Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Richard Lee for City Council District 19

Candidate Name: Richard Lee

Office Seeking Election for: City Council District 19

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

When I graduated, I hadn’t figured what I wanted to do, so I aimlessly entered the private sector in law and financial services. I discovered my passion when my grandfather was being harassed out of his apartment. He lived in rent regulated housing, and the landlord was hoping to vacate my grandfather so that he could deregulate the unit. My grandfather had to endure winters without heat or hot water, stoves that weren’t being repaired, and entire sections of the ceiling not being fixed after coming down. I was able to find help through a non-profit called Asian Americans for Equality. Soon after I quit my job and joined the organization as an organizer. I first organized tenants that were facing similar issues as my grandfather, but my work quickly evolved into organizing around other issues like immigration, language access, land use, and budget. While organizing small business owners who were afraid that a major development project would displace them, I met then Council Member Leroy Comrie. He offered me a position as Director of Budget and Legislative Affairs, which I accepted, hoping to bring government access to the community. When his term ended, newly elected Queens Borough President Melinda Katz offered to appoint me as Budget Director. In the same hope of being a resource to the community, I joined the Office of the Queens Borough President to oversee budget responsibilities, including the Borough President’s response to the Mayor’s budget and overseeing the appropriations of $500 million in capital funds. Now, I’m running for City Council with the hope of utilizing my experience as an organizer to build bridges in my community, and my extensive knowledge in the budget process to help lift my community and the city as we brace for a fiscally challenging recovery.

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

I have never held office so I have not had the opportunity to endorse any candidates.

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?

Professionally, I have worked with several LGBTQ non-profits in navigating the City budget and discretionary funding process. Most recently, I was able to help the LGBT Network with a capital funding request, and worked with the Ali Forney Center in funding the construction of 23 studio apartments for runaway LGBTQ homeless youth.

Do you consider yourself a member of the LGBTQ community?

I consider myself an ally of the LGBTQ community

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

I have not had the opportunity to participate in a parade.

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

Yes, I have employed openly LGBTQ individuals previously.

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?

Personally, I have spoken out against many of the policies that the Trump administration has advanced. So many of this administration's policies attacked many of my core values - immigrant rights, women’s right to choose, curbing gun violence, among so many others.

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?

If appropriate, yes.

Will you affirmatively seek to hire formerly incarcerated individuals?

As a Council staffer, I worked extensively on the Ban the Box legislation, and I do not intend to ask whether an individual was formerly incarcerated as part of the hiring process.

Describe your legislative and policy vision for combatting systemic racism

We need to first create a City government that is accountable to all residents. First and foremost, we must ensure that all City employees undergo diversity, implicit bias, and cultural sensitivity trainings so they better understand the needs and challenges of the communities they work to help. I will sponsor legislation that support and protect people of color. We should implement a policy which requires a certain amount of city contracts go to MWBEs. Finally, we must ensure that the legislative and policy proposals designed to combat systemic racism have appropriate input from the groups we are seeking to help.

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

I will not seek and will refuse an endorsement from Mayor 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. We should just keep it the Queensboro Bridge.

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

I am open to removing and replacing this statue with a figure that better reflects the history of our diverse communities.

Will you refuse contributions from real estate developers and all law enforcement unions or associations?

I have not taken a pledge to reject real estate developers, but I have already rejected several real estate contributions.

Do you support reducing the budget of the NYPD and if so, by how much?

I do support reducing some scope of the NYPD, but do not believe that de-funding addresses the core issue at hand: ensuring we create a police department that is responsible and responsive to our community. I believe that police should be removed from the majority of mental health and homeless outreach.

How would you have voted on the FY21 City Budget?

It was an austerity budget and I would have voted ‘Yes’ on 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 would support removing police from regular interactions in all of the above settings.

Should the NYPD Vice Squad be eliminated?

The allegations against the Vice Squad must be investigated and addressed in an independent review committee.

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?

Officers who refuse to wear masks in public while on duty should be subjected to a warning for their first offense, a fine for their second offense, and additional disciplinary actions for any future offenses.

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

We should eliminate the police commissioner review process for the CCRB.

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

I do not agree with this plan. I believe that we could have built a more humane and up to date facility next to the current facility that includes direct social services. At the same time, we need to provide more services and youth programs. Providing development programs and job opportunities for youth are one of the most effective ways to prevent our youth from entering the prison system. That is why Summer Youth Employment Program and Summer Programs are so effective and critical. These programs should be baselined instead of nickel and dimed in negotiations.

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?

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?

The issue with 311 is primarily two fold. First, 311 responders are unable to identify which agency is tasked with resolving the issue. This is largely because multiple agencies are tasked with handling similar matters. We need to better improve the infrastructure of our agencies. Second, the City agencies that get tasked with resolving the issue are understaffed and mired in a bureaucratic process, unable to respond quickly to complaints. In addition, 311 has poor language access capability, and are unable to respond in a linguistically and culturally appropriate manner. 311 could be such a powerful tool for our residents, but the system needs an overhaul.

