Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Vanessa L. Gibson for Bronx Borough President

Candidate Name: Vanessa L. Gibson

Office Seeking Election for: Bronx Borough President

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

A Borough President must understand who their constituents are and what policies will improve their lives, in order to successfully carry out the duties of the office. I have made a career as a public servant working to improve the lives of all Bronxites. From my time as an elected Assembly member in 2009 and being a Council Member since 2013, I have introduced, supported, and advocated for policies that have attempted to remedy the issues of housing, criminal justice, education, and healthcare. On criminal justice, I secured the passage of school safety discipline reporting to examine the way students were disciplined, I worked on legislation to outlaw police chokeholds, and sponsored the POST Act to oversee the way NYPD uses surveillance. In 2017, I helped pass the country’s first “Right to Counsel'' legislation in NYC that provides legal representation to eligible tenants facing eviction in Housing Court. I led the successful efforts to rezone Jerome Avenue, which resulted in the creation of new parks, 1,300 affordable housing units, senior housing options, and increased commercial diversity. I secured over $20 million for school renovations and another $10 million in funding for NYCHA residents get much needed capital repairs. I know how to create coalitions that can govern effectively and have over a decade of experience on getting legislation passed. The Bronx is faced with uncertain and unprecedented times. I am the best qualified and positioned to serve as Bronx Borough President and lead us into a new progressive era that will provide prosperity for all.

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

I am a supporter of the LGBTQ community, and have most recently endorsed my colleague Ritchie Torres in his successful campaign for Congress, and will continue to be an advocate on behalf of the LGBTQ community.

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

● RES 1023-2019 (Prime Sponsor) ● INT 0480-2018 (Co-Sponsor) ● INT 1578-2017 (Co-Sponsor) ● INT 0952-2015 (Co-Sponsor) ● RES 0614-2015 (Co-Sponsor) ● RES 0565-2015 (Co-Sponsor)

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

I have worked with the Bronx Museum of the Arts, Bronx Works, Callen Lorde, Boom! Health, Destination Tomorrow, Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC), Sage, Stonewall Democrats, Stonewall CDC, Union Health Center, NMIC, Harlem SAGE, the Walking While Trans Ban and numerous other advocacy groups and non-profit organizations in support of the LGBTQ community.

Do you consider yourself a member of the LGBTQ community?

No. I consider myself an ally of the LGBTQ community.

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

Yes I have remained committed to supporting the LGBTQ community in NY and my district, and as a Council Member have marched annually in the LGBTQ Pride celebrations in my district and NYC.

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

Yes, I have previously and currently employ members of the LGBTQ community on my government staff.

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 publicly supported the LGBTQ community through events that I have hosted and participated in such as National Coming Out Day, publicly advocating for the repeal of the Walking While Trans Ban, and as Co-Chair of the Women’s Caucus and Capital Subcommittee have fought for an increased budget for abortion access and reproductive healthcare. I have vocally advocated for criminal justice reform through the Cure Violence NYC Rally, Wrongful Convictions Press Conferences with Legal Aid, Anti-Gun Violence Demonstrations and in the NYC Council, spearheaded the fight for passage of Right To Counsel and my work with the ATI/ATD re-entry and formerly incarcerated community. I have attended a number of anti-Trump rallies and stood up for our immigrant communities.

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. One of the main obligations of any elected, public officer is to remain accessible for all constituents to share their opinions.

Will you affirmatively seek to hire formerly incarcerated individuals?

My office is committed to being an equal opportunity employer. We will hire individuals based on their qualifications, regardless of their personal backgrounds.

