NYC Council Elections 2021: Gale Brewer Seeks UWS Seat

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — Voters in New York City's 6th Council district, which includes almost the entirety of the Upper West Side, will see six names on their ballots when they vote in the June 22 primary election.

One of those names will be Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, who is among the Democrats seeking to replace the term-limited incumbent Helen Rosenthal.

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

Answers have been lightly edited for clarity.

Gale Brewer

Age (as of Election Day)

69

Position Sought

City Council District 6

Party Affiliation

Democrat

Neighborhood of residence

Upper West Side, Manhattan

Family

Cal Snyder (Husband); Mo Sumbundu (son)

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No, not in city government

Education

Bennington College, Columbia University (BA); Kennedy School, Harvard University (MPA)

Occupation

Manhattan Borough President (2014-2021); Council Member (2002-2013)

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Manhattan Borough President (2014-2021); Council Member (2002-2013); Chair, Commission on the Status of Women (1993-94); Vice-Chair, Community Board 7

Campaign website

www.galebrewer.nyc

Why are you seeking elective office?

It may seem strange that I want to return to the City Council after serving as Borough President for 8 years, and I am aware that this is not the usual path. But the West Side is in my bones. I have lived and worked, raised kids, and been devoted to building a diverse and caring community on these UWS blocks through crime waves, recessions, mayors both Democrat and Republican, and now this awful pandemic. I have a unique set of experience and skills that will help the 6th Council District and our city emerge from Covid, including land use, budget, and economic development knowledge. We face workforce challenges, budgetary problems, a looming eviction crisis, and the need for a range of local initiatives to combat the effects of Covid, such as coordination of agencies working in the streets and plazas and support of parks and open space. The Upper West Side also faces the citywide challenge of public safety and the concern about returning to school classrooms full time. More than a resume and good ideas are needed; I have 20 years of bringing stakeholders together to solve problems, including passage of the Open Data Law, Paid Sick Leave, the Fair Chance Act and as the leading advocate for a social worker in every school. (I also initiated Ranked Choice Voting with a proposed law!) I want to continue to build on the support I have given to our public schools, and on my long-time personal and professional relationship with the local precincts and 1 Police Plaza. On a borough-wide basis, I see the great value of violence interrupters, and I want to expand their reach as well as programs that address mental health and substance abuse effectively. These are some of the reasons that I hope to win the Council seat.

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

A recent poll revealed that more than 70% of respondents put public safety at the top of their concerns, but that issue cannot be separated from its root causes. If we want West Side streets to be safe and free of crime we cannot return to past practices. Police in midtown and working with mental health professionals as part of a "Community First" model are focused on "Rapid Engagement," meaning that when NYPD's team identifies an individual in need of services, they make a referral immediately to local organizations. Agencies are there to be supportive but there are gaps in what they can offer; this engagement must be mapped out and funded. Another positive engagement effort is CUCS Connects, which is connecting those leaving Rikers to a vast array of primary services before they leave the Island, and is funded to do all of the needed follow up. These connections are aimed at reducing criminal activity and recidivism; violence interrupters are attempting to stop disputes that lead to injury or death with guns or other weapons. The Citizens Crime Commission is proposing that the police department should continue its core mission, which is to reduce crime, but that a police service organization could prevent crime by focusing on community, prevention and use of force reduction in coordination with crime reduction. I support this concept but the skills of an officer would have to be broader and the police must be required to partner with agencies but those agencies themselves must be far better coordinated among themselves. NYPD's community policing initiative has been successful in strengthening community ties but the police service concept is the next step and could be transformative. My positive working relationship with both NYPD and community organizations will enable me to take a leadership role in implementing these reforms.

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

Each of the candidates has their own vision of the role of the Council Member. In addition to my proven experience in legislation, budgeting, land use and housing, and providing constituent services, the critical difference that separates my candidacy from theirs is an ability to work across political, governmental, and private sector boundaries to achieve sustainable public policy.

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

This is an open seat. The current officeholder has been responsive on key issues, such as middle school integration, improved city contracting process, and women's issues. I would strengthen constituent services, support for seniors, and the myriad challenges created by Covid-19.

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

As Council Member I would bring the strong emphasis on pandemic-related issues that I developed as Manhattan Borough President. They include raising funds for small restaurants to prepare food for essential workers at hospitals, and support food pantries on an on-going basis for the many food insecure families; ensuring that homebound seniors get culturally appropriate meals; and supporting senior centers and schools with scratch cooking. Seniors living in NYCHA developments count on senior centers for food and activity and when the centers closed the older adults were my first priority for food delivery and wellness calls. PPE for residents, health care facilities, and businesses were delivered far too late; the pandemic was underway and people had no protection; PPE must be stockpiled, and it must be manufactured in NYC not overseas. Testing and vaccines must always be free and the technology to access them must be available to all sectors of the population. Covid taught us that health and service messaging must be more timely, accurate, factual and available in multiple languages to be effective. My widely read newsletter and on-line outreach are models for accomplishing this and will be a regular part of my Council service. We have also learned that among the benefits of outdoor dining and open streets is an improved quality of life, commerce, and a livelier and more welcoming streetscape.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Other issues that I am focused on include: preserving and growing small business; addressing quality of life issues such as helicopter overflights, reducing reckless driving by motorists of all kinds, and reducing noise disturbances. Also I am committed to a return to organics recycling and more green buildings; funding for workforce development for 21st century jobs; fighting for recognition that broadband access should be available and regulated as a public utility. Continuing my support for age-friendly communities; reducing class size in schools and implementing restorative justice practices; focusing on equity for NYCHA residents and preserving and building affordable and supportive housing. Advocacy for ADA implementation; and support for both established cultural organizations but also innovative public art projects such as pop up exhibits and performances.

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

My candidacy is distinguished by a 40-year career in public service and the private sector. I have served at the state and city level as an elected official, as the Director of the Mayor's Federal Office, as Deputy Public Advocate, as a researcher on non-profits at the CUNY Graduate Center, and as an adjunct professor of public policy at CUNY campuses and Barnard College. I have been a mentor to thousands of interns, many of whom have gone on to careers in public service. Among my primary achievements I would cite passage of the first city law protecting the rights of domestic workers; the first municipal Open Data Law; NYC's first law to provide workers with Paid Sick Days; the Fair Chance Act that makes it illegal for most employers to ask about the criminal record of job applicants before making them a job offer. As an elected official, I am known for hiring diverse, highly qualified staff members; and for working effectively with leaders across both the public and private sector to create better laws and policy; and an ability to bridge differences between the city's diverse communities and find common ground. These achievements and the benefits they have brought to the people of the city are the hallmarks of leadership in public service.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

My father who was a local elected official taught me that all politics is local when we greeted voters each weekend at the local garbage dump. From NYS Lt Governor Mary Anne Krupsak and Congress Member Bella Abzug, I learned what it takes for a woman to earn a seat at the table.

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

I have been endorsed by local officials and 50 organizations that represent a cross-section of New York's political, civic, and public interest communities. They recognize that my experience, vision, principles, achievements and work ethic are the qualities that voters are seeking in their elected officials.