Cameron Alex Koffman’s Policy Platform
Retail Vacancies
The Retail Vacancy Crisis is not only a threat to our economy, but also a threat to our community’s urban fabric. Small businesses are the backbone of a thriving neighborhood and we must work to support our small businesses.
With almost 1 in 7 storefronts closed in our neighborhood, we must focus on policies that aid local businesses seeking to fill storefronts and encourage property owners to keep their spaces occupied.
We need more robust enforcement of an online retail sales tax to level the playing field between brick and mortar business and e-commerce.
We must reform the State Liquor Authority to rely more on community input and establish a more standardized application process to make it easier to obtain liquor permits.
We need to repeal the commercial rent tax and reform the property tax system to give small businesses relief.
We need to aid local businesses who have been hit hard during COVID-19. I support interest-free loans to small businesses, a 90-day rent holiday for businesses who could not pay rent due to the virus, and I support adjusting business interruption insurance to cover losses due to the virus.
Ethics Reform
In the past decade over 30 lawmakers in New York have been indicted or convicted. It’s no surprise then that New York does not cap outside income for its already highly-paid legislators, New York has some of the highest maximum contribution levels for state campaigns, and New York lacks an actually independent government watchdog. Let’s clean up New York State with a new generation of leadership in Albany.
We must cap outside income for State Legislators at 15% of their salary to make legislatures work full-time and to prevent them from using their position for personal enrichment
Once we cap outside income we should raise pay for legislators.
New York State must implement a strong public matching fund system for campaign finance while also lowering maximum contribution levels without targeting 3rd parties.
I support the replacement of the Joint Commission on Public Ethics with a truly independent ethics body that can root out the ills in our state government.
New York must implement lobbying reform by increasing disclosure requirements and pioneering a "leveling up" public funded legislative lobbying arm that gives under resourced issues lobbying access.
Sexual/Reproductive Rights
I am proud to live in a state that just passed the Reproductive Health Act and codified abortion rights in the public health law. New York must continue fighting to expand access to abortions and set examples for other states as abortion rights come under threat with a Supreme Court and a President who are seeking to deny women their fundamental rights.
I strongly oppose the growing restrictions on women’s reproductive rights in our country, and believe that New York must continue to protect them by further expanding legislation like the Reproductive Health Act.
I also believe we must increase our affordable reproductive and sexual health public programs, such as the Comprehensive Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care Services Program, to ensure that all women in the state of New York have access to them.
I support legislation to establish an Abortion Access fund, allowing taxpayers to opt-in through their state income tax return form. This fund would provide financial and logistical assistance to individuals who don’t have accessible abortion care.
We must work to abolish the pink tax as no one should pay more for health products just because of their gender.
I support the proposed Comprehensive Sexuality Education bill that would require culturally, developmentally and medically accurate sexuality education in publicly funded schools statewide.
Climate Change
New York has already taken the national lead on climate change by passing the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. We must be even more ambitious: ramping up investments in renewable energy sources, banning fracking, and targeting the removal of plastics and styrofoams in many different industries.
I support New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), which aims to reach net-zero carbon emissions, reduce 85 percent of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and generate 70 percent of electricity from renewable sources by 2030.
As the NYS Climate Action Council develops its plan to meet the aim of the CLCPA, I believe it should invest in disadvantaged communities, provide tax incentives for wind power, allow solar panels on the roofs of buildings, invest in hydroelectric, and push for 100 percent clean energy in electricity, new cars, and new construction.
We must invest in a charging grid infrastructure for electric vehicles across NY State.
I support the Accelerated Renewable Energy Act and using it effectively to site our renewable energy projects as quickly as possible.
We should continue phasing out plastics and styrofoams from as many facets of life as possible, especially in places like the restaurant industry and hotel industry.
Gun Control
I’m running to be the first Gen Z member of the NYS Assembly, and I recognize the toll that school shootings have taken on my generation. I am proud that New York has taken action to halt gun violence, but we need to keep doing more. New York must be the national leader on gun control and work to authorize law enforcement agencies to remove more guns from our communities.
Unlike our current Assemblymember, I support legislation that would authorize law enforcement to remove firearms found on the premises where there is a report of domestic violence.
My generation, Generation Z, has been hurt the most by school shootings. We have to make sure that our schools have proper counseling and that there are strict penalties when weapons are stored incorrectly at home.
This is a national crisis and we cannot continue to capitulate to the NRA and its affiliated groups even when our Federal Government does.
