Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Rebecca Lamorte for City Council District 5
Candidate Name: Rebecca Lamorte
Office Seeking Election for: City Council District 5
Explain, based on life experiences and accomplishments, why you believe you are best qualified to represent your district
I am the most qualified person to represent district 5 because of my personal and professional experience. Professionally, I've been blessed to be a part of the New York City labor movement for almost a decade. I've fought for working people in a variety of industries and led high profile legislative and policy campaigns before the Council and state legislature. I know where the levers of power are and have seen first hand how they're too often pulled to hurt instead of help working people and communities. I also know the powers that lie at the Council and with city government, giving me a leg up on other candidates to actually effect meaningful change. Personally, I'm the most active and engaged candidate in the race with life experience that differentiates me from others and makes the fight for bold, progressive change more personal to me. In 2013, I was pushed on the subway, my left leg was crushed and I was left with a lifelong disability. The accident made me want to fight not just for myself, but for all New Yorkers in a way like never before. It made me want to apply for and be appointed to Manhattan's Community Board 8, get more involved locally to fight for accessibility and volunteer to help others in need that are too often overlooked. Today, my activism has grown to serving 3 terms as Secretary of the community board, helping form and serve on the executive committee of the East River Democrats, volunteering weekly with neighborhood associations to support public housing tenants, seniors, people experiencing homelessness and others, and helping organize a nightly vigil to support Black Lives Matter. There isn't anyone more knowledgable of city government or passionate about public and community service than I am. It's that knowledge and passion I'll bring to City Hall everyday to fight for my neighbors and City of New York.
Please identify any openly LGBTQ candidate for public office you have previously or presently endorsed?
In my capacity as a union legislative and political aide, I have worked to most recently support the following LGBTQ candidates: Ari Espinal and Harry Bronson.
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?
n/a
Do you consider yourself a member of the LGBTQ community?
No
Have you marched in Pride? Which marches and for approximately how many years?
I have attended numerous Pride celebrations with friends and in my professional capacity.
Have you employed openly LGBTQ individuals previously? Do you employ any currently?
n/a
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 attended numerous No Ban, No Wall, No Raids and other anti-Trump rallies since 2016, the Women's March every year since 2017 and have attended the Stonewall rallies happening now around the intersectionality of racial and trans justice.
Have you ever been arrested? If so please explain why and outcome of arrest.
I have never been arrested.
Do you commit to visiting constituents who are incarcerated in state prisons and city jails?
Yes, I commit to visiting constituents who are incarcerated in state prisons and city jails.
Will you affirmatively seek to hire formerly incarcerated individuals?
Yes, I have personally worked with formerly incarcerated individuals at my union and would be happy to hire a formerly incarcerated individual for my Council staff.
Describe your legislative and policy vision for combatting systemic racism
I believe that we are facing intersectional crises in New York City – housing, deferred infrastructure maintenance, policing, underfunded schools, mental health, massive unemployment – and the thread tying them together has been institutionalized racism: structures built by years of government decision-making. We need to better define the policy outcomes we seek: full employment, 100% graduation rates, a high standard of living in safe, quality housing for all New Yorkers, and build the policies we need to achieve those goals.
Will you not seek, and refuse, the endorsement of Bill de Blasio?
I do not support Bill de Blasio nor am I seeking his endorsement and would refuse it if offered.
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, there are other New Yorkers we can name the bridge after.
What is your position on removing the Christopher Columbus statue in Columbus Circle and if so, what should replace it?
An an Italian-American, I believe we must remove the Columbus statue in Columbus Circle. I believe in supporting public art by New York-based community artists and rather than make that space a focal point for a painful past, we could use it to highlight the voices and visions of the future. I believe we should apply the same model to other Columbus statutes and confederate monuments across the city.
Will you refuse contributions from real estate developers and all law enforcement unions or associations?
Yes, I have pledged to reject all contributions from real estate developers and law enforcement unions and associations.
Do you support reducing the budget of the NYPD and if so, by how much?
I support defunding the NYPD. We must immediately move to cut their budget in half and then continue pushing to completely defund and reallocate that money to support community and social services like housing, education, healthcare, metal health services and so much more. I believe we need to entirely reimagine how we do policing in the city of New York. Mental health crises, domestic situations, and other situations need different interventions than actual violent crime. Superficial cuts to overtime and tweaks around the edges will not be enough to bring about the real changed needed.
How would you have voted on the FY21 City Budget?
I would have proudly voted against the FY21 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.
Yes to all of the above unless there is a specific threat of violence and harm.
Should the NYPD Vice Squad be eliminated?
Yes, immediately.
Should Dermot Shea be fired immediately?
Yes, immediately.
Should the NYPD Commissioner require confirmation by the City Council?
Yes, I support it for all Mayoral appointees in policymaking roles and mayoral appointees to agency and authority boards.
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?
I believe it should result in a suspension without pay. I believe the state legislature would be required to do this and supersede bargaining rules.
What reforms would you make to the Civilian Complaint Review Board? Would you support state legislation to make CCRB disciplinary determinations binding?
We need an elected CCRB, in addition to increasing transparency in their proceedings. I would support making those decisions binding. I believe the state legislature would need to do this and supersede bargaining rules.
What is your position on the plan to close Rikers and create four borough-based jails?
I support closing Rikers; I do not support opening the four borough-based jails. Even as the existing prison total declines, we need to ensure people experiencing detention are not housed in dangerous and unsafe facilities.
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, we must increase compassionate releases for individuals over 55 years of age.
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?
