Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Jacqui Painter for City Council District 38
Candidate Name: Jacqui Painter
Office Seeking Election for: City Council District 38
Explain, based on life experiences and accomplishments, why you believe you are best qualified to represent your district
District 38 has been consistently left behind by New York City’s government. We are a strong waterfront community in Southern Brooklyn and we deserve to be treated with the same respect-- and given the same resources --as more affluent areas of the borough. As a community of immigrants, public housing residents, working families, essential workers, students, and climate activists, District 38 is on the frontline of the battle against corporate speculation, climate change, ICE raids, and displacement. Right now we’re facing an unprecedented crisis that’s going to need someone who can listen to the needs of the people, lift up our essential workers, and fight for an equitable city for all working class New Yorkers. I grew up in District 38 and have seen firsthand the impacts of climate change, greed, speculation, and neglect on my community. I know we’re strongest when we lift each other up, and have endeavored to do that, both in my career and in my activism. My experience as a lifelong community organizer gives me the knowledge and skills to fight for our people and uplift working class and immigrant New Yorkers. I know the people, the breadth of the challenges we face, and how to fix them.
Please identify any openly LGBTQ candidate for public office you have previously or presently endorsed?
I have volunteered on both Carlos Menchaca's council campaign in 2018. I have also worked hard at electing Samy Nemir-Olivares and Jesse Pierce for District Leaders here in Brooklyn, as well as Genesis Aquino for State Assembly in my own district. I believe representation matters. I want kids to be able to see someone like them in office so that the dream doesn't seem quite that far away.
If applicable, what legislation directly affecting the LGBTQ community have you introduced or co-sponsored? (indicate accordingly)
I have never been in the position to introduce legislation.
What LGBTQ organizations have you been involved with, either on a volunteer basis or professionally?
I am on the operations team as the Digital Communications and Design for Lambda Independent Democrats. I have also volunteer at NYC Pride.
Do you consider yourself a member of the LGBTQ community?
Yes
Have you marched in Pride? Which marches and for approximately how many years?
Yes, I've marched in NYC Pride ever since I can remember going as a teenager, and Brooklyn Pride for the past 3 years. This year I marched in the Pride Rally with a large group we organized with LID.
Have you employed openly LGBTQ individuals previously? Do you employ any currently?
In my previous job as a director with Locust Street, 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?
Protesting and demonstrating are among the most democratic acts that anyone can take part in, and I am proud to have attended scores of protests in my life-- even before the current president took office. In 2014, during my senior year at the University of Colorado in Boulder, I demonstrated on behalf of the Marriage Equality Act at the capitol building in Denver. After the inauguration, Stonewall was one of the first places I went to upon returning to New York from the campaign trail, in order to protest in solidarity with the Muslim community ahead of the Trump administration's bigoted travel ban. From there I have been nonstop going to press conferences, rallies, demonstrations, and protests for the past 4 years, including each Trans Day of Remembrance rally, each one of the Women's Marches, and several climate justice causes. After the death of Eric Garner in 2014, I’ve worked closely with BLMGNY on several rallies and protests calling for justice for black lives and to protect the chokehold ban. Most recently, I'm proud to have been a part of the march from Stonewall to Brooklyn in honor of trans lives and against brutality from the NYPD.
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. Our district contains the Metropolitan Detention Center, where I regularly stand up against the inhumane conditions the inmates are facing. Especially now, when there have been over 100 COVID19 cases due to improper health screenings and non-existant protections. Every Friday since May, our community has been rallying outside the center to give the inmates hope and to remind both the inmates and our government that we have not forgotten about them. I have attended several of these Friday rallies, and plan to keep it a regularly scheduled activity until elected, when I can work for their safety at the legislative level.
Will you affirmatively seek to hire formerly incarcerated individuals?
Yes. It is extremley important to me to work towards creating more employment opportunities for formerly incarcerated New Yorkers.
