Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Jumaane Williams for NYC Public Advocate
Candidate Name: Jumaane Williams
Office Seeking Election for: NYC Public Advocate
Explain, based on life experiences and accomplishments, why you believe you are best qualified to represent your district
I was elected New York City Public Advocate in a Special Election in 2019 on a platform of truly affordable, income targeted housing, anti-gun violence measures, fair policing, equity, and social justice issues. In the City Council, I worked hard to be an affecter of change, passing landmark legislation, including the Community Safety Act, which created the Office of Inspector General for the New York Police Department, the Fair Chance Act to combat employment discrimination. As Public Advocate, I’ve worked to restructure the office to empower staff to prioritize community engagement, outreach, and service. I have also passed more legislation in my first term than any Public Advocate has, including key bills related to housing, criminal justice, and workers rights.
Please identify any openly LGBTQ candidate for public office you have previously or presently endorsed?
I supported Cynthia Nixon and was proud to run alongside her during our recent bids for Governor and Lieutenant Governor. This year, I have endorsed Antonio Reynoso for Borough President and Tiffany Caban for City Council and I have stood shoulder to shoulder as allies in advocacy and passing legislation specifically aimed to increase protections for LGBT New Yorkers with my colleagues in my former capacity as a council member.
If applicable, what legislation directly affecting the LGBTQ community have you introduced or co-sponsored? (indicate accordingly)
Support for our most marginalized community members is essential for best health outcomes. My office has submitted legislation to ensure protections and signage for our transgender community including increased access to gender-affirming hormones and surgery, ending misgendering and deadnaming in healthcare settings, respectively Int 2120-2020 and Int 2119-2020.
What LGBTQ organizations have you been involved with, either on a volunteer basis or professionally?
I’ve been proud to serve as a member of the Jim Owles Board of Governors and was honored to receive the club’s endorsement in my recent bid for Lieutenant Governor and Public Advocate.
Do you consider yourself a member of the LGBTQ community?
No, I consider myself an ally.
Have you marched in Pride? Which marches and for approximately how many years?
YES— I continue to be proud to march. In the past I’ve marched as Public Advocate, with the NYC Council contingent and with different LGBTQ clubs throughout my tenure as an elected official, including the NYC Pride Parade, Brooklyn Pride Parade, Queens Pride Parade, Bronx Pride Parade and Harlem Pride Parade.
Have you employed openly LGBTQ individuals previously? Do you employ any currently?
Yes and Yes, and I will continue to do so, including in senior staff positions. I have one of the most, if not the most, diverse staffs across any marker or metric of any elected official’s office in New York.
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’ve never not been afraid to put my body on the line, and I believe many New Yorker saw me stand up and stand out in the streets throughout 2020 as their Public Advocate. As a council member I stood against the threat that Brett Kavanaugh presents to women, LGBT New Yorkers and people of more color, or to stop Donald Trump's deportation machine from targeting Ravi Ragbir and immigrants across this city. I continue to be unafraid to make the right decisions for the people and speak out for injustices, not what is politically safe.
Have you ever been arrested? If so please explain why and outcome of arrest.
Yes, more than any any elected official in New York.
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
Describe your legislative and policy vision for combatting systemic racism
Since being elected Public Advocate, my office has put out several reports with key legislative priorities to address systemic racism. These include removing NYPD from mental health calls and school discipline, as well as recommendations on housing employment, infrastructure and development, all of which intersect leaving communities of more color often receiving the least services and fewest resources. https://www.pubadvocate.nyc.gov/reports/
Will you not seek, and refuse, the endorsement of Bill de Blasio?
I have not sought the endorsement and do not intend to do so.
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?
Italian Americans have many things to be proud of in US History, but Christopher Columbus was responsible for a heinous genocide. If the statue is removed, we should replace it with something that can honor the history of Italian Americans and also pay respect to Indigenous Americans and educate on the history of their treatment.
Will you refuse contributions from real estate developers and all law enforcement unions or associations?
Yes to law enforcement. Yes to Real Estate, according to specifications in the pledge I've taken through the NY Communities for Change.
Do you support reducing the budget of the NYPD and if so, by how much?
NYPD’s budget being increased while social services are slashed shows that budgets are a moral document, and we need to drastically reassess the funding NYPD is given, and the expectations of what falls into their responsibility.
How would you have voted on the FY21 City Budget?
No
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. For more information see reports published by my office: A RENEWED DEAL FOR NEW YORK CITY (nyc.gov) WHITE PAPER: ON REIMAGINING SCHOOL SAFETY (nyc.gov) IMPROVING NEW YORK CITY’S RESPONSES TO INDIVIDUALS IN MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS (nyc.gov)
Should the NYPD Vice Squad be eliminated?
Yes
Should Dermot Shea be fired immediately?
I would like to consider this question deeper and am open to an honest conversation with your group and other about it.
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?
Forfeiture of shift’s salary.
What reforms would you make to the Civilian Complaint Review Board? Would you support state legislation to make CCRB disciplinary determinations binding?
