2013CityCouncilCandidate Questionnaire

CandidateInformation FullName:CoreyJohnson Address:220W15St#2BNewYork,NY10011 PersonalPhone:(646)2464848 PersonalEmail:Corey@corey2013.com DistrictInformationDistrict#:3 Fromwhichpartiesareyouseekinganomination:Democrat,WorkingFamilies FullNameofCampaignCommittee:CoreyForCouncil CampaignHQAddress:7776thAvenueSte.#6D HQPhone:(646)8201384 CampaignManagerName:RJJordan ManagersCell:(917)7675329 ManagersEmail:RJ@Corey2013.com PleasereturntoRobertAtterburyatRobert.Atterbury@gmail.combyApril15, 2013,withSDNYCQuestionnaire[CandidateName]asthesubject. AdditionalCandidateInformation EndorsementsListheretheunion,organizations(community,civic,media,issuegroups), andelectedofficialsthathaveendorsedyou. RWDSU,COBA,UFOA,UFCWLocal1500,IBTJC16,32BJSEIU AssemblymemberRichardGottfried Over600communityleadersandactivists CandidateExperiencePleaseexplainanyactivitiesand/orexperiencesthatdemonstrate yourcommitmenttotheLGBTmovement. MyLGBTactivismbeganwhenIcameoutpubliclyascaptainofmyhighschool footballteam.Intheyearssince,IhavefoughtonnearlyeveryLGBTissuethat hasarisenbothlocallyandnationally,servingasNationalFinanceDirectorofthe GayandLesbianLeadershipCouncil(GLLC)attheDemocraticNational

CommitteeandinvariousrolesatGayandLesbianAllianceAgainstDefamation eventuallybecomingtheDirectorofMediaPrograms.Inourlocalcommunity,I wastheleadorganizerforatenthousandpersonmarchafterProposition8 passedandIserveontheBoardoftheDirectorsoftheAliForneyCenterwhich providesshelterandsupporterservicestohomelessLGBTyouthinNewYork City. Whatexperiencedoyouhavetodemonstrateyouarethebestpersontorepresentthe districtofficeyouseek? AsanprogressiveactivistinourCityandasamemberofCommunityBoard4for thepast8yearsIhaveshownmycommitmenttoeachoneoftheseprinciples.I grewupinaunionhouseholdwherebothofmyparentsworkedmultiplejobsto supportourfamily.Ilivedinoneofthetwelveunitsofaffordablehousinginthe smalltowninwhichIwasraised. Ihavesupportedmaintainingandstrengtheningcorecityservicesandsocial servicesinthecitysannualbudgetthroughtheCommunityBoardsStatementof DistrictNeedsandalsotheannualBudgetConsultationswithOMBandCity Agencies. IledCommunityBoard4tobetheveryfirstCommunityBoardinNewYorkCityto comeoutinfavorofthelivingwagebillthatwasinitiallyproposedintheCouncil. TheRetail,WholesaleandDepartmentStoreWorkersUnionandtheUnitedFood andCommercialWorkersUnionLocal1500wereearlysupporterstojointly endorsemycandidacybecauseofmyworkonfightingonbehalfofworkingNew Yorkersandtheirfamilies.IalsosupportprevailingwagesfordevelopmentinNew YorkCity. Ivebeenanadvocateforcreatingmorepermanentaffordablehousinginmytime onCommunityBoard4.Wewereabletosecureacommitmentof28%for affordablehousingontheWesternRailYardsaspartoftheHudsonYards rezoningwhichwasadoptedbytheNewYorkCityCouncil.Ivedetailedmoreof myworkonaffordablehousingintheAffordableHousingsectionbelow. IveopposedhydrofrackingasChairofCommunityBoard4andalsoopposethe SpectrapipelinebeingbuiltundertheHudsonRiverandcominginto neighborhoodsontheWestSide.Iveledthechargeontheseimportant