Describe your legislative and policy vision for combatting systemic racism
We must combat systemic racism at every level of our city. Systemic racism is rooted out only with concerted effort to properly fund marginalized communities and create laws with accountability that eliminates discrimination in all forms. It’s imperative that we invest money and resources into communities of color and eliminate structures that perpetuate and maintain white supremacy. We need to make essential changes to: OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM: We need to desegregate NYC’s school system by ending the current admissions test regime, freezing permits for new charter schools, freezing the conversion of public school resources towards charters, and ending our current school zoning process, which reinforces school segregation. All of this work needs to be done in conjunction with communities and neighborhood-based organizations in order to develop desegregation programs throughout the city. We need to remove "School Resource Officers" who are often placed in low-income neighborhood public schools-- a racist tactic and a relic of broken windows policing that only reinforces the school-to-prison pipeline. We need to be putting money into our teachers and school counselors, and not the police. OUR CARCERAL SYSTEM: We need to move away from Rikers Island and city jails and create a citywide network of rehabilitative justice centers (as outlined in pg. 23 of the No New Jails policy packet) that make available to New Yorkers social workers, therapists, and violence interrupters. Additionally, we need to train community leaders on de-escalation, violence interruption, and other safety-oriented skills. At the statutory level, I believe we should decriminalize sex work, open container laws, loitering, and other racist, misogynistic, classist, and queerphobic codes on the books. We need to defund the bloated NYPD budget by half, re-train all officers, and implement a hiring freeze with a 3%-5% rate of attrition per year to reduce the force that is currently working. OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM: We need to municipalize our city's healthcare system to provide quality mental and physical healthcare to all New Yorkers that is free at the point of service. I will use my platform to organize communities around these proposals, and more. This can all be achieved through acts of legislature, and/or executive order, and I will advocate for abolitionist platforms if elected.
Will you not seek, and refuse, the endorsement of Bill de Blasio?
Yes, I will not seek and will refuse.
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, absolutely. I will make certain that I am one of the first people to sign onto a bill to rename the Queensboro Bridge.
What is your position on removing the Christopher Columbus statue in Columbus Circle and if so, what should replace it?
Remove it ASAP. We need to replace it with something to honor the Indigenous People of this land. "Columbus Day" needs to be renamed "Indigenous People's Day", where we take time to recognize and learn from the crimes committed by colonizers on Indigenous Peoples.
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?
I support reducing the budget of the NYPD by at least 50% in the next fiscal year, with the ultimate goal of abolishing the NYPD and their budget. I support not just a hiring freeze, since with a 3%-5% rate of attrition per year, a hiring freeze is not enough; we need to substantially reduce the force that is currently working.
How would you have voted on the FY21 City Budget?
I was actively organizing throughout the Defund NYPD movement this year and helped organize people to pressure council members to vote no on this FY21 budget that did not defund the NYPD and re-invest in our communities. I created a “People’s Budget” website tool that allowed people to tweet at their city councilors demanding a just and fair allocation for the people and not police. I would have voted no and will vote only yes on a FY22 Budget if it truly defunds the NYPD budget and refunds our communities. I would have fought instead for funding for social programs throughout the city, essential non-profits and their services, and not eliminating essential programs helping combat climate change like community compost sites.
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.
A, B, C, and D. We need to remove police from all of these.
Should the NYPD Vice Squad be eliminated?
Yes
Should Dermot Shea be fired immediately?
Yes!
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?
NYPD officers in our city currently operate as if they are above the law, whether it’s breaking COVID rules or assaulting people, this needs to change. Fines and other penalties other New Yorkers may face from breaking COVID rules should apply to police officers as well. In addition, NYPD officers should be faced with unpaid suspension, or even termination; especially if this happens more than once.
What reforms would you make to the Civilian Complaint Review Board? Would you support state legislation to make CCRB disciplinary determinations binding?
Police officers need to be held accountable through the CCRB and I fully support legislation to make CCRB disciplinary decisions binding. I will propose legislation to make the CCRB and elected body and empower it to have the authority to fire officers after an investigation of wrongdoing.
What is your position on the plan to close Rikers and create four borough-based jails?
Rikers should be closed with no new jails. I support an alternative plan for Rikers Island: the Renewable Rikers plan. This power should be a part of the public power ownership plan and I will listen to what the scientists and the experts say on this subject. If the plan for the wastewater treatment plant fails to make a meaningful impact on the overflow problem, then it is incumbent on us to find a solution that does.
