Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Marni Halasa for City Council District 3

Candidate Name: Marni Halasa

Office Seeking Election for: City Council District 3

Explain, based on life experiences and accomplishments, why you believe you are best qualified to represent your district

This year's elections may prove to be one of the most important elections in several generations. We need to elect candidates, who truly have the public’s best interests at heart. Not only is New York City in a multitude of crises — unemployment, housing and public health — our city government is failing to give people what they need. Because of this, it is imperative that we elect better representatives, people who are not part of the political establishment and represent independence from big money donors and special interests. I am a community activist, former small business owner, figure skating coach and lawyer. I have a unique set of experiences. As a tenant activist, I was part of a movement in Fulton Houses and Elliott Chelsea public housing developments in my district against Rental Assistance Demonstration ("RAD"), a HUD program that puts public housing into the hands of private sector landlords. RAD is known to be an eviction machine. Our efforts collectively stopped the demolition of two Fulton Houses buildings and were it not for us, activists and tenants coming together, it would have set a dangerous precedent city-wide. In addition, I was a former small business owner of a coffee shop, Red Eye Coffee, which had to close since our landlord tried to extort us for thousands in cash for a new lease. Hence, my advocacy for the passage of the Small Business Jobs Survival Act ("SBJSA"). Unfortunately, the City Council never passed the SBJSA. If elected, I would reintroduce it in it's original version so small businesses would get a long-term affordable lease by law. I am also a professional figure skater and instructor at Chelsea Piers, proudly coaching the Sky Rink All Stars, United States Figure Skating’s National Showcase medalists for the past 7 years. As the coach of the All Stars, the longest running children’s skating ensemble in New York City, it's been an honor to teach three generations of children how to skate, develop a work ethic, gain confidence, be supportive team players and become the best they can be. Academically, I earned my undergraduate degree in Applied History from Carnegie-Mellon University, a Juris Doctor from University of Pittsburgh School of Law, and a Masters in Journalism from Columbia Graduate School of Journalism. Currently, I have an economic recovery plan to get us through this pandemic. I offer solutions like rent vouchers for tenants and small businesses that been hit hard by the pandemic, so people can stay in their spaces. The rent voucher — if accepted by a landlord — would then become the new legally-regulated rent, which in turn, would reset market rents. This system would eliminate any trigger for eviction. I also want to repurpose the many vacant spaces in our district -- abandoned hotels and empty buildings -- into single room occupancies (SROs) with permanent leases and supportive services in the building for people in need of housing. With a new paradigm of people working from home, and 20% of hotels never coming back, our district has an abundance of vacant space ready to be repurposed for low-income housing. This would take care of people’s housing needs and keep them safely indoors. In addition, if I am elected, I would create a mechanism for the community to have final say of land use decisions. I have seen all too often that elected officials hardly care about fierce community opposition to development. It’s time that we take our city back — the community must have the final say in all land use decisions. If elected, I would hold City Council hearings to determine what that looks like.

Please identify any openly LGBTQ candidate for public office you have previously or presently endorsed?

I supported Tiffany Caban, and I supported Persephone Smith of the Green Party.

If applicable, what legislation directly affecting the LGBTQ community have you introduced or co-sponsored? (indicate accordingly)

N/A

What LGBTQ organizations have you been involved with, either on a volunteer basis or professionally?

I have been involved with the Gay Games Figure Skating, competing with Sky Rink Skaters and Coaches, and have won four gold medals in ice dance in Chicago (2006), Cologne (2010), Cleveland (2014) and Paris (2018) with my ice dance partner, Chris Lipari. Competing at all of these events, celebrating Gay Pride and my wonderful relationships with the Gay Games Figure Skating’s international community, has been one of the real highlights of my skating performing career. I cherish these memories.

Do you consider yourself a member of the LGBTQ community?

Ally

Have you marched in Pride? Which marches and for approximately how many years?

