Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Tamika Mapp for NY Assembly District 68

Candidate Name: Tamika Mapp

Office Seeking Election for: NY Assembly District 68

Website: https://www.mapp.nyc/

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

Who knew this Girl Scout and teenage mom could make an impact? As the State Committeewoman, one of the things I am responsible for is voter engagement and holding elected officials accountable.

I believe I am the best person for the assembly because, our district lacks unity and resources. Our public housing is being sold without any tenant input. Money that was earmarked for uptown housing was diverted to Hudson Yards. Tax exemptions for affordable co-ops and condos expired, leaving thousands of homeowners vulnerable. The Puerto Rican debt crisis is out of control and family land is at risk. Gun violence is rampant and all we are doing is marching, we are being oversaturated with treatment centers, our children and seniors are hardly thought about and meanwhile, the school to prison pipeline is as strong as it ever was.

When I finished working on the Obama for America re-election’s campaign in November 2012, he told us to go home and be the change we wanted to see in our communities. He didn’t have to tell me twice.

Since then, I have raised my voice on behalf of the community as I have dared to challenge the status quo. I have led by example and put my money where my mouth is to invest in these campaigns and more importantly invest in you. I’m proud to say since our first race in 2013 we have grown and educated ourselves on the issues and gotten things done.

I have fought to increase the number of trained geriatric social workers, mental health professionals, and volunteers to ensure we are meeting the needs of our seniors and providing access to healthcare and medication.

I have helped stalled Blueprint for Change and been vocal about our opposition to the Public Housing Preservation Trust Act.

I have been advocating for annual funding of NYCHA’s capital and operating expenses. It’s one thing to say you secured $650MM for NYCHA, it’s another thing for the money to actually make it to the developments in our community.

I have advocated for proper oversight of NYCHA as well as annual funding be allocated to Resident Management Associations.

I have called on elected officials to extend the real estate tax abatement and stop the oversaturation of treatment centers in our communities.

I have met with the elected officials of the Movimiento Victoria Ciudadana party in Puerto Rico to discuss the debt crisis and come up with solutions to save people’s homes from predatory Wall Street lenders.

I lobbied for a living wage, we got $15 but we can do $22 and women need to be paid the same rate as men and have access to union jobs.

I have lobbied for shared parenting so that children can get to know both of their parents.

I have lobbied for quality afterschool programs to give our children a place to be respected, valued, and given the resources to let their creative juices flow.

I have lobbied to support our Small Businesses and their access to capital by connecting them with Community Development Financial Institutions.

I support providing foster youth the necessary resources to age out gracefully, mental health care for children and parents with ACS cases, and mandating jury verdicts in family court cases to protect the interests of children.

I have helped pass the Gender Recognition Act in 2021. Therefore, I’m well qualified and have command of the issues my community is facing at this time.

2. Please identify any openly LGBTQ candidates for public office you have previously or presently endorsed? Dan Cohen State Committeeman (City Council District 7) and Marti Allen-Cummings (City Council District 7)

3. If applicable what legislation directly affecting the LGBTQ community have you introduced or co-sponsored? I have lobbied for the following legislation establish shared parenting in New York, Gender Recognition Act, and volunteer with Equality PAC on the following legislation

4. What LGBTQ organizations have you been involved with, either on a volunteer or professional basis? Equality NY

5. If applicable, what LGBTQ organizations have you allocated funds to? JOLDC

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

7. Have you marched in any Pride parades? Which marches and for approximately how many years? Yes, except 2019 - 2021

8. Have you employed openly LGBTQ individuals previously? Do you employ any currently? N/A, but will be committed that I have a LGBTI member on my staff once elected.

