2013 City Council Candidate Questionnaire

Candidate Information Full Name: Annabel Palma Address: Personal Phone: 718.813.1899 Work Phone: 718.792.1140 Personal Email: palma.annabel@gmail.com District Information District #: 18 Are you an incumbent? Yes If yes, when were you first elected? 2003 Campaign Information From which parties are you seeking a nomination: Democrat and Working Families Full Name of Campaign Committee: Palma 2013 Campaign HQ Address: HQ Phone: HQ Fax: Campaign Manager Name: Managers Cell: Managers Email: Please return to Robert Atterbury at Robert.Atterbury@gmail.com by April 15, 2013, with SDNYC Questionnaire [Candidate Name] as the subject.

Additional Candidate Information Endorsements List here the union, organizations (community, civic, media, issue groups), and elected officials that have endorsed you. 1199, 32BJ, UFT, CSA, DC1707, 371, CWA, Bx. County Dems, Rep. Joe Crowley, Bx BP Ruben Diaz Jr Candidate Experience - Please explain any activities and/or experiences that demonstrate your commitment to the LGBT movement.
I've co-sponsored legislation to protect and promote the rights of the LGBT community, and have secured funding for runaway homeless youth.

- What experience do you have to demonstrate you are the best person to represent the district office you seek? Please see attachment. - Please detail any specific policy proposals you may have that will affect the LGBT community, that are not addressed in the next section.

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 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 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. We should not have to use discretionary funds. HASA should be baselined in the budget. What actions do you think the City Council should be taking to provide emergency housing for homeless people living with AIDS? We must ensure that funding for emergency housing is prioritized 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. We must encourage small businesses in our communities. They create much needed jobs. Please outline the criteria you would use in selecting Community Board members. CB members must have a commitment to bettering the community and a desire to serve. 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? Enforcement officers should receive additional training to ensure discriminatory practices do not occur Do you support reforming Stop-and-Frisk? Please detail any specific changes to the program you believe are necessary. Yes. We need stop the discriminatory targeting of minorities.

Do you oppose the use of condoms as evidence of prostitution in criminal cases? Please explain your support or opposition. Yes. We should encourage safer sex, not criminalize it.

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 What will you do to expand access to services for runaway and homeless youth? I will work to expand funding and increase outreach in my district. 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 am open to exploring discretionary funding for worthwhile projects in my 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 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.

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've advocated for and written letters of support for the center in the Bx as well as allocated funding I'

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, I have.

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've advocated for and written letters of support for the center in the Bx as well as allocated funding

Other: Please state concrete achievements for the LGBT community that you are responsible for in your current, or previous, elected office/s.
I've co-sponsored legislation to protect and promote the rights of the LGBT community, and have secured funding for runaway homeless youth.

Have you endorsed any LGBT candidates? Which ones? Yes. Fmr. NYC Council Member Margarita Lopez and NYC Council Member Rosie Mendez 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