Stonewall Democratic Club of New York City Borough President Candidate Questionnaire

Candidate Information Full Name: Address: Robert Jackson 39 Broadway, NY, NY 10006

Borough Information Please indicate the borough in which you are seeking to be elected Borough President: [ ] Bronx [ ] Brooklyn [X ] Manhattan [ ] Queens [ ] Staten Island Are you an incumbent? No If yes, when were you first elected?

Campaign Information From which parties are you seeking a nomination: Full Name of Campaign Committee:

Democrat, WFP New Yorkers for Robert Jackson

Additional Candidate Information

Endorsements List here the union, organizations (community, civic, media, issue groups), and elected officials that have endorsed you. Mayor David Dinkins State Senator Bill Perkins Assemblyman Denny Farrell UFT CSA CWA 1180 Sandhogs Union IATSE, Local One And long list of District Leaders, State Committee members, religious, community and educational leaders from across the borough

Candidate Experience - Please explain any activities and/or experiences that demonstrate your commitment to the LGBT movement. As a community leader, School Board leader and now a City Council leader, Ive fought for basic justice and fairness, to make city government more responsive to peoples needs and to give every single child the same chance to succeed that I was given. While great strides have been made against discrimination and we are all excited by the passage of Marriage Equality in NYS, much more needs to be done to achieve true equality for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. We need real leadership that doesnt just talk about problems, but also expends the political capital needed to solve them. Our City needs leaders that intimately understand the destructive power of discrimination, and who take the commitment to eradicate it everywhere and for everyone personally. Thats why from my first days in the City Council 11 years ago, I was strong supporter of Marriage Equality, including attending press events, signing letters and petitions and proud to co-sponsor a resolution urging the State Legislature and the Governor to support the Dignity for All Students Act, and urging the Mayor and the New York City Board of Education to address the needs and protect the rights of students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and/or transgender; and 2 years later in 2004 to cosponsor a resolution calling upon the Mayor to instruct the City Clerk to recognize the fundamental rights of same-sex partners by issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples in the City of New York; and partnered with UFT to promote the BRAVE campaign, an anti bullying hotline, introduced and passed into law the School Safety Act and this year a leader promoting Respect for All Week in our public schools next month to help promote understanding and combat bullying .

Its why I fought to secure millions of dollars to combat HIV/AIDS, worked to make health care more accessible to LGBT seniors and to homeless gay youth, and every year to make allocations to the Gay Men's Crisis Center. Its why I have always had a diverse staff with many trusted LGBT advisors, walked in the LGBT Parade and was one of the first elected officials to record an It Gets Better video. (http://www.itgetsbetter.org/video/entry/1388)

- What experience do you have to demonstrate you are the best person to represent the office you seek? I am a lifelong progressive Democrat. I know who I am. I know what I believe. I know how to get things done. And, Ive got a record to prove it. I am a product of New York Citys public schools, a former Community School Board President who sued the State to fix a broken school funding formula that cheated our children. I walked 150 miles to Albany to build support for the cause and we won a court judgment that brought home $16 billion for the 1.1 million NYC public school children money to build new schools and fix others, money for teachers and to provide students with the opportunity for an excellent education. Three times elected to the City Council, Ive taken on the tough fights, not backed down and gotten results. As Chair of the Education Committee, I led the fight to prevent 6,000 teacher layoffs, helped launch the citywide Drop-Out Prevention Initiative and expanded the availability of full day pre-k to 4,000 additional families. Ive fought against co-locations and destructive school closings. Ive fought to create jobs and opportunities, leading the fight to expand the ability of minority- and women-owned businesses to compete for city contracts, sponsoring legislation to help small businesses and protect them from unaffordable rent increases and fought to protect workers rights, and for a living wage and paid sick leave. And Ive been a leader in the fight for civil rights and human rights, to knock down barriers and advance equality, progressive values and opportunity for all. Many can talk the talk, but you know you can count on me to walk the walk to stand on principle and fight for what we all believe in to take on the status quo and fight for the people. That is what Ive done. That is what I will do as your Manhattan Borough President.

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. Longtime, consistent and active supporter. From first days in Council 12 years ago, I was strong supporter of Marriage Equality, including attending press events, signing letters and petitions . 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. Adoption: . Do you support full adoption rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender couples? (Y/N If no, please explain) Yes. 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. . Will you work with the New York State Legislature to support the passage of the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act? (Y/N If no, please explain) Yes. 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) Yes. . Please explain your position on using discretionary funds to support agencies like HASA. Each year, I have advocated and fought for HASA funding in executive budget hearings. In addition, the Black, Latino and Asian Caucus, which I co-chair has made it a priority for funding. My family has been directly impacted by the HIV crisis. My brother and his wife, who are now both deceased, depended on HASA.

