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What type of housing do you live in? Regulated rental apartment
Are you now, or have you ever been a landlord? No
If yes, how many units and briefly describe what your experience has been. n/a
Does your campaign accept contributions from real estate developers (including related individuals), corporate lobbyists, organizations that participate in the carceral system, and/or landlords? No
Have you ever worked in, or had another affiliation with, the Real Estate industry? No
Have any of your campaign or advisory staff held a position as a corporate lobbyist or an executive role with the Real Estate industry? No
If so, how can we be assured you will have tenants’ interests in mind? n/a
Do you believe housing is a human right? Yes
If so, what does that mean to you, and if not, why not? Yes, housing is absolutely a human right. To me, it means that every individual deserves a safe, stable, and affordable home—a foundation essential for dignity and opportunity. Without secure housing, people face significant challenges in maintaining their health, securing employment, pursuing education, and building a stable future. Investing in affordable housing and strong tenant protections isn’t just the ethical choice; it’s also a smart economic strategy that eases the burden on emergency services, healthcare, and social support systems.
What actions have you taken in the past to fight for housing justice? My journey as an advocate for housing justice has been shaped by both legislative efforts and grassroots activism. In 2016, I championed the Housing Not Warehousing Act—a critical effort that repurposed vacant units into affordable housing and held landlords accountable, addressing a crisis that affected over 60,000 New Yorkers facing homelessness. Later that year, I testified at City Hall in support of the landmark Right to Counsel law, passed in 2017, which now provides free legal representation to tenants facing eviction and has significantly reduced eviction rates in the Bronx, offering vulnerable families a crucial safeguard against displacement.
At the same time, my direct involvement with the tenant advocacy group, Banana Kelly Improve Association, further solidified my commitment to housing justice. Working closely with the community, I witnessed firsthand the abusive practices of landlords like Seth Miller at 919 Prospect Avenue, where tenants were harassed and forced to live in substandard conditions. These experiences galvanized my push for broader reforms and reinforced my support for key legislative measures, such as the Right to Counsel law and the Housing Not Warehousing Act. Together, these initiatives are essential in ensuring that every New Yorker has access to legal support and affordable, dignified housing.
What are the most pressing housing issues, and what would you do as an elected official to address them? The most pressing housing issues in our city are the twin challenges of affordability and homelessness. Too many New Yorkers—especially survivors of domestic violence and those forced into temporary shelters—are left without the permanent, stable housing they deserve. We have a surplus of vacant units that could be transformed into secure, supportive homes rather than being left unused. Instead, our current policies often criminalize poverty and punish our most vulnerable citizens. As an elected official, I would work to convert these empty units into permanent housing solutions that not only offer shelter but also provide the supportive services needed to help individuals rebuild their lives. Additionally, I would advocate for stronger tenant protections and rent stabilization measures to ensure that lifelong New Yorkers are not priced out of the neighborhoods they call home.
Have you or anyone close to you (family, friend, etc) been evicted or been threatened with eviction? Yes
Have you ever had to fight a landlord for repairs or faced harassment? Yes
Do you believe that housing should be decommodified (publicly owned and tenant-controlled)?
Yes
Please explain your answer. Yes, housing should be decommodified. Housing is a fundamental human right—not a commodity to be bought, sold, or leveraged for profit. When housing is treated as an investment, working families end up paying an unsustainable portion of their income, limiting their ability to build generational wealth. I believe in a publicly owned, tenant-controlled model where residents have a real say in managing their homes. This approach not only secures safe, stable, and affordable housing for all but also empowers communities, prevents wealth from being siphoned off to private investors, and promotes economic justice.
What is one rent and/or eviction protection you would enact if you had the opportunity?
Expanding Good Cause Eviction
Do you agree that all evictions are violent? Yes
Why or why not? Yes, I believe that all evictions are inherently violent. Evictions are not merely a legal process—they forcibly strip individuals and families of their basic right to shelter, causing both immediate physical harm and long-lasting psychological trauma. When people lose their homes, they face the peril of unsafe living conditions, exposure to the elements, and the destabilizing effects of homelessness. This form of systemic violence disrupts lives, fractures communities, and compounds the vulnerabilities of those already marginalized. Recognizing the violent nature of evictions is essential in our fight for stronger tenant protections and housing justice for all New Yorkers.