I have marched in almost every year in the Gay Pride Parade since 2006, always in costume with political messaging like, “The Everyone Can Marry Fairy” and “Grab ‘Em by the Midterms” and “Fag Hag Against Fascism.” In 2012, the Heritage Pride organization saw my Occupy-inspired float in the Coney Island Mermaid Parade, with our performance art ensemble, “Collectively Conscious Mermaids Skate for Change.” As the silver medalist in the Mermaid Parade’s “best motorized float” category that year, Heritage Pride invited our float to participate in the parade with the NYC Gay Hockey Men’s League from Chelsea Piers. My husband drove the float while gay hockey players and we mermaids skated on synthetic ice together. It was a blast and a great way to show LGBTQ support!

Have you employed openly LGBTQ individuals previously? Do you employ any currently?

Yes, when our coffee shop, Red Eye Coffee, was open for business from 2016 to 2018. In 2016, we employed our friend, who was also an LGBTQ homeless youth, who today states that his experience with us as a barista was instrumental in putting him on the right path to economic stability. Also as a figure skating coach at Sky Rink at Chelsea Piers with a thriving business throughout the years, I have employed LGBTQ choreographers and ice dancers to work with my students. Currently, my campaign manager is an LGBTQ activist, Louis Flores.

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?

So many I can’t even recall. Women’s March in DC and in New York. People’s Climate March in Washington DC. Not My President and Show Your Taxes marches. I have protested with groups, like Refuse Fascism, Rise and Resist. I have also protested against ICE and against the jailing of migrant children. In addition, I marched with Occupy City Hall. I've marched in support of safety for the trans* community, and of course in support of Black Lives Matters for several years.

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.

Will you affirmatively seek to hire formerly incarcerated individuals?

Yes. My campaign has checked up on formerly incarcerated shelter residents who have asked me about job opportunities. They want to work, and we as a society need to help them find jobs, keep them employed, help them through this process.

Describe your legislative and policy vision for combatting systemic racism

To combat systemic racism in education, I would take police out of all schools so we could begin to end the school to prison pipeline. I would also target chronically underfunded schools, and put them first in line for funding based on need. And I would also defund the police by $2 Billion dollars are put that money towards communities of color, NYCHA, youth programs, and education. In addition, another way to battle systemic racism is to create a Public Safety Agency that can respond to non-emergency 911 calls, for example. This new Public Safety Agency would be staffed with mental health professionals and social workers, who have an expertise in handling non-life threatening situations and people in distress. In addition, a Public Commission could investigate and enforce new policies that would prevent the NYPD from engaging in data collection and other unauthorized creation or uses of databases, which would violate due process rights and that would serve as biases against communities and groups protected against discrimination under Federal civil rights laws.

Will you not seek, and refuse, the endorsement of Bill de Blasio?

I do not seek and would refuse the endorsement of Bill de Blasio. His housing policy is one of upzoning and gentrification that causes the secondary displacement of tenants and small businesses. His MIH zoning creates housing that few can afford and has been an abysmal failure. His record on policing, public education, and public health have been horrendous.

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?

Ed Koch's name does not belong on the Queensboro Bridge.

What is your position on removing the Christopher Columbus statue in Columbus Circle and if so, what should replace it?

We need to wait until after the pandemic so our tax dollars are spent wisely. But I would support the removal of the Christopher Columbus statute and replace it with a symbol honoring indigenous peoples instead. When one weighs Columbus’s actual record of harm against his symbolism, the choice is clear. Any honest accounting of the real historical facts must see the epoch he opened up as one of genocide and suffering. Let the healing begin — replace the statute of Columbus with a symbol of 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?

Yes, I support reducing the NYPD budget by $2 Billion. There is no reason for the NYPD to waste so much money. I also support stripping the NYPD of military grade equipment and armament.

How would you have voted on the FY21 City Budget?

I would have voted no because there was no real, genuine attempt to defund the NYPD. The budget used funny math and budget tricks to try to mislead New Yorkers into thinking that they planned to meet the movement's demands for at least $1 billion in direct cuts. What I would have wanted was for the police to be removed from any role in homeless services, schools, youth programs, overdose response, mental health issues, and other social services — and those budget dollars should have been redirected to strengthen the social safety net and to heal the harm of racism. We have too many police officers.