Yes. The Civilian Complaint Review Board plays a key role in ensuring independent oversight of police conduct in our City but has limited means and limited presence outside of Manhattan, which hamper its effectiveness. I suggest Increasing CCRB’s annual budget and headcount of investigators. We should also create further distance between the head of CCRB and the Mayor. We need a truly independent oversight body for the NYPD The City Council should have more appointments and the Chair should be chosen by the City Council. CCRB’s only office is near the civic centre in downtown Manhattan. That makes its headquarters a tough commute for millions of New Yorkers. CCRB should have a greater presence across the five boroughs to make it easier for people to come to their offices and speak to staff about possible instances of police misconduct.
What is your position on the plan to close Rikers and create four borough-based jails?
Yes. I would commit the voice and platform of the office to the advocates and organizations who have been at the forefront of the effort to close Rikers. I would use the Public Advocate’s investigatory powers to examine the process and look for any roadblocks that may be hindering progress. I support moving detainees off Rikers and closer to courthouses to speed up the criminal justice process and keep these persons closer to their networks of support in the community.
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?
My office’s constituent service team hears from the community everyday, and supports the New Yorkers who ask for help. I would be open to any conversations with community advocates about how to best reform this system.
Do you support decriminalizing sex work? Will you pledge to oppose the Nordic model?
I support decriminalization of sex work. I’m working to hear from advocates about the best and most impactful models, and plan to continue working on this in my tenure as Public Advocate.
Do you oppose school screening, which exacerbates segregation? Which screens in your school district(s) will you advocate to abolish?
I don’t support relying on a single criteria test for admission to specialized high schools.
Describe what reforms you would make to the control of the NYC public school system.
Some educational reforms I support include: Fund the programmatic, capital, and staffing needs of our schools: Funding the programmatic, capital, and staffing needs of our schools: Implementing transformational equity measures in our schools that desegregate classrooms and lift up youth communities who have been historically marginalized; Decriminalizing students and end the school-to-prison pipeline; and Revitalizing CUNY through real investments in our students, including moving towards a tuition-free model, ensuring access to basic necessities, and significantly improving staff salaries and working conditions.
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?
Not personally
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?
I support enabling small businesses to thrive as a central value, and will learn more about potential legislation to do so.
Do you commit to speak with restaurant and nightlife industry representatives before taking a position on any policies that affect their businesses?
I work hard to make sure my office hears from the community that is impacted before pushing for any major policy decisions.
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?
As Public Advocate, I do not have appointments to 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?
yes
What role do you believe the local member should play in the approval of development proposals before the Council?
In best cases, Council Members know their communities more intimately than the elected officials in other district. That should be honored and acknowledged without granting veto power to someone who may view development differently than constituents.
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?
I have put my body on the line fighting to protect immigrants from ICE. I stood up to stop the deportation of Ravi Ragbir-- and he’s still here. I wish I could do the same to stop every immoral deportation. My office provides support and connection to services for immigrants every day. In a state that prides itself on its immigrant roots and the vibrant immigrant culture we have today, defending those people who make our state what it is, using our resources for the good of the people, is the only option. As Public Advocate, I will continue to fight against ICE and and expand the rights of our immigrant brothers and sisters.
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
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?
A- I supported Bill de Blasio for Mayor in 2013 B- I supported Letitia James for Public Advocate and myself in 2019 C- I supported Bernie Sanders for the Democratic Nomination in 2016 and 2020 primaries D- I supported Cynthia Nixon for Governor and Zephyr Teachout for Attorney General in 2018
Top 3 issues you aim to address locally and legislatively
Three issues I am currently working to legislate effectively to improve the lives of New Yorkers include a Racial Impact Study to make sure future development takes into account displacement and prevents gentrification of longstanding communities. I’m working to create a 3 digit number for individuals who need mental health support that they can call rather than 911, to create safer interactions for those who need support, but not cops. My office is support for small businesses including legislation to provide interest-free loans to small businesses, non-profits, and freelance workers following certain emergency circumstances.
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?
This is a complicated and important process to which I have not yet formally take positions. My decision making process as always will include input from effected communities and advocates.
Please explain your vision for the present powers of the office you are seeking and how you intend to exercise them?
In my current role, I believe that the Public Advocate, and ombudsman for the city, the office should be given additional tools in order to better hold government accountable, root out corruption and better serve New Yorkers. These include subpoena power, the addition of voting rights in the council and an independent budget. In addition, the Public Advocate should have an advisory role in ULURP similar to that of the borough presidents, giving advocacy groups a dedicated forum for weighing in on any rezoning, rather than play catch up after developers have cut their deals.
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’m always looking for conversations with the community about how to best support New Yorkers, and to hold me accountable if I’m not getting something right.
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 was elected New York City Public Advocate in a Special Election in 2019 on a platform of truly affordable, income targeted housing, anti-gun violence measures, fair policing, equity, and social justice issues. In the City Council, I worked to pass landmark legislation, including the Community Safety Act, which created the Office of Inspector General for the New York Police Department, the Fair Chance Act to combat employment discrimination.In my two years in office, we’ve completely restructured the office to empower staff to prioritize community engagement, outreach, and service. I have passed more legislation in his first 18 months in office than any Public Advocate has in their first full term, including key bills related to housing, criminal justice, and workers rights.