Describe your legislative and policy vision for combatting systemic racism

As Council Member on the Committee on Public Safety, General Welfare, and Oversight and Investigations, I was supportive of many initiatives that sought to reform the institutional perpetrators of systemic racism. I advocated for the ban of the chokehold and secure passage of the POST Act to reform the way the NYPD conducted surveillance. There is still plenty of work that needs to be done because we have not yet addressed the root of this problem. The prison industrial complex remains intact although, in recent years, we have started to see significant alterations to the system that promise to stop criminalizing segments of our population and working with them to build a better community. I support the allocation of increased funds to the Departments responsible for providing services to our neighbors, which include but are not limited to the Department of Social Services, Department of Education, Department of Health, and the Commission of Human Rights. All of those Departments must receive funding so that they may continue to invest in our communities by creating programs and offering services that address the mounting inequality in our society. I will continue to advocate for sensible criminal justice reform to ensure that all the criminal and corrupt elements of the criminal justice system are promptly removed to allow us to begin to heal the wounds that have fractured the trust between the institution and the people. I will fight to ensure that the City provides formerly incarcerated people with the appropriate resources needed for them to be reintegrated into society. The City must remain committed to ensuring that all our residents have an equal opportunity to access affordable housing, healthcare, education, food, and jobs. Until we can equitably support people’s basic needs, we will continue to be governed by systemic racism.

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

I am not actively seeking 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. I support efforts to rename the Queensboro Bridge to a name that is neutral or one that reflects and celebrates our City’s diversity.

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

The purpose of a statue is to serve as an honorary symbol that celebrates the historical achievements of an individual. Our City cannot continue to honor the transgressions of individuals, who contributed to the creation of the present-day system of despair, abuse, and oppression, which we are fighting so hard to correct. The Christopher Columbus statue belongs in a museum, where his historical contributions can be judged and taught in their totality. Any replacement statue should embody our City’s diversity and celebrate our struggles for communal justice.

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

My campaign has received contributions from a diverse coalition of New Yorkers. I have only received donations from affordable housing developers that have supported the creation of union jobs and proposals for the development of new affordable housing units. Any group is welcomed to support my campaign, but I would like to make it definitively clear that my decisions, as Bronx Borough President, will not be influenced by donations. My contributors’ personal interests will not supersede the integrity of my campaign’s mission that hopes to achieve justice and equity for all New Yorkers. My decisions will be pragmatic in their nature and designed to maximize the benefits incurred by all my constituents, regardless of how much or how little they donated to my campaign.

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

Any proposals for reductions in the NYPD budget must be made with precision to ensure that the Department maintains its operational capacity for carrying out its limited duties. Before I can commit to a definitive amount, I must consult with our criminal justice advocates, my Colleagues and representatives from the NYPD to reach a compromise. I believe that the integrity of the Department is at stake and my office will proceed with caution when devising budgetary recommendations. Our budget allocations cannot focus on funding one aspect of our City’s services, at the expense of the other Departments. That is why I will support a more equitable distribution of funding to promote greater investments in the institutions that promote resources for the betterment of our communities. .

How would you have voted on the FY21 City Budget?

As Council Member, I voted Yes on the FY21 budget that included a billion in expense cuts to the NYPD and shifted those funds to other agencies. This budget was painful and tough decisions had to be made to protect safety net programs, vital social services and programs and keep our City operating during a global pandemic.

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.

● (A) – School Safety Agents are Civilians and will be working under the Department of Education. I support efforts to redefine public safety including focusing on restorative justice programs. ● (B) – No. One police officer should be on the scene as backup. The social worker will be the primary first responder and only if they are unable to deescalate the situation and it turns violent, may the officer may intervene to keep everyone safe. ● (C) – Yes ● (D) – We must have conversations with the Department of Transportation to discuss a transition, capacity with staffing and operations and how DOT can work to enforce traffic regulations.

Should the NYPD Vice Squad be eliminated?

NYPD Vice Squad should be reformed to incorporate specialists such as counselors, clinical mental health workers, and psychologists, who can handle all crises that involve addictions and mental health issues. Our police reform must be mindful of making the distinction between a drug dealer and an addict. Our police officers, who have the proper training, will be tasked with handling violent situations and drug dealers, while our specialists will be responsible for taking care of those in a state of a mental or drug crisis.