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, I believe in removing the police from non-emergency 911 calls. If elected, I will create a new Public Safety Agency that will take the police out of non-life threatening emergency calls. We must remove the police from: a) schools, in order to stop the school to prison pipeline, b) mental health calls which need trained mental health professionals, people trained to handle non-life threatening emergencies such as mental distress, not an untrained person who shows up with a gun, c) homeless outreach which makes the unhoused feel like the police are criminalizing poverty or d) Traffic violations.

Should the NYPD Vice Squad be eliminated?

We must make a serious attempt to defund and eliminate NYPD squads that lead to systemic violations of civil rights and civil liberties. One example is the Vice Unit, which is the NYPD unit responsible for the raid on the Stonewall Inn and many other false arrests since then, including of gay men at bookstores. The Vice Unit has been allowed to operate in the shadows, engaging in discrimination, exploiting sex workers and skirting accountability. If an organization cannot be trusted to act responsibly, to respect people’s rights, they need to be eliminated, and to take and reuse those funds to fight discrimination and oppression.

Should Dermot Shea be fired immediately?

Yes, Dermot Shea must be fired. His handling of the NYPD police brutality of Black Lives Matter protesters, who were simply engaging in their First Amendment rights, was abhorrent. The “kettling” and other violent measures used to abuse otherwise peaceful protesters is criminal, and shows his lack of judgment. There needs to be a new standard for accountability and reform at the NYPD, and that must begin at the top.

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?

As punishment for not following city and state rules, they should be taken off the street beat, and instead have them work from home or their desk. They should not endanger others. If regular people face fines for not wearing masks, then so should the police.

What reforms would you make to the Civilian Complaint Review Board? Would you support state legislation to make CCRB disciplinary determinations binding?

Yes, although the CCRB is purportedly an independent agency, it does not have the power or authority to see investigations to their full conclusion (the carrying-out of their determinations). The NYPD also undermine CCRB investigations. Police officers skip interviews with CCRB investigators, body-worn camera footage is slow-walked or withheld, and access to additional case evidence is often denied. Most critically, the CCRB cannot impose discipline on its own, because that power lies with the Police Commissioner, who has full discretion to overturn CCRB disciplinary recommendations — which is exactly what has happened in more than 70% of serious infractions in the last two decades. This is unacceptable. To make the CCRB more effective, its jurisdiction and powers should be expanded beyond today’s limited range. Allegations of biased policing and racial profiling should be investigated by the CCRB, with referrals made, as appropriate, to Internal Affairs Bureau and prosecutors. The CCRB shouldn’t have to rely on the NYPD to hand over evidence; it should have direct and unfettered access to body camera footage and Agency records in order to carry out their investigations. And there must be real consequences for officers who skip interviews with CCRB investigators. Attempts as obstructing justice or interfering with the CCRB's administration should lead to prosecutorial review. Many suggest that the CCRB can be strengthened by making the CCRB board elected posts, but we may also need look to other mechanisms that have more expansive powers to hold the NYPD to account — such as forming a police commission to investigate NYPD misconduct and corruption. Such a commission could have the power to bring its own cases, compel testimony, and issue subpoenas. When you have real "teeth" to prosecute cases, you can hold the NYPD to account.

What is your position on the plan to close Rikers and create four borough-based jails?

I agree with closing Rikers. It was found to be violating the Constitutional rights, and I believe it is beyond reform. Nearly everyone on Rikers Island was there either pre-trial (legally innocent), for a technical parole violation (things that would not be a crime for regular people), or serving a short jail sentence for a misdemeanor (often petty crimes). But we also do not need four more community jails. What we need is to address the underlying conditions that lead to people being arrested. That includes making recreational marijuana legal, automatically nullifying arrests in the Courts that exceed racial proportions relative to population, providing free education and job training programs to adults, making rent vouchers available during education and training, providing childcare and other supportive services, and improving access to healthcare and detox treatment programs.

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?

