Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Courtland Hankins for NY Assembly District 84
Candidate Name: Courtland Hankins
Office Seeking Election for: NY Assembly District 84
Campaign Website: https://www.peopleforcourtland.com/
1. Based upon your life experiences and accomplishments, why do you believe you are best qualified to represent your district?
District 84, which includes the South Bronx, Mott Haven, Hunt’s Point, and lower Concourse, is one of the poorest Assembly Districts in the state. In that district, I have been a community organizer. I have close ties to the hip-hop community. I’m widely known as the “President of Hip Hop,” and in that role, I have demonstrated that culture is causation. Because of my Wall Street background, the NY Times and other reporting described me as a hip-hoprepreneur, empowering Bronx musicians through business education. The same article highlighted my accomplishments as a tenant organizer. When the rent in my building skyrocketed, I organized tenants to use all available laws and agencies to buy the building from the landlord. I have strongly supported nonprofit housing, TOPA, Community Land Trusts, and other resources that make housing affordable, empower tenants, and protect small businesses being pushed out by gentrification and “luxury” developments.
My history goes beyond Wall Street. Downsizing left me flat on my face, living on public assistance in my car with two young kids to raise. I know first-hand what many in my district have endured and are experiencing. It comes to a broken educational system, health issues like asthma and diabetes that are not addressed because there’s no affordable health care or prevention in reach. The cost of living is dramatically outpacing income, which goes back to education – employers don’t gravitate toward unskilled labor.
When I was down and out, I had a vision for a better life and a better Bronx. I’ve donated my time to nonprofits. I’ve mitigated and solved hundreds of constituent crises while on Vanessa Gibson’s staff and then as Community Coordinator, Community Board 3. I put myself back on my feet and helped many others do the same. As a member of the assembly, I could bring this vision to more people, listen to their vision, and put our mutual solutions into action.
0. What LGBTQ+ organizations have you been involved with, either on a volunteer basis or professionally?
I am a member of PFLAG and the father of an incredible trans-masculine child named Kenbi. A talented animation artist who is lucky enough to make a living through their artistry. Our journey with Kenbi has taught our family so much, and I am grateful to have a supportive family that showers my firstborn with love and positivity. Sadly, many are not fortunate enough to have that kind of familial support.
Kenbi uses their art for activism and advocacy on social justice issues. They are a gift to this world, and I couldn't be prouder father.
I will keep advocating for the LGBTQIA+ community just as I do for Kenbi.
0. What press conferences, demonstrations, rallies and protests in support of LGBTQ+ issues, pro-choice legislation, racial justice, criminal justice have you attended, including rallies specifically against Donald Trump and his policies?
I have been to many pride parades and several LGBTQ events with Vanessa Gibson as well LGBTQ mixer events hosted by friends. I supported and went to the grand opening of the Trans museum in Savannah in 2025 with Kenbi, my trans-masculine firstborn.
0. In light of the Trump Administration’s war on women, the LGBTQ+ community, minorities and immigrants, what are your plans to organize and combat the Trump agenda?
We’re all in Trump’s crosshairs. Regarding the groups above, we need to strengthen the state’s human rights law. We must pass solid state and city legislation that Trump cannot overturn in court or at least measures that will be delayed in court until he leaves office. We need to be realistic, proactive, and stop pretending that anything less than urgent action is acceptable: no cooperation with ICE, no tolerance for restricted reproductive rights, no room for hate crimes and harassment.
0. Will you seek or accept endorsements from individuals who oppose LGBTQ+ and reproductive rights?
No
0. Do you support the unrestricted right to reproductive care and abortion?
Yes
0. Have you hosted, funded or otherwise supported Drag Story Hours in your community?
No.
0. How will you work to enhance protections for immigrants and uphold New York’s role as a “Sanctuary City”?
I will fight to make sure New York is not helping ICE terrorize families. Our schools, hospitals, shelters, and courthouses should be safe places, not traps. People should be able to take their child to school, report a crime, go to court, or get medical care without fearing detention or deportation.
In Albany, I would support legislation like the New York For All Act to stop state and local agencies from cooperating with ICE, and I would support current legislative proposals ending immigration detention contracts in New York. We also need stronger legal support, better language access, and protections so immigrant families can live with dignity instead of fear. I would also work to build trust between law enforcement and immigrant communities, so people feel safe reporting crimes and seeking help.
0. Do you support New York becoming a Transgender Sanctuary State?
Of course.
0. If elected, will you commit to supporting legislation that raises taxes on the richest New Yorkers and large corporations in order to fund the services and investments our communities need?
Yes. And let me add to that: this is not “tax the rich” – it’s fair taxes. The city and state should not be funded by the people who are carrying the financial burdens and strains of their own lives without enjoying the benefits.
0. How will you represent the most vulnerable, including individuals experiencing homelessness and asylum seekers? Have you ever opposed any shelter in your district?
