2013 City Council Candidate Questionnaire

Candidate Information Full Name: Stephen T. Levin District Information District #: 33 Are you an incumbent? Yes If yes, when were you first elected? 2009 Campaign Information From which parties are you seeking a nomination: Democratic, Working Families Full Name of Campaign Committee: Levin 2013

Additional Candidate Information Endorsements List here the union, organizations (community, civic, media, issue groups), and elected officials that have endorsed you. RWDSU UFCW 1500 SEIU 32BJ I expect to announce many union, issue group, and elected official endorsement in the coming weeks, many of which are committed but not yet announced. Candidate Experience - Please explain any activities and/or experiences that demonstrate your commitment to the LGBT movement. I have been committed to LGBTQ rights and the LGBTQ movement since prior to my Council tenure. I believe deeply that LBGTQ individuals and couples must have access to all the rights afforded to straight couples and I have supported and voted for resolutions calling on the USDA to reverse its longstanding prohibition against gay men donating blood, calling on Congress to repeal Dont Ask, Dont Tell, and I was a cosponsor of Res. 1711-2013 which called on Congress to pass a comprehensive immigration bill which should include same-sex couples in the definition of marriage, and I am a co-sponsor of Int. 94-2012 which calls on DOHMH to create an LGBTQ youth division. In addition, I was the lead sponsor on a resolution calling on the DOE to establish a Teen Suicide Awareness Day in New York City. Also, I have long been a supporter of marriage equality. - What experience do you have to demonstrate you are the best person to represent the district office you seek?

Since 2010, I have served on the New York City Council representing the 33rd District, and it has been the single most rewarding experience of my life. On the Council, I have dedicated myself to advocating for education, youth services, senior services, and programs and services for the poor and under-served, including the cause of having adequate funding for LGBTQ youth programs. I currently serve on the Education, General Welfare, Environmental Protection, Economic Development, Lower Manhattan Redevelopment, and Land Use Committees and I chair the Subcommittee on Planning, Dispositions, and Concessions. - Please detail any specific policy proposals you may have that will affect the LGBT community, that are not addressed in the next section. I am currently a co-sponsor of 710-2011, which would decriminalize the possession of condoms for individuals arrested for prostitution by prohibiting the possession of condoms to be used as evidence against a defendant. I have organized with Human Rights Watch to work to ensure that Council resolution is passed in support of State legislation to change this law.

Policy Positions Please answer the following questions in full, using your policy proposals and including specific examples of your previous actions on any given topic when possible. Marriage Do you support full marriage equality for same-sex couples? (Y/N If no, please explain) Yes. I fully support marriage equality for same-sex couples and am proud to see the progess that we have made in New York State in such a short period of time, as well as the profound advancement that marriage equality has made across the country. I am continuously inspired by the remarkable shift in public opinion from across the country that we have seen in the past 10 years.

Will you work with New Yorks congressional delegation to support the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act? (Y/N If no, please explain) Yes. Full marriage equality can only exist in the United States if it is recognized by the Federal government. While I am confident that the Supreme Court will strike DOMA down as unconstitutional within weeks, I am committed to work towards a repeal on the possibility that this does not happen.

Adoption: Do you support full adoption rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender couples? (Y/N If no, please explain) Yes. I support the full rights of same sex couples to adopt and raise families. The most important thing for the health and security of a child is to have two loving parents that are committed to their development and success. I personally worked for a same-sex couple who were raising two beautiful children over ten years ago, and those children today are the embodiment of success. Human Rights Do you support equal rights and treatment for people of transgender experience in the New York Shelter System, both adult shelters and youth shelters? (Y/N If no, please explain) Yes, I unequivocally and enthusiastically support equal rights and treatment for people of transgender experience in the New York City shelter system, both for adults and youth. Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect and our City institutions, including our shelters, must meet that ideal, and if it is not meeting that ideal, then we must do everything we can to improve the system.