Education
New York State must adequately fund its education system, especially in New York City’s school district. Many of New York’s gifted and talented programs and specialized high schools do not represent the tremendous diversity of our city. We must fix that by improving test prep programs and focusing on improving early-childhood education.
I support State Senator Comrie’s comprehensive bill to improve and diversify our Specialized High Schools by increasing the number of specialized high schools, requiring that all eighth grade students take the exam, and providing free and high quality test prep for all sixth, seventh and eighth graders.
I support the goal of desegregating our City’s schools by increasing funding for and supporting local school districts that want to implement their own integration plans. However, I do not support the elimination of gifted and talented programs.
We must work to reduce student loan debt for students at all SUNY and CUNY institutions.
We need to increase funding and accessibility of adult education, from programs at senior centers to preservation of our public libraries and museums
I support the creation of a Civics Education Fund to help train the next generation of leaders.
Overdevelopment
Many tall luxury developments threaten our neighborhood’s social fabric and price out residents who have lived here for generations. We must advocate for smart development going forward that takes into account the needs of the community and does not cause environmental and architectural problems.
I oppose Northwell’s plans for redevelopment of the Lenox Hill Hospital, which includes 10 years of construction, a 490-foot-tall new condominium on Park Avenue, a 510 ft. building on Lexington Avenue, and a negligible increase in hospitable capacity or affordable housing.
I support the proposed height limits on 3rd, 2nd, 1st, and York Avenues to preserve our neighborhood.
I plan to support amendments to the recently passed rent law to ensure tenants remain protected, but that landlords continue to have incentives to invest in capital improvements.
Bus/Subway Transportation
As we fight climate change we must continue to invest in our mass transit to increase ridership and to lower our reliance on cars. We must use proven solutions like expanding Select Bus Service and building a robust network of bus lanes to improve travel times on slower routes.
Too many bus routes in our district are ranked as some of the slowest in the city, particularly the M101. Expanding Select Bus Service to Lexington Avenue and 57th Street with a focus on off-board fare collection will help get New Yorkers where they need to go faster.
We have to fund not only subway improvements through the MTA capital plan, but bus service improvements as well. And our district should come first, given that we have over 20,000 residents over the age of 70.
We lag behind other transit systems, such as Washington DC, in not having full cell phone service in between subway stops. By exploring public-private partnerships, we can keep ourselves safe, connected, and productive at all times in our transit journey.
Police Accountability
Ending police brutality lies at the state and local level. We need independent investigations of police misconduct, community oversight and real implicit bias and scenario-based training.
Legislators need to pass the Safer NY Act package, which would repeal 50-a (DONE!), increase transparency of policing activities, establish a Special Prosector for police killings through the Attorney General’s office, legalize marijuana, reduce unnecessary arrests for minor offenses.
We need community oversight: police departments frequently investigate their own officers for misconduct. As a result, officers rarely face disciplinary action. We need an independent oversight commission that streamlines the complaint submission process, investigates all civilian complaints against police and makes recommendations.
We must establish a special prosecutor’s office that independently investigates and prosecutes cases of police misconduct.
Officers need to undergo continuous training that emphasizes implicit bias, crisis intervention, de-escalation and community-based policing.
Police departments should reflect the communities they serve. Increased diversity among rank and file officers is good, but not enough. The NYPD needs to devote resources and implement recruitment practices that increase the number of people of color who hold leadership positions.
Bail Reform
The 2019 bail reform sought to address a broken criminal justice system that has created and perpetuated socioeconomic and racial disadvantages. I support continued reforms to our criminal justice system that limit the use of pretrial detention and work to lower our jail population while still taking public safety into account. The primary goal of our criminal justice policies should be working on community-based policies that lower recidivism and break the incarceration cycle, especially for our most vulnerable populations.
I do not agree with every facet of the 2019 bail reform, but the law was well-intentioned and needed time to actually play out.
2020 reforms to the bail law came too quickly and without the public discussion and input necessary for a law that alters our criminal justice system.
Pretrial detention will never end the incarceration cycle, but pretrial release must be paired with rehabilitation and job programs that will.
Cash bail is a practice that needs to be phased out as it created an undue socioeconomic burden. We should only seek to use pretrial detention for the most serious of offenses and when victims and witnesses are threatened.
Congestion Pricing
While congestion pricing will raise money for mass transit and reduce emissions in our Central Business District, the current plan lacks transparency in its implementation and must share the burden that it is putting on New York City with its suburbs. We need a more fair congestion pricing scheme, one that listens to community input and is not decided behind closed doors.