Should Dermot Shea be fired immediately?

One of the infrastructural flaws of the criminal justice system that catalyzed the deterioration of the NYPD’s integrity has been a lack of accountability from officers, at all levels of the Department, who were found to be guilty of professional misconduct. Regardless of an individual’s title, if an investigation found them guilty of some level of misconduct, that individual is not above the law, and must face disciplinary actions prudent to their transgressions. Immediately firing Dermot Shea, who is in his final year of appointment, will not immediately resolve the systematic issues prevalent in the NYPD.

Should the NYPD Commissioner require confirmation by the City Council?

Yes. The position of NYPD Commissioner is too important for the Mayor to have sole authority in deciding who gets appointed. The process for the appointment should be greatly democratized by allowing the City Council to hold hearings, where residents, community organizations, and activists have an opportunity to plead their case for or against a particular nominee. Confirmation by the City Council, will ensure that all potential nominees are thoroughly vetted and that the individual with the necessary credentials and reputation is selected for the position. In fact, the Mayor and City Council should work in unison regarding all commissioner appointments, not just the NYPD.

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?

A police officer has a sworn duty to serve and protect our community. The integrity of our legal and justice system is dependent on whether they can execute their duties in a manner that promotes justice. If an officer is behaving in a way that endangers our residents’ collective safety or undermines the system of rules our government puts forth to safeguard our City’s collective prosperity, it should be addressed by his/her Supervisor (s) and handled internally.

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

The Civilian Complaint Review Board should be reformed with policies that allow it to act as an independent oversight commission, whose members are appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Council. The Review Board must be granted more funding that will enable it to conduct independent investigations that will thoroughly assess the validity of all complaints received. I support legislation that would delegate more authority and power to the Review Board that would lead to binding disciplinary action against all individuals that were found guilty of committing transgressions.

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

Rikers must be closed. The transgressions that have occurred, over the years, have turned that prison into the epitome of institutional abuse, injustice, and corruption. Its prisons like Riker’s that have tarnished our criminal justice system and perpetuated a system of oppression, which has been aimed at our most vulnerable citizens. One of my responsibilities, as Borough President, will be to make a recommendation based on the input from our community residents, activists, and criminal justice reform experts. I will explore all possible alternatives to Riker’s, in order to select the strategy that can house defendants in the most humane and cost-effective way possible. My decision will also be influenced by whether the new proposal will enable the rest of the City to retain its financial solvency and operational capacity. Due to our precarious budgetary future, I will be thorough and patient with our proceedings. We can ill afford to replace one bloated, corrupt prison for four new ones. I voted Yes in the City Council to close Riker’s Island and not allow any other jail to be constructed on the land once it officially closes.

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?

I support a pragmatic approach to sentence reviews. My advocacy to the Governor, for the review of sentences, will depend on the circumstances of each individual case. Before recommendations are made, my office will do their due diligence and consult all the appropriate parties, to determine what is the best course of action.

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?

Our 311 system must be renovated by incorporating the modern technology that will enable the system to satisfy the rising demand of public inquiries. I would support a proposal that requires an annual report to be created that assesses the functionality of the 311 system, so that the Council can begin to develop policy initiatives that will improve the system’s efficacy. If the report determines that the 311 system is being hindered by a lack of funding, I will recommend that the necessary budgetary allocations be made to correct the issue. Recently, I sponsored INT 1870-2020, which would provide more information to the public about emergency rooms, in relation to COVID, but as Borough President I will advocate for an expansion of these bills to ensure our residents receive all the information concerning their well-being.

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

Yes. During my time as an elected representative, I have supported legislation that enhances and provides resources to prevent sexual harassment, sexual discrimination, trafficking, and educate our citizens on the severity of these issues. Sex workers are one of society’s most vulnerable groups and the industry should be regulated to prevent criminal activity from happening. All individuals have an unalienable right to legal and civil protections and, as Bronx Borough President, it is my duty to fortify and preserve those rights. I will oppose the Nordic Model because it is a violation of a workers’ integrity and their right to privacy. Our policies will focus on removing all illegal and nonconsensual aspects of sex work, which include, but are not limited to human trafficking and sexual assault.