environmentalissuesinmycommunity. IformerlyCoChairedtheEducationCommitteeonCommunityBoard4beforeI becameChairoftheBoardandworkedwithlocalpublicschools,PTAs,students andteachersinmakingsurethatourlocalschoolsareadequatelyfunded.Ialso helpedensurethatBoard4adoptedaresolutionopposingthecolocationof charterschoolsinCommunityEducationCouncilDistrict2. Ibelieveinstrong,diverseneighborhoodsandImhonoredtohavebeen endorsedbyaboard,diversecrosssectionofcommunityleadersinmydistrict (PTAPresidents,BlockAssociationPresidents,TenantAssociationPresidents, CommunityBoardMembers,ElectedOfficials). IhavebeenaleaderinopposingtheNYPDsstopandfriskpolicywhichbreeds distrustanddividescommunities.IsupporttheCivilComplainReviewBoard havinggreatoversightandprosecutorialauthority.Ivebeenabletowork productivelywithlocalpoliceprecinctandcommunitycouncilsonmakingsure thatpoliceandthegreatcommunityworktogetheronpublicsafety. IworkedwithotherCommunityBoard4membersincreatingpoliciesonour boardthatputforthmoretransparencyontheboard.IsupportParticipatory Budgetingaswellasgoodgovernmentreformsthatwouldgiveagreatervoiceto individualCouncilMembersontheNewYorkCityCouncilBudget. PleasedetailanyspecificpolicyproposalsyoumayhavethatwillaffecttheLGBT community,thatarenotaddressedinthenextsection. TherecentoutbreakofmeningitisamongLGBTNewYorkersdemonstratesthe needtodevoteadditionalresourcestocommunityeducationandvaccination programs. PolicyPositions Pleaseanswerthefollowingquestionsinfull,usingyourpolicyproposalsandincluding specificexamplesofyourpreviousactionsonanygiventopicwhenpossible. Marriage Doyousupportfullmarriageequalityforsamesexcouples?Yes.NotonlydoI supportfullmarriageequalityforsamesexcouples,ithasbeenapriorityofmy

politicalactivism. WillyouworkwithNewYorkscongressionaldelegationtosupporttherepealofthe DefenseofMarriageAct?Yes.IhavelongsupportedeffortsbyLambdaLegal,the ACLULGBTProject,andtheGayandLesbianAdvocatesandDefenderstoseeka judicialdeterminationthatDOMAisunconstitutional.IalsosupporttheRespect forMarriageAct,SenatorGillibrandsandCongressmanNadlersproposalto repealDOMAinCongress.But,evenifwerepealoroverturnDOMA,wemustpass theUnitingAmericanFamiliesAct,whichwillnotonlykeeplegallymarriedgay binationalcouplestogether,butalsoextendspousalsponsorshiprightstothose committedgaycouplesthathavenoaccesstocivilmarriage. Adoption: Doyousupportfulladoptionrightsforlesbian,gay,bisexualandtransgendercouples? Yes.Weshouldbeinthebusinessofcreatingandfosteringstrongfamilies,not denyinglovingparentstheopportunitytoraisechildrenincaringandsupportive homes.Fulladoptionrightsincludingsecondparentadoptionareessentialto supportingthefamily. HumanRights Doyousupportequalrightsandtreatmentforpeopleoftransgenderexperienceinthe NewYorkShelterSystem,bothadultsheltersandyouthshelters?Yes.Discriminating againstourtransgenderbrothersandsistersisoffensiveandhasnoplaceinour society.IsupportequaltreatmentfortransgenderNewYorkersinallrespectsand theimmediatepassageofGENDA. HIV/AIDS In2011,MayorBloombergproposedcutting248casemanagersandmillionsinrental assistancefromtheHIV/AIDSServicesAdministration(HASA).Individuallegislators endedupusingdiscretionaryfundstofillthegap. DoyousupportincreasedfundingfortheHASA?Yes.Themenandwomenofthe HIVpositivecommunityarevibrantmembersofourcity.Hurtingtheseindividuals byheartlesslytakingawaytheverybenefitsuponwhichtheirhealthdependsputs anunfairandunreasonableburdenonacommunitythatdeservesour unconditionalsupport. Pleaseexplainyourpositiononusingdiscretionaryfundstosupportagencieslike HASA.WeshouldnothavetoresorttodiscretionaryfundingforHASA.HASAs budgetshouldbepermanentlyincreasedandguaranteedsothatthemembersof theHIVpositivecommunitydonothavetoworryfromyeartoyearwhetherthey

