Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Tiffany Cabán for City Council District 22

Candidate Name: Tiffany Cabán

Office Seeking Election for: New York City Council District 22

Campaign Website: www.tiffanycaban.nyc

1. Based upon your life experiences and accomplishments, why do you believe you are best qualified to represent your district?

First and foremost, because I prioritize listening and I fight like hell for my people. I am a Queens native, who grew up in a working-class Puerto Rican family in Richmond Hill. Before joining the New York City Council, I worked as a public defender, representing people who did not have resources to defend themselves against the brutal system of mass incarceration. In my years at New York County Defender Services (NYCDS) and the Legal Aid Society’s Criminal Defense Practice, I represented over a thousand indigent clients in cases ranging from turnstile jumping to homicide.

Throughout my professional career, I have used the law to help New York City’s most vulnerable communities, and my experiences advocating on behalf of my clients helped me identify some of the worst inequities produced and exacerbated by our criminal legal system. The years I spent as a public defender inspired me to run for elected office, determined to redefine how our city approaches public health and public safety. These core concerns remain central to my vision of progressive governance today.

In 2021, I became the City Council Member representing District 22, including Astoria, Rikers Island, and parts of Jackson Heights, Woodside, and East Elmhurst. In my time in the Council, I have introduced and passed legislation to support survivors of gender-based violence, protect abortion care in NYC, move homeless New Yorkers more efficiently to permanent homes, and much more. I am the co-Chair of the Council’s LGBTQIA+ Caucus and a leader in Local Progress, a national organization of progressive local elected officials. In 2023, I was honored to receive the LGBTQ+ Victory Institute’s Tammy Baldwin Breakthrough Award, recognizing me as a rising star and a trailblazer for equality.

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

I am currently the co-chair of the Council’s LGBTQIA+ caucus. I am a member of the Pride caucus in an organization called Local Progress. I have been involved with and honored by the Victory Institute and have volunteered with Dave’s Lesbian Bar in the past. These are just a few of the LGBTQ organizations I am in community with. I endorsed Jackie Fielder, an indigenous and queer woman, for California State Senate. I endorsed Aleda Gagarin for City Council in 2021.

3. If you receive our endorsement, do you agree to identify the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club on all literature and electronic materials?

Yes.

4. What press conferences, demonstrations, rallies and protests in support of LGBT issues, pro-choice legislation, racial justice, criminal justice have you attended, including rallies specifically against Donald Trump?

The list is very long but some of them include rallies for workers rights, immigrant rights, queer liberation, Palestinian liberation, decarceration, access to gender affirming care and so much more.

5. In light of the upcoming Trump Administration’s war on women, the LGBTQ+ community, racial minorities and immigrants, what are your plans to organize and combat the Trump agenda?

Municipal government is the front line. I am currently (and will continue) fighting like hell to make sure we provide funding, pass laws and use every tool in our toolbox to fight the Trump Agenda. The first lesson from the book “On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century” is: Do not obey in advance. Most of the power of authoritarianism is freely given. In times like these, people think ahead about what a repressive government like Trump's will want, and then offer it without being asked. If you adapt this way, you are teaching power what it can do. I have been engaging in a public campaign to tell New Yorkers, “Do not obey in advance!” To stand out and refuse to follow fascist orders. The more that do, the more that will follow.

7. Will you seek or accept endorsements of individuals who oppose LGBTQ+ and reproductive rights, such as Ruben Diaz Sr., Fernando Cabrera or Erick Salgado? Will you pledge to denounce their homophobia and anti-choice positions in the event you receive an endorsement from such individuals?

No, I will not seek or accept an endorsement from them.

8. In light of the upcoming Trump Administration’s war on women, the LGBTQ+ community, racial minorities and immigrants, what are your plans to organize and combat the Trump agenda?

See answer above.

9. Do you support the unrestricted right to reproductive care and abortion?

Yes

10. Have you hosted, funded or otherwise supported Drag Story Hours in your community?

Yes

11. What proposals will do you support to increase the protection of immigrants and cement New York City’s status as a Sanctuary City?

I support eliminating the 30 and 60 day shelter limit, expanding right to counsel, decriminalizing sex work, passing the package of street vendor reform bills, expanding the funding to Promise NYC, and more. All of these things would bring increased stability and safety to our immigrant neighbors.

