State Assembly 86 Yudelka Tapia

Website: https://www.yudelkaforthebronx.com/

Social media: https://twitter.com/YudelkaTapia https://www.instagram.com/yudelka4thebronx/?hl=en

What type of housing do you currently live in?
Regulated 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)
  All people, irrespective of their race, income, background, age, or zip code, have the basic right to safe, quality, dignified housing. It is our role as legislators to ensure that this basic human right is met for all people.
What type of action have you taken in the past around issues of housing justice? (500 characters)
I’ve dedicated my life to uplifting Bronx families, and I’ve fought to end tenant harassment and provide safe housing and support for domestic violence survivors. My community was devastated by the Twin Parks apartment fire this year that claimed the lives of so many. I’ll never forget being on the ground with them, organizing relief for the families, and witnessing the tremendous loss caused by mismanagement and neglect. Our families deserve better.
What do you think are the most pressing Housing issues & what action would you take to address them as a state representative? (1000 characters)
Ensuring access to safe, affordable housing is critical to our economic recovery and to building stronger communities. Before the pandemic, more than 36% of Bronx families were living below the federal poverty line. The pandemic has only created more challenges and it’s time for government to step up. My top priorities are building 100% sustainable, permanent affordable housing for low-income families, fixing the broken 421-a program, passing Good Cause eviction legislation, ensuring the right to counsel, and changing the AMI so that Bronx residents, and all New Yorkers, can have a fair shot at fair housing.
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)
  As a working mother who raised my four sons in the Bronx and a community leader who has seen the devastating impacts of evictions and homelessness, I’ve seen how landlords and the real estate industry can take advantage of vulnerable tenants and harm communities. This issue is personal for me; I have faced eviction from my home here in New York and I know how destabilizing and painful it is. Housing is a human right, and we must ensure that all people are able to access safe, stable, dignified housing.
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)
We must pass Good Cause eviction legislation. Our communities are facing an avalanche of evictions that will harm hundreds of thousands of families across our state, leave New Yorkers vulnerable, and stymie our economic recovery. Since my election to the Assembly last November, I have joined the Good Cause eviction bill as a co-sponsor and will continue to fight for its passage.
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)
  Public housing must remain public. Privatizing NYCHA will only harm tenants and decrease oversight of an agency that already lacks transparency. Tenants are rightly concerned that RAD will shut them out of the decision making process.
NYCHA has suffered from chronic underfunding, neglect, and disrepair. What do you see as the best strategies to rectify these problems? (500 characters)
NYCHA has suffered from years of disinvestment and neglect, and it’s far past time for leaders at every level of government to step up and fight for NYCHA tenants. NYCHA needs greater oversight, better management, and an influx of funding from the state and federal levels to clear the backlog of repairs and ensure safe, clean, livable housing for all.
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)
I’ve spent my life fighting for Bronx families, and I will continue advocating for tenant protections from harassment and discrimination. I will continue to be available to my constituents when they need direct help and I support legislation to create a Statewide Right to Counsel so that all tenants can fight back against poor living conditions.
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)
We have to keep families in their homes. We must stop evictions and invest in rental assistance programs for those in need, like the Housing Access Voucher Program.
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)
Since my election to the Assembly last November, I have become a co-sponsor of the Good Cause eviction bill. I will use my platform to combat misinformation about the bill from the real estate lobby, organize with my colleagues behind the scenes, strategize with organizations like Met Council to push for its passage, and publicly support the bill at events, press conferences, social media, and more. I understand how urgently we need this legislation and I will keep fighting to get it passed.
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)
TOPA allows tenants the right of first refusal when their building is up for sale, giving them a stronger position to take on bad landlords and advocate for better living conditions. Far too often, we see landlords allow worsening living conditions for tenants and sell off their building when tenants organize for change. I fully support TOPA and will be an ally to all tenants in my district who opt into it.
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