Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Rita Joseph for City Council District 40

Candidate Name: Rita Joseph

Office Seeking Election for: City Council District 40

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

I believe I am best qualified to represent my district because I have a track record of success in the community and want the people of central Brooklyn to benefit from having me operate on a bigger scale. As an educator, I've gotten real results for my students. As an activist, I've created change. However, I think I can have an even greater impact on my community if I were to hold elected office. I’m running to represent Council District 40 because I have deep roots in the community and know it better than anywhere else in the world: I live in District 40, I work in District 40, and my friends and family are in District 40. Additionally, I’m an active member of my church, where I’ve created a partnership to put on a coat drive and annual Thanksgiving dinner for struggling families in the neighborhood. I’ve also led the way on numerous community events like toy drives, community street fairs, and after school programs with the support of local elected officials like Council Member Mathieu Eugene, Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte, and State Senator Kevin Parker. In addition to community events, I’ve been a part of many important initiatives that help better my district. I was appointed by State Senator Kevin Parker to serve as Chair of the Neighborhood Advisory Board and have been a part of the Citywide Participatory Budgeting Committee for the last 2 years, thanks to an appointment by Council Speaker Corey Johnson. Besides my activism, I’ve had the privilege of being able to support my students and their families by serving on the school leadership team as a COB Liaison and hosting an annual legislative breakfast at PS6. I also have a track record of being able to provide for my school financially, securing hundreds of thousands of dollars each year for technological improvements that help thousands of children receive a better education, including capital funding from Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams. I envision building up a community that has been left behind by city leaders. For too long, the working families of Central Brooklyn have been forgotten. We need to be focused on creating opportunities for families, small businesses, working people, and everyone else thrive in their own neighborhoods.

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

Because this is my first time running for office, I have not been in a position to formally endorse any candidates. With that being said, Jabari Brisport is a friend of mine and I am proud to have supported his candidacy in a personal capacity.

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

As I am not a legislator, I have not yet had the opportunity to introduce or co-sponsor legislation impacting the LGBTQ community.

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

Recently, I have been volunteering extensively with Griot Circle, an LGBTQ Senior Group. However, my involvement in queer groups goes back much furrther. In high school, I got my start in organizing when I helped organize against the FDA “Bad Blood” rules. The march we organized had more than 150,000 people take part in it. In college, I continued my activism through my work with the Gay Men's Health Crisis Center. Since my first days organizing, I’ve been deeply commited to queer rights. MLK said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” If people allow injustices to ​LGBT folks to exist, we are only increasing the likelihood of injustices against other people. If we want to achieve racial, gender, climate, and social justice, we will only be able to do so if we protect queer rights.

Do you consider yourself a member of the LGBTQ community?

No. I am a strong ally of the LGBTQ community.

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

I participated in the New York City Pride parade in 1994. While my experience marching in pride events is limited, I have attended a number of other LGBT events over the years.

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

Currently, my senior advisor is a gay man. If elected, I pledge to have a LGBTQ+ person in a very senior role (Legislative Director or above) in my office.

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 have attended countless Black Lives Matter, Women Marches, and anti-trump rallies. I attended the Trans Lives Matter rally this June in Brookly. Over the course of my 30+ year activist career, I have attended too many events to count in support of progressive causes.

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. I will be available to all my constituents, regardless of their incarceration status.

Will you affirmatively seek to hire formerly incarcerated individuals?

Yes. I am interested in hiring the best and brightest staff to serve the people of District 40, regardless of their criminal history.

