NYC Council District 29 Election: Eliseo Labayen Seeks Seat

FOREST HILLS, QUEENS — Democratic voters in New York City's 29th Council district, which includes Forest Hills, Forest Park, Kew Gardens, Rego Park, and Richmond Hill, will see nine names on their ballots when they vote in the June 22 primary election.

One of those names will be Eliseo Labayen, a former political staffer and street safety advocate.

Patch reached out to all candidates in the election to create these profiles. Labayen's responses are below.

<b>Age (as of Election Day)</b>

26

<b>Position Sought</b>

New York City Councilmember

<b>Party Affiliation</b>

Democrat

<b>Neighborhood of residence (i.e., East Village, Astoria, etc.)</b>

Kew Gardens

<b>Family</b>

Mother - Michelle Labayen, Father - Angelo Labayen

<b>Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?</b>

No

<b>Education</b>

B.A. Government and Politics - St. John's University

<b>Occupation</b>

Bankruptcy Legal Assistant, Congressional Liaison, Constituent Liaison, TEFL Teacher

<b>Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office</b>

N/A

<b>Campaign website</b>

eliseo2021.com

<b>Why are you seeking elective office?</b>

The numerous issues affecting my hometown have not only persisted but steadily deteriorated under 20+ years of a dismal tenure under Karen Koslowitz. Litter and garbage on our streets have become a staple of the neighborhood. Homelessness with serious mental illnesses hasn't received any meaningful attention. Violent crime has spiked on our subway platforms and street corners. I want to put myself on the front lines to address these issues and many more in a straightforward commonsense way. We cannot afford a continuation of the status quo, especially now when our recovery from Covid is at stake. It's time for a change and if elected I intend to put myself in the fray every day to fight for my district.

<b>The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.</b>

Crime & Public Safety. I intend on preventing the construction of a borough jail in Kew Gardens. The process was railroaded through city hall without public input and I fear the city is turning 1 Rikers into 4. I intend on pushing for an increase in investments for the NYPD Hate Crime Task Force Unit to address the spike in Asian & Anti-Semitic hate crimes across our district and our city. We need to push for an expansion of Kendra's Law to deal with the unabated increase in homelessness with serious mental illnesses. Without treatment these individuals pose a danger to themselves and the public. We also need to close the loopholes in the bail reform laws that were passed that allow repeat offenders to go free. Under the current law, virtually all misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies can't be held on cash bail meaning those repeat offenders charged with assault, robbery, burglary or stalking for example, are allowed to go free. In addition, I want our local precincts to take a more proactive and visible role in the community. It's not enough to patrol in a police vehicle. Officers must be seen on the street developing relationships with community residents on
a first name basis and with our businesses to better tackle the increase in crime across the district.

<b>What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?</b>

I am NOT running as a candidate who has worked for or supported the outgoing councilmember Karen Koslowitz. I am NOT running as a candidate of the establishment machine. I am NOT running as a Democratic Socialist. I am running to protect and invest in our neighborhood, borough, and city. I am running to be accessible to everyone in the community and stand shoulder to shoulder WITH the community on all issues new and old. I am the only candidate that has experience working on a local and federal level with the NYC Council and U.S. Congress in Washington D.C. My proudest achievement of my time in DC was helping secure passage of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health & Compensation Act giving the first responders, volunteers, and survivors of that tragic day the healthcare benefits and financial aid they deserved from exposure to the crash site. I have a track record working in government and I want to bring that quality experience to my hometown in it's time of need.

<b>If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)</b>

The current officeholder, Karen Koslowitz, voted to build a borough jail in Kew Gardens against the wishes and concerns of the community at large. Our borough president at the time said no, our community board said no, community residents and associations said no...but the councilmember still said yes. Councilmember Koslowitz has done absolutely nothing for the population of homeless individuals with serious mental illnesses in the community. Nothing has been done to tackle the litter and garbage that has become a staple on our streets. The councilmember hasn't lifted a finger to get the green infrastructure project known as the Queensway started. The current officeholder's tenure and lack of action on these issues gives me great worry now that she has endorsed one of my competitors. We cannot afford a continuation of this status quo that does nothing for the people of this community.

