Name of Council Candidate: Corey Johnson Name and Title of Person Completing Questionnaire: Campaign Website: www.Corey2013.

com

2013 CITY COUNCIL HUMAN RIGHTS QUESTIONNAIRE

1. Many in the United States think of international affairs when they think of human rights. Our work emphasizes the applicability of the human rights framework here in the United States. Please share your thoughts on the domestic applicability of human rights, and discuss why human rights are important to you in the context of New York City and the City Council. Domestic poverty and discrimination issues abound and deserve a higher standard of governmental account than presently afforded by current legislation. Certain internationally recognized rights such as food, housing, health and employment are not recognized by domestic safety net programs but are directly within the purview of the Council to advocate for and provide. Social justice and equality must start at home. 2. How have you used current or previous professional positions to advance human rights? I am proud of the leadership displayed by Manhattan Community Board 4 in support of a Living Wage, Paid Sick Leave and in opposition to Stop-and-frisk. I was privileged to work for the Gay Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation a leading voice for LGBT equality. 3. What will your top 3 legislative priorities be in your first term as Council Member?

1. Reforming the tax system by eliminating corporate loopholes so that additional revenue need falls upon
those most able to foot the bill not the most vulnerable. 2. Protecting existing affordable housing and creating new programs to stimulate the creation of additional affordable units throughout the city including the ownership of affordable cooperatives and condominiums. All those who work in our communities should afford to reside in them as well. 3. Ensuring access for all of NYCs children to a fully-funded high-quality education from Pre-K through high school. Early childhood education, including literacy programs and universal Pre-K, is essential to healthy development and I am committed to strengthening and expanding these programs to prepare our next generations. I support the proposal by the Progressive Caucus for the creation of a Department of Early Childhood Development to unify and increase investment in city programs in order to expand capacity and access and provide more holistic services.

4. What will your top 3 budget priorities be in your first term as Council Member? Fight to create a more progressive tax structure for all New Yorkers that alleviates the burden from working families and staves cuts to essential service including: 1. restore cuts to afterschool and childcare programs The programs are a lifeline for the working poor without them many parents would have to give up their jobs and stay home to care for their children. They are also vital for children and young people who need the extra preparation the programs provide. 2. Prevent reductions in fire and police protection 3. Mantain access to senior center and meal program 5. Do you plan to use participatory budgeting to allocate your discretionary funds? Why or why not? Yes. Participatory budgeting would put the budgeting decisions back in the hands of the public. The Council and the public should work together to come up with sensible solutions for the community. 6. Please provide examples of recent legislation in Council that you believe promotes human rights. Resolution 1799-2013- A resolution calling upon the State Legislature and the Governor to sign, the Womens Equality Act. This legislation calls on the action of the state to provide women equal pay and free them from sexual based discrimination in the workplace. Intro 1080-2013- A local law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to bias-based profiling. in 2002 when the practice of stop-and-frisk was first introduced, the NYPD stopped approximately 97,000 people. In 2010, the NYPD stopped nearly 601,000 people. African-Americans and Latinos have faced the brunt of these stops as they have made up nearly 80% of all stops. This legislation advances human rights because it prohibits racial-based profiling. Bias-based profiling by the police alienates communities from law enforcement, violates New Yorkers' rights and freedoms, and is a danger to public safety. 7. Legislation is only one of many ways in which Council Members can work to advance human rights. What ways other than through legislation will you advance the human rights of New Yorkers as a City Council Member? As community leaders, Council members need to be advocates and voices of reason when they witness injustice in their community. Whether walking picket lines with workers denied basic labor rights or speaking out after the tragic death of yet another youth because of the color of their skin, Councilmembers should leverage the power of their office and their stature to speak truth to power. 8. Some advocates contend that the position of the Council Speaker has too much power over the progression of legislation. Please use this space to respond to that critique. While I support reforms to the Council rules to allow individual members and Committee Chairs discretion over what bills are heard and brought to the floor as well as the creation of an independent bill drafting unit, the most important reforms would be to remove the power the Speaker exerts over discretionary funding for the Council districts. Eliminating political brinksmanship as a criterion for receiving funds will allow for the freer debate and progress of legislation.

For more information, please visit www.urbanjustice.org.