Describe your legislative and policy vision for combatting systemic racism

Advancing racial justice is a major priority for me. As the mother of four Black boys, I go to bed every night praying that my sons don’t become the next Eric Garner, Trayvon Martin, or George Floyd if I know they’re out of the house. Combating racial injustice was one of my main motivating factors when I decided to run for City Council. NYC needs to reduce the NYPD’s operating budget through meaningful changes, not just tucking funds into other departmental budgets.​ However, we need to more than just cut the NYPD’s budget. We need to then reinvest funding from the NYPD budget into community and educational organizations aimed at ending the school-to-prison pipeline. I am fully committed to combating racial disparities in education. As an educator, I see the disparities and their implications among my own students. At majority-minority schools in neighborhoods like my own, my students do not have access to the same resources as students at predominantly white and wealthy schools. One of my top legislative priorities is improving public schools so that every child can receive the education they deserve. I am a vocal supporter of combating racial disparities in education and am prepared to participate in direct action in Washington DC to pressure federal legislators to rightfully fund educational programs that serve our children and I would encourage my fellow council members to do the same. I am also committed to making sure the majority of teachers look like the students in their communities. Representation matters and it is important for our students to see people who like themselves as educators and role models more broadly. In NYC, 70% of public school students are Black and Brown, but 80% of NYC teachers are white. This disparity means that students often do not have role models in academic settings that look like them. From my own experience as an educator, I have come to learn that teachers are far more than teachers. We are mentors and community members, and the path to empowering students often begins with cultivating bonds on the basis of life experiences. Teachers who are representative of their students are able to act as effective role models who can lead with knowledge and empathy. Furthermore, studies show that kids do better in school when teachers look more like their students. Especially in communities of color, students are more likely to stay in school and attend college with the presence of a teacher who looks like them. We need more qualified, driven teachers of color in our public schools which is why I support actively recruiting teachers at a wide variety of schools, including HBCUs. Lastly, but certainly not least, the single biggest thing a City Councilperson can do to combat systemic racism is to help defund the NYPD. I support reducing the NYPD’s budget by 1 billion dollars over the next 4 years. I support a hiring freeze, a reduction in overtime spending, and cutting unnecessary capital programs. The fewer heavily-armed cops there are that out on the street, the fewer unjustified killings by law enforcement there will be.

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

I have no interest in receiving the endorsement of Bill 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. There are a number of New Yorker civil rights leaders who deserve to have the bridge named after them. Ed Koch does not deserve the honor of having the former Queensboro Bridge named after him.

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

We need to remove the Christopher Columbus statue as soon as possible. Our city should not honor an individual who helped commit genocide. There are many other Italian Americans who deserve our respect that can and should replace the statue.

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?

I support reducing the NYPD’s budget by at least $1 billion over the next four years and reinvesting those funds into public goods, most prominently, our education and healthcare systems. NYC needs to reduce the NYPD’s operating budget through meaningful changes, not just by tucking funds into other departmental budgets.​ However, we need to do more than just cut the NYPD’s budget. We need to then reinvest funding from the NYPD budget into the communities, most notably our schools and hospitals. Investing money in our public schools will help to end the school-to-prison pipeline. There are a number of ways that we can reduce the budget. To begin with, police have no role in New York City public schools. I would advocate for every school resource officer to be replaced by a guidance counselor, psychologist, or other social worker that would be part of the City’s Department of Education. It is abundantly clear that the NYPD has a bloated budget and that its officers have responsibilities that are outside their purview of expertise. For this reason, I support shifting noise complaints, mental health crises, and most other conflict handling to trained social workers without weapons. Along these lines, I also support returning traffic enforcement to the Department of Transit and making sure that only people dealing with the homeless are those trained in social work as well as crisis and mental health counseling. The City recently announced a pilot program with a new mental health team that will respond to mental health crises in two precincts—I fully support spreading this practice citywide. I also support reforms to the NYPD and the criminal justice system as a whole not directly related to the budget. These include: ● Ending qualified immunity for the NYPD to ensure we get justice when officers commit acts of violence.​ ● Ending the racially discriminatory practice of broken windows policing, which often targets low-income, communities of color. ● Investing more into decarceration programs that keep non-violent offenders out of prison.​ ● Abolishing metrics such as arrest quotas that encourage police to “make their stats” by arresting New Yorkers for victimless crimes. ●Not building any new jails, prisons, or detention centers in New York City. ●Banning the use of facial recognition software by law enforcement agencies ●Making covering name and badge number during any civilian interaction a fireable offense. ●Implementing a “duty to intervene” law, to require police to intervene if they see another officer harming or risking a member of the public, with a failure to intervene a fireable offense.

How would you have voted on the FY21 City Budget?

I would have absolutely voted NO on the ​FY2021 budget because it did not meaningfully decrease the NYPD’s budget. ​New York City needs to divest from the New York Police Department’s inflated budget and reinvest tax dollars into community and educational programs.

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.

Should the NYPD Vice Squad be eliminated?

Yes. The NYPD Vice Squad has unjustly targeted sex workers via harrasment, blackmail, and assault. It needs to be immediately eliminated.

