Jackson (D)

On the Issues

Endorsements

Record in Office

Currently: 

Previous Work: NY City Council Member for Manhattan's 7th District; Candidate for Manhattan Borough President; President of the Parents' Association, Community School Board 6; Public Employees Federation

Education: SUNY New Paltz

On the Issues

*Source for Robert Jackson's issue stances, unless marked otherwise: Gotham Gazette Questionnaire

• Top 5 Legislative Priorities↓

  
  In his own words:
  1. I will continue my lifelong leadership for better schools, specifically fighting to make sure NYC finally receives all the money mandated in the CFE agreement.
  2. I will fight for good jobs and better working conditions – including raising the minimum wage and statewide paid sick leave.
  3. I will fight for immigration reform, including passage of the Dream Act.
  4. I will fight for affordable housing – starting by giving NYC home rule.
  5. And will fight for campaign fi94pxce reform. My five point plan includes: Establishing a public fi94pxcing program modeled on the successful NYC program; Setting real limits on contributions and closing corporate subsidiary and LLC loopholes; Restricting fundraising during the legislative session, instituting fixed limits on those doing business with the government; Increasing reporting, transparency and enforcement; Prohibiting the use of campaign funds for lawyers and other non-campaign expenses.
  

• Budget↓

  
  In addressing how to utilize NYS' multibillion dollar surplus, stated: "We must use that money to invest in our future, particularly to improve education and upgrade our infrastructure. Those investments will pay off for years to come for New Yorkers."
  

• Civil Rights↓

  Drew a parallel between racial segregation and separate entrances for affordable and market rate te94pxts in mixed income buildings (aka the "poor door"). Press release

  Would vote yes on the full, ten-point Women's Equality Agenda.

  Opposes the strategy of removing the 10th point in the WEA, which deals with abortion access, in order to push for passage of the other 9 points with less controversy.

• Economy↓

  Supports a statewide minimum wage at $10.10.

  Stated that municipalities such as NYC should be able to set their own minimum wage.

  In addressing developing a NYS jobs program, stated: "We must have a jobs program. It starts with improving education for all our children. We need to expand community based job training, like the Jobs to Build On program I helped start on the City Council, that was cited as a national model by the Clinton Global Initiative. We must support small businesses and help them grow. And we must bring new businesses like high tech and other jobs of the future to our area."

  Sponsored legislation aiming "to protect small businesses." Website

• Education↓

  "Founded the Campaign for Fiscal Equity which sued the State of New York for 'cheating' students out of proper funding and consequently, out of a sound education. Before the trial, in order to bring attention to his cause, Jackson walked 150 miles from NYC to Albany and as a result, was honored as NY1's 'New Yorker of the Year.'" Decide NYC 

  Supports implementing Common Core state standards with changes.

  Supports maintaining the cap on charter schools.

  Stated that government should not pay for location of charter schools in private space or for co-locations of charter schools in public school buildings.

  Supports statewide universal pre-kindergarten.

  In addressing how the legislature can ensure that adequate funding is distributed to all school districts to comply with the Campaign for Fiscal Equity decisions, stated: "Education was my salvation. That's why I've fought so hard to knock down barriers and make sure every child receives the best education possible, and the same opportunity to succeed in life as I had. It's government's obligation to provide every student the opportunity to a sound, basic education. It takes a commitment from the Governor, the legislature and all involved. We can't afford to do any less. We must not put our children's future on hold."

• Environment↓

  Opposes hydrofracking in NYS.

  Stated that municipalities should decide, via zoning processes, whether hydrofracking occurs in their jurisdiction.

• Good Government↓

  Supports reducing individual campaign contribution limits.

  Supports instituting a public-matching campaign-fi94pxcing systems statewide:

  • "Establishing a public fi94pxcing program modeled on the successful New York City program, with 6 – 1 matching funds, realistic spending limits and strict controls. Studies have shown this model has lead to more public involvement, more competitive races and less uncontested re-elections.
  • Setting sensible limits on contributions and closing corporate subsidiary and LLC loopholes. New York State has among the highest limits in the country, and with each LLC treated as a separate individual, there are effectively no limits at all.
  • Restricting fundraising during the legislative session and instituting fixed limits on those doing business with the government. According to NYPIRG, "during the six-month period January 1-June 30, 2014, there will have been 176 political fundraising events in Albany or for leadership."
  • Increasing reporting, transparency and enforcement. On the State level, there is limited oversight or enforcement of rules, with contributors regularly giving over the allowable limits. Furthermore, there is no requirement for bundlers to be identified.
  • Prohibiting the use of campaign funds for personal or legal expenses." Press release

  Stated that Governor Cuomo should not have dissolved the Moreland Commission to Investigate Public Corruption.

  Supports implementing the following reform measures to increase voter participation and reduce barriers to voting:

  • Same day voter registration,
  • Early voting,
  • No-excuse absentee ballots,
  • Reforming special elections,
  • Instant runoff voting,
  • Granting voting rights to parolees,
  • Consolidating state and federal primaries,
  • Lowering the voting age.

  In addressing how to properly monitor and enforce ethics laws and appropriate conduct of legislators, stated: "We need more transparency and their should be no tolerance for misconduct. Public officials must set a positive example. I'm proud of who I am and what I have done. That's why I always wore a button, so people can come up to me and tell me what is on their mind."

  In addressing legislative oversight of public authorities such as the MTA and Port Authority, stated: "We must enforce and strengthen the Public Authorities Reform Bill passed four years ago."