HIV/AIDS

In 2011, Mayor Bloomberg proposed cutting 248 case managers and millions in rental assistance from the HIV/AIDS Services Administration (HASA). Individual legislators ended up using discretionary funds to fill the gap. Do you support increased funding for the HASA? (Y/N If no, please explain) Please explain your position on using discretionary funds to support agencies like HASA. As a member of the General Welfare Committee, I have stood with advocates and other Councilmembers year after year to fight to get HASA funding baselined. Each year that the Bloomberg administration plays the budget dance with HASA funding, they are threatening the lives of thousands of New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS. When the administration fails to support and filly fund HASA, I believe it is right and necessary for the Council to step in with discretionary funding to fill the funding gaps.

What actions do you think the City Council should be taking to provide emergency housing for homeless people living with AIDS? The most important thing that the Council can and should do is ensure that the funding, outreach and programming is maintained and baselined (or restored if not baselined) for emergency shelter for people living with HIV/AIDS. Individuals have a right to shelter in New York City but tragically, every night many are sleeping on the street, including those living with HIV/AIDS. We need to have intensive outreach and sustained case workers to ensure that nobody is sleeping on the street.

AIDS funding no longer corresponds to the demographics of which communities represent the greatest number of HIV cases in NYC. Would you support yearly statistics of both the geographic areas where HIV is most prevalent and as well as which populations in those neighborhoods are most effected, and then allocate yearly funding to services and communities based on these results? Yes. I would also be willing to sponsor legislation that would require DOHMH to report to the Council and the public exactly where new cases of HIV are occurring and I think it is essential that we are smart and targeted with the precious resources that we have to combat HIV/AIDS.

Community Boards: Many Community Boards routinely oppose applications for liquor licenses in their areas, particularly if the proposed venue is tailored to appeal to the LGBT community. Please explain your position on the appropriate balance between support for nightlife, minority communities and respect for neighborhood concerns. I believe that there must be an appropriate balance between liquor licenses and neighborhood concerns. In my district, particularly in Greenpoint/Williamsburg, there are many liquor license applications. I keep an open mind and listen to both sides and frequently support liquor license applications. However, it is entirely unacceptable for a liquor license to be opposed just because the establishment is LGBTQ friendly and I speak our against any such action if I were to see it occur.

Please outline the criteria you would use in selecting Community Board members. I support Community Board appointees who are open minded, involved in the community issues, and responsive to the concerns of the community.

NYPD

The NYPD often targets bars, restaurants and clubs serving the LGBT community for increased scrutiny. They have used health code violations, allegations of drug use or sale, allegations of prostitution, allegations

of serving minors, and a myriad of tools at their disposal. What changes would you implement to ensure LGBT institutions are treated equally by enforcement agencies? I am fully opposed to any instance where NYPD is targeting an LGBTQ friendly establishment. Often it is difficult to find the right mechanism to prevent such raids from taking place, although it is important to confront abuses of law enforcement discretion at every instance, so I believe that every time this takes place, I will make myself available to stand with every advocate who is willing to stand with me to decry these abuses.

Do you support reforming Stop-and-Frisk? Please detail any specific changes to the program you believe are necessary. I am currently a co-sponsor of all four Community Safety Act bills pending in the Council and am supportive of all of the provisions in those bills, including an Inspector General for the Police Department and the ability for victims of stop and frisk abuse to sue in State courts.

Do you oppose the use of condoms as evidence of prostitution in criminal cases? Please explain your support or opposition. (From earlier in the questionnaire) I am currently a co-sponsor of 710-2011, which would decriminalize the possession of condoms for individuals arrested forprostitution by prohibiting the possession of condoms to be used as evidence against a defendant. I have organized with Human Rights Watch to work to ensure that Council resolution is passed in support of State legislation to change this law.

Runaway and Homeless Youth Will you support increasing the funding for both emergency shelter beds and transitional beds for homeless youth, a huge percentage of whom are from the LGBT community and will you pledge to support capital and expense funding for programs serving this population? (Y/N If no, please explain) Yes, and I have stood with advocates and Councilmembers, including Lew Fidler, to fight for homeless and runaway youth beds and services every year that I have been in the Council, including this year. I will continue to advocate for homeless and runaway LGBTQ youth and am in favor of providing expsense and capital funding for programs that benefit them.