willhaveanadequatesupportnetwork.Inthiscase,discretionaryfundsarealast resort. WhatactionsdoyouthinktheCityCouncilshouldbetakingtoprovideemergency housingforhomelesspeoplelivingwithAIDS?Homelessness,ingeneral,isofgreat concernhomelessnessamongLGBTandHIVpositiveindividualsisacrisis.The CouncilshouldbesupportingtheworkofnonprofitorganizationsliketheAli ForneyCenter,whichprovideshousing,educational,andtrainingassistanceto homelessLGBTandHIVpositiveyouth.Weshouldalsoincreasefundingforthe Cityshomelessnessprograms,withaspecialfocusonfindingandprotectingour HIVpositivehomelesspopulation. AIDSfundingnolongercorrespondstothedemographicsofwhichcommunities representthegreatestnumberofHIVcasesinNYC.Wouldyousupportyearlystatisticsof boththegeographicareaswhereHIVismostprevalentandaswellaswhichpopulationsin thoseneighborhoodsaremostaffected,andthenallocateyearlyfundingtoservicesand communitiesbasedontheseresults?Yes.Itiscriticalthataswithallsuchgrave matterswemaintainourcommitmenttooperatingusingthemostrecentmetrics. Wecannotaffordtofightthisdiseasebasedonoutdatedassumptions. CommunityBoards: ManyCommunityBoardsroutinelyopposeapplicationsforliquorlicensesintheirareas, particularlyiftheproposedvenueistailoredtoappealtotheLGBTcommunity.Please explainyourpositionontheappropriatebalancebetweensupportfornightlife,minority communitiesandrespectforneighborhoodconcerns.DiscriminationagainsttheLGBT communityhasnoplaceinourCity,buteverycommunityhastofindabalance thatfitsitsparticularneeds.Butsometimescommunitiesstackthedeckagainst theLGBTcommunitybybalancingneighborhoodneedsagainsttiredand outdatedstereotypes.Aneighborhoodsdecisiontodenybarsliquorlicenseshas tobeequallyappliedacrossvenuesthatcatertoalltypesofpeople,including heterosexualsandgays. PleaseoutlinethecriteriayouwoulduseinselectingCommunityBoardmembers. IwouldcontinuetheworkofManhattanBoroughPresidentScottStringeron CommunityBoardreformandempowerment,appointingmemberstoManhattan CommunityBoards2,4,and5whorepresentthediverseWestSidecommunitya communitymadeofartists,seniors,workingfamilies,andabroadcrosssectionof race,gender,andsocioeconomicstatus.

NYPD TheNYPDoftentargetsbars,restaurantsandclubsservingtheLGBTcommunityfor increasedscrutiny.Theyhaveusedhealthcodeviolations,allegationsofdruguseorsale, allegationsofprostitution,allegationsofservingminors,andamyriadoftoolsattheir disposal.WhatchangeswouldyouimplementtoensureLGBTinstitutionsaretreated equallybyenforcementagencies?TheNYPDhasmadeprogressinitstreatmentof theLGBTcommunitysincetheStonewallraids.But,moreworkneedstobedone. IampleasedthattheNYPDsLGBTLiaisonhasmadereachingouttoour communityapriority,butwehavetoputpressureontheNYPDanditsleadership tobackuptheirrhetoricwithaction.WeshouldalsoworkcloselywiththeDistrict AttorneysofficetoensurethatattorneysarewatchingtheNYPDsactionsclosely. Mostimportantly,wehavetoencouragethepromotionofmoreLGBTindividuals intheNYPD. DoyousupportreformingStopandFrisk?Pleasedetailanyspecificchangestothe programyoubelievearenecessary.IhavebeenaleaderinopposingtheNYPDs StopandFriskpolicywhichbreedsdistrustanddividescommunities.The targetingofminorityandtranscommunitiesmustnotbetolerated.AsChairof CommunityBoard4IspokeoutwithotherCBChairsandtheBoroughPresident inopposingthepolicyandinsupportoftheCommunitySafetyAct.The mishandlingofOWSbytheNYPDspeakstotheneedforstrengthenedoversight ofthedepartmentbyboththeCCRBandanIG.Ivebeenabletowork productivelywithlocalpoliceprecinctandcommunitycouncilsonmakingsure thatpoliceandthegreatcommunityworktogetheronpublicsafetyandIhopethat suchaspiritofcommunicationwillpervadefuturelongtermactions. Doyouopposetheuseofcondomsasevidenceofprostitutionincriminalcases? Pleaseexplainyoursupportoropposition.Yes.Condomsareevidenceofgood behavior,notbad.Usingcondomsasevidenceofcriminalprostitutionprovides perverseincentivestoourcommunity,especiallytothosemembersofour communitythatareinhighriskgroupsforHIV.Weshouldencouragepeopleto havesafesex,notusesafesexasaprosecutorialtool.Iamsupportiveofthe legislationintroducedinAlbanythatwouldeliminatecondomsfromadmissible evidence. RunawayandHomelessYouth Willyousupportincreasingthefundingforbothemergencyshelterbedsandtransitional

