Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Maria Ordoñez for City Council District 7
Candidate Name: Maria Ordoñez
Office Seeking Election for: City Council District 7
Explain, based on life experiences and accomplishments, why you believe you are best qualified to represent your district
I am running for City Council because it’s time that City Council District 7 have true representation. I am a lifelong resident of West Harlem and I have seen working class communities of color like mine go ignored by our elected officials for far too long. Our local government has failed to provide for people of color, especially in the time of COVID-19. Growing up, I have seen my neighbors and friends displaced due to the negative effects of gentrification, I know what it means to attend a public school, and I know what it means to live in Council District 7. From a young age I have been involved in my community and have since been fighting for tenants’ rights, environmental justice, and to ensure that my community’s voices are heard. I believe that running is for everyone and it should not be limited to the rich, established, or well-connected. I am the youngest woman to be running for office in New York City and as a grassroots movement we will fight to address Council District 7’s most pressing issues. When I was 18 years old I ran for County Committee, a volunteer party elected position to represent my election district. I ran a grassroots campaign by knocking on every door and talking to nearly every voter of my district. I won the election and became one of the youngest county committee members in the City of New York. Additionally, I am an organizer from the Bernie Sanders 2020 Presidential campaign. I was recently elected as a presidential delegate to represent Bernie and NY Congressional District 13 in the Democratic National Convention, and received over 22k votes and became the youngest woman of color to ever get elected for this position in the State of New York. While organizing grassroots movement campaigns within the city and my community I know we will build a grassroots movement that addresses issues with housing, education, and criminal justice with my City Council campaign. I am not tied down to developers, police money, or the establishment and I know what my community needs and I am ready to continue to fight for them in City Hall.
Please identify any openly LGBTQ candidate for public office you have previously or presently endorsed?
I have previously openly supported and volunteered for Tiffany Caban.
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, but do support any and all legislation that will amplify the voices of the LGBTQ community and allow it to continue to thrive.
What LGBTQ organizations have you been involved with, either on a volunteer basis or professionally?
At Columbia University I was part of student groups that worked to amplify the voices of the LGBTQ community.
Do you consider yourself a member of the LGBTQ community?
I am an ally.
Have you marched in Pride? Which marches and for approximately how many years?
Yes, I have marched in Pride. I have marched in The Pride march and for 2 years.
Have you employed openly LGBTQ individuals previously? Do you employ any currently?
I have not employed anyone so far, but have volunteers who are openly LGBTQ.
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 attended Justice for George Floyd rallies, protests, and demonstrations. I have also attended rallies for Black Trans Lives and anti-Trump rallies.
Have you ever been arrested? If so please explain why and outcome of arrest.
No, but I have family members and friends who have been arrested for minor things and have been targeted for the color of their skin, accent, and citizenship status.
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
I will fight for truly affordable housing and advocate for funding for NYCHA, a Green New Deal for NYC that will help us transition to a carbon neutral city while creating quality jobs for New Yorkers, fully funded and desegregated schools, and a transformation of our criminal justice system to one that does not target and criminalize people of color.
Will you not seek, and refuse, the endorsement of Bill de Blasio?
I will not seek, and refuse, the endorsement of Bill de Blasio.
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?
I believe we should remove the Christopher Columbus statue in Columbus Circle. We should replace it with a statue that is representative of the most marginalized in our city. We will decide which statue to replace it with by talking to the community and hearing from them.
Will you refuse contributions from real estate developers and all law enforcement unions or associations?
Yes, I will refuse contributions from real estate developers and all law enforcement unions or associations.
Do you support reducing the budget of the NYPD and if so, by how much?
Yes, I support reducing the budget of the NYPD. It should be reduced by at least $1 billion and all that money should be invested in our most marginalized and disadvantaged communities of color.
How would you have voted on the FY21 City Budget?
I would have voted against the FY21 City Budget.
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.
I am in favor of removing police from all of the above.
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?
Police officers should be penalized with a fine and if they continue this behavior then they should continue to receive penalties and warnings that could affect job record. Ultimately, if police officers do not comply with the rules, then they should be fired.
What reforms would you make to the Civilian Complaint Review Board? Would you support state legislation to make CCRB disciplinary determinations binding?
