Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Oswald Feliz for City Council District 15
Candidate Name: Oswald Feliz
Office Seeking Election for: City Council District 15
Campaign Website: https://felizfornyc.com
Explain, based on life experiences and accomplishments, why you believe you are best qualified to represent your district
I've lived in the 15th Council District my entire life. I also went to public schools in the district; and have spent my career working to improve the region. As a tenant lawyer, I represented many tenant associations in housing court, and also helped them organize. Additionally, as a college professor at Hostos Community College, I taught many students who live in CD 15. My experiences in CD15 have helped me develop a thorough understanding of the many issues that we face, including 1) segregated and underfunded public schools, 2) asthma and health crisis, 3) poverty and lack of good union jobs.
Please identify any openly LGBTQ candidate for public office you have previously or presently endorsed?
Pete Buttigieg for President (I ran for delegate under his slate)
If applicable, what legislation directly affecting the LGBTQ community have you introduced or co-sponsored? (indicate accordingly)
I'm not a legislator, so not applicable.
What LGBTQ organizations have you been involved with, either on a volunteer basis or professionally?
American Civil Liberties Union, which has fought for equality for those in the LGBT community
Do you consider yourself a member of the LGBTQ community?
No
Have you marched in Pride? Which marches and for approximately how many years?
Yes, I march every year in The Bronx and Manhattan pride parades, to support the LGBT community.
Have you employed openly LGBTQ individuals previously? Do you employ any currently?
Yes, some of the members of my campaign team are from the LGBT! community
What press conferences, demonstrations, rallies and protests in support of LGBT issues, pro-choicelegislation, criminal justice issues and the Resist Trump Movement have you attended?
I attended the rally held by The Bronx LGBTQ community before the start of the pandemic, wherein they marched through the grand concourse and onto 3rd avenue.
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
Describe your legislative and policy vision for combatting systemic racism
1) desegregate NYC public schools, 2) pass police reform, 3) ensure that people of color have equal access to opportunity. (Many schools are racially segregated, and schools that serve people of color are underfunded and do not have the tools to prepare them. As a result, many people of color all behind on their academic career.)
Will you not seek, and refuse, the endorsement of Bill de Blasio?
I will not seek it
In view of the fact that Ed Koch has been documented to have caused the deaths of hundreds ofthousands of people with AIDS, and was blatantly racist, would you support and sponsor a bill to renamethe former Queensboro Bridge?
Yes
What is your position on removing the Christopher Columbus statue in Columbus Circle and if so, whatshould replace it?
It should be removed, and replaced with someone who has made contributions in The Bronx community.
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, by 1 billion to start.
How would you have voted on the FY21 City Budget?
In favor, but only if amendments were introduced - including amendments to bring additional funding to our public schools.
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.
Homeless outreach, yes.
Should the NYPD Vice Squad be eliminated?
I am not sure
Should Dermot Shea be fired immediately?
I would not say fired, but his replacement should be someone from the POC community, given that the NYPD has had many problems with the POC community.
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 onduty, in defiance of city and state rules?
Fined
What reforms would you make to the Civilian Complaint Review Board? Would you support statelegislation to make CCRB disciplinary determinations binding?
The determinations should be binding. Additionally, the CCRB should function more independently.
What is your position on the plan to close Rikers and create four borough-based jails?
In favor
Will you advocate for the Governor to review sentences of incarcerated individuals over the age 55 whohave 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’sconcerns. How would you alter the 311 system to combat these problems?
Yes
Do you support decriminalizing sex work? Will you pledge to oppose the Nordic model?
Yes
Do you oppose school screening, which exacerbates segregation? Which screens in your schooldistrict(s) will you advocate to abolish?
Yes. We should possibly eliminate the specialized high school admission test.
Describe what reforms you would make to the control of the NYC public school system.
I would require that high performing public schools allocate at least 20-25% of seats to low-income, racially disadvantaged students.
Do you support public funding of abortion?
Yes
Do you support the creation of safe consumption sites? Would you support the use of NYC DOHMHauthority to establish SCSs without NYSDOH authorization?
Yes
Do you smoke or otherwise consume weed?
Rarely
Have you ever supported any of the members of the IDC? If so, who? What did you do to help defeat theIDC in 2018?
No
What will you do to support nightlife in NYC?
Ensure that they are able to make it through COVID. Many of these businesses have been hard, and many have not been able to survive.
Do you commit to speak with restaurant and nightlife industry representatives before taking a position onany policies that affect their businesses?
Yes
Will you work to place restaurant, bar and club owners on community boards? Will you commit to notappointing or reappointing community board members who are hostile to food and beverageestalishments?
Yes
Now that the cabaret law was repealed do you support amending the zoning resolution to allow patronsto 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 IslandCity?
Yes
What role do you believe the local member should play in the approval of development proposals beforethe Council?
They should have veto power. The local member is elected by the people, and if the public opposes a project, the member should be able to veto it.
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 topressure from some local residents?
Yes
What proposals will you advocate for to protect immigrants and further New York as a Sanctuary City?
Prevent organizations from collecting data re: immigration 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.
Yes
Who did you support for office in the following primaries or special elections: A) Mayor in 2013 B) PublicAdvocate in 2013 and 2019, C) President in 2016 and 2020 C) Governor and Attorney General in 2018?
Mayor: DeBlasio. Public Advocate: Letitia James. President: Bernie Sanders. Governor: Cuomo. Attorney General: Letitia James.
Top 3 issues you aim to address locally and legislatively
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Mayor de Blasio has indicated his intent to call a third Charter Revision Commission, what additionalreforms would you support to 1) the budget process, 2) the land use process, and 3) the powers andduties of municipal offices?
Bring back power to local residents. Community boards should have veto power in development projects. Projects should only be constructed with input and approval of the community.
Please explain your vision for the present powers of the office you are seeking and how you intend toexercise them?
Legislative powers will be used to improve our public schools, bring opportunity to The Bronx, and make our city a more equal and fair city.
Do you commit to working with Jim Owles during your campaign and while in office? What role can theclub 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 materialswhere you list endorsements?
Yes
What additional information would you like Jim Owles to consider when we are making our endorsementdecisions?
N/A