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

10. What press conferences, demonstrations, rallies and protests in support of LGBTQ issues, pro choice legislation, criminal justice reform issues and the Resist Trump Movement have you attended and/or participated in? Lend my voice for the following: Shared Parenting, Walking While Trans, Child-Parent Security Act

11. Have you ever been arrested in pursuit of legislation or for protesting an injustice? Please elaborate. No

12. If you are an incumbent, what have you accomplished in your most recent term?

13. For the following pieces of legislation, please answer if you are currently a sponsor or co-sponsor (if you are an incumbent), or if you will co-sponsor (if you are not an incumbent):

A. Fair and Timely Parole (S.1415A / A.4231A): A bill pending in Albany that would ensure access to the parole release process for incarcerated people in New York State. This bill insures that decisions on parole are not solely based on the nature of the original crimes but includes incarcerated peoples’ record of rehabilitation and assessment of current risk to public safety. I have been working with various organizations to make this happen. Once elected if not passed; I’ll be a co-sponsor.

B. Elder Parole (S.15A / A.3475A): A bill pending in Albany that would allow elderly incarcerated people who have served at least 15 years in prison an opportunity to appear before the Parole Board for a chance at release. I have been working with various organizations to make this happen. Once elected if not passed; I’ll be a co- sponsor.

14. If you will not co-sponsor any of the above legislation, why not?

15. Do you oppose the efforts to weaken bail reform as written? I oppose any efforts to weaken the bail reform, there are some room for us to ensure our communities are safe from violent offenders.

16. Do you commit to visiting constituents who are incarcerated in state prisons and city jails? Yes. Their voice is missing to ensure a smooth re-entry into the community. I’ll have a captain at the state prisons to ensure their needs are being met.

If incumbent, when did you do so last?

17. Do you support legislation outlawing solitary confinement in all prisons statewide including city jails? Yes

18. When was the last time you were inside a correctional facility. 2018

19. Do you believe sincere remorse and actions taken while incarcerated should be considered over the original crime in determinations of parole? I believe sincere remorse and actions should be considered except in murder, domestic violence, child and elderly abuse.

20. What do you believe should be done to ensure more clemencies are granted every year? We can apply pressure to the Governor by having an independent board that review the requests and make recommendations to the Governor to approve the clemencies. We can also do teach-in to educate the public as well and help connect those who are seeking clemencies to organizations that will help them fill it out correctly.

21. Will you publicly call on the governor to use her clemency power for the many incarcerated New Yorkers who can safely return home? Will you tweet out your support for this or issue a public statement? Would you be willing to be critical of a governor who does not exercise their power to grant clemencies and commutations to those worthy of release? Have you ever spoken out in such a way? Yes, I’m constantly calling out elected officials that doesn’t do right by our communities. I have

tweet, post on Instagram and Facebook, created petitions, made phone calls, faxed to ensure our community has a voice in Albany and beyond.

22. Have you participated in any demonstrations or protests concerning clemency and parole? Yes, I have.

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

24. Do you support legislation to prohibit discrimination against formerly incarcerated people in housing and employment? Yes, I will also sponsor a bill that will provide more incentives for landlords and employers. I would love to see housing and employment offered before any incarcerated person released.

25. Do you believe in the decriminalization of sex work? Are you or will you co-sponsor the bill introduced by Julia Salazar (S.6419 / A. 8230), which fully decriminalizes sex work? Yes

26. Will you actively oppose legislation (S.6040 / A.7069) that would implement the dangerous Nordic model instead of the decriminalization of prostitution? Explain in detail your views on full decriminalization, the Nordic model, legalization, and the existing criminalization approach. I will oppose the Nordic model because it does more harm than decriminalization. We just need to decriminalize sex work because its work.

27. Do you support ending qualified immunity for police and other law enforcement individuals? I support ending qualified immunity for police, other law enforcement , Guardian Ad Litem (GALs) and judges because everyone should be held accountable if they create harm to individuals and families, just like doctors have to carry malpractice insurance, I feel so does police, other law enforcement , Guardian Ad Litem (GALs) and judges.

28. What proposals will you advocate for to protect immigrants and further New York as a “Sanctuary State”? To ensure New York is truly a sanctuary state we must have the following in place, excluded worker funds, limiting ICE and the use of city and state enforcement officials from immigration enforcement, provide language access in all state business.

29. Are you a sponsor of New York's Medical Aid in Dying Act (A.4321a/S.6471)? If not will you add your name and sponsor? I will add my name and sponsor this bill if its not passed in this legislative session. I believe each person should have the opportunity to make decisions about their life.