bedsforhomelessyouth,ahugepercentageofwhomarefromtheLGBTcommunityand willyoupledgetosupportcapitalandexpensefundingforprogramsservingthis population?(Y/NIfno,pleaseexplain)Yes. Whatwillyoudotoexpandaccesstoservicesforrunawayandhomelessyouth? WeneedtodevoteadditionalfundingtoDHSfortargetedoutreachtotheseatrisk populationstoensurethatLGBThomelessyoutharenotleftbehind.Weneedto increasetheyouthshelterbedcountsothatitactuallyreflectsreality. LGBTServicesandFunding: TheLGBTcommunityhasnodirectfundingfortheartsfromtheNEAorotherfunding sourcesbecauseofinstitutionalhomophobia.WouldyourofficehelpwithfundingforLGBT Arts?Ifyes,pleaseexplainhow.ThereisnodoubtthatLGBTartistshavebeen systematicallydiscriminatedagainstintheprovisionofartsfunding.Myofficewill taketheleadinsteppingintofosterthedevelopmentofyoungand upandcomingLGBTartists.IwillworktoallocateCityfunds,supplementedby privatedonation,tocreateascholarshipandfundingprogramthatspecifically targetstheartisticcontributionsoftheLGBTcommunity. TheLGBTcommunityisingreatneedofseniorhousingformanyofouraging population.Manyseniorsexperiencehomophobiainseniorfacilitiesmakingthemfeelthey mustbecloseted.WouldyouhelpwiththefundingofseniorhousingfortheLGBT communityinyourdistrict?Fundingisnottheonlyareathatneedsoursupport.Most CityresidentsdonotrealizethatoldermembersoftheLGBTcommunityface suchdiscrimination.NordoyoungermembersoftheLGBTcommunityitself.We needtoeducatetheworldaboutthediscriminationourseniorsface.Withrespect tofunding,theCityhasaninterestinsupportingthehealthandsafetyofitsLGBT seniorsand,therefore,hasastronginterestinprovidingasafeenvironmentfor them.FundingforanLGBTspecificseniorhousingfacilityistheeasiestandmost effectivewaytoachievethisgoal.IfullysupporttheSAGECenterforLGBTelders, thefirstcenterofitskindinthecountry,andwillfighttoestablishmorefacilities andservicesforouragingcommunity. Ifyouarecurrentlyinoffice,haveyoumadememberitemgrantsorsupportedLGBT fundingrequests?Ifseekingofficeforthefirsttime,wouldyougivestrongconsiderationto LGBTsocialserviceorganizationsseekingfundingfromyourofficeifelected?Yes. OrganizationsliketheAliForneyCenter,astheonlyorganizationinNewYork providingsocialsupportservicestohomelessHIVpositiveandLGBTyouth, deserveourstrongestsupport.AliForneywashitparticularlyhardbyHurricane SandyanditisintheCitysinterestthattheorganizationgetsbackonitsfeet

immediately. WhatactionswillyoutaketohelpsupporttheLGBTcommunitycenterinyourborough?If thereisnotanLGBTcommunitycenterinyourborough,whatactionswillyoutaketohelp developone?IhavesupportedtheLGBTCommunityCenterNYCforyears.It providesessentialservicestoLGBTindividualsfromalloverthegreaterNewYork Cityarea.Asacouncilmember,Iwillencouragejointsponsorshipbetweenthe CenterandtheCityCouncilforeventsthateducateandreachtheLGBT community.IwillalsoworkwithCenterexpertsandsupporterstoensurethatthe CouncilisadequatelysupportingtheneedsoftheLGBTcommunity. Other: PleasestateconcreteachievementsfortheLGBTcommunitythatyouareresponsible forinyourcurrent,orprevious,electedoffice/s.DuringmytenureasMCB4Chair,Iwas proudtomediatemanyissuesimportanttotheLGBTcommunityinthedistrict. HaveyouendorsedanyLGBTcandidates?Whichones?Improudtohaveraised moneyforelectedofficialswhotooktherightstanceonmarriageequalitylike StateSenatorAddabbo. IfendorsedwillyoudisplaytheendorsementoftheStonewallDemocraticClubofNYCin yourliteraturewheneveryoulistotherendorsementsandwillyoudisplaytheendorsement onyourwebsite?Ofcourse!ItwillbeadistincthonortodisplaytheStonewall DemocraticClubendorsement. WillyouhireopenlyLGBTstaffand/ordesignatealiaisontoourcommunitiesifelected? Yes.