Should Dermot Shea be fired immediately?

Yes. He has presided over the NYPD’s violence of Black and Brown New Yorkers since he assumed the position of NYPD Police Commissioner in 2019. He should be replaced by a person of color. Doing so would go a long way to help restore trust in the NYPD in communities of color.

Should the NYPD Commissioner require confirmation by the City Council?

Yes. Requiring confirmation by the City Council would help limit Mayoral control on an issue as crucial as policing and give communities a greater voice in choosing who polices them.

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?

There should be a three-step process for police officers who refuse to wear masks in public while on duty. The first time an officer refuses to wear a mask, they should receive a written warning by their commanding officer. If the offender repeats their actions, they should be penalized with a month of unpaid suspension. If, after being suspended, the officer continues to refuse to wear a mask while on duty, they should be terminated.

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

As it stands right now, the CCRB is largely toothless. The NYPD has reduced or rejected the CCRB’s recommendations for serious discipline in about 71% of the serious misconduct charges that have been brought against officers within the last 20 years. We must take tangible steps to empower the Board so that it may more effectively police the police. To begin with, we must allow the Board to investigate misconduct, even when it does now receive a complaint. Right now, even if evidence of misconduct becomes publicly available, the CCRB has to formally receive a complaint in order to review alleged misconduct. Additionally, we must make CCRB disciplinary determinations binding. I unequivocally and absolutely support state legislation to make CCRB disciplinary determinations binding. An empowered CCRB is a powerful tool for curtailing abuse by the NYPD.

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

I am a proud supporter of the “No New Jails” movement. We should not be building any new jails, prisons, or detention centers in New York. I also support the ​Renewable Rikers Act. Rikers Island’s prison must immediately be shut down and the island’s jurisdiction must be transferred to the Department of Environmental Protection for the purpose of renewable energy generation. New York City can significantly lower its incarceration rate by retroactively releasing people who are currently incarcerated for offenses that are no longer being prosecuted, decriminalizing sex work, and largely eliminationg cash bail and pretrial detention.

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?

Absolutely!

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 311 system plays an important public service for New York City, but there are areas where there are major areas of potential improvement. For instance, the public would be well-served by getting more clarity on individual calls in regards to status and timeline. Additionally, it can be difficult to follow up with 311. Lastly, there is a wide range in competency from 311 operators. We need stronger training to ensure that all call center operators are able to do their jobs at a high level.

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

Sex work is work. I am 100% in support of decriminalizing sex work. I am opposed to the implementation of the Nordic model. Neither buyers or prostitutes should be criminalized when engaging in paid, consensexual sex.

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. NYC’s schools are the most segregated in the nation, and school screening is a major reason for that. All students, regardless of their zip code, wealth, or skin color, deserve a world-class education.

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

Right now, the City Council has extremely limited authority to control the Department of Education, outside of the Council’s oversight capabilities. We need the State Legislature to step up to give NYC further local input. With that being said, I support a directly elected Board of Education, restoring the authority of School Leadership Teams (SLTs) to develop school based budgets, and hiring a DOE Ombudsperson to investigate and settle parent complaints. Additionally, I support having Board of Education members with set terms (who cannot be fired at will by the Mayor), and ensuring that the City Council has checks and balances over DOE policies as they do with other city agencies (otherwise known as municipal control).

Do you support public funding of abortion?

Yes! The right to choose should not exclusively belong to those who can afford it. For that reason, I am proud to support public funding of abortion.

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 and yes.

Do you smoke or otherwise consume weed?

I have never smoked or consumed weed. With that being said, I completely support the legalization of recreational marijuana. We need to legalize weed in order to raise revenue at the Federal, state, and local levels. Additionally, legalizing marijuana would be one small step on the path to true racial equity. Although white and Black people use marijuana at roughly the same rate, a black person in the United States is 3.73 times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession on average. The enforcement of marijuana prohibition is racist against Black and Brown folks and must be ended.

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 of the members of the IDC.

What will you do to support nightlife in NYC?

