NYC Council Elections 2021: Kim Moscaritolo Seeks UES Seat

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — Voters in New York City's 5th Council district, which includes parts of the Upper East Side and Roosevelt Island, will see seven names on their ballots when they vote in the June 22 primary election.

One of those names will be Kim Moscaritolo, a former CNN journalist, anti-gun violence advocate and co-founder of the Yorkville Buy Local group.

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

Age (as of Election Day)

42

Position Sought

City Council

Party Affiliation

Democratic

Neighborhood of residence (i.e., East Village, Astoria, etc.)

Yorkville

Family

Husband and 2 cats

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

N/A

Education

Bachelor of Science in Telecommunications from the University of Florida

Occupation

Journalist, 20 years

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Democratic District Leader

Campaign website

www.votekim.nyc

Why are you seeking elective office?

I'm running for City Council because I see the challenges we're facing as a city - COVID-19 recovery, climate change, crumbling transportation infrastructure, homelessness - and I know that we need leaders with a bold vision for this city, and the political courage to fight for it. We need a City Council that focuses on people, that is willing to stand up to entrenched interests and big money. We also need representatives that care about our neighborhoods; about our schools, our parks, our libraries. We need leaders who believe in investing in our public goods, and in ensuring that everyone in this city has a roof over their head, enough to eat, and access to a good education and to living wage jobs.

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

The single most pressing issue facing our district is the lack of affordable housing. We need to protect tenants by passing Good Cause Eviction, create more housing at all income levels, invest in homeless services and supportive housing, crack down on source of income discrimination, bring back SRO's and prioritize veteran housing.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

As a journalist, I've spent my career speaking truth to power, and as a local activist, I've spent the last decade standing up to powerful interests. I believe we need transparency, accountability, and independent leadership to fight for the better city we know is possible. My background and my longtime commitment to this district, as a Democratic District Leader and founder of Yorkville Buy Local, make me the best candidate for this seat.

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

I believe that our local officials responded admirably to this crisis in the face of extraordinary incompetence by city leadership. Poor communication and last minute decisions made it extremely difficult for parents to plan around remote learning, and with little to no guidance, many of our local small businesses were unable to receive federal grants/loans and faced stiff fines for violating confusing outdoor dining rules. I would like to see the city focus on better direct communication, and do more to help our struggling mom and pops.

Do you support or oppose the New York Blood Center’s proposed tower and rezoning? If you oppose it, should it be scrapped entirely, or just revised?

I am opposed to the current New York Blood Center proposal. While I greatly admire the work the Blood Center does, I would like to see them work with the community to develop a plan that will address resident concerns while allowing them to continue their mission. As Council Member, I will advocate for community-driven, not developer-driven, planning.

Ben Kallos worked to bring a Safe Haven shelter to the district — would you have done the same, and would you do so again for another shelter, if elected?

Yes, I support the Safe Haven shelter on 91st Street, which is on my block. I believe all neighborhoods must do their part to fight homelessness, and that includes supporting shelters such as these. As Council Member, I’ll work towards creating more supportive housing for our homeless neighbors, as well as getting them the social services they need.

While police statistics show crime mostly dropping on the Upper East Side, many residents report feeling less safe in the neighborhood than they used to. Why do you think this is, and is adding more police the way to solve it?

COVID-19 and its effects have put the entire city on edge. With the closing of so many small businesses, the streets and subways are emptier, and I believe this is part of why some people feel less safe. We need to get our small businesses back up and running, and expand Open Streets to get more people out in the neighborhood. We also need to get kids back in school 5 days a week. I don't believe we need more police, but I would like to see more community policing, with officers walking a beat and engaging directly with residents.

What single policy would you advocate for to make housing more affordable on the Upper East Side?

We need to build more truly affordable housing, and pass Good Cause Eviction, which would disallow exorbitant rent increases from year to year, allowing more people to stay in their homes. I will advocate for an expanded Right to Counsel, so that every tenant in housing court has access to an attorney.

Would you push to add more bike lanes in the district?

Yes. We need to build truly protected bike lanes and invest more in our pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure. Doing so will keep our pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists safe.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

I am deeply concerned about the loss of our local small businesses. As the founder of Yorkville Buy Local, I believe we need to do far more to help our mom and pops. I've put out a detailed small business plan that includes direct financial relief and better oversight of tech companies. We must also invest far more resources into our public goods, such as libraries, parks, schools, and transportation. As Council Member, I'll demand more for these vital services.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

For 20 years I worked in the fast paced world of television news, speaking truth to power and informing the public. I won an Emmy award for my contributions to CNN's coverage of the September 11th attacks. As Legislative Committee chair for New Yorkers Against Gun Violence I lobbied for Nicholas's Law, which was passed by the state legislature in 2019. And as the founder of Yorkville Buy Local, I have worked to promote our local small businesses and support legislation to help them thrive.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Never send an email when you're angry!

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I’m running for City Council because we’ve seen what happens when the most powerful figures in New York City are left unchecked. If we’re going to recover from COVID-19 and get New York City back on its feet, we need accountability — not more of the same failed leadership. I'm ready to bring a journalist's eye to City Hall.