2013 City Council Candidate Questionnaire

Candidate Information Full Name: Mark Otto District Information District #: 7 Are you an incumbent? NO If yes, when were you first elected? Campaign Information From which parties are you seeking a nomination: Democratic Full Name of Campaign Committee: Mark Otto for City Council

Additional Candidate Information Endorsements List here the union, organizations (community, civic, media, issue groups), and elected officials that have endorsed you. I am a leader within the LGBT community in the district in which I am running as well as other parts of the New York City. I am supported by members of local organizations such as Harlem Pride, including Carmen Nealy, their President, and local activists and donors such as Mitch Draizin, Robert Whitman, David Freedman, Jordan Jacobs and Suzanne LeVan. Candidate Experience - Please explain any activities and/or experiences that demonstrate your commitment to the LGBT movement. As an educator, I have worked to create a safe space in my school for LGBT youth by promoting a zero tolerance policy for any bullying and developing forums where members of the LGBT community come to our school to speak to our students about their experiences. We have worked to develop a strong and active GSA program within the school that is active throughout the school, not just quietly and privately active as is the case in many public schools.

- What experience do you have to demonstrate you are the best person to represent the district office you seek? I have been working in public education for 10 years. First, as a special education teacher and currently as an Assistant Principal of a public high school. I have developed my school from the ground up as one of the founders eight years ago. I understand and have worked within the political arena of the New York City Department of Education and have managed to navigate its dysfunction to get the supports my students and families need in

order to be successful. I have seen first-hand the negative effects of policies like stop and frisk and have gone to court to support students who have been incarcerated. This year one of my young men was shot and killed and I have been active in the fight against gun violence in NYC and will continue to fight to get the guns off our streets and out of the hands of our children. I am the one my students and their parents come too when they need housing support or assistance with welfare and Medicaid. I know how our city has helped those with the most need and how the city has failed them and I believe we can do better. Together, we can make a difference for so many who have been locked out and left behind. Please detail any specific policy proposals you may have that will affect the LGBT community, that are not addressed in the next section. As an educator I know the positive effects of culturally responsive curriculum. I believe we need to re-write our curriculum to include LGBT authors, characters and LGBT issues including a study of the LGBT Civil Rights Movement. Too many generations have gone through our schools with no understanding of what has come before them regarding our LGBT community and that must change. Policy Positions Please answer the following questions in full, using your policy proposals and including specific examples of your previous actions on any given topic when possible. Marriage Do you support full marriage equality for same-sex couples? (Y/N If no, please explain) YES

Will you work with New Yorks congressional delegation to support the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act? (Y/N If no, please explain) YES

Adoption: Do you support full adoption rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender couples? (Y/N If no, please explain) YES Human Rights Do you support equal rights and treatment for people of transgender experience in the New York Shelter System, both adult shelters and youth shelters? (Y/N If no, please explain) YES HIV/AIDS

In 2011, Mayor Bloomberg proposed cutting 248 case managers and millions in rental assistance from the HIV/AIDS Services Administration (HASA). Individual legislators ended up using discretionary funds to fill the gap. Do you support increased funding for the HASA? (Y/N If no, please explain) YES Please explain your position on using discretionary funds to support agencies like HASA. The federal government awards up to eight grants to organizations to support the development, implementation, and evaluation of interventions to improve timely entry and retention of quality HIV care I will work to ensure that we seek these dollars proactively, making sure no money offered is taken off the table. I support the use of discretionary funds for HASA, but want to ensure that NYC adequately budgets for agencies like this so that we do not have to scramble to fill the gaps.

What actions do you think the City Council should be taking to provide emergency housing for homeless people living with AIDS? Every person, regardless of age, gender, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or socioeconomic circumstance should have access to quality housing. The federal government through HUD manages the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program. This is the only Federal program dedicated to persons living with HIV/AIDS and their families. These funds are distributed to

states and cities and we need to make sure we take full advantage of these allocations making them available to our community. I am the only candidate focused on the homeless LGBT youth population in northern Manhattan and will fight to increase funding to support safe and affirming shelters for our LGBT youth in northern Manhattan. This population needs much more support in my community and I will make it happen.

AIDS funding no longer corresponds to the demographics of which communities represent the greatest number of HIV cases in NYC. Would you support yearly statistics of both the geographic areas where HIV is most prevalent and as well as which populations in those neighborhoods are most effected, and then allocate yearly funding to services and communities based on these results? YES

Community Boards: Many Community Boards routinely oppose applications for liquor licenses in their areas, particularly if the proposed venue is tailored to appeal to the LGBT community. Please explain your position on the appropriate balance between support for nightlife, minority communities and respect for neighborhood concerns. Our communities are only enhanced by diversity and so supporting local LGBT initiatives and businesses is a priority. I want to make sure that our neighborhoods are safe and economically sound. Creating initiatives to promote LGBT small businesses is something I will work towards. The LGBT community is growing at a rapid pace and it is important that they are welcomed and able to enjoy their community in safe and affirming venues.