Nightlife is a critical part of what makes New York the gem that it is. Its importance for both our culture and economy cannot be overstated. There are a number of steps that should be taken immediately to support NYC nightlife. I have been a vocal supporter of legislation at the Federal Level (the ​Save Our Stages Act (S. 4258)​ that would support independent music venues and the artists that they employ via a $10 billion grant program. More locally, there are many important steps that the City Council could take to sustain nightlife venues. To begin with, the City Council could use its platform to advocate for commercial and residential rent cancellation at the state level. I admire Council Members Powers and Brannan for forming the ​CBGB Caucus​ in order to advocate for independent music venues and being vocal supporters of the industry. From a legislative perspective, the City Council needs to pass Int ​2007-2020​, in order to temporarily suspend the commercial rent tax. I also support canceling commercial rent for small businesses, including nightlife establishments, throughout the City as a way to support small businesses during this time of crisis. The workers and businesses of the nightlife industry have been hit particularly hard by the pandemic, but this is just one of many industries struggling. Speaking generally, I support legislation that will benefit workers whose livelihoods have been adversely affected through no fault of their own as a result of COVID-19. My campaign manager worked in nightlife (in addition to his political work) before COVID-19 made it impossible for him to work in that field. If elected, I will be a friend and ally to the nightlife industry in NYC, not only because it’s the right thing to do, but because my staff will hold me to it.

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

Yes. I plan to have significant community input from restaurant and nightlife industry representatives before taking a position on any policies that will affect their businesses.

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. Restaurant, bar, and club owners need to ensure that their voices are heard and I support buoying their views as much as possible. I will not appoint or reappoint Community Board members who are hostile to food and beverage establishments.

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?

Unequivocally yes.

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

Yes. Amazon paid $0 in Federal taxes in 2017 and 2018, and just $162 million in 2019, or roughly 1.2% of their income. They did not need the excessive financial giveaways offered to them to come to Long Island City.

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

The local Council Member must play an active role in the approval of development proposals before the Council. The Councilmember must host town halls with stakeholders including community residents, local small business owners and employees, members of labor, non-profits organizations, etc. It is incumbent upon the Council Member to lead the charge in advocating for affordability rates, local and union hiring, and project transparency practices by the developer. Lastly, Councilmembers cannot unilaterally defer to local members’ decisions.

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

Yes. I support expanding ban the box legislation for housing. Considering the nature of systemic racism in our criminal justice system and oppression of the incarcerated, expanding ban the box legislation is a necessary step in combating racism. I support expanding legislation to remove barriers to housing in both public housing (NYCHA) as well as private housing (condos and co-ops). Additionally, we need prosecutors to focus their energies on aggressively enforcing ​The Fair ​Housing Act (Title VIII of the ​Civil Rights Act​ of 1968) instead of locking up people of color for petty drug crimes.

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

Yes. Those homeless people desperately need housing, and our city cannot allow NIMBYism to reign supreme over peoples’ human rights.

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

As an immigrant, I am committed to elevating and improving the lives of immigrants in my community. I am a strong advocate for allowing New York City residents who are not US citizens to be allowed to vote in municipal elections. I support the New York Immigration Family Unity Project to ensure legal representation of all detained immigrants, regardless of charge or offense. Additionally, I will fight to make sure that all New York City residents, regardless of immigrations status, are guaranteed food, housing, and healthcare during our nation's public health and economic crisis. I also support abolishing ICE and New York’s continued existence as a Sanctuary City. ICE’s inhumane treatment of immigrants is unacceptable. Separating families, denying basic healthcare, and excessive deportation and detention is cruel and callous. We must work to protect the vibrant immigrant community in NYC and I am committed to combating discrimination on the basis of 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, I support a single-payer universal healthcare system. We need a healthcare system that focuses on maximizing care instead of maximizing profits. At the State level, I am proud to support the New York Health Act. Healthcare is a human right, and the New York Health Act would ​​provide comprehensive, universal health coverage for every New Yorker. Healthcare costs are unacceptably high and the New York Health Act would bring down prices in a way that would meaningfully help working New Yorkers. At the City level, I support expanding ​NYC Care to ensure that all New Yorkers have access to specialty care, prescription drugs, mental health services, and regular hospital visits. Health care is a right, not a privilege reserved for those who can afford it. The fact that someone may not be able to afford insurance does not mean that they should have to suffer through not having quality healthcare. Furthermore, ​expanding access to care is a critical step in eliminating health disparities in NYC. It will be particularly beneficial for historically marginalized communities like low-income folks as well as people of color. Additionally, MetroPlus has been successful providing free and affordable health insurance; I support this program as well.

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?