<b>How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?</b>

Kathryn Garcia served admirably as the Food Czar during the early months of the pandemic to address the huge spike in food insecurity that gripped the city. But I disapprove of the management of the city budget by Mayor DeBlasio, Speaker Johnson and the City Council with the cuts they made to integral departments and city services. I disapprove of the Mayor disregarding the input and expertise of health professionals and staff. In short, I would have listened to the expertise of the health/medical community and worked to ensure a budget that did not leave the city in a position to cut from essential agencies and services in a great time of need.

<b>Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.</b>

Aside from Crime & Public Safety, another top priority for my campaign is the economic and cultural rebound of our district, borough, and city. We need to support our struggling small businesses with grants, not loans, through a revival and expansion of the Love Your Local Grant Program. Our small businesses are key to a true long term recovery and that cannot happen if the city allows our businesses to wither from lack of support and struggle from excessive fines and penalties. The green infrastructure project known as the QueensWay is something I want to get off the ground ASAP. This infrastructure project will revitalize 3.5 miles of abandoned railway into a mix of open and green space by and for the residents of central Queens. It will provide jobs, cleaner air, educational opportunities for the 12 public schools within walking distance, small business support through its foot-traffic, protected walkways and bike lanes, outdoor cultural venues, and much needed green space. Sanitation is another defining issue. I want to expand on the Clean Curbs program spearheaded by Kathryn Garcia to get all trash and litter off our sidewalks & streets and into rodent proof garbage receptacles. Fully accessible sidewalks for the disabled, a Monday - Friday CityTicket discount for LIRR commuters, $500 million for the construction of low income senior housing, an expansion of the healthcare program NYC Care, lead abatement in all district schools, an expansion of CUNY ASAP, fighting against student loan debt, investing into wildlife rescue and rehabilitation facilities, expanding access to free menstrual products, getting a BID (Business Improvement District) in our neighborhood, upgrading our existing parks, playgrounds, and open spaces, investing into SYEP (Summer Youth Employment Programs), Revamping AAR, investing more into our parks, senior centers, and libraries are all examples of the range of issues I am trying to tackle.

<b>What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?</b>

I point to my government experience on a local and federal level as well as my experience in the private sector. I worked for NYC Councilmembers Vallone in Bayside and Julissa Ferreras Copeland in Corona through face to face constituent services as well as research and analysis into small business concerns and K-12 education. I worked for U.S. Congressman Matthew Cartwright and Charlie Rangel as a congressional liaison under the guidance of our Legislative Director on legislation concerning healthcare, technology, and foreign affairs. I point to my signature accomplishment as helping to secure passage of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health & Compensation Act. Named after NYPD officer James Zadroga whose death was linked to exposure from the crash site, it established a healthcare program that provides medical treatment to the first responders and survivors of that tragic day. In the private sector I worked as a bankruptcy legal assistant advocating on behalf of consumers facing student loan debt. That work led me to continue to advocate for our clients to their government representatives in NJ from the offices of Senator Booker to Congressman Pascrell. In addition to my rooted experience as a native son and volunteer, I believe I am more than capable of serving my community as a NYC Councilmember.

<b>The best advice ever shared with me was:</b>

Only crying babies get fed.

<b>What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?</b>

I want voters to know that Forest Hills is my hometown. I grew up next to the Boulevard of Death before Vision Zero was ever law. I went to PS101, I'm a parishioner at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, I graduated from St. John's University over in Jamaica. I want to help my hometown in its moment of need and crisis to get things done after literally decades of inaction on some of our most pressing needs. I want voters to know that I intend to be a representative for the entire district; not just Forest Hills but also Kew Gardens, Rego Park, and Richmond Hill. I want to be a councilmember that is ambitious, creative, and aggressive in dealing with our quality of life issues and I humbly ask for your vote to serve as your next NYC Councilmember on June 22nd.