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 has long been plagued with extended wait times, confusing interactions, and gaps in service. This is especially true in places like NYCHA, where 311 can be inaccessible and residents may not be able to register complaints with the service. I believe this stems from problems with funding, and lack of integration with government agencies. In the city council, I will push to make sure 311 is properly funded, and working fully with government agencies to help any New Yorker who needs it. We have the resources to do so, and can work with our cities tech industry to rectify system issues as well.
Do you support decriminalizing sex work? Will you pledge to oppose the Nordic model?
Yes we need to decriminalize sex work at the city level while also impanel a task force to deliver a report on human rights abuses by NYPD and other city agencies against LGBTQ individuals and adopt their findings into law. Sex work is work. I oppose the dangerous Nordic model which illegitimizes sex work and endangers sex workers.
Do you oppose school screening, which exacerbates segregation? Which screens in your school district(s) will you advocate to abolish?
Yes. The current tests and procedures for admissions further cement the segregation of our public schools. We need to ensure universal quality education for all of our students. We must eliminate screens based on state exam scores, specialty exams, GPA, punctuality, ZIP codes, portfolios, in-person interviews, and attendance.
Describe what reforms you would make to the control of the NYC public school system.
First we need to make sure NYC Public Schools get the necessary funding they need, starting with the promised Campaign For Fiscal Equity which would increase funding to public schools by $4 billion, most directly benefiting lower income communities. I believe in the democratization of our city's schools, with elected school boards that give control to our communities and families. To ensure every child has a great and equal educational experience, we need to actively make our Public Schools as inclusive and desegregated as possible by eliminating entrance tests, ending new charters/convert current charters to public schools, and ending our current school zoning process.
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 I would support it. Safe injection sites demonstrably improve community health where they are built. Coupling them with addiction counseling, mental health service providers, HIV and hepatitis screening, and free clinics would fill massive gaps in healthcare across the city.
Do you smoke or otherwise consume weed?
Yes
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 is essential to New York City. Nightlife alone generates more than 300,000 jobs, and puts $35.1 billion into our city’s economy. Bars, restaurants, and clubs have been severely struggling due to the economic fallout of the pandemic. There would be no nightlife without these small businesses, and I will fight for a recovery bill that saves the industry. I will advocate to cancel rent and propose a budget that funds relief for these businesses and ensure nightlife can recover after COVID. I fully support the Office of Nightlife and support increased funding, as well as expanding the role it plays in our city. We’re going to need a plan to ensure the workers are covered when they can’t work, and a safe transition for them as soon as they are able to come back to work.
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?
Yes
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?
Yes
What role do you believe the local member should play in the approval of development proposals before the Council?
I believe the ULURP process for rezonings is broken and favors wealthy developers over the community. We need a community centered approach to development that is publicly funded for the public good. I believe that the role of the local council member needs to advocate for the end to private developments that displace the community by changing the process. The Council Members role is to listen to the community and act to protect the most vulnerable who will be most affected by these developments.
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?
District 38 is a proud district with one of the most diverse immigrant populations in the city, and immigrant New Yorkers have been under heavy assault for years by the federal government as ICE continues their reign of terror. Unfortunately, NYC is a sanctuary city in name only. Every day ICE raids take place through the city and terrorize our immigrant community. This happens because ICE reigns freely and NYPD still cooperates and protects ICE in their operations. Furthermore, NYC courts turnover arrest records every day to DHS, which ICE uses to locate and make arrests. This has to end by sealing NYC courts, and barring the sharing of arrest records with DHS. There needs to be legislation passed that formally bans NYPD from collaborating, coordinating, or in any way supporting ICE operations. Many undocumented New Yorkers face deportation because they cannot afford any legal representation. This is why we need to vastly increase our funding for NYFUP - the coalition of non-profit organizations that provide free legal representation to undocumented immigrants. We should fully fund these organizations and pass a law that mandates that every undocumented immigrant facing legal proceedings must have free legal representation assigned to them. Our undocumented neighbors contribute and reside in New York just like everyone else. They should be empowered to be equals and fully participate in all levels of society. This means having the right to vote in municipal elections, have city wide work permits, and be eligible to every social service the city provides.