29. Do you support the establishment of supervised drug consumption spaces? I support the implementation of Overdose Prevention Centers, but they must be spread out throughout the State instead of heavily burden in black and brown communities. I also believe we don’t need multiple centers next door to each other to provide adequate services. I will be pushing to ensure every community gets its fair share in OPC’s and to decriminalize buprenorphine as well.

31. Have you ever endorsed any member of the IDC or any candidates who challenged IDC members? Please identify all candidates: I haven’t supported any member of the IDC.

32. Will you commit to ensuring diverse LGBTQ representation among your staff? I am committed.

32. Who did you support for office in the following primaries or special elections:

A) Mayor in 2021: My ranked choices in no particular order: Kathryn Garcia, Maya Wiley, Joycelyn Taylor, Dianne Morales, Raymond McGuire

B) President in 2016 and 2020: 2016: Clinton 2020: Biden

C) Governor and Attorney General in 2018? Leticia James for Attorney General

33. Have you made an endorsement in the current bid for Governor? If so, who? I haven’t made up my mind yet for Governor, but I believe in giving people a choice at the Ballot box. At the State Convention; I nominated Paul Nicholas and Jumaane got my vote so he didn’t have to petition.

34. Do you support term limits for statewide office holders and for State Legislators? This is what elections supposed to be. I believe if we bring back civic education in schools and our communities, we can see a change in who represents us because the community will be empowered to vote them out.

35. Describe any legislation and policy changes that you support in order to address the ongoing effects of slavery, racism, colonialism, and discrimination. I’ll be supporting the following policies: establish the state financial literacy fund, establish a blockchain and cryptocurrency study committee, bridge the digital divide within our communities, teach entrepreneurship in all schools, bring back vocational training in all schools, fund community land trusts, increase homeownership education and increase the first

homeownership grants, ensure we have access to mental health providers and mental health treatment in a dignified manner, ensure black maternal health is being address, ensure we bridge the gap for ebt/snap food insecurity, increase annual allowances for all veterans, ensure we locate, advocate and educate all women veterans, improve care transitions and get better screening for suicide risks, expand the veteran tuition award program to allow the transfer of unused benefits to a caregiver, spouse or child. Supporting these programs will address the systemic racism that goes on in our society.

36. 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? Cancel Debt, New Deal for CUNY and SUNY.

37. Do you support a single-payer universal health care system? Do you or will you co- sponsor the New York Health Act? Please elaborate. Yes, because its time to put people over profit.

38. Discuss your stance on reproductive rights, including access to contraceptives and abortion services. I believe in a women’s right to choose what’s right for them, and we need to bring back sex education inside the classroom. We need to ensure our young ladies have access feminine hygiene products in their school bathrooms as well.

39. Will you refuse money from individuals or Political Action Committees representing the real estate industry or law enforcement unions/associations? Yes

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

41. Will you cosponsor the legislation to prohibit evictions without good cause (S.3082 / A.5573)? Yes

42. Will you push for the passage of Home Stability Support (HSS) to bridge the difference between the public assistance shelter allowance and fair market rents for NY's 95,000 homeless? Will you co-sponsor S.856 / A.6032, which amends the Social Services Law to create a statewide rent supplement for families and individuals who are eligible for public assistance benefits and who face eviction, homelessness, or loss of housing due to domestic violence or hazardous living conditions? Yes, and to pass legislation that will look at the net income to calculate rent and remove the federal average median income and have it broken down by borough and then each area to ensure people can have a place of their own.

43. What should happen to 421-a? Would you end it, mend it, continue it? We should extend the 421-a plan until we have a better plan in place and if we want to provide an affordable homeownership opportunity for our community it shouldn’t come with an expiration tag on it. If we end this plan, a lot of seniors will no longer to age in place and our community members leaving because the affordability is gone, and their maintenance is now matching their mortgage. We need a plan in place that will incentive the homeowner and not the developers.