Definitely.

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?

If elected, I would press the City Council to hold hearings into the 311 system. I would hear from the public about the 311 system's failures, and then take public comment about improvements that can be made.

Do you support decriminalizing sex work? Will you pledge to oppose the Nordic model?

Yes. I pledge to oppose the Nordic model, which endangers people involved in the sex trade since it guarantees continued police raids at sex workers’ places of business. I respect the autonomy of sex workers, and I will champion causes to improve their working conditions and safety. Because we know that the NYPD has a history of criminalizing consensual sex between adults, we cannot sanction a right to privacy for some adults. A right to privacy and equal civil liberties must apply to everyone.

Do you oppose school screening, which exacerbates segregation? Which screens in your school district(s) will you advocate to abolish?

Yes I am opposed to school screening, which typically disproportionately affects children of color, whose parents don’t have thousands of dollars to pour into tutors and admissions consultants. Taking this out of the admissions process will only raise the educational opportunities of the most people, (including historically excluded/underprivileged minorities). Sound educational policies are about benefitting the most people and given the importance of schooling this is a move long past due.

Describe what reforms you would make to the control of the NYC public school system.

I believe that the mayor should have controls of the NYC public school system, but I believe that the City Council should exercise checks. For example, the schools chancellor must be subject to the consent of the City Council. I believe that the Mayor should not make material changes to the NYC public school system without the consent of the City Council. For example, the mayor's inconsistent decisions about school closings and reopenings during the Coronavirus pandemic – and at which COVID positivity threshold – should be subject to the approval of the City Council, so that major changes in the operations of the NYC public school system can be made as democratically as possible. More generally, I believe that when the City Council has more power over the NYC public school system, issues like segregation in schools can finally be dealt with.

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 support the creation of safe consumption sites. Yes, I support City control to establish such sites without State approval. But at the same time, my plan to strengthen the social safety net would expand the availability of substance abuse detox programs. I believe that a strong social safety net must exist to support people at every stage of the journey that they make in life.

Do you smoke or otherwise consume weed?

I do not smoke or consume weed, and I am not opposed to it’s consumption. I support legalization of recreational marijuana. I also believe we need to look to the future where the business that results from the legalization of marijuana should benefit those communities that have been hit hardest by the war on drugs. In states where marijuana is now legal, more than 80% of the industry’s entrepreneurs are white. This is a problem. Research shows that legalizing marijuana would generate $132 Billion in tax revenue and more than 1 million jobs over the course of the next decade. This money should be allocated to Federal grant programs that help victims of the war on drugs, including the formerly incarcerated, allowing people to start businesses in the industry. Providing business opportunities to people from underserved communities should be part of any broad anti-poverty agenda.

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 supported Carl Lundgren of the Green Party during his multiple runs against Jeff Klein.

What will you do to support nightlife in NYC?

If elected, I would reintroduce the Small Business Jobs Survival Act, in it’s original form. This legislation, one of the most constitutionally-vetted, would give all business owners (and nightlife owners) a long-term affordable lease with the right to renew. Given that the rent is the largest expense of small businesses, this bill would put business owners on the same playing field as landlords, and give them a fighting chance during the lease renewal process. Pre-pandemic, the SBJSA was the solution to the crisis of small business closures. My Coronavirus recovery plan also calls for the issuance of rent vouchers that would keep small businesses, including night life establishments, in their spaces.

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 nightlife industry officials on Community Boards, especially now with two-thirds of restaurants forecast to be closing by the end of January. I believe that Community Boards must reflect everyone in their communities.

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 — definitely ! Dance brings joy, makes us physically feel good and we all need more of that in our lives.

Did you oppose the de Blasio/Cuomo proposal (and giveaways) for bringing Amazon’s HQ2 to Long Island City?