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.
I support a public, single-payer universal healthcare system in NYC that would cover all medical expenses. Working in organizing Medicaid and Medicare throughout the city for the past 4 years has shown me firsthand the vast economic disparity in healthcare accessibility. We need a system that works on the already existing framework of our medicaid/medicare system and make a universal healthcare system that makes comprehensive plans free of charge to everyone, regardless of economic, housing, or immigrant status. We especially need women’s health, and reproductive care to be a staple in every community. We can do this by adding these services to more comprehensive health “hubs” or clinics throughout the city. Some of these centers exist, but there is always an insurance issue. We need to make sure that our free health clinics are of the same quality as their for-profit counterparts.
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?
In 2013 I went to college in Colorado and changed my registration so I could vote on the Council member there. A) Public Advocate: Rafael Espinal C) 2016 President: Hillary Clinton, 2020 Joseph Biden C) Governor Cuomo AG: Letitia James
Top 3 issues you aim to address locally and legislatively
Climate Change, Housing & NYCHA, Immigrant Rights
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?
1) I would like to expand and further empower participatory budgeting in our city. I believe in a people’s budget, and that means giving people and our communities direct power in how money and resources are allocated. 2) Push for a democratized and community centered approach to land use and matters of zoning. This would involve a representative group of affected individuals in a community that would have binding power over land use. 3) Expand anti-corruption measures already in place such as increasing the years an ex-elected official can work as a lobbyist,
Please explain your vision for the present powers of the office you are seeking and how you intend to exercise them?
As council member I would have four main powers. Proposing legislation, voting on and shaping the budget, discretionary funding for community groups and projects in my district, and the bully pulpit of my platform to elevate issues and community voices. I envision using the combination of these powers to fight the entrenched establishment forces and deliver material gains for New Yorkers. I plan on fighting for a people's budget that defunds the police and funds a just recovery and use my platform to support progressive causes and elevate marginalized communities.
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?
Absolutely, I strongly believe in the mission and work of Jim Owles and commit to being partners in the fight for social justice and to protect the dignity of LGBTQ+ New Yorkers. Not just win the election but implement a progressive agenda in City Council. I commit to working with the JODC, and to make myself an accessible ally in City Hall. I believe elected officials need to be held accountable, and the best way to ensure that is to constantly listen to concerns of the community and stay connected to the grassroots. I hope to work closely with JODC to be held accountable and protect and uplift our community.
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?
This district is my home-- it’s where I grew up. Red Hook’s waterfront shaped me into who I am today. It’s where I fell off my pike cruiser bike, where I did homework in the library, and where I learned firsthand that communities like ours need to be protected. In 2005 my father founded Red Hook Boaters along with some of our friends and neighbors. Red Hook Boaters was one of Brooklyn’s first free kayak clubs, and still serves the community today. In 2002 I was one of the first volunteers at the Red Hook Community Farm-- then known as Added Value Farm --which helped spark an enduring passion for urban environmentalism. Over the past several years I have developed close relationships with community leaders and stakeholders as we worked together to improve the conditions of the neighborhood, especially in matters of climate and housing justice. My work at the NYCHA Red Hook Senior Center allowed me to understand and respond to the pandemic, prompting me to start Red Hook Relief, the mutual aid organization for the neighborhood. Red Hook Relief has been able to partner with existing organizations in its work, like the Red Hook Initiative, Red Hook Justice Center, Red Hook Art Project, Pioneerworks, and the RETI Center. In my work distributing meals to working families, I developed an ever-deeper relationship with community members and organizations as we coordinated food, water, and PPE delivery to the homes of the most vulnerable. My experience-- especially as an activist --is unique to the district that I grew up in, which is one of the most vulnerable to climate change and corporate greed in the entire city. In 2006, I co-founded the Green Schools Alliance, which has since grown into an international organization with thousands of student members dedicated to combating climate change and environmental racism. In June of 2020, I was elected to the County Committee, and since mid-2019 I have served as a NYC Parks Tree Steward. Recently, I’m proud to announce that campaign has been endorsed by Lambda Independent Democrats of Brooklyn.