12. How will you represent the most vulnerable, including individuals experiencing homelessness and asylum seekers? Have you ever opposed any shelter in your district?

Our office has put out a concrete plan for a more affordable NYC. Some of the proposals include a Revolving Social Housing Fund, NYC Land Bank, supporting community-based developers, the “People’s Tax Liens ( instead of selling tax liens to for-profit firms, we should use the tax liens to seize the neglected holdings and convert them into social housing controlled by the people),” funding the Survivor Housing Stability Fund, protecting NYC tenants, supporting union wages and more.

I, alongside CM Nurse, led the drafting Progressive Caucus budget priorities. The budget campaign is called “Crisis to Care,” and would invest money into clearing their waitlist for mental health teams (FACT & Act teams), investing in JISH housing (Justice impacted supportive housing), increased access to harm reduction services and support for the workforces that deliver care to the most vulnerable including EMS workers, peer mental health workers, and public defenders, and more.

I have never opposed a shelter in my district.

13. If incumbent, are you a co-sponsor of Resolution 2970, introduced by Council Member Shahana Hanif? If not yet elected, will you promise to co-sponsor the resolution? The text urges the NYS Legislature to pass the New York for All Act, which would ensure state and local resources are not used to facilitate federal immigration enforcement. If not, please explain.

Yes

14. If incumbent, are you a co-sponsor of Resolution 2917, introduced by Council Member Crystal Hudson? If not yet elected, will you promise to co-sponsor the resolution? The text endorses the Access to Representation Act, which would establish a “universal right to counsel” for indigent New Yorkers who are subject to removal proceedings under federal immigration law. If not, please explain.

Yes

15. Will you join our efforts to pass legislation mandating 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? The legislation is commonly known as the New York Elder Parole Bill.

Yes

16. Do you oppose the death penalty?

Yes

17. Do you support outlawing solitary confinement?

Yes

18. Do you commit to visit constituents who are incarcerated? Will you work to secure the release of individuals who have demonstrated sincere remorse, worked toward rehabilitation and are not deemed a threat to society?

Yes

19. Do you commit to working to change our penal system toward a restorative rather than a retributive model of justice?

Yes

20. Do you commit to make applications for clemencies available to your constituency including a link to an application in a constituent newsletter? Will you submit it to our club?

Yes

21. Who did you support for mayor in the 2021 Democratic primary election?

Maya Wiley

22. Which 2025 Democratic candidates have you removed from your consideration? Have you endorsed anyone? If so, who?

I have removed Eric Adams and Andrew Cuomo from consideration. I have committed to ranking Brad Lander in my top 2.

23..Do you support the renaming of the Ed Koch bridge and will you work towards the renaming including sponsoring such legislation?

Yes

24. What are your plans to address rent affordability in NYC? Did you vote for “City of Yes”? If not, please explain.

I voted for City of Yes (while far from perfect or impactful enough) and supported the City for All investment package the Council secured.

25. What are your plans regarding short-term housing?

I support a housing first approach. We should always be increasing pathways to long-term, stable, safe, affordable housing. As we continue to pursue those goals, I support improving and expanding access to supportive housing. Removing barriers to access that housing (for example folks with dual diagnosis and not eligible for many of those beds) and also support the expansion of JISH (justice impacted supportive housing)

26. Based upon your life experiences and accomplishments, why should we believe you would be a dynamic and progressive voice in elected office?

Please see answer to the first question on the questionnaire. I am proud to say that I don’t just talk the talk, but walk the walk. I have consistently been unafraid to say and do the hard things, no matter the price. I remain uncompromised in my commitment to my people always.

27 .What additional information would you like the Jim Owles club to consider when we are making our endorsement decision?

I was very proud to release the LGBTQIA+ Pride Agenda. It was a two year labor of love with queer leaders and organizations from around the city in establishing the roadmap to an equitable city for LGBTQIA+ New Yorkers.

28. Are you a potential candidate for City Council speaker in the upcoming term? If so, what is your platform?

questionnaireJim Owles Liberal Democratic ClubFebruary 23, 2025nyc 2025