I did oppose Amazon HQ2. Amazon would have further gentrified Queens, making the entire area of Long Island City, Astoria, and other nearby neighborhoods more unaffordable, adding to the secondary displacement of tenants and small businesses and exacerbating the crises of housing affordability and overburdened transportation infrastructure. Housing economists Janna Matlack and Jacob Vigdor investigated the economic impact of unequal economic development and found that “in tight housing markets (like New York City), the poor do worse when the rich get richer.” I also do not believe that our city, at that time, should be giving Amazon a $3 Billion tax subsidy when NYCHA, the MTA and our schools are so desperate for funding. And the 25,000 jobs promised were never contractually obligated, which was a sign that the whole deal was a sham. I'm surprised a Federal corruption investigation was never begun about this corrupt deal.

What role do you believe the local member should play in the approval of development proposals before the Council?

I do not believe the Speaker should take a more active role in land use decisions, instead deferring to local Councilmembers. And that local Councilmember should reflect the decision of the community. In general, I support a reform of the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (the "ULURP Process") that would give communities final say in matters on land use. Right now, communities are able to participate in a limited basis (and only in an advisory capacity) in a Community Board determination that is non-binding. Instead, I advocate that the ULURP Process should end with a binding vote at the Community Board level, where the residents have final say about land use decisions in their neighborhoods. How that will look like will take robust public input, which I will welcome.

Do you support legislation to prohibit discrimination against formerly incarcerated people in housing?

Yes. I have met many formerly incarcerated men, some of whom live in our District. They have done their time and are now living in hotel shelters. Many of them work, have housing vouchers and are looking for permanent housing so they can begin their lives in a more permanent setting. They deserve a second chance. There should be absolutely no form of housing discrimination that should be tolerated in New York City.

Do you oppose the removal of the nearly 300 homeless individuals from the Lucerne hotel due to pressure from some local residents?

I do not. The core goal of my campaign is to strengthen the social safety net by ending homelessness with permanent housing. As a result, one of my main proposals is providing permanent housing to people living in shelter hotels in our District. With the abundance of vacant space in our District, this could be the historic moment we could solve the homelessness crisis. My plan calls for converting empty hotels and buildings into SRO's with supporting services, so people can transition to permanent apartments. As stated, I don't believe that any form of discrimination in housing should be tolerated in New York City.

What proposals will you advocate for to protect immigrants and further New York as a Sanctuary City?

If elected, I would create policies that the city and counties should further limit the entanglement of local criminal justice systems with federal immigration enforcement by: denying ICE access to local jails, prohibiting formal contracts with ICE for detention bed space (or any kind of joint enforcement operations), and by limiting the kinds of information that local governments are permitted to share with ICE. Also — because there is no right to legal counsel in immigration court, some local governments have funded programs to provide free, high quality lawyers to immigrants in removal proceedings. These programs have been shown to improve case outcomes by as much as 1,000 percent. Local governments should consider establishing such deportation defense funds, as one of the most powerful ways to fill the due process gap for immigrant communities. I would also ban the operation of any private, for-profit jails in New York City.

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, I support a single-payer, universal healthcare system. Right now, we are witnessing a very public and rigorous debate within the political Left about forcing a vote on Medicare For All in the U.S. House. I support such efforts, and, if elected, I would use City Council resolutions and every tool at my disposal to help shape public opinion and to exert pressure on Federal elected officials to enact a single-payer, universal healthcare system. At the same time, I would exert similar pressure on State officials to finally pass the State's version of single-payer through both chambers of the State Legislature. There is no good reason not to push for universal healthcare during a pandemic.

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?

I voted for Sal Albanese for Mayor in 2013, Nomiki Konst in 2019 for Public Advocate, Jill Stein for President in 2016 and Joe Biden in 2020, Howie Hawkins for New York Governor in 2018 and Michael Sussman for Attorney General in 2018.

