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What type of housing do you live in? Own co-op, condo, or private home
Are you now, or have you ever been a landlord? Yes
If yes, how many units and briefly describe what your experience has been. I have 2 units. I have been the family’s landlord for 16 years and we have both had positive experiences.
Does your campaign accept contributions from real estate developers (including related individuals), corporate lobbyists, organizations that participate in the carceral system, and/or landlords? Yes
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?
Do you believe housing is a human right? Yes
If so, what does that mean to you, and if not, why not? Housing is a key social determinant of health. When you are housed, you are healthy. As the Chair of the Committee on Mental Health Disabilities, and Addiction, I have led the creation of the Mental Health Roadmap which provides supportive housing for our most vulnerable New Yorkers to address both the housing and homelessness crisis.
What actions have you taken in the past to fight for housing justice? In addition to fighting for more supportive housing in our city’s budget and in the New York City Council’s Mental Health Roadmap, I host various legal assistance events at my District Office for tenant advocacy and tenant rights with HPD, CUNY Law, and NYLAG. Additionally, the Mental Health Roadmap provides increased funding for more units for Justice-Involved Supportive Housing because we know that housing is one of the main social determinants of health across communities.
What are the most pressing housing issues, and what would you do as an elected official to address them? The access to housing and the affordability of housing are two important issues. In the City Council, in addition to fighting for access to supportive housing with key wraparound services, I am also working to keep homes affordable. Co-ops used to be the first starter homes, and are currently inhabited by retirees on fixed incomes and new families. I have created legislation that will significantly lessen the financial burden these communities will have to pay as co-ops come into compliance with Local Law 97.
Additionally, there are two housing development proposals that will be happening in my district. I will ensure that there are provisions for senior affordable housing and veteran affordable housing so that some of our most vulnerable New Yorkers have access.
Have you or anyone close to you (family, friend, etc) been evicted or been threatened with eviction? No
Have you ever had to fight a landlord for repairs or faced harassment? No
Do you believe that housing should be decommodified (publicly owned and tenant-controlled)?
No
Please explain your answer. I do not believe all housing should be decommodified. I oppose privatization of public housing and NYCHA developments. Residents of buildings must be supportive of any potential changes to their developments.
What is one rent and/or eviction protection you would enact if you had the opportunity?
I would enact rent protections for individuals living in buildings that must comply with Local Law 97 so that exorbitant maintenance fees are not passed down to these residents. Additionally, I support legislation that will provide the right to counsel for individuals who may not be able to afford it during eviction proceedings.
Do you agree that all evictions are violent? No
Why or why not? While an eviction is a difficult process that involves the upheaval of a residence, every eviction may not meet the criteria of becoming violent.
Do you support the concept of universal rent control? No
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? No
Why or why not? With many NYC residents being rent-burdened, the RGB must be amended to reflect this reality to help New Yorkers in need and ensure compliance to these new regulations.
Do you support the NYCHA 2.0 Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) and other privatization schemes? No
Please explain why or why not: I do not support the privatization of NYCHAs and believe this housing should remain public to ensure that tenants are heard.
NYCHA has suffered from chronic underfunding, neglect, and disrepair. What do you see as the best strategies to rectify these problems?
The decades of divestment into NYCHA by every level of government over the past 30 years has been the root cause of many of the issues we are currently seeing with NYCHA properties. Not only does there need to be more of an investment into these properties, there must be greater accountability to ensure the money is being utilized correctly.
How would you use your office to put pressure on landlords to make repairs and stop harassing tenants?
I will continue to partner with HPD to ensure that issues are addressed in a timely manner and to ensure that unscrupulous landlords are held accountable. I will also continue hosting outreach events so residents are able to speak directly with agency reps.
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? Amidst the rising cost of labor and materials, landlords are required to maintain properties. If there are no improvements after numerous violations, the City should step in and take action.
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?
I support efforts to make housing more affordable and accessible. We must first address our City’s cost of living crisis and ensure money remains in residents’ pockets. Rent continues to increase every year, pricing New Yorkers out of homes, so I will continue my work to ensure that the financial burden is lessened for tenants and residents living in co-op communities. I will also work to ensure tenants who are in the process of evictions, have access to legal assistance and counsel even if they are unable to pay.