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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.
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?
Do you believe housing is a human right? Yes
If so, what does that mean to you, and if not, why not?
What actions have you taken in the past to fight for housing justice? Access to affordable, permanent housing is a priority that drives much of my work. I played a pivotal role in securing $2 billion for a comprehensive housing package in the last fiscal year, which includes $140 million for the Progressive Caucus’s Homes Now, Homes for Generations campaign. This initiative will support affordable homeownership and the creation and preservation of affordable housing through key Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) programs like Neighborhood Pillars and Open Doors.
With the support of Speaker Adrienne Adams, I also secured $6 million for a 100% affordable housing development in Gowanus, a critical step toward addressing our city’s housing crisis. I will continue pushing for policies that expand affordable housing opportunities, prevent displacement, and ensure that all New Yorkers—regardless of income—have access to a safe and stable home.
To build on this progress, I propose expanding affordable housing production, strengthening rent control laws, and enacting policies to prevent displacement, including enhanced tenant protections and support for community land trusts. I’ve already taken critical steps by passing the FARE Act and advancing the City of Yes proposal with an additional $5 billion for affordable housing. I remain committed to tackling the housing affordability crisis head-on and ensuring long-term housing stability for all New Yorkers.
What are the most pressing housing issues, and what would you do as an elected official to address them? Affordability. The homelessness crisis has forced many working-class families in my district, particularly from Kensington, to leave for more affordable cities, where they can afford to buy homes. It doesn’t have to be this way! I’ve been focused on securing more affordable units in rezoning applications like the recently approved Arrow Linen rezoning and overseeing the Gowanus rezoning and its community benefits agreement, including the successful renovation of two public housing developments. I will continue to advocate against unjust rent increases at Rent Guidelines Board hearings, fight to preserve affordable housing at 63 Tiffany Place in the Columbia Waterfront District, and protect residents from displacement. Additionally, I have welcomed new shelters into my district, even in the face of opposition.
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? No
Do you believe that housing should be decommodified (publicly owned and tenant-controlled)?
Yes
Please explain your answer. Yes, I believe housing should be decommodified. Housing is a basic human need, and its provision should not be subject to market forces that prioritize profit over people. One way to move toward decommodification is by expanding the use of Community Land Trusts (CLTs). Council can abolish the tax lien sale and repurpose vacant lots and foreclosed properties to create CLTs that are run and controlled by community members. This model allows for long-term affordability and stability in housing, especially for communities of color, by removing housing from the speculative market.
Council can further support this by providing stable funding to CLTs, recruiting diverse potential homeowners, and ensuring that residents are educated about their rights as homeowners. Additionally, requiring CLTs and cooperatives to disclose the rationale behind rejections would help prevent discriminatory practices. By promoting these initiatives, we can make significant strides toward the goal of publicly owned, tenant-controlled housing.
What is one rent and/or eviction protection you would enact if you had the opportunity?
If I had the power to enact one change, I would create a policy that provides rent-free housing for seniors with limited income. This could be achieved through dedicated senior housing programs funded by the government or through expanded rental assistance specifically for seniors. This would ensure that older adults can live comfortably without the financial strain of rent, especially those who have contributed to society throughout their lives and are now on fixed or low incomes.
Do you agree that all evictions are violent? Yes
Why or why not? Yes, I believe all evictions are violent. Eviction is an act that fundamentally undermines the concept of housing as a human right, which should be guaranteed to every person. Being housed is not just about having a physical space—it’s foundational to being able to participate fully in society. Evictions disrupt people’s lives, causing instability, trauma, and often homelessness, which leads to long-term negative impacts on health, well-being, and access to schools and jobs. This violence is not just physical but structural, as it reflects a system that prioritizes profit over the dignity and security of individuals and families.
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 support proposals to revise the RGB to better serve tenants. The RGB should be more responsive to the reality of rising rents and housing instability. By ensuring tenant voices and input from advocacy groups are central to decision-making, we can create a fairer system that prioritizes affordability and protects tenants’ rights.
Do you support the NYCHA 2.0 Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) and other privatization schemes? Yes
Please explain why or why not: Ultimately, I believe in comprehensive resident engagement, with decisions coming from residents themselves. However, given the urgent disrepair of buildings and the long timelines for capital improvement projects, I support the RAD/PACT program as a way to complete repairs more quickly. It’s essential that we address the infrastructure issues promptly while ensuring that residents are involved and protected throughout the process.
NYCHA has suffered from chronic underfunding, neglect, and disrepair. What do you see as the best strategies to rectify these problems?
The best strategies to address NYCHA’s chronic underfunding and disrepair include significantly increasing public investment in repairs, prioritizing long-term, sustainable funding solutions, and ensuring proper oversight. We must advocate for federal and state funding, eliminate bureaucratic inefficiencies, and explore innovative approaches like building partnerships with non-profits or community land trusts. Importantly, tenant input and leadership must be central to any solution to ensure that repairs and improvements meet the actual needs of residents.
How would you use your office to put pressure on landlords to make repairs and stop harassing tenants?
I have used my office to increase accountability for landlords by strengthening the enforcement of tenant protections and building strong partnerships with tenant advocacy organizations like the Fifth Avenue Committee and the Carroll Gardens Association. My office provides resources to help tenants report violations and works to ensure that the city’s housing agencies are responsive and efficient in addressing complaints. Additionally, I advocate for and support legislation that holds landlords accountable and creates stronger deterrents against abusive behavior.
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? Yes, I support the significant expansion of HPD’s emergency repair program, including adequate funding to ensure that hazardous violations are addressed promptly. If a landlord fails to act, the city should step in to make repairs, bill the landlord, and take title to the building if necessary. This approach would hold landlords accountable and prevent tenants from living in unsafe conditions while preserving housing as a public good. Keeping these properties as social housing ensures long-term affordability and stability for residents.
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?
Please refer to the previous answers.