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

I do not support decriminalizing sex work.

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

I do not oppose school screenings. I believe the heart of the issue is not enough educational investments into communities of color. We need some schools that screen to provide advanced curriculum for students. But to ensure that more students of color are able to compete for these schools, we should be investing more into advanced curriculum programs, and expanding them to every single school starting from kindergarten to provide more opportunities for academic advancement.

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

I do believe that Mayoral Control is needed to oversee school governance. At the same time, I also believe a better check and balance system is required to ensure that the Administration is acting in the best interest of students and teachers. One such way it could do so is giving a larger discretion to the City Council. I would also propose creating an Advisory Board with some decision making powers that would include City Council Members, a teacher rep, school administrator rep, and a parent rep whose role would be to review and respond to some DOE policies.

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?

I am not well versed on this issue, and would welcome discussion.

Do you smoke or otherwise consume weed?

No.

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. Tony Avella, one of the opponents in my race, was a member of the IDC and was ousted from the State Senate in 2018 by John Liu, who I volunteered for.

What will you do to support nightlife in NYC?

The pandemic has taken an immeasurable toll on nightlife in NYC. I welcome discussions with business owners on ways we can best support their businesses through the pandemic beyond small business loans.

Do you commit to speak with restaurant and nightlife industry representatives before taking a position on any policies that affect their businesses?

My wife is a small business owner, and I certainly agree to speak with industry representatives about policies that 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?

Yes.

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?

No, but I think the process should have been more transparent and better negotiated.

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

I think local member deference is important, but if a large scale development project has citywide implications, then the opinion of the larger body should be warranted.

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?

I think the larger issue at hand is the City’s insistence on utilizing shelters and hotels as a form of long-term warehousing of our homeless. Instead, with those same funds, we could be directly providing rental vouchers so that our homeless population can access dignified housing, and then link them with services to transition them into financial independence. This is particularly true now when the NYC rental market is facing record high vacancy rates.

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

As a son of first generation immigrants, and as a past immigrant rights advocate, these issues are near to me, and I will be a strong advocate for the immigrant community. I will support policies that promote family unity, offer work opportunities for DACA recipients, and that create pathways to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.

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 wholly support a single-payer universal health care system. All New Yorkers, regardless of employment or immigration status, should have access to quality healthcare. Immediately, as a short term step to increase health care accessibility, we need to improve our H + H system. H + H, in a lot of ways, is already serving as a universal health care system. The hospitals treat patients regardless of insurance status, and provide payment options based on a patient’s ability to pay. The main issue we have with H + H is that it is consistently underfunded because it serves as our public health option. Last year alone, $1 billion in tax-levied dollars were needed to close the gap. We need to push for higher rates of Medicaid reimbursement and/or fight to shift Indigent Care Pool funds away from private sector facilities who inflate their numbers of uninsured care and bring those funds to the H+H system that actually provides care to the uninsured. At the same time, Queens remains the most underbedded borough in the City, with only two H + H facilities, and in order to resolve longer term health care access issues, I believe a universal health care system needs to be implemented by the Federal or State government.

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?

John Liu for Mayor in 2013 Dan Squadron for Public Advocate in 2013 and Jumaane Williams for Public Advocate in 2019 Hillary Clinton for President in 2016 and Joe Biden for President in 2020 Andrew Cuomo for Governor in 2018 and Tish James for Attorney General in 2018

Top 3 issues you aim to address locally and legislatively

1) Small business relief 2) Funding parity across neighborhoods 3) Redesigning City procurement policy

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) Change the procurement process. Instead of using lowest price bids, we should consider higher cost RFPs if the cost of such is due to providing actual prevailing wage, having greater social responsibility, or utilizing environmentally friendly goods and services. 2) More community input and transparency in the process. 3) Expand powers of the Public Advocate so it serves as an actual check against the Mayor.

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

The pandemic has changed almost every aspect of our lives. While we are now seeing a light at the end of the tunnel in terms of a public health perspective, the economic perspective remains bleak. For the City, this means balancing significantly reduced revenues while ensuring necessary services for our communities are delivered. I hope to use my knowledge and experience on municipal budget processes to identify opportunities to cut wasteful spending and find responsible ways to generate increased revenues so that we can continue to provide services that our residents need.

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 the campaign and as an elected representative. My door will always be open to meet with the club regarding legislation, ideas, and any other issues you would like to bring to my attention.

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 building a broad based coalition of groups, community leaders, and residents throughout my district, having worked with many through my various roles in the public sector. It is this wide ranging support that has allowed my campaign to be the highest funded campaign in my race, as well as the second highest recipient of public matching funds of all candidates in Queens, to date. I have also received the endorsement of Rep. Tom Suozzi, whose congressional district represents the largest share of my council district.