Please outline the criteria you would use in selecting Community Board members. First let me say that I will not forget that Im hiring someone to do a job. I will look for individuals with the leadership skills necessary to make difficult decisions that will impact our community. This person must be a team player with a willingness to collaborate with others in order to meet the diverse needs of the community. I would incorporate feedback from other community members when making these decisions and ensure that the board is representative of the larger community. The NYPD often targets bars, restaurants and clubs serving the LGBT community for increased scrutiny. They have used health code violations, allegations of drug use or sale, allegations of prostitution, allegations of serving minors, and a myriad of tools at their disposal. What changes would you implement to ensure LGBT institutions are treated equally by enforcement agencies? I am a strong believer in the rights of all Americans. No one deserves to be mistreated for their sexual orientation or gender identity and I am committed to full equality for the LGBT community, as well as, all individuals. I will seek to promote LGBT issues toward the extension of equal rights and seek the repeal of discriminatory laws. I will be a leader and fight for the passing of GENDA to make sure that our transgender brothers and sisters are extended the same right as everyone else in NYC. WE can do better and the time is now for action!

Do you support reforming Stop-and-Frisk? Please detail any specific changes to the program you believe are necessary. YES Stop and frisk unfairly targets minority youth across New York City, negatively impacting the future school and job opportunities of our citys most vulnerable, and creating a downward spiral that affects neighborhoods and communities both in the short term and over generations. I am fully opposed to stop and frisk.

Do you oppose the use of condoms as evidence of prostitution in criminal cases? Please explain your support or opposition. YES, We should be supporting the use of condoms in our city and across the country. This is a clear public health issue and using possession of condoms as a way to prosecute individuals for prostitution

is unacceptable. You can be sure that I will fight to end this practice and hold those accountable that continue to target the LGBT community. Runaway and Homeless Youth Will you support increasing the funding for both emergency shelter beds and transitional beds for homeless youth, a huge percentage of whom are from the LGBT community and will you pledge to support capital and expense funding for programs serving this population? (Y/N If no, please explain) YES

What will you do to expand access to services for runaway and homeless youth?

I have used my campaign to bring awareness and funds to the Ali Forney Center after Hurricane Sandy destroyed their facility in order to support their work with LGBT youth. Large populations of LGBT homeless youth are of color and come from northern Manhattan, and we are working to create a safe, supportive environment for our LGBT youth and seniors within the community. It has been a major issue for my campaign from day one and will continue to be a priority in the years ahead. LGBT Services and Funding:

The LGBT community is in great need of senior housing for many of our aging population. Many seniors experience homophobia in senior facilities making them feel they must be closeted. Would you help with the funding of senior housing for the LGBT community? (Y/N If no, please explain)

Yes, with rents going up across the city, it is imperative that affordable housing be preserved and expanded, especially for our most vulnerable communities.

If you are currently in office, have you made member item grants or supported LGBT funding requests? If seeking office for the first time, would you give strong consideration to LGBT social service organizations seeking funding from your office if elected? Please explain your position.

YES, as the only candidate in my district to make LGBT issues a top priority in this campaign you can be sure that my support will continue after winning the election.

What actions will you take to help support the LGBT community center in your borough? If there is not an LGBT community center in your borough, what actions will you take to help develop one?

I am working with Harlem Pride to fight for funding to bring an LGBT community center to Harlem in order to serve the many LGBT youth in upper Manhattan, who have very few services in their community. This has been an on-going battle but we are building momentum and I will not rest until we have our community center. Other: Please state concrete achievements for the LGBT community that you are responsible for in your current, or previous, elected office/s. I have not been elected to any office yet, but have been working hard to bring awareness to the homeless LGBT youth population in northern Manhattan and have been working in collaboration with Harlem Pride to bring awareness to our growing community in Harlem and support for a community center that is desperately needed.

Have you endorsed any LGBT candidates? Which ones? I have not officially endorsed any candidates at this time but will be doing so in the near future and some of those candidates will be LGBT. If endorsed will you display the endorsement of the Stonewall Democratic Club of NYC in your literature whenever you list other endorsements and will you display the endorsement on your website? YES, I would be so proud to do so.

Will you hire openly LGBT staff and/or designate a liaison to our communities if elected? (Y/N If no, please explain) YES