Do you support the concept of universal rent control? Yes
For decades the Rent Guidelines Board has fueled the affordability crisis it was created to address. Most NYC tenants are rent-burdened, and hundreds of thousands of families, primarily Black and brown, are forced to deprive themselves of necessities to keep a roof over their heads, while owners’ profits hover near the 40% mark. Do you support freezing or even rolling back rents given these circumstances?
Yes
Do you support proposals to revise the RGB to make it more responsive to the needs of the tenants it was created to protect? Yes
Why or why not? Yes, I fully support proposals to revise the RGB. The current framework has created an imbalance where landlords continue to amass record profits while tenants struggle to secure safe, affordable housing. This inequity has left many New Yorkers facing escalating rent burdens and diminished housing security. By updating the RGB to be more responsive to tenant needs, we can ensure that rent policies better protect our communities, promote fairness in the housing market, and support economic justice for all.
Do you support the NYCHA 2.0 Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) and other privatization schemes? Yes
Please explain why or why not: I firmly oppose the NYCHA 2.0 RAD and other privatization schemes. Public goods and services should remain dedicated to serving the community—not turned into profit centers. When housing is privatized, the focus shifts from providing safe, well-maintained, and affordable homes to generating quarterly growth and increasing property values for investors. This profit-driven model often leads to inadequate repairs, unjust rent increases, and a general disregard for the quality of life of tenants. Housing should be managed as a public good that prioritizes the well-being, stability, and dignity of New Yorkers over private financial gain
NYCHA has suffered from chronic underfunding, neglect, and disrepair. What do you see as the best strategies to rectify these problems?
NYCHA’s crisis of underfunding and disrepair is a direct result of chronic disinvestment by both federal and state governments. To address these systemic issues, we need a two-pronged approach. First, securing significant, sustained increases in dedicated funding is crucial—funding that is earmarked specifically for modernizing infrastructure, making essential repairs, and implementing long-term maintenance strategies. Second, it’s vital to establish robust accountability and oversight mechanisms. This means creating independent oversight committees and empowering NYCHA residents to have a direct voice in how their homes are managed. By combining increased financial investment with transparent, tenant-driven oversight and modern management practices, we can transform NYCHA into a model for safe, dignified public housing.
How would you use your office to put pressure on landlords to make repairs and stop harassing tenants?
I will leverage my office to transform tenant protection into actionable oversight. First, I will work to expand and modernize our housing initiatives by establishing an accessible reporting system—such as an online portal and regular community forums—where tenants can safely and anonymously report landlords who neglect repairs or engage in harassment. This open dialogue with renters will ensure that issues are addressed in real time and that their voices directly influence our policy decisions.
Do you support regulating the 300,000 deregulated rent-stabilized apartments? Yes
Do you support significant expansion of HPD’s emergency repair program, including adequate funding, with the city correcting hazardous violations when the landlord doesn’t act promptly, then bills the landlord for the repairs and takes title to the building if the landlord doesn’t pay, keeping it as social housing? Yes
Why or why not? I strongly support expanding HPD’s emergency repair program with robust funding. It’s the landlord’s responsibility to ensure their properties are safe and free from hazardous violations. When a landlord fails to act promptly, the city must step in to correct these issues, bill the landlord for the repairs, and—if they continue to neglect their duties—take title to the building and convert it to social housing. This approach not only holds landlords accountable but also ensures that every New Yorker has access to safe, dignified, and secure housing.
Do you support stronger penalties against landlords that practice source of income discrimination? Yes
Despite the city’s commitment to a right to counsel for low income families facing eviction in housing court, currently fewer than half of eligible tenants are getting lawyers. Meanwhile, landlords have pressed the courts to speed up the eviction process so they can take advantage of record high rents, negating efforts to reduce homelessness. Do you support fully funded right to counsel and slowing down the housing court eviction mill?
Yes
What other ideas do you have to address the housing crisis, and what is your strategy for accomplishing them?
Filling empty NYCHA apartments is a top priority of mine. Too many units—nearly 5,000 vacant across the city—remain empty while countless New Yorkers struggle to secure stable housing. I will hold OACM accountable for the chronic delays, as some vacant units have taken an average of 400 days to be made available. My strategy includes implementing fines and fees for delays in necessary repairs and enforcing stricter oversight to ensure vacant units are promptly refurbished and filled. Additionally, I will work to enhance communication with tenants and prospective renters so that everyone is informed about unit availability and quality standards. By transforming these long-empty spaces into homes, we can make significant strides in addressing the housing crisis.