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

I oppose all school screenings that hinder our student’s ability to receive a quality education. As Borough President, I will advocate for the removal of all barriers including, but not limited to, geography, income, and race. My office will recommend funding programs, such as universal meal plans, to ensure that external conditions do not negatively impact our students’ ability to learn. I have been a big proponent of programs, such as our universal meal plans, which is why I sponsored INT 2057-2020 that called for the establishment of an emergency student food plan to be implemented during this COVID crisis. I am proud to say that our meal plans have included halal and kosher options, which are a great inclusivity initiative that respects the cultural diversity of our City’s residents. I will look to expand all those programs and support bills that have an indirect impact on our children’s education. As a Council Member, I have supported INT 2104-2020 and INT 2058-2020, which called on the Department of Education to track and report the access of online learning. As our society becomes more technologically oriented, it will be vital for the City to modernize the technology of our classrooms and improve our remote learning system. Some initiatives that I will pursue include the expansions of our City broadband Wi-Fi, funding for more laptops, and providing greater mental and educational resources that students can access from home. In the adopted FY21 budget, I made 27 allocations to schools just for technology improvements and upgrades.

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

We must expand the responsibilities of our Community Education Councils, so that the Mayor’s control of school policy is loosened and we can promote greater democratization of the process, which will enable our parents and community leaders to contribute to the success of our children’s education. I believe it is important for all parents to have an opportunity to take an active involvement in their child’s education. The NYC public school system will improve when we allow for the creation of holistic policies that incorporate various ideas from education experts, our parents, teachers, elected officials and students. We also need to provide realistic operating budgets for our CEC’s and Parent Associations that recognizes those high needs schools should get more funding.

Do you support public funding of abortion?

Yes. I stand unequivocally in support of a woman’s right to receive the necessary medical treatment that their body needs. A woman has sole proprietorship over her body and, thus can and should be permitted to seek out whatever medical attention she needs, without interference from the government or another individual. In the past, I have supported the adoption of RES 0924-2019, RES 0920-2019, RES 0862-2019, and INT 0863-2018, which have all been intended to safeguard a woman’s intimate right to ownership of her body. Each year, I recognize our abortion care providers for their overall healthcare services to patients and families.

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 still learning about the model of safe injection sites which are currently not operating in the United States. I am aware that if approved, there is a site identified in the South Bronx. It can be very hard for people to break free of their addictions, so in the meantime, the most important step the City can take is making sure they have a safe place, with sterile equipment, where they can use safely and a clinician is present to help them when they are ready to begin their rehabilitation. It is time to stop criminalizing addictions and start providing the necessary resources to help empower the people with addictions, so that they may become self-sufficient and wholesome again.

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 was not actively involved in any of the races for IDC members, nor was I actively involved in any of the races to defeat IDC members in 2018.

What will you do to support nightlife in NYC?

As Borough President, I will ensure that my office remains accessible to industry representatives and that their ideas are incorporated into my recommendations for policy regarding the nightlife in NYC. My office will advocate for the approval of initiatives that support the promotion of safe venues and sensible regulations that will cultivate a fun environment for the patrons and a profitable venture for the owners. As Council Member, I supported the creation of the Mayor’s Office of Nightlife.

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

I will consult with industry representatives before taking a position on policies that affect their businesses. Pragmatic governance relies on coordination between various representatives and that includes gathering the insight of the people, whose lives the policy will directly impact. My job, as Borough President, is to empower my constituents by incorporating their ideas into the policy-making process and facilitating discussion by keeping my office accessible to them, so that they may share their grievances.

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?

