State Senate 21 Kevin Parker

Website: kevinparker4senate.com/

Social media: https://twitter.com/KevinParkerNYC https://instagram.com/KevinParkerNYC

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
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?
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
1. If so, how can we be assured you will have tenants’ interests in mind? (250 characters)
  As someone who grew up in the Bushwick Houses NYCHA development, I am deeply committed to proactive government intervention to ensure that everyone has a roof over their head.

Values and Vision

Do you believe housing is a human right?
Yes
- If so, what does that mean to you? (500 characters)
  It is unconscionable and an indictment on our society for anyone to be living on the streets. Everyone deserves shelter, as New York agreed to in Callahan v. Carey.
What type of action have you taken in the past around issues of housing justice? (500 characters)
I was instrumental in passing the eviction and utility shutoff moratoria. I passed a law to study veteran homelessness. In the Senate I passed laws to limit rent hikes on seniors, and create a community housing waitlist in the Office of Mental Health. I introduced bills to prohibit common area fees in public housing; require inspections before MCIs or evictions in rent-regulated units; require 60% of units be affordable for LIHTC; and overhaul NYCHA. I help constituents with housing disputes.
What do you think are the most pressing Housing issues & what action would you take to address them as a state representative? (1000 characters)
Rent is oppressively high. I support rent stabilization and control for lower income New Yorkers. I also support workforce housing, which is affordable housing for people whose incomes preclude them from most existing housing assistance. We must also support construction of additional affordable housing, with a realistic definition of AMI.
Homelessness is another pressing issue. I support going from a shelter model to a housing first policy of supportive housing; as well as treating the mental health and substance abuse issues facing the homeless as a public health concern, instead of criminalizing them for it.
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)
  There should be a sufficient stock of public housing and supportive 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)
I would extend the eviction moratorium for the duration of the pandemic.
Do you agree that all evictions are bad?
Yes
- If no, why not? (500 characters)
Do you support the concept of universal rent control?
No

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, like the Bushwick Houses I grew up in, is meant to be public. RAD removes oversight, and may allow for widespread rent hikes and evictions.
NYCHA has suffered from chronic underfunding, neglect, and disrepair. What do you see as the best strategies to rectify these problems? (500 characters)
I have called for a NYCHA New Deal to jumpstart repairs in the housing system, while creating building trades jobs offering living wages and benefits that can go to NYCHA tenants.
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 will assist constituents who come to me with complaints, and provide them with information on their legal rights and access to counsel, among other support. I will also work to pass my “clean hands” bills that require landlords to remedy any code violations before taking certain actions.
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)
I will assist my constituents with obtaining counsel for housing court, as well as fund ERAP and explore other financial assistance to compensate landlords for months of lost rent.
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?
No
If Good Cause is not passed this session, what will you do to ensure it gets passed in 2023? (500 characters)
Will you support ending MCIs?
No
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 fund educational programs to help tenants learn about building management and the operation of co-operatives, as well as financing assistance.
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