State Assembly 65 Alana Sivin

Website: www.alanaforny.com

Social media: twitter.com/alanaforny twitter.com/alanaforny

What type of housing do you currently live in?
Unregulated Rental Apt
Are you, or have you ever been, a landlord?
No
1. If yes, where & how many apts. do/did you own?
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
1. If so, how can we be assured you will have tenants’ interests in mind? (250 characters)

Values and Vision

Do you believe housing is a human right?
Yes
- If so, what does that mean to you? (500 characters)
  In one of the richest countries – and one of the richest states – in the world, everyone should have a dignified and safe home. And no one should be evicted from their home, especially during a pandemic. This includes “de facto” evictions, where landlords will take actions such as unjustifiably increasing rent a certain amount, making it impossible for tenants to afford. I will push so that no tenant can be evicted without good cause.
What type of action have you taken in the past around issues of housing justice? (500 characters)
I have pushed both on the inside and the outside of government, including protesting the end of the moratorium this past summer (https://twitter.com/AlanaForNY/status/1428484781663195144?s=20&t=arXIODnFPh-Zr4fjG2zRtw), highlighting the fight for a a right to counsel in states across the country https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=467526787846790, and working within government to bring more supportive housing to sex workers and people leaving jails and prisons.
What do you think are the most pressing Housing issues & what action would you take to address them as a state representative? (1000 characters)
1) New Yorkers across the state are in an eviction crisis, with more that 225,000 tenants on the brink of eviction. I will fight for a statewide right to counsel, and for the good cause eviction act.
2) NYCHA developments have long suffered from a lack of funding and a lack of accountability. I would fight to provide a rent reduction to tenants who experience a disruption in utility service, create a department of independent audit to ensure funds allocated are being meaningfully and responsibly spent, and waive sanitation fees charged by New York City.
3) There is not enough truly, deeply affordable housing. I would propose a fund that would buy non residential(or residential buildings that are not habitable) or land and redevelop them into social housing. A perfect example of this would be the vacant land just outside of the district on 6th and Avenue B, which several community advocates have pushed to be converted to a CLT.
Have you or anyone close to you (relation, 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 de-commodified?
Yes
- Please explain your answer (500 characters)
  Yes. Housing is a human right, and the commodification of housing makes it so that too many people are at risk of losing their homes and living in unacceptable conditions. Commodified housing makes it so that housing is not a right, but a good that creates profits for the wealthy. The de-commodification of housing, and namely, the creation of more social housing and community land trusts, would help keep housing affordable in the long term, allowing lower-income households to continue to have access to neighborhoods that are increasing in price.
Do you believe in publicly owned and controlled housing?
Yes
What is one rent and/or eviction protection you would enact if you had the opportunity? (500 characters)
I would fight for the passage of good cause legislation, in addition to the tenant opportunity to purchase act.
Do you agree that all evictions are bad?
Yes
- If no, why not? (500 characters)
Do you support the concept of universal rent control?
Yes

Overview on Housing

Do you support the NYCHA 2.0 Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) and other privatization schemes?
No
1. Please explain why or why not (250 characters)
  NYCHA tenants have been traumatized by the impact of section 8 conversions in the past, including displacement and delays in receiving essential repairs. Accordingly, I am deeply opposed to RAD and of other privatization schemes.
NYCHA has suffered from chronic underfunding, neglect, and disrepair. What do you see as the best strategies to rectify these problems? (500 characters)
We need to bring more state funds to NYCHA, through various streams, including the IONY package. I would also fight to create a dedicated ERAP fund for NYCHA applications, for the NYCHA Utility Accountability Act, an Emergency Repair Program, proactive annual inspections of every single unit, an department of independent audit to ensure funds allocated are being meaningfully and responsibly spent, and waiver of sanitation fees charged by NYC
Do you support setting aside 15% of all units created in new state-subsidized affordable housing projects for homeless families and individuals?
Yes
How would you use your office to put pressure on landlords to make repairs and stop harassing tenants? (500 characters)
One important way to put pressure on landlords to make repair and stop harassing tenants is by creating a statewide right to counsel. Landlords almost always have access to attorneys, creating a power dynamic where the ability of a landlord to evict tenants without representation is definite, even when there is no basis. Creating a right to counsel, in addition to passing good cause eviction, are two essential tools. Additionally, I will act as an advocate for those threatened with eviction.
Do you support regulating the 300,000 deregulated rent-stabilized apartments?
Yes
Will you support increased funding and oversight hearings of DHCR’s Office of Rent Administration to ensure timely responses?
Yes
How will you ensure people who owe back rent due to COVID are not evicted and do not continue to owe money? (500 characters)
In addition to passing good cause eviction, I would work to create a statewide right to counsel, as we have seen that where tenants are represented by counsel, the likelihood of eviction is smaller.
Would you support financial and criminal penalties against landlords and brokers that deny a prospective tenant housing based on using a tenant blacklist?
Yes

Current Bills and Campaigns

Do you support Good Cause Eviction Protections?
Yes
If Good Cause is not passed this session, what will you do to ensure it gets passed in 2023? (500 characters)
I will use inside-outside strategies to ensure that this crucial piece of legislation gets passed. On the inside, that means getting on the housing committee, talking with central staff, leadership, and committee chairs and members to learn why the legislation is being held up, then communicating with advocacy organizations to develop strategies to counteract those hold-ups. On the outside, it means working with media and advocacy organizations to engage in direct action and pressure when needed
Will you support ending MCIs?
Yes
Will you commit to fully funding the Housing Access Voucher Program?
Yes
Do you support the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA)?
Yes
How will you support tenants in your district opting into TOPA? (500 characters)
I will both fight for the passage and effective implementation of TOPA. Additionally, our office will engage in robust organizing and education sessions alongside community based housing organizations to not only mobilize around the passage of the legislation, but also to walk constituents through the process of opting in.
Do you support the move to legalize basement apartments and ADUs?
Yes
Do you support tenants’ right to collective bargaining?
Yes
Do you support 421a or Gov Hochul’s proposed 485w?
No
Do you support fully funding the Excluded Workers fund?
Yes
Do you support the “Excluded No More” bill?
Yes
Are you committed to making sure every tenant in the state has free access to counsel in Housing Court?
Yes
Will you commit to fully funding statewide Right to Counsel in 2023’s budget?
Yes