Our legislative process requires the participation of all community groups, in order to develop comprehensive initiatives that satisfy the greatest number of people. Limited participation restricts the flow of innovation and results in the development of antiquated policies that fail to resolve communal issues and ignore the well-being of those excluded from the decision-making process. I will work to ensure our restaurant, bar, and club owners are represented in our community because their insight will enrich the decision-making process and enable our elected officials to take action that is cost-effective. I will oppose the appointment of individuals who falsely attack our food and beverage establishments without citing credible evidence. The purpose of the Community Board is to provide a forum where all residents can participate in an objective discussion about the issues plaguing their community and reach a consensus on resolutions that will lead to improvements.

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. For decades, the cabaret law was an archaic governmental oversight that restricted our bar and club owners’ rights and violated our residents’ freedom of expression. The government has a great opportunity to restore the soul of our City’s nightlife. Allowing more dancing venues will provide more safe options for leisure activities and bolster the revenues for the local economy as long as safety provisions are in place.

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

I was a signatory on the original letter to recruit and attract Amazon to New York City but certainly, not at the expense of union-busting and suppressing worker’s rights. Once the proposal was made, the City Council held hearings to hear from Amazon representatives who made clear their intentions of not supporting workers and the local community in Long Island City. Once my Colleagues and I realized the flaws in this proposal, we started to push back. Amazon rescinded its application.

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

The housing crisis in our City is getting exponentially worse, as our federal, state and local officials continue to pursue initiatives, which for decades, has nourished the acquisitive nature of real-estate profiteers and permitted them to destroy entire communities with their unrelenting construction of luxury apartments. These new development projects have no pragmatic use because working or middle class families cannot afford to live there. The local member must advocate for the approval of projects that will create the greatest benefit for their constituents. They must reject all projects that fail to incorporate a substantial amount of affordable housing units, local hiring, apprenticeship opportunities and good paying union jobs. The ULURP process provides a forum that encourages communal discussion to determine what proposals are the best for addressing the needs of specific communities. The process must thoroughly vet all new proposals and local members must consider the opinions of their constituents when making their decision on a particular proposal, if we ever hope to start resolving the housing crisis.

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

Yes. Housing is one of the essential rights all individuals are entitled to, regardless of their criminal record or personal background. For that reason, I sponsored INT 2047-2020, which would make it unlawful for landlords, brokers, or agents to take adverse action and discriminate against an individual due to their criminal history. This is an important first step in ending the prison industry complex and allowing formerly incarcerated individuals, a second chance at redemption, to become contributors of society.

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

Yes. No individual will be removed from where they preside until there is a viable alternative set forth by the Council or the Mayor’s Office that will ensure no one is tossed back onto the streets. I sponsored INT 1902-2020, which would provide greater case management services for homeless individuals, so they could find a place to stay. It is imperative that we expand on those efforts, especially during this time of crisis, to ensure we protect our most vulnerable populations. It is understandable why residents would want these individuals removed from the Lucerne Hotel. The responsibility now falls on the government to devise a cohesive housing strategy that will rectify this dilemma.

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

Since 2016, our immigrant population has been consistently assaulted with the vitriol of xenophobic attacks that has tarnished the integrity of our beliefs in this country being one founded by immigrants, for immigrants. As a member of the Committee on Public Safety, I was involved in a number of legislative initiatives meant to protect our immigrants, including being the prime sponsor of INT 1569-2017, which lowered the punishment for “disorderly conduct” that would protect our immigrants from persecution from ICE agents and avoid DACA recipients from losing their protected status. I will continue to advocate on behalf of our immigrant population and support initiatives that will safeguard their livelihoods from our overzealous federal agencies seeking to separate these individuals from their families. I will support proposals that extend funding to non-profit organizations responsible for providing legal services to immigrants and work with the City Council to ensure our city services are accessible to everyone, regardless of their immigrant status. The City Council supports Immigration Initiatives, Adult Literacy, Citizenship Assistance and legal services for unaccompanied minors and immigrant workers, to name a few.