I will advocate to ensure that the Civilian Complaint Review Board involves the community in its decisions. I will support legislation to make the CCRB disciplinary determinations binding.
What is your position on the plan to close Rikers and create four borough-based jails?
I am in favor of closing Rikers and highly oppose creating four borough-based 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
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?
I will update the technology, make it accessible to all New Yorkers regardless of language and disability, and ensure that we fully fund the system so they have all of the tools and resources they need. In addition, we must also ensure accountability so that 311 cases are addressed and people receive the services they need.
Do you support decriminalizing sex work? Will you pledge to oppose the Nordic model?
I fully support decriminilizing sex work. I pledge to oppose the Nordic model.
Do you oppose school screening, which exacerbates segregation? Which screens in your school district(s) will you advocate to abolish?
I would advocate to abolish all school screenings.
Describe what reforms you would make to the control of the NYC public school system.
I would fight and advocate so that control of the public school system be in the hands of the City Council and the community, including parents and educators.
Do you support public funding of abortion?
Yes, I support public funding of abortion.
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?
I don’t smoke.
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?
I have never supported any members of the IDC. In 2018, I made sure to tell my neighbors to vote against the IDC candidate.
What will you do to support nightlife in NYC?
I will ensure they have enough funding, support, and protect workers’ wages.
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, I will work to place restaurant, bar and club owners on community boards. I commit to not appoint or reappoint community board members who are hostile to food and beverage establishments.
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?
A local member should ensure to include the residents of their district in all decision making, in order to co-govern with their communities.
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 will advocate that we take police and ICE out of all government buildings, in order to ensure that immigrants feel safe in NYC. I will also fight so that immigrants have workers’ rights and protections, remove citizenship requirements for city/government benefits, and fight for voting rights for everyone in municipal elections regardless of citizenship status.
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 do support single-payer universal health care. In the city level, councilmembers should be a voice for single payer healthcare and pressure elected officials in the state and federal level to support it as well. We must also ensure that everyone in the city, regardless of they are, can have access to medical care.
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 did not vote in 2013, because I was only 13 years old at that time! B) Again, couldn’t vote in 2013 - I was 13 years old! In 2019, however, I supported Jumaane Williams. C) I couldn’t vote in 2016, because I was just 16 years old, but I did support Bernie. D) In 2020, I supported, organized, and was elected one of the youngest presidential delegates at the age of 20 to represent Bernie in the DNC. In 2018, I supported Cynthia Nixon for Governor and Zephyr Teachout for Attorney General.
Top 3 issues you aim to address locally and legislatively
1) Housing: Make housing affordable for everyone and house the homeless. 2) Education: Make sure that black & brown students have the same opportunity and access to quality education. Ensure that all students in communities of color have the materials needed to achieve in their education as schools in wealthier zip codes. 3) A Green New Deal for NYC: Make sure we pass a GND in NYC and for NYCHA. Give working people access to quality, green jobs that will help their communities and help them provide for their families.
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) Ensure that the budget process is reviewed by the City Council to reduce the Mayor’s control over it. 2) We must transform the way we deal with land use. Right now our land use processes are serving the developers and not working New Yorkers. We must ensure that we have community input and center our communities first in all land use and rezoning decisions. 3) Transform our vision of criminal justice and work with the Department of Finance to ensure that we are allocating money where it really needs to be.
Please explain your vision for the present powers of the office you are seeking and how you intend to exercise them?
As a City Councilmember I will co-govern with my community and ensure that their voices are heard and are part of all decisions that I make. I will host town halls, meetings with community leaders, with schools, etc. It is really important for me that I am including everyone, that everyone has a voice, and they too feel empowered to be leaders in their 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?
I commit to working with Jim Owles during my campaign and while in office. Also, I will be happy to collaborate with Jim Owles on policy and hear from their members about what matters to them the most from our local government.
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 am the candidate that represents the voice of District 7. I am a lifelong resident of West Harlem and I did not read or learn about the struggles of my district, I have firsthand lived through the struggles of my district. I believe in building movements and mobilizing people who often are ignored by our political establishment. I have been endorsed by progressive groups like Grassroots Action NY and the New York Progressive Action Network (NYPAN).