000 jobs and $35 billion dollars in revenue and $700 million in local taxes to NYC. It needs to be safe for customers and employees, establishments need to be free of harassment by government, and mediation should be used in disputes between residents and businesses.
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?
I have put bar owners on community boards.
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?
Was not involved. Amazon is expanding in Manhattan and that is fine.
What role do you believe the local member should play in the approval of development proposals before the Council?
Review and pass Speaker Johnson's city wide planning legislation. I have implemented pre-planning in several recent Manhattan rezoning proposals.
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?
With the Biden-Harris administration in power, I hope that Sanctuary Cities will once again be a refuge from ICE and other anti-immigrant practices.
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 but need to work with labor unions because they are opposed to a system that would undermine the health benefits they have successfully bargained for for their members.
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?
Supported Jumaane Williams for Public Advocate and Hillary Clinton for President
Top 3 issues you aim to address locally and legislatively
Affordable housing, support for owner operated small businesses/storefronts and living wage jobs, better schools for all students
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?
I was the author of the bill that created the real Charter Commission with input on membership from ALL elected officials in NYC. I am opposed to Charter Commissions created by any Mayor alone. And under the last Charter Commission I proposed pre-planning and other reforms in land use, and the Mayoral appointees voted against such reforms and they did not pass. The 2019 November ballot included CCRB reforms and Ranked Choice Voting but nothing on land use. I was livid.
Please explain your vision for the present powers of the office you are seeking and how you intend to exercise them?
Oversight of the budget process to create real transparency in the expense and capital budget; pre-planning in land use; enhance the current NYC public programming by adding creative social media, artistic elements, and storytelling.
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 to always working with Jim Owles.
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 hope you will consider the importance of good constituent work in addition to policy positions; and give full weight to a candidate's history of service to the community.