Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Ritchie Torres for US Congress NY-15

Candidate Name: Ritchie Torres

Office Seeking Election for: US Congress, Congressional District 15 (Bronx)

Campaign Address: Torres for Congress: 77-02 19th Rd. East Elmhurst, NY 11370

Campaign Website: Torres.nyc

Campaign Telephone: 646-531-2910

Campaign Social Media Handles:
Facebook: facebook.com/RitchieTorresNY15/
Instagram: @Ritchietorresny15
Twitter: @RitchieTorres

Campaign Contact (name/phone/email): N/A

Explain, based on life experiences and accomplishments, why you believe you are best qualified to represent your district.
Like many residents in the South Bronx, poverty and struggle are no abstractions to me. I govern from a place of lived experience. My mother raised my twin brother, my sister, and I on her own in a public-housing project paying the rent with minimum-wage jobs, which in the 1990’s was $4.25. And while we were living in conditions of mold, lead, and leaks, with no reliable heat or hot water in the winter, the government was spending over $100 million-dollars across the street on a golf course for Donald Trump. I attended New York University, but dropped out my sophomore year, suffering from severe depression and it was the lowest point of my life. I then became a Housing Organizer for former Councilman Jimmy Vacca and was inspired to run for office. In 2013, at the age of twenty-five, I became New York City’s youngest elected official and the first openly L.G.B.T. person elected in the Bronx.

During my six years at the New York City Council, I have passed over thirty pieces of legislation, second only to the Speaker. I chaired the Public Housing committee at the council and held the first council hearing in a NYCHA development-- bringing government directly to the people. That hearing ultimately led to a $3 billion-dollar FEMA investment. I am currently the Chair the Oversight & Investigations committee, where I have led investigations into the heating outages at NYCHA, the Taxi Medallion scandal, and the city's Third-Party Transfer program. My experience governing has prepared me to be an effective advocate for my constituents and has taught me how to leverage my bully pulpit to effectuate change, which I will continue to do as member of Congress.

In my time at the council I have learned that much of what we do on the state and local level is the administration of Federal programs. When you think of healthcare, you think of Medicaid/Medicare and when you think of housing, you think of Section 8, Section 9, or the Low Income Housing Tax Credit. These are all Federal programs. If you are on a mission to confront racially concentrated poverty, if you’re on a mission to lift working people in the poorest parts of our country, you have to be a policymaker on a national stage, because Washington, D.C., is where the rules are set.

Do you now support or have you ever supported an openly LGBTQ candidate for public office? Yes.

If applicable, what legislation directly affecting the LGBT community have you introduced or co-sponsored?
During my time in the council, I have introduced and/or passed measures that have impacted the lives of the LGBTQ community. Recently, I introduced a bill that would require the city to implement an LGBT business certification. Even though the LGBTQ community creates immense economic activity for NYC, and the city is known as a bastion of LGBTQ equality, there’s no certification that recognizes LGBTQ businesses as part of the diversity of the marketplace. There are corporations looking for greater LGBTQ diversity in their contracting, and there are LGBTQ businesses looking for more opportunities. A certification would be a way to bridge the gap.

Separately, I secured millions of dollars to establish LGBTQ senior centers in every borough and passed a law that allows LGBTQ shelters to serve youth up to the age of 24 years old which raised the age of eligibility. Lastly, I helped establish the first Department of Homeless Services shelter for queer young people up to the age of 30 known as Marsha’s House.

What LGBT organizations have you been involved with, either on a volunteer basis or professionally? I am a member of both Stonewall and Jim Owles. I consider Jim Owles my home political club.

If applicable, what LGBT organizations have you allocated funds to?
I have allocated funds to many groups including but not limited to: SAGE, the LGBT Center, Destination Tomorrow, and the Hendrick Martin Institute.

Do you consider yourself a member of the LGBTQ community? Yes

Have you marched in Pride? Which marches and for approximately how many years?
Yes. I have been either attending or marching in the Pride parade since High School.

Have you employed openly LGBTQ individuals previously? Yes.

Do you employ any currently?
Yes. My Deputy Chief of Staff and my Graphic Designer/Constituent liaison.

