Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Isiah James for US Congress NY-09
Candidate Name: Isiah James
Office Seeking Election for: US Congress, Congressional District 09 (Brooklyn)
Campaign Address: 495 Flatbush Ave
Campaign Website: www.isiahforcongress.com
Campaign Telephone: 718-697-1149
Campaign Social Media Handles (Facebook/Twitter): @isiah4congress
Campaign Contact (name/phone/email): Luke Messina/ (929-451-8182)/lukemessina@gmail.com
Explain, based on life experiences and accomplishments, why you believe you are best qualified to represent your district:
Do you now support or have you ever supported an openly LGBTQ candidate for public office? Yes. I am supporting Jabari Brisport for New York Senate District 25, as well as Nick Haby for Male District Leader in AD36.
If applicable, what legislation directly affecting the LGBT community have you introduced or co-sponsored? (Indicate accordingly).
N/A.
Although if I am fortunate enough to represent the people of the 9th Congressional district, I would champion legislation such as:
- H.R.2282 -“Equality Act”.
- S.1303- “Every Child Deserves a Family Act” and H.R.5374 -“Student Non-Discrimination Act”.
I would also introduce legislation that deems it a hate crime to subject any person to conversion therapy and legislation that updates the National Civil Rights Act to include LGTBQIA+ persons as a protected class.
What LGBT organizations have you been involved with, either on a volunteer basis or professionally?
The Black veterans Project which seeks to tell not only the story of Americas Black service members but those who are black and members of the LGBTQ community
If elected or re-elected will you become a member of the “Squad?"
Yes, 100%
If applicable, what LGBT organizations have you allocated funds to?
Parents, Families & Friends of LGBTQ People (PFLAG NYC). GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD).
Do you consider yourself a member of the LGBT community?
No, but I do consider myself an ally.
Have you marched in Pride? Which marches and for approximately how many years?
I didn’t march because I have a mobility disability, but I attended the march in 17’, 18’, and 19’ and I plan to attend in 20’ as well.
Have you employed openly LGBT individuals previously? Do you employ any currently?
Yes, currently there are quite a few members of my campaign team, in senior positions, that identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community. This includes my Campaign Manager, Events Director, Social Media Director as well as the campaign’s LGBTQIA+ Community Outreach Director.
If you receive the endorsement, do you agree to identify the club on all literature and electronic materials where you list endorsements?
Yes, 100%
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?
Most recently I was in attendance at the Women’s March in 2019 as well as rallies in Foley Square which were held in response to sweeping abortion bans that were enacted across the country.
I also led a group of progressive Veterans in Protest in front of Trump Tower this past summer calling for his impeachment and removal from office.
Have you ever been arrested? If so please explain why and outcome of arrest.
No.
Will you advocate for legislation to mandate the review of sentences of incarcerated individuals over the age of 55 who have served in excess of 15 years to determine if they warrant release?
Yes.
Do you commit to visit constituents who are incarcerated in state prisons such as Bedford Correctional Facility?
Yes. At least once a month.
Do you believe sincere remorse, risk of reoffending and actions taken while incarcerated should be considered over the original crime in determinations of parole?
Yes.
Have you participated in any demonstrations or protests in relation to the issues of clemency and parole?
Yes. I was standing in solidarity with those being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in inhuman conditions. I have attended numerous “pack the court” actions in solidarity of those facing charges protesting our racist criminal justice system. And I have been and will continue to be for closing Rikers Island while also being an outspoken critic of the city’s proposed plan to build new jails as a tradeoff.
Will you affirmatively seek to hire formerly incarcerated individuals? Yes
Do you believe in the decriminalization of sex work?
Yes. I have been a vocal proponent of not only decriminalizing sex work and sex workers; I am for legalizing sex work. Those who engage in sex work deserve the same dignity and protections as all workers.
What proposals will you advocate for the protect immigrants and the further New York as a Sanctuary City?
I will introduce legislation within my first 100 days if elected to Congress that defunds Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as well as legislation that calls for block granting cities federal funds to house and care for refugees as they enter this country seeking asylum
Will you advocate, including introducing legislation, to remove public funding from religious schools?
Yes.
Do you support the establishment of supervised drug consumption spaces?
Yes.