My entry into the work I currently do started with helping the homeless. I spent four years as a housing specialist responsible for moving families, couples, and individuals from the shelter system into permanent housing. No housing specialist was harder working or more successful than I was during that time. Knowing that my approach and work ethic determined whether someone remained homeless or found stable housing was all the motivation I needed to get up every day and give my best.
I have never opposed a shelter in my district; however, my district is disproportionately populated with shelters. Other districts should share the collective responsibility of hosting our city's shelters.
0. Will you sponsor and support legislation which will ensure that state and local resources are not used to facilitate or cooperate with federal immigration enforcement (New York for All Act) to prevent the funneling of people into ICE custody, and the sharing of sensitive information with ICE?
Yes
0. To advance safety and justice, New York must address our archaic sentencing and parole laws. Do you support the following key legislation: 1) Second Look Act (S.158/A.1283), which would allow judges to review and reconsider excessive sentences by considering if incarcerated people have transformed while incarcerated or based on changes in law and norms; 2) Earned Time Act (S.342/A.1085), which would strengthen and expand “good time” and “merit time” programs in prison that encourage personal transformation and reunite families?; 3) Marvin Mayfield Act (S.1209/A.1297), which would eliminate mandatory minimum sentences, thereby allowing judges to consider individual factors in a case?; 4) Elder Parole (S.454/A.514), which would allow incarcerated people over age 55 who have served 15 years the opportunity to go before the parole board.
Yes to all of the above. Our penal system is a tragedy of justice.
0. Do you oppose the death penalty?
Yes.
0. Do you support outlawing solitary confinement?
Yes.
0. Do you commit to visit constituents who are incarcerated? Will you work to secure the release of individuals who have demonstrated sincere remorse, worked toward rehabilitation and are not deemed a threat to society?
Yes.
0. Do you commit to make applications for clemencies available to your constituency, including a link to an application in a constituent newsletter? Will you submit it to our club?
Yes.
0. Did you rank Andrew Cuomo on your Democratic primary ballot in 2025? Who did you support for mayor in the 2025 Democratic primary and general election?
My top two choices were Mamdani and Lander.
0. In view of the fact that Ed Koch has been documented to have caused the deaths of scores of people with AIDS, excused city council members who voted against the gay rights bill and was blatantly racist, would you support and sponsor a bill to rename the former Queensboro Bridge?
Yes. It should be named after a person of color, LGBTQ+ individual or a political activist from New York City who has contributed to social awareness. The name should inspire future generations to recognize the strength and diversity of our city.
0. What is your legislative remedy to secure the building of low and moderate-income housing around the state?
The construction of so-called low- and moderate-income housing is progressing at an acceptable rate, given logistics. However, I observe that the building of actual low- and moderate-income housing is not meeting its primary goal. The issue stems from the definition of "affordable." Affordable housing for whom? It isn't affordable compared to the salaries that many residents in my district earn. Ultimately, affordability rates are determined by the Area Median Income (AMI) figures set by the federal government. State legislatures need to work with their federal and city counterparts to redefine AMI so it genuinely reflects affordability for their respective districts.
0. Will you refuse donations from AIPAC, SolidarityPAC, police and corrections associations, the fossil fuel industry, and the charter school industry?
No, none is aligned with my goals or vision.
0. Do you support removing criminal penalties for consensual commercial sex work between adults? Also known as Cecilia's Act for Rights in the Sex Trades (S2513 Salazar / A3251 Forrest).
Yes.
0. There is an effort to have mandatory inclusion of the New York State proposal that would require public schools to teach about the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, commonly described in the bill text as an “insurrection.” Do you support this proposal?
Yes. It’s an embarrassment that history is being whitewashed, books are banned, and civics are no longer a focus of public school curriculum.
0. What additional information would you like the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club to consider when we are making our endorsement decision?
I would like the Club to consider that my commitment to equality, dignity, and justice is not abstract to me — it is personal, it is political, and it is rooted in the life I have lived in the Bronx.
As the father of a trans-masculine child, a member of PFLAG, a tenant organizer, and someone who has worked directly with homeless families and vulnerable New Yorkers, I have seen how quickly people can be pushed to the margins when government lacks courage. I believe the Assembly needs members who will not simply vote the right way when it is easy, but who will be outspoken, visible, and reliable when communities are under attack.
My campaign is grounded in the belief that housing is a human right, healthcare is a right, the LGBTQ+ community deserves not just acceptance but protection, and working-class New Yorkers should not be carrying the burden of the state budget while the wealthiest avoid paying their fair share. I believe strongly in bodily autonomy, immigrant protections, transgender rights, criminal justice reform, and public policy that reflects the humanity of the people most affected by it.
I am not seeking this office to manage decline or protect the status quo. I am running to fight for the South Bronx with urgency, compassion, and backbone. I would be proud to earn the support of Jim Owles and to stand with the Club in advancing a more just New York.
0. If you receive our endorsement, do you agree to identify the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club on all appropriate literature and electronic materials?
Yes, and I commit to developing a relationship with the club that extends beyond literature.