Bill Thompson Tish James Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris Andrew Cuomo and Tish James

Top 3 issues you aim to address locally and legislatively

1. Improving the quality of public schools so that every child can receive the education they deserve by: ● Increasing community involvement in public education through neighborhood events, after school programs, and other local partnerships. ● Encouraging teachers and students alike to better prepare themselves for an increasingly technological world. All classrooms should have access to the latest tech to enhance the learning experience and allow access to learning skills such as coding. ● Ending our over-reliance on standardized testing and allowing teachers to focus on preparing our students better for the world they'll face. ● Attracting some of the best minds in New York to become teachers through increased pay, benefits, and funding that directly impacts the classroom through reduced class sizes, improved buildings, supplies, and technology. ● Investing less in safety officers and more in school counselors, nurses, and teachers. ● Ending the overcrowding of our classrooms and allowing teachers to provide more 1-on-1 attention to students. 2. Supporting Affordable Housing throughout the 5 Boroughs by: ● Strengthening rent regulations that protect tenants from unfair & unreasonable rent increases.​ ● Advocating for 70/30 affordable housing with developers to further increase permanent affordable units in new construction across the city.​ ● Pushing our federally elected representative to change the way AMI is calculated so that affordable truly means affordable for NYC. ● Addressing the abhorrent conditions in NYCHA complexes across the city with a complete overhaul of the department that takes action on lead paint, crumbling infrastructure, and affordability. We need real solutions, not band-aid fixes.​ ● Implementing an ultra wealth tax and a pied-​à​-terre tax, which would help close the wealth gap in our city. 3. Reforming the NYPD by:​ ● Reducing the NYPD’s operating budget by actively reforming the system, not just tucking funds into other departmental budgets.​ ● Reinvesting funding from the NYPD budget into community and educational organizations aimed at ending the school-to-prison pipeline. ● Ending qualified immunity for the NYPD to ensure we get justice when officers commit acts of violence.​ ● Ending the racist practice of broken windows policing, which too often targets low-income, communities of color. ● Advancing decarceration efforts and re-entry programs that keep non-violent offenders out of prison.​ ● Abolishing metrics such as arrest quotas that encourage police to “make their stats” by arresting New Yorkers for victimless crimes.

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?

The budget process needs to be more transparent and more democratic. The City’s budget process needs to be reviewed by Council Members, Committees, and staff. As it stands right now, the Speaker and the Mayor have too much power over the process. Additionally, we should give the Council the option to modify the budget quarterly as a way to respond to unexpected major increases or decreases in revenue. The land use process needs significant reform. ULURP needs to be urgently reviewed. I support the expansion of Community Board powers: Community Boards should have a veto power within the process if they have a super-majority in favor or opposed to a project. In regards to the powers and duties of municipal offices, we have to find more ways for NYC to raise revenue to pay for vital services. Right now, we are largely dependent on Albany and Washington for our funds; this must change as soon as possible.

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

The City Council has a number of impactful powers: oversight, legislation, budget, and land use. I intend to exercise these powers in ways that benefit New Yorkers who have been left behind for too long: working-class people, people of color, LGBTQ folks, senior citizens, etc.

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, I wholly commit to working with Jim Owles during my campaign and while in office. The club and the progressive LGBT community can hold me accountable by keeping an open line of dialogue with both myself and my staff. I will always be available for the Jim Owles Democratic Club. Elected officials have a moral obligation to be in communication with community members and issue leaders. For that reason, you can count on me to always pick up the phone when you call.

If you receive the endorsement, do you agree to identify the club on all literature and electronic materials where you list endorsements?

Yes, enthusiastically! The Jim Owles Democratic Club is known for its literature, and it would be an honor to be on one of your legendary mailers.

What additional information would you like Jim Owles to consider when we are making our endorsement decisions?

I’d like to emphasize how much I’d like to work with your organization to build my LGBTQ policy and messaging. Now more than ever, expertise and vision is needed when trying to solve complex policy questions. For that reason, I look forward to partnering with the Jim Owles Democratic Club and listening to your members as we work together to take action on a host of issues that impact the queer community. If elected, I pledge to always have an open door for Jim Owles. Additionally, I am open to receiving significant input from Jim Owles when hiring staff—if there are qualified, thoughtful people with policy or other expertise looking for a job with the NYC Council, I want to make sure I know about them and can uplift them.