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 the creation of a single-payer universal healthcare system, in order to correct the structural flaws of our current privatized system that has left us wholly unprepared to deal with a crisis on the scale of this COVID pandemic. Our healthcare and frontline workers are the only reason we are not experiencing healthcare Armageddon, yet their herculean efforts are finite and we must implement the necessary policy changes to fortify and preserve the integrity of our healthcare system. I was one of the co-sponsors of RES 0470-2018 that enlisted the State Legislature to adopt a single-payer option to cover all New Yorkers. As Borough President, I will renew our efforts to satisfy the proposal of RES 0470-2018 by continuing my advocacy through an extensive public campaign that will pressure the NY Legislature into action.

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?

● (A) – Mayor: Bill deBlasio ● (B) – Public Advocate: Letitia James (2013), Jumaane Williams (2019) ● (C) – President: Hillary Clinton (2016), Joe Biden (2020) ● (D) – Governor: Andrew Cuomo ● (E) – Attorney General: Letitia James

Top 3 issues you aim to address locally and legislatively

● COVID-19 Recovery ● Education ● Affordable Housing

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?

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

My vision is to use my office to help restore some sense of normalcy in the Bronx. The COVID-19 crisis has been an exhausting and heartbreaking affair that has amplified many of our pre-existing socio-economic and political inequalities. It is time to begin empowering our residents and helping everyone achieve prosperity. I will begin by stabilizing and fortifying the public hospitals that serve our communities to ensure they have the necessary resources to treat our residents and administer the vaccine. Since March 2020, our frontline and healthcare workers have put forth courageous efforts and now it is time for the rest of us to do our part in alleviating their burden. I will also pursue initiatives that are focused on aiding our small businesses, the pillars of our local economies. 2021 is our residents’ opportunity to forge a bold, pragmatic approach to governance and I will advocate on behalf of these policies and leaders that will bring greater justice and equity to our City. I will continue to advocate for the implementation of initiatives that will benefit our residents, such as, adding new elevators and ramps so that our transit system can finally comply with ADA standards and our people with disabilities can have the ability to use our system efficiently, regularly, and safely. During my career as an elected representative, I secured more than $20 million for school renovations and other new technologies and, as Borough President, I will continue to fight for our students and teachers. In 2017, I was the prime sponsor for the Right to Counsel Law that gave free legal representation for our tenants in Housing Court. I will continue to advocate for the expansion of legal protections for our tenants and start to restructure NYCHA, so that New Yorkers can begin to get access to real affordable housing. My office will support new measures so that all our residents get access to affordable healthcare, healthier food, and access to outdoor activities.

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?

This campaign prides itself on representing a broad coalition of our community members that reflects our diversity and progressive agenda. This election will be about restoring our people’s faith in the government and encouraging greater participation in the political process, so that people will realize that their voices matter when legislation is developed. I hope that Jim Owles will assist my campaign, throughout this election cycle, to ignite a progressive movement that will benefit all Bronxites. Organizations, such as Jim Owles can hold me accountable by continuing to advocate for the issues and participate in all public forums that can facilitate a discussion on ways my office can improve on its initiatives. It is important for these organizations to remain engaged beyond just the election cycle, to ensure that the political process is incorporating their ideas and promoting greater inclusivity.

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

I will proudly identify Jim Owles on all my literature and electronic materials, so that our allies and opponents are aware that this progressive campaign has built a diverse coalition and my governing initiatives will reflect their broad interests.

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

As an elected representative since 2013, I have experienced the tribulations of governance. In 2021, we are faced with the unprecedented effects of the COVID-19 spurred on by the Trump Administration. The City needs pragmatic leadership. Over 7 years, I have developed important relationships and have acquired the necessary legislative and budget experience to help transform our progressive ideas into definitive action, so that New York City can once again prosper. I have the city government and state government experience to bring to Bronx Borough Hall.