Have you ever endorsed any member of the IDC or any candidates who challenged IDC members? Please identify all candidates
I have never endorsed any member of the IDC. I was a supporter of State Senator Zellnor Myrie during his successful run for State Senate District 20.
Will you commit to hiring a member of the LGBT community to serve as a liaison to the community?
Yes. We already have a LGBTQIA+ Liaison on our campaign staff, and if elected I would have this position in my district office as well as my Washington.
Will you commit to ensuring diverse LGBT representation among your staff?
Yes. We already do.
Who did you support for office in the following races A) mayor and Public Advocate in 2014 B) President in 2016 C) Governor and Attorney General 2018
A) I did not support any of the candidates for Mayor in 2014. I supported Letitia James for Public Advocate in 2014
B) I supported Bernie Sanders in his bid for the Democratic Nomination, when Sectary Clinton became the nominee, I supported her.
C) I supported Cynthia Nixon for Governor and Letitia James for Attorney General
Describe any federal legislation and policy changes that you support in order to address the ongoing effects of slavery, racism, colonialism, and discrimination.
I would introduce legislation that seeks to undo the decades of harm that was caused due to the practice of “Redlining” by making a targeted federal investment in those communities in education, housing, urban infrastructure, and skills-based job-training programs in order to build a workforce that reflects the surrounding community. I would do this by introducing legislation that federally implements:
-Baby Bonds.
-Guaranteed Employment (Jobs guarantee).
-Raises the federal Minimum Wage to $15 an hour, indexed to inflation.
-Invests in Affordable Housing.
-Medicare for All in the form of a Single-Payer Healthcare System.
-Postal Banking for low-income communities.
-Significantly Raise Taxes on the Ultra-Wealthy.
-Improve Data Collection on Race and Wealth (Racial wealth audit)
As well as joining the Congressional Committee on Reparations and co-sponsoring legislation that has been introduced such as H.R. 40
What legislation or other policy changes do you support in order to make college and graduate school affordable for poor, working-class, and middle-class Americans and to alleviate the crushing loan debt that many students and alumni are facing?
I plan to introduce legislation that:
Eliminates all tuition at all 2-year and 4-year Public colleges and universities.
Establishes legislation that eliminates tuition at state trade schools; and provide additional federal funding for training workers affected by our transition away from fossil fuels.
Allows people that have non-violent felony convictions on their records to attend 2-year and 4-year Public colleges, universities, and state trade schools tuition free.
Ensures federal funding covers all expenses for college, such as housing, books, food, etc
Eliminates all $1.6 trillion dollars of student-loan debt.
Do you support a single-payer universal health care system? Please elaborate.
Yes.
I believe that there are basic needs that we must all have met if we are to survive as human beings. Housing, food, education, and yes healthcare. We have commodified healthcare in this country and by doing so we have made one of the very necessities needed to live, out of reach for millions.
That is why we must be crystal clear; “Medicare for All”, in my opinion, been co-opted by those who would seek to misinform people about their own proposed plans around healthcare. I think that’s its paramount for the United Sates to join the other 32 “industrialized nations” that provide healthcare to people living in their respective countries. We do this by eliminating private insurance companies and adopting a single-payer universal healthcare system for everyone in this nation.
Discuss your stance on reproductive rights, including access to contraceptives and abortion services.
As a cis-gendered, heterosexual, male I am fully aware that this is not the space that I should be leading in yet as a Congressional candidate and an ally of women in their continued struggle for equal rights I know that the positions I hold will always come from informed discussion with women who are experts in this struggle.
For too long women in this country have been dictated to by men about when, where and how they should comport themselves, how they should interact with their own bodies and most egregiously: when they should or should not carry a pregnancy to term.
Having said that, I am 100% for a women’s right to choose and to have unfettered access to family planning services, contraceptives, and abortion services.
Will you refuse money from individuals or Political Action Committees representing the real estate?
Yes. This campaign has from day one and will continue to do so if and when I’m elected to Congress.
Will you refuse and refund any contributions from executives at corporations complicit in the Trump agenda?
Again, this camping has from day one and will continue to do so if and when I’m elected to Congress.
What additional information would you like Jim Owles to consider when we are making our endorsements decisions?
For your consideration:
https://theintercept.com/2019/09/08/yvette-clark-isiah-james-new-york-primary/