Top 3 issues you aim to address locally and legislatively

We need to come to grips with the devastating reality of how our City and State Governments are actually doing nothing to save our jobs and small businesses. It broke my heart to see a Los Angeles restaurant owner become emotional over the prospect of financial losses due to uncompensated business closures. Two-thirds of restaurants in New York State could close by the end of January, according to a CNN report. Collectively, an estimated 520,000 jobs from small businesses have been lost in New York City due to the pandemic, according to a trade group's report. Recent reports estimate that 1 out of 8 Americans face going hungry, with many resorting to petty shoplifting in order to put meals on the table. In our District, the disparities in our economy long ago made the waiting lines to the Holy Apostles soup kitchen the longest in the City. The time is now to create a new stream of revenue for the City, as it faces financial calamity. Because of how much Albany unfairly controls our City Government, our local lawmakers must be prepared to pressure Albany for permission, in necessary, to raise City taxes on large corporations, which have offices in the City. The new corporate tax. To pay for rent vouchers and other recovery proposals, I have announced support for a 1% surcharge on corporate income taxes of companies with operations in New York City with at least 1,000 employees. Since 1% is essentially a rounding error, this is a reasonable tax that is not punitive on individuals, which would create the funds needed to house our neighbors and other progressive, Government policies. The activist group I was formerly affiliated with, Fight For NYCHA, estimated that this 1% tax could raise $10 billion a year from just the Top 25 corporations. If enacted, this tax could plug the City Budget's hole -- and pay for my jobs and recovery plan. Saving small businesses. The Small Business Jobs Survival Act (SBJSA), one of the most vetted pieces of legislation to come before the City Council, is necessary for the survival of small businesses. Before the outbreak of the pandemic, small businesses had been in a crisis, with over 1,200 businesses closing each month, taking 8,000 jobs with them. I'm told half of these businesses were immigrant-owned. The SBJSA would have given all small businesses in the City a long term lease renewal at an affordable rent. This would have been the solution to the crisis of closings and job loss. Instead, City Council did everything it could to stop the SBJSA from moving. If elected, I would reintroduce the original version of the SBJSA, urge my fellow Councilmembers to co-sponsor the bill with me, and fight to get it a full-floor vote. The jobs we could save. With up to 1 million New Yorkers unemployed, we can address half of this unemployment loss under my small business and jobs recovery plan by saving the 520,000 small business jobs that have been lost. We would need to target rent vouchers to those, who are unemployed, and to the small businesses in need of economic assistance on the condition that they must rehire their employees. If we keep individuals housed in their homes and small businesses in their spaces with rent vouchers until the economy fully reopens, then we can likely recover half of the lost jobs in our City. This would allow people to return to their small business jobs by beginning to provide compensation so that small businesses can survive these business closures. This plan allows people to at least make ends meet whilst waiting for the pandemic to end — which is the least we can do. Ending homelessness with permanent housing. The core goal of my campaign is to strengthen the social safety net. As a result, one of my main proposals is providing permanent housing to people living in shelter hotels in our District. With the abundance of vacant space in our District, this could be the historic moment we could solve the homelessness crisis. My plan calls for converting empty hotels and buildings into SRO's with supporting services, so people can transition to permanent apartments.

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 support authority to self-determine the City Budget without intrusion from Albany, and I would support new powers to audit all city agencies for waste, fraud and inefficient spending. 2) I believe in reforming the ULURP process like stated previously. 3) I would support, dismantling most of the NYPD police department and to create a Public Safety Agency, so that the agency is focused on community safety, violence prevention that leads with a public health and restorative justice approach.

Please explain your vision for the present powers of the office you are seeking and how you intend to exercise them?

Councilmembers have powers to introduce legislation and resolutions that can change public policy or change public opinion, respectively. Councilmembers can also nominate or consent to the appointment of a range of public officials. Council Districts are meant to improve opportunities for democratic participation in government. Some districts were created to improve representation for underrepresented groups. Holistically, my view of the powers and authorities of a Councilmember's office is to give voice to everybody, because, if elected, I would serve everybody in my district equally and with respect.

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.

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 care about LGBTQ history, and I have begun to take steps to document important parts of LGBTQ history on Wikipedia, for example. I also look forward to the reopening of the LGBTQ Community Center, because I miss holding campaign or social meetings there. I also miss the public programs and events offered or hosted by the Center, and miss seeing familiar faces. The Center is an important part of our District's community, and if elected, I would always support this very important institution.