Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Jason Lamar Walker for City Council District 36
Candidate Name: Jason Lamar Walker
Office Seeking Election for: City Council District 36
Explain, based on life experiences and accomplishments, why you believe you are best qualified to represent your district
Bedstuy is my home. I have roots in this community and have experienced many of the struggles that currently impact many district residents. I am formerly homeless. I resided in our city’s shelter system due to being displaced after hurricane Sandy. I was fortunate enough to have access to a voucher program (and a landlord that would rent to me) for my housing. I intimately know what the struggle is like to find a home. I have struggled with addiction and have family members who have been impacted by the war on drugs, mass incarceration and police murder. These hardships and political oppressions have also deeply impacted the people of the 36 District. They have harmed our communities across NYC, including Bed-Stuy, North Crown Heights and Weeksville. I have organized and worked on a city and state level for nearly a decade to advance socially equitable and just policies that restore people, transform my community, and undue harmful public policies to ensure that we have a city that works and supports for our most vulnerable. To list a few of my accomplishments in this regard. I have organized and worked to -Passed the 30% Rent Cap - a housing affordability bill that capped HASA clients rent at 30% of their income. - Expanded HASA services to include people with an asymptomatic HIV diagnosis (HASA For All) -Passed 2018 Runaway and Homeless Youth Bill Package that “Raised the Age” youth and young adults could reside in youth specific beds from 21 to 25 and increased the length of stay youth could stay in DYCD TIL and Crisis Beds -Increased the Unity Project’s funding for LGBTQ youth specific beds by $2 million in the City Budget FY 19 I am the best candidate for District 36 because I have committed my life to improving our society for all of us. I have consistently worked to bring communities together to pass public policies that reach and impact our most vulnerable New Yorkers.
Please identify any openly LGBTQ candidate for public office you have previously or presently endorsed?
None at this present moment
If applicable, what legislation directly affecting the LGBTQ community have you introduced or co-sponsored? (indicate accordingly)
I have not introduced or co-sponsored any legislation. I have actively supported the Repeal of the Walking While Trans Ban
What LGBTQ organizations have you been involved with, either on a volunteer basis or professionally?
Queerocracy, HMI, Reclaim Pride, and The Ali Forney Center, Stonewall, The Generation Project, GMAD, Harlem Pride, House Lives Matter, and a host of AIDS Service Organizations
Do you consider yourself a member of the LGBTQ community?
Yes
Have you marched in Pride? Which marches and for approximately how many years?
I’ve marched with NYC Pride In 2017 and 2018 and the Reclaim Pride Marches in 2019 and 2020. I also was a speaker at the 2019 Reclaim Pride Rally at Central Park.
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?
I have both organized and attended so many. -Rallies to Ban the Box -Spoken at several rallies in front of Trump Towers with Rise and Resist and GAG -Organized a Ball To Action event for Layleen Palanco and Kawaski Trawick enganging the house and ballroom community -Organizing, supported and led LGBTQ youth adovcacy against homelessness
Have you ever been arrested? If so please explain why and outcome of arrest.
Arrested for civil disobediences on housing issues and police violence. The outcome has been winning and/or advancing public policies.
Do you commit to visiting constituents who are incarcerated in state prisons and city jails?
Yes. I hope and will to work to ensuring that we have a society where we no longer have city and state prisons.
Will you affirmatively seek to hire formerly incarcerated individuals?
Yes
Describe your legislative and policy vision for combatting systemic racism
Ending the Prison Industry. I will actively oppose the building of new jails and support a transformative and restorative justice system for our community. Ending the Wealth Gap. Calling for a Progressive tax that will help to ensure that we have more affordable housing for people who are residing in our shelter system. Increasing the minimum wage from a living wage of $15 to a thriving wage of $25 Protecting Tenants and Supporting Stable Housing Accessibility. Ensure that every tenant has the right to counsel and stopping housing discrimination. Many people who are in our shelter systems are denied access to housing because they are reliant on vouchers/subsidies and are being meet with source of income discrimination. Strengthening Voting Rights. Ensuring all people, regardless of immigration status can vote in our municipal elections.
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?
Hell Yes.
What is your position on removing the Christopher Columbus statue in Columbus Circle and if so, what should replace it?
He was racist and ushered in a genocide of the people native to this land. We should replace it with respect and honor of the Lanape people.
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?
We need to reduce it by $2 billion each year.
How would you have voted on the FY21 City Budget?
I would have voted no. Our communities deserve and need the $1Billion from the NYPD to support healthcare workers, fund neighborhood based community organizations, and housing support for people in our shelter system.
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. From all 4.
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?
They should be fined at a higher rate than the people. (x2 or x3)
What reforms would you make to the Civilian Complaint Review Board? Would you support state legislation to make CCRB disciplinary determinations binding?
We need to have local CCRBs. Members of the local CCRB should be elected by the community board. I would definitely support making the CCRB disciplinary determination binding.
What is your position on the plan to close Rikers and create four borough-based jails?
We definitely need to close Rikers and not build new jails.
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. Our elders do not belong in cages.
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?
We need to ensure that the public concerns are fully addressed and resolved. I would seek to have 311 calls connected to city council district offices so that we can be sure that the problem is resolved and the issue is systematically addressed.