• Housing and Development↓

  Supports mandatory inclusionary zoning depending "on the project, but must have a greater commitment to real affordable housing."

  Opposes reforming the Scaffold Law from absolute liability to comparative negligence.

  Supports reforming the Urstadt Law.

  In addressing the affordable housing needs in the state and city, stated: "We must preserve the affordable housing we have, particularly through strengthening rent laws and repealing the Urstadt law. We must fix-up existing housing, particularly through better management of NYCHA. And we must build new housing, through inclusionary zoning and innovative approaches like the effort I lead to build the Sugar Hill project."

  In addressing the rising cost of commercial rents and the loss of local retail businesses, stated: "On the City Council, I sponsored the Small Business Survival Act, giving business owners the opportunity for binding arbitration if their rents were raised too high. We need that same approach to save jobs and preserve neighborhoods."

  "Was a leader in producing a community agreement to approve the Columbia University expansion that protected affordable housing." Website

   On 421-A Abatements:

  "The 421-A abatement is purportedly designed to create affordable housing, but instead is being abused by greedy real estate developers," said Robert Jackson. "We cannot allow our tax money to be used to create segregated housing on the Upper West Side, or to provide millions of dollars in tax relief to the buyer of a $90 million penthouse on West 57th Street. These tax breaks have cost the city millions of dollars in lost revenue that are critically needed to provide real affordable housing.

  The approved 'poor door' is another example of an unacceptable outcome resulting from this program. Last year, my office sponsored legislation in the City Council requiring developers receiving these tax payer subsidies to provide equal treatment to all te94pxts regardless of their rental costs. I urge the new City Council to pass this crucial legislation, and at the same time urge the State to amend its program providing these subsidies to specifically prevent these abuses from ever happening again.

  At its core this is a civil rights issue. There was a time in our country not too long ago when African-Americans were often required to use separate bathrooms, water fountains, lunch tables and seats on the bus. After much struggle and progress, we cannot go back to that time. We cannot return to separating people by race, ethnicity, religion or economic status. As Americans and as New Yorkers, we must protect equality for everyone.

  The City is made strong by our diversity. We need more affordable housing and it must be done the right way." Press release

• Immigration↓

  Would vote yes on the DREAM Act.

  Supports non-citizen voting.

  Supports drivers licenses for undocumented immigrants.

• Infrastructure↓

  Stated that the biggest infrastructure needs in the district are: "Mass transit, roads and aging utility lines. The recent explosion in East Harlem shows the importance of dealing with this before we experience more tragedies."

• Policing↓

  Opposes broken windows policing.

  Supports the legalization of marijuana.

  In addressing whether there is a role for state government in overseeing the conduct of municipal police forces, stated: "It is the job of everyone to promote cooperation, understanding and better training and practices to make our streets, homes and lives safer."

  Sponsored gun Buy Back Programs. Website

  Advocated for "stronger state and federal [gun control] legislation." Website

• Transportation↓

  In addressing road safety, and the appropriate approach to balancing the needs of pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers, stated: "Through neighborhood based traffic initiatives, we must make the streets safe for all. It means more enforcement, more education and more cooperation and understanding by pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers."

Endorsements

Organizations: International Union of Operating Engineers Local 891, Broadway Democratic Club, Three Parks Independent Democrats, Park River Independent Democrats, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1181; Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club; Stonewall Democratic Club of NYC; Amsterdam News; New York League of Conservation Voters; Citizens Union; Communication Workers of America Local 1180; Public Employees Federation; Council of School Supervisors & Administrators

Individuals: William Allen, Uptown Democratic Club; Curtis Arluck, Broadway Democratic Club; Earnestine Bell-Temple, Tioga Carver Democratic Club; Robert Botfeld, Three Parks Independent Democratic Club; Cordell Cleare, Sojourner Truth Democratic Club; Paula Diamond-Roman, Broadway Democratic Club; Councilmember Inez Dickens, Martin Luther King, Jr. Club; Cynthia Doty, Three Parks Independent Democratic Club; Keith Lilly, Sojourner Truth Democratic Club; Maria Luna, Audobon Reform Club; Congressman Charles Rangel, Martin Luther King, Jr. Club; Earl Scott, Park River Democratic Club; Al Taylor, Tioga Carver Democratic Club; and Julia Torrence, Frederick E. Samuel Democratic Club; Former City Council Member Ronnie Eldridge; Former Manhattan Borough President Virginia Fields

Record in Office

NYC Council Committee Assignments: 

NYC Council Caucuses: 

Notes: 

Tejada (D)

Currently: Executive Director, Mirabal Sisters Cultural and Community Center (2001-2014)

Previous Work: Mathematics Teacher, NYC Middle and High Public Schools (1994-2000); Building Superintendent (1994-2004); Taxi Driver, (1991-1994); Electrical Engineer Supervisor, Dominican Energy Nation Corporation (1980-1990)

Education: Graduate, Electrical Engineering and Technologist in Electronic Engineering, APEC University, Dominican Republic, 1985; MS, Mathematics, City College of New York, 2010; Post-graduate, Spanish Linguistics at the University of Alcalá de Henares, Spain, 1997

On the Issues

• *Research Ongoing↓

  *Research ongoing

Endorsements

Organizations:

Individuals: 

Chan (R)

Currently: 

Previous Work: 

Education: 

On the Issues

• *Research Ongoing↓

  *Research ongoing

Endorsements

Organizations:

Individuals: