Website: rebeccaseawright.com
Social media: rebecca76ad seawrightforny
- What type of housing do you currently live in?
Own a co-op, condo or private home - Are you, or have you ever been, a landlord?
No- If yes, where & how many apts. do/did you own?
N/A
- 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- If so, how can we be assured you will have tenants’ interests in mind? (250 characters)
- 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)
- If so, what does that mean to you? (500 characters)
- What type of action have you taken in the past around issues of housing justice? (500 characters)
Chaired Assembly Majority Steering Committee meeting on Good Cause Eviction and I host a free housing legal clinic twice a month in my district office, co-sponsor numerous affordable housing bills. - What do you think are the most pressing Housing issues & what action would you take to address them as a state representative? (1000 characters)
The most pressing housing issue is affordable housing, holding landlords accountable. I will protect rent regulation and rent stabilized apartment units and invest more funding in ERAP and extend the eviction moratorium. - 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)
I believe housing is a human right and we need to protect from overdevelopment of luxury housing that doesn’t prioritize affordable housing. Putting profits over people has led to a housing crisis in New York and we must decommodify housing in New York State. Raising rents for everyday New Yorkers is untenable and creates housing insecurity for so many. Creating community land trusts is paramount to stabilizing rent for coop owners and renters for generations to come. Passing legislation that accomplishes this goal should be done this session.
- Please explain your answer (500 characters)
- 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)
Extend the eviction moratorium - Do you agree that all evictions are bad?
Yes- If no, why not? (500 characters)
- 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- Please explain why or why not (250 characters)
NYCHA needs to be fully funded as an obligation by the City and State of New York to its most vulnerable residents. I am opposed to privatization of public housing because vulnerable communities do not need the threat of private landlords actions.
- Please explain why or why not (250 characters)
- NYCHA has suffered from chronic underfunding, neglect, and disrepair. What do you see as the best strategies to rectify these problems? (500 characters)
NYCHA needs the following: - 1) Resources
- 2) Funding for tenant association community organizations
- 3) Funding for capital improvements
- 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)
We currently do this important work by hosting a free housing attorney in our district office. - 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)
The ERAP program must be fully funded in perpetuity and extend the eviction moratorium. - 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 continue to bring legisators together to talk through issues for support. - 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 support tenants by pairing associations with financial resource institutions to increase ownership opportunities and free pro bono housing attorneys. - 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