44. Do you support legalizing accessory dwelling units? I don’t know too much on this issue but willing to learn and have an open discussion about this

45. Do you support more state funding for NYCHA? Yes If so, how much?

$3.4 billion in Capital funds for NYCHA in SFY 2023, baselined annually thereafter

$2.8 billion in Operating funds for NYCHA in SFY 2023, baselined annually thereafter Address NYCHA’s ongoing operating deficits of ~$300m+ annually

b. Increase the size of the Capital Projects Division i. NYCHA currently spends less than 40% of its annual capital budget.

This funding would allow NYCHA to commit 100% of currently allocated capital funds as well as additional capital funds requested above

c. Provide startup funds for each Tenant Association that elects a governing board to start a Resident Management Corporation and fund a Department of Resident Management

d. Increase the size of the Operations Division to address the ~500,000 work order backlog

e. Create an independent Auditing Department

3. Commission an independent comprehensive forensic audit showing how and where funding received by NYCHA has been spent and publicly release the audit findings and recommendations annually

46. Do you, or will you, co-sponsor the Climate and Community Investment Act? (S.4264A

/ A.6967) If you are an incumbent and do not currently co-sponsor this bill, why not? Yes

47. Do you support the New York Public Banking Act (S.1762A / A. 8290? If you are an incumbent and do not currently co-sponsor this bill, why not? Yes, because it can save the state fees and be able to leverage its savings for economic development, environmental protection, support small and worker-corporative businesses, and offer consumers an easier way to bank.

48. Do you support the New Deal for CUNY (S.4461 / A.5843)? If you are an incumbent and do not currently co-sponsor this bill, why not? Yes, because it restores free tuition, ensures adequate faculty staffing and it will lift a lot of families out of the student loan debt trap.

49. 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 a city bill to rename the former Queensboro Bridge? Yes Do you authorize the use of your name for such a purpose? Yes

50. What is your position on removing the Christopher Columbus statue in Columbus Circle and if so, what should replace it?‘ We should be removing the Christopher Columbus statue and open it up for our LGBTQI, BIPOC on a quarterly basis.

51. Do you support reducing the budget of law enforcement throughout the state, and if so, by how much? I like to reimage what law enforcement should be in the state of New York. Law enforcement should be handling mental health crisis or domestic violence, those should be handled by organizations that are familiar and can handle those situations.

52. 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

53. Should law enforcements "Vice Squads" be eliminated? Yes

54. How would you recommend law enforcement officers be penalized for refusing to wear masks in public while on duty, in defiance of city and state rules? A fine 2x their salary, and/or suspension for 30 days for putting our communities at risk.

55. What reforms would you make to the Civilian Complaint Review Board? Would you support state legislation to make CCRB disciplinary determinations binding? I would support state legislation to make CCRB disciplinary determinations binding and retroactive, and I would like to see the CCRB be independent of the Citizen Union so we can ensure rotten apples are not creating anymore harm to our communities or the state.

56. What will you do to support nightlife in New York State? Support all nightlife to get access to testing, streamline the layers of bureaucracy of fines and penalties.

57. Do you commit to speak with restaurant and nightlife industry representatives before taking a position on any policies that affect their businesses? I am committed to speak to every constituent, community based organizations before I take any policy that will affect their businesses or lives.

58. Do you commit to speak personally with liquor license applicants and license

holders before opposing any bid for a liquor license? Likewise for an applicant seeking your support? Yes, as state above.

59. What are the top 3 issues you aim to address locally and legislatively? Housing, Children and Families, Seniors

60. How much money do you presently have in your campaign account? I have raised 5K and if I included commitments to date: $25K

61. What additional information would you like members The Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club to consider when we are making our endorsement decision concerning your candidacy? Thank you so much for considering me for your endorsement. I am a hard worker that never make promises that I can’t keep. I review both sides of every policy or solutions and bring key stakeholders to the table so we can achieve our goals which is to make New York affordable and safe for everyone. If you are looking for a candidate that understands, bring people together at the table, reviewing all sides and empowering the next generation of leaders. Then I’m your next State Assemblymember, that will bring the next generation with me no matter how hard the road my seem.