What will you do to expand access to services for runaway and homeless youth? It is essential that the Council continue to exercise its oversight role so that we as a city are ensuring that we are doing everything we can to expand access to services. In addition to conducting annual oversight hearings on the issue, we should legislate stricter reporting requirements and make sure that the advocacy and provider community have a seat at the table with ASC and DYCD when they are making their programming decisions.

LGBT Services and Funding The LGBT community has no direct funding for the arts from the NEA or other funding sources because of institutional homophobia. Would your office help with funding for LGBT Arts? If yes, please explain how. Yes, I would be willing to help to the extent possible to support LBGTQ groups that are seeking funding from the NEA or other arts organizations. The 33rd District is well known for having a diverse population that is very engaged on the arts and I support many groups throughout the district.

The LGBT community is in great need of senior housing for many of our aging population. Many seniors experience homophobia in senior facilities making them feel they must be closeted. Would you

help with the funding of senior housing for the LGBT community in your district? (Y/N If no, please explain) Yes, I am very committed to increasing funding and developing new funding streams for senior housing, and I believe that senior housing for the LGBT community is essential and I commit to fighting for increased opportunities for LGBT seniors.

If you are currently in office, have you made member item grants or supported LGBT funding requests If seeking office for the first time, would you give strong consideration to LGBT social service organizations seeking funding from your office if elected? (Y/N If no, please explain) Yes, I have committed discretionary funding for LGBTQ and LGBTQ supporting groups such as the Brooklyn Community Pride Center and the Center for Anti-Violence Education.

What actions will you take to help support the LGBT community center in your borough? If there is not an LGBT community center in your borough, what actions will you take to help develop one? I have enjoyed a very good working relationship with the Brooklyn Community Pride Center and I look forward to supporting it as it grows and establishes its own physical LGBTQ Community Center in Brooklyn.

LGBT Services and Funding:

The LGBT community is in great need of senior housing for many of our aging population. Many seniors experience homophobia in senior facilities making them feel they must be closeted. Would you help with the funding of senior housing for the LGBT community? (Y/N If no, please explain) Yes, I am very committed to increasing funding and developing new funding streams for senior housing, and I believe that senior housing for the LGBT community is essential and I commit to fighting for increased opportunities for LGBT seniors.

If you are currently in office, have you made member item grants or supported LGBT funding requests? If seeking office for the first time, would you give strong consideration to LGBT social service organizations seeking funding from your office if elected? Please explain your position. Yes, I have committed discretionary funding for LGBTQ and LGBTQ supporting groups such as the Brooklyn Community Pride Center and the Center for Anti-Violence Education.

What actions will you take to help support the LGBT community center in your borough? If there is not an LGBT community center in your borough, what actions will you take to help develop one? I have enjoyed a very good working relationship with the Brooklyn Community Pride Center and I look forward to supporting it as it grows and establishes its own physical LGBTQ Community Center in Brooklyn.

Other: Please state concrete achievements for the LGBT community that you are responsible for in your current, or previous, elected office/s.

I have been proud to support legislation in the Council that have benefitted the LGBTQ community. I voted in of Res. 80-2010 calling on the USDA to reverse their longstanding prohibition of gay men donating blood, Res. 169-2010 calling on Congress to repeal Dont Ask, Dont Tell and I was a cosponsor and voted for Res. 1711-2013, calling on Congress to pass a comprehensive immigration bill that would expand the definition of marriage to include same-sex couples. Also, I am a co-sponsor of Int. 94-2012 which calls on DOHMH to create a division of LGBT youth.

Have you endorsed any LGBT candidates? Which ones? I am proud to endorse Councilmembers Rosie Mendez, Jimmy Van Bramer and Danny Dromm for reelection this year.

If endorsed will you display the endorsement of the Stonewall Democratic Club of NYC in your literature whenever you list other endorsements and will you display the endorsement on your website? Yes

Will you hire openly LGBT staff and/or designate a liaison to our communities if elected? (Y/N If no, please explain) Yes