Do you support decriminalizing sex work? Will you pledge to oppose the Nordic model?
Yes. I have supported the advocacy of Black Trans Women and sex workers leading this work and will continue to follow the lead of sex workers.
Do you oppose school screening, which exacerbates segregation? Which screens in your school district(s) will you advocate to abolish?
Yes I would oppose school screenings. I would advocate for abolishing the SHSAT.
Describe what reforms you would make to the control of the NYC public school system.
We need to have greater community control involving not just the parents but the students. Students need to have a central role on the control of their schooling and education system.
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. For nearly 7 years, I worked for a community based organization that provided harm reduction support to active drug users. I know how these programs save lives and would be in full support of NYC DOHMH authorizing the establishment of SCSs
Do you smoke or otherwise consume weed?
I have.
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. I never supported any member of the IDC. The IDC was responsible for delaying the advancement of progressive policies that we were pushing in Albany. I supported the active call out of the IDC and supported the work of True Blue NY and Indivisible to support and help primary the IDC.
What will you do to support nightlife in NYC?
We need to provide financial support for more BIPOC owned nightlife establishments. There has been a loss of specifically BIPOC LGBTQ nightlight spaces. I would prioritize supporting BIPOC QTGNC nightlight ownership.
Do you commit to speak with restaurant and nightlife industry representatives before taking a position on any policies that affect their businesses?
100%
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. I definitely want to be sure that bar and club/venue owners are on the community board in our district. Especially BIPOC owned. I would commit to not appointing or reappointing CB members who are hostile to the industry.
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. I help to organize and lead a rally that shut down an amazon store in queens to oppose the building of Amazon HQ2
What role do you believe the local member should play in the approval of development proposals before the Council?
Local community members should have an active role in the final approval of development proposals
Do you support legislation to prohibit discrimination against formerly incarcerated people in housing?
Yes. Housing is a right.
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?
Ensure that we stop wage theft that is impacting many of our mirgant community members especially undocumented. We need to ensure that we do not allow ICE in any government builds, schools, or religious institutions. We need full decriminalization of sex work and drugs.
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. The city can implement a progressive tax policy, descale the size and reduce the scope of the NYPD to fund expanded access to affordabiltiy.
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?
Mayoral - de Blasio PA - Tish James (2013) and Jumaane Williams in (2019) Presidential - Bernie (2016) and Warren (2020) AG - Tish Gov - Nixon
Top 3 issues you aim to address locally and legislatively
Equitable Access to Housing and Tenant Protection. As the city develops, housing stability and access has become more out of reach for everyday New Yorkers. Tenants have long been struggling to pay rent and this issue has been exacerbated by mishandling of the pandemic. To address this issue, I would legislate to: - Legislate to ensure that new developments set aside 25% of housing for people who reside in our shelter system. - Increase the CityFHEPS voucher to match AMI - Provide a 30% rent cap to tenants who are rent burdened (paying more than 60% of their income towards rent) - #CancelRent Prison Abolition. We have a prison industry and a police force that is inherently and historically racist, classist, xeno- homo- and trans-phobic. It is harmful and does not restore people nor our communities. As council member, I will work to: - Stop the building of the borough based jails. - Reduce the size and scope of NYPD by means of - Removing the police from schools, responding to mental health, and traffic violations. - Decriminalizing drugs and drug use. - Advocate for building a community court in Bedstuy rooted in restorative and transformative justice. Environmental and Food Justice. The pollution of our water and airways has impacted the quality of life of all beings on this planet. Low-income people do less harm to our planet, yet are impacted the most harshly by polluted air and waterways. We need to ensure that we further reduce our carbon footprint, clean up our neighborhoods, and restore sacred land. As council member I would organize to: -Creating more green spaces for community farming (including rooftop gardening) -Free MTA -City waste is managed effectively and efficiently on every street in District 36.
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?
Land use needs significant reforms to create a process that is inclusive and results in affordable housing. Current process is completely broken. ULURP should be reformed so that comprehensive plans based on neighborhood and area needs are considered.
Please explain your vision for the present powers of the office you are seeking and how you intend to exercise them?
My vision for the present power of city council membership would be to boldly hold city agencies accountable to make sure that we have swift and effective implementation of public policy. This can be accomplished by serving on committees that impact our community like housing, general welfare, and civil and human rights. I seek to use the power of my council membership to support the pressuring of the mayor for a progressive people's budget that will invest in our communities harmed by racist and classist public policies and ensure that we have a city budget is equitable and resources our city agencies are well to provide quality services to the people of New York. Finally, I would use the power of my office for real and deep community engagement to ensure that the most vulnerable and marginalized New Yorkers are outreached to, civically engaged, and are a part of decision making processes like participatory budgeting.
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. I definitely will commit to working with Jim Owles during my campaign as I have done before. The club and the progressive LGBT community can hold me accountable by publicizing my vote, inviting me to speech at events, and having regular meetings with me.
If you receive the endorsement, do you agree to identify the club on all literature and electronic materials where you list endorsements?
Yes. With Honor.
What additional information would you like Jim Owles to consider when we are making our endorsement decisions?