We need to comprehensively overhaul the 311 system, improving public access to data and mandating a follow up on all reported incidents within 24-hours. I would support creating a job training program that would train individuals from underserved communities to become 311 complaint investigators.
Do you support decriminalizing sex work? Will you pledge to oppose the Nordic model?
I support decriminalizing sex work and do not support the Nordic Model, which does not practically decriminalize sex work.
Do you oppose school screening, which exacerbates segregation? Which screens in your school district(s) will you advocate to abolish?
I believe dealing with school screening comprehensively needs to be part of the discussion about affirmatively addressing structural racism in government institutions.
Describe what reforms you would make to the control of the NYC public school system.
First, the Chancellor needs to be a Council-confirmed position subject to hearings that include testimony from teachers, students, and families. I believe we need to ensure teachers, students, and families have a stronger voice in the management of their school system.
Do you support public funding of abortion?
Yes, abortion is healthcare and must be funded.
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 safe consumption sites and the use of NYC DOHMH authority to establish SCSs without NYSDOH authorization.
Do you smoke or otherwise consume weed?
Yes, I have consumed cannabis.
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 supported Senator Diane Savino. In 2018, I worked with my union to support Democrats running to flip districts throughout New York State from red to blue.
What will you do to support nightlife in NYC?
First, we need to provide rent cancellation to venues across the city for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic and pay bar, restaurant, and nightlife workers (including entertainers like drag queens) to stay home. When the pandemic ends, I support the vacancy tax on landlords who increase rent to drive people out of venues.
Do you commit to speak with restaurant and nightlife industry representatives before taking a position on any policies that affect their businesses?
Yes, it's important to meet with industry workers and stakeholder before acting on policies that will affect their business.
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 a community board member now, I believe there should be a seats reserved specifically for small business owners.
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, I support amending the zoning resolution to allow patrons to dance at more venues and eliminate the restrictions against dancing.
Did you oppose the de Blasio/Cuomo proposal (and giveaways) for bringing Amazon’s HQ2 to Long Island City?
I do not support ICAP, REAP, the Excelsior Jobs tax credits, and the Opportunity Zone tax incentives. I would support city-versions of Senator Gianaris’ legislation banning insider trading in real estate and banning non-disclosure agreements in economic development agreements.
What role do you believe the local member should play in the approval of development proposals before the Council?
I believe we need to overhaul how we do economic development. While I understand a local Council Member having the most say on these local decisions, I think we need to have a stronger, more comprehensive citywide vision for economic development that focuses on meeting the actual needs of all neighborhoods, creating opportunity for good union jobs, and building infrastructure rather than allowing massive new developments and the transfer of public dollars to private hands.
Do you support legislation to prohibit discrimination against formerly incarcerated people in housing?
Yes, we must remove the barriers that exist for people once they return home and housing disenfranchisement must be acted on first.
Do you oppose the removal of the nearly 300 homeless individuals from the Lucerne hotel due to pressure from some local residents?
The residents should have been allowed to remain at the Lucerne.
What proposals will you advocate for to protect immigrants and further New York as a Sanctuary City?
I support legislation codifying Sanctuary City status and banning ICE from courthouses. I would also support withdrawing any public benefits for private companies that lease office space to ICE and I would prohibit city contractors from doing business with ICE.
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 – but ultimately that would need to be a federal responsibility, because they have access to greater amounts of capital. I would request the federal government pay the city of New York for a pilot program to create a universal, single payer healthcare system. No money at NYC H+H would change hands and we would provide full service medical care to anyone who walked in the door. Additionally, unions must be a part of the conversation on universal healthcare. Many have prioritized healthcare for members and their families over annual raises or wage increases and we cannot ignore their needs or ways to ensure their healthcare is maintained as we move to provide healthcare for all Americans.
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 Anthony Weiner for Mayor in 2013. B) I supported Tish James for Public Advocate in 2013 and Jumaane Williams in 2019. C) I supported Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Liz Warren in 2020. D) I did not support a candidate for Governor and supported Tish James for Attorney General.
Top 3 issues you aim to address locally and legislatively
The top three issues are: 1) affordable housing - building more units with strong policies for affordability, responsible development and community input, preserving existing rent controlled and stabilized units, and protecting public housing from the forces of privatization and purposeful government divestment 2) revolutionizing accessibility and inclusion of disabled New Yorkers in all public accommodations, development and decisions 3) empowering workers and small businesses with the economic equality they need to just survive but thrive
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?
I don’t think the current mayor should call for a charter revision process and reforms should be left to a new council and administration. Should a commission be called, I believe the council needs to be given more control over the land use and budget process. I believe all Mayoral appointees should be subject to council confirmation, and I believe the council should also have confirmation authority over mayoral appointees to agency boards, like NYCHA or the MTA.
Please explain your vision for the present powers of the office you are seeking and how you intend to exercise them?
The main powers of a Council Member lie in the city budget and land use process. As Council Member I will prioritize a just budget that empowers communities and defunds the NYPD. I'll also work to improve the land use process by creating a district wide development plan that prioritizes affordable, responsible and contextual development that puts community first and foremost. I'll also work with my colleagues to create a citywide plan for land use that changes ULURP in its current form, makes community input more binding and prioritizes the needs of local communities over desires of private developers.
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 will always be happy to work with Jim Owles. My door is always open and I will never refuse a request for a meeting.
If you receive the endorsement, do you agree to identify the club on all literature and electronic materials where you list endorsements?
Absolutely, I would be honored to identify the club on all literature and electronic materials where I list endorsements.
What additional information would you like Jim Owles to consider when we are making our endorsement decisions?
Not at this time. I appreciate the club taking the time to review my questionnaire. Thank you!