If you receive the endorsement, do you agree to identify the club using its FULL name on all literature and electronic materials where you list endorsements? Yes.

What press conferences, demonstrations, rallies and protests in support of LGBTQ issues, pro-choice legislation, criminal justice issues and the Resist Trump Movement have you attended?
I was arrested in 2017 when protesting policies of the Trump administration.

Have you ever been arrested? If so, please explain why and outcome of arrest.
Yes, on two occasions. Once in 2014 when advocating for the labor rights of airport workers and again in 2017 when protesting policies of the Trump administration.

Will you advocate for legislation to mandate the review of sentences of incarcerated individuals over the age of 55 who have served in excess of 15 years to determine if they warrant release? Yes.

Do you commit to visit constituents who are incarcerated in state prisons such as Bedford Correctional Facility? Yes.

Do you believe sincere remorse, risk of reoffending and actions taken while incarcerated should be considered over the original crime in determinations of parole? Yes.

Have you participated in any demonstrations or protests in relation to the issues of clemency and parole?
I publicly supported clemency for Judith Alice Clark and signed a letter asking for her parole.

Will you affirmatively seek to hire formerly incarcerated individuals? Yes.

Do you believe in the decriminalization of sex work? Do you support amending H.R. 1865 to exclude sex workers who chose the profession? Yes.

What proposals will you advocate for the protect immigrants and the further New York as a Sanctuary City?
I am in favor of: A) Granting citizenship to all undocumented immigrants the United States; and B) Granting healthcare to all undocumented immigrants.

Will you advocate, including introducing legislation, to remove public funding from religious schools?
If a school discriminates against the LGBTQ community, then it is fair game to remove public funding from that school.

Do you support the establishment of supervised drug consumption spaces? Yes.

Have you ever endorsed any member of the IDC or any candidates who challenged IDC members? Please identify all candidates. In 2018, I was the only local elected official in the 34thSenate district not to endorse Jeff Klein despite knowing him for more than a decade. The only anti-IDC member who sought my endorsement was Jessica Ramos, whom I endorsed and for whom I campaigned. The leading consultant for my Congressional campaign is Mark Guma who was one of the leading strategists behind the anti-IDC campaigns. Also, I have the support of the Arena, a grassroots group who raised money for anti-IDC challengers.

Will you commit to hiring a member of the LGBTQ community to serve as a liaison to the community? Yes.

Will you commit to ensuring diverse LGBTQ representation among your staff? Yes.

Who did you support for office in the following races A) mayor and Public Advocate in 2014 B) President in 2016 C) Governor and Attorney General 2018—
I supported the Mayor and Letitia James in 2014; Bernie Sanders in 2016; Governor Cuomo in 2018 and Zephyr Teachout in 2018.

Describe any federal legislation and policy changes that you support in order to address the ongoing effects of slavery, racism, colonialism, and discrimination.
I support legislation that would abolish the financial control board and end the colonial mistreatment of Puerto Rico. I support criminal justice reform including but not limited to the abolition of incarcerating seniors like Judith Clark.

What legislation or other policy changes do you support in order to make college and graduate school affordable for poor, working-class, and middle-class Americans and to alleviate the crushing loan debt that many students and alumni are facing?
I support free community colleges for low income New Yorkers and loan forgiveness for low income New Yorkers.

Do you support a single-payer universal health care system?
I support Universal Healthcare including the availability of Medicare for all. I support a version of single payer that meets the following three criteria: i) it has the buy-in of organized labor, specifically 1199; ii) it results in no net loss of healthcare funding for the Bronx; and iii) it results in no net loss of healthcare jobs in the Bronx

Discuss your stance on reproductive rights, including access to contraceptives and abortion services.
I support a woman’s right to choose without restriction. I also support Federal funding for reproductive health services. I support the repeal of the Hyde Amendment.

Will you refuse money from individuals or Political Action Committees representing the real estate?
As of Nov. 3rd 2019, I have not taken money from corporate PACs, but I have taken money from a whole host of individuals including real estate.

Will you refuse and refund any contributions from executives at corporations complicit in the Trump agenda? Yes.

Do you oppose efforts to bring Sheldon Adelson’s Sands Casino Empire to New York? Yes.