. 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. 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. . Please outline the criteria you would use in selecting Community Board members. One of the primary responsibilities of Borough President is directing land use. Scott Stringer has done terrific job upgrading our Community Boards and advancing Community Based planning. I want to build on his accomplishments increasing diversity on the boards and involvement of the community. I strongly believe Community Boards should be reflective of the community and have reps from diverse backgrounds and sectors to promote cross education on issues and knowledge. (i.e. LGBT, small biz, housing, health, union, etc)

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?

As someone who has stood up and confronted NYPD on their policy of targeting Muslims and black and Latino youth without cause, I am acutely aware of this problem. I would continue calling for increased transparency on their policies and would also assign LGBT liaison to monitor and work closely with city agencies.
. Do you support reforming Stop-and-Frisk? Please detail any specific changes to the program you believe are necessary.

We must end this policy as it s currently practiced. As it is employed now, the NYPDs stop and frisk policy raises serious concerns about illegal stops and racial profiling. As Chair of the Council Black, Latino and Asian Caucus, Ive taken the lead advocating an end to this practice that the Departments own numbers show that hundreds of thousands of law abiding New Yorkers every year are being stopped, and the vast majority are black and Latino. To successfully fight crime and guns, we need to build trust and meaningful partnership between the community and the police. These racial stops prevent this from happening and must be ended.

. Do you oppose the use of condoms as evidence of prostitution in criminal cases? Please explain your support or opposition.

Yes. As studies have shown, for many the importance of safe sex is being outweighed by the importance of avoiding police harassment for carrying condoms under the present policy. We must change the policy. The LGBT community has worked very hard and long to not only combat the stigma of HIV/AIDS but also to promote the practice of safe sex. The current policy sends the wrong message and is counterintuitive to public and individual safety.
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. Applaud colleague Lew Fidler, who year after year championed this cause. I have joined his advocacy in making others increasingly aware the importance of funding our runaway youth beds. I have voted to restore them every year in budget and negotiation meetings. . What will you do to expand access to services for runaway and homeless youth? Homeless young people are at greater risk of physical and emotional trauma. Thats why it is so important that NYC expands service for this population including: creating a baseline funding structure to better meet this need that prevents cutbacks and in fact increases funding for homeless youth services, including beds to serve the LGBTQ population; Increase availability of supportive housing for LGBT youth; Ensure that homeless youth have access to sufficient mental health services; and provide family therapy interventions for runaway and homeless youth. 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. . 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. Made grants to GMHC, SAGE, GALDE, NBLCA and Latino Commission on Aids among others.

. 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? Currently, I provide financial support of the center. I look forward to expanding more ways to support LGBT community on issues of immigration, healthcare and adoption. I will work with center to increase awareness across the borough.

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

From my first days in the City Council 11 years ago, I was proud to co-sponsor a resolution urging the State Legislature and the Governor to support the Dignity for All Students Act, and urging the Mayor and the New York City Board of Education to address the needs and protect the rights of students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and/or transgender; and 2 years later in 2004 to co-sponsor a resolution calling upon the Mayor to instruct the City Clerk to recognize the fundamental rights of samesex partners by issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples in the City of New York; and this year to be a leader promoting Respect for All Week in our public schools next month to help promote understanding and combat bullying . I fought to secure millions of dollars to combat HIV/AIDS, worked to make health care more accessible to LGBT seniors and to homeless gay youth, and every year to make allocations to the Gay Men's Crisis Center. Its why I have always had a diverse staff with many trusted LGBT advisors, walked in the LGBT Parade and was one of the first elected officials to record an It Gets Better video. (http://www.itgetsbetter.org/video/entry/1388)

. Have you endorsed any LGBT candidates? Which ones? I have been supportive of my LGBT colleagues in government. I voted for Quinn twice for speaker and supported Danny O Donnell as Assembly Member. . 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) I have and I will. I think it's important for the LGBT to have a voice and reference in my office. I currently, designated one if my staffers as an LGBT community liaison. Will continue doing so at the MBP office. In my entire tenure as cm I have employed LGBT staff in key positions. Examples include Juan Rosa my director of community affairs and previously Joseph McNearney who was Director of Legislative and a budget for my office and an active member of the National Stonewall Democratic Club.