The congestion pricing bill that was passed and co-sponsored by our current Assemblymember is opaque and places the entire revenue-raising burden on Manhattanites – especially those who live within the congestion zone or near it.
If we’re going to have congestion pricing we need public input, there is little public input, we don’t know who is on the TMRB, we don’t know what’s going on on the federal side, and the neighborhood most affected deserves a voice in this.
The current plan will create a massive gridlock zone right above 60th street in the heart of District 73, as cars look for parking to avoid paying the proposed $11.52 fee for crossing into the congestion zone.
I support alternative revenue-raising mechanisms, such as reinstating the commuter tax.
I support other methods of reducing reliance on cars such as building out our infrastructure of bike lanes/scooter lanes.
Voting Rights
Advocating for pro-voter legislation and combating voter suppression is a critically important issue for the preservation of our democracy and it is more vital than ever as the COVID-19 pandemic threatens to fundamentally change our electoral process. Our mission to create a more accessible and inclusive voting process, especially for students and lower income communities, will help ensure all voices in our diverse community are heard and equally represented.
I support the introduction of Automatic Voter Registration (AVR) to New York state. Under AVR, eligible citizens who engage with government agencies are registered to vote, unless they choose to decline.
I support the New York State Senate’s bill that authorizes ballot by mail by removing cause for absentee ballot voting. We strongly believe that New York State Senate should expedite this bill in time for the general election.
I support the adoption of Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) in New York City general and primary elections and believe it should be adopted statewide.
I support New York State’s Election Law that provides employees with the right to take time off to vote with up to three hours paid.
I support New York State’s adoption of voter pre-registration for eligible 16 and 17-year-old residents.
Affordable Housing
As the cost of living in New York continues to rise we face an affordable housing crisis. We need to implement smart policies that encourage developers to build more affordable housing and that prevents gentrification in changing neighborhoods. We also must bring accountability and transparency to NYCHA where so many New Yorkers are not getting the services they deserve.
Community rezoning plans must actually take into account the interests of those who live in the community and must ensure that longtime residents will not be forced out.
Developers must build more affordable housing, but we must change our threshold and area median income measurement so that the units are actually affordable.
NYCHA provides affordable housing to many New Yorkers, but no one is holding the agency accountable for financial mismanagement. We need more oversight of NYCHA to ensure tenants are getting the services they deserve.
Coronavirus: Anyone who cannot afford to pay rent due to an income reduction from the coronavirus must get a three month rent holiday. This virus should not keep anyone from being able to live in their residence.
Parks
District 73 sits on the border of Central Park, one of the most incredible parks in the world. However, beyond that the district does not have much more access to park space. We need creative solutions that help us develop park spaces within our urban landscape.
We need to take every opportunity to turn empty lots into gardening spaces.
Upgrade facilities and end potentially-dangerous deferred maintenance in all state-run parks.
Never forget that parks are where our children grow and our communities come together, and that they play a key role in reducing overdevelopment and maintaining our community’s wellness.
Baby Bonds
In a country rife with economic inequality we have a savings problem. Socioeconomically disadvantaged New Yorkers lack the savings necessary to be protected in the next economic crisis. A baby bonds program can give every New Yorker an economic safety net regardless of what background they are born into.
The surest way to economic mobility is through access to capital.
NY should offer each child at birth $1,000 in state savings bonds at a 3% interest rate so that every child would have at least $15,000 saved up by age 18.
We can fund this opportunity-boosting program via a stock transfer tax.
Health Care
New York must continue expanding healthcare access for its population. Our state government must adequately fund its Medicaid system, must work to lower prescription drug costs, and must continue to invest in initiatives to support communities hit by the opioid crisis.
I support a New York state public option healthcare plan so we can expand access, but still allow every New Yorker the ability to choose the best healthcare plan for them.
We need to lower our prescription drug prices. I would require that insurance companies pass along any rebates they receive from drug companies directly to consumers.
I support and will continue to fund the life-saving measures the state has taken to combat opioid usage.
Governor Cuomo and the State Legislature must not shift medicaid costs to localities and instead pursue new revenue streams to pay for our Medicaid program.
Homelessness
New York City is facing a crisis in homelessness, especially as the number of unsheltered individuals continues to rise. We must do everything we can to provide resources for this population by funding more supportive housing and better funding initiatives that provide support for mental illness.
I support the city’s plan to end street homelessness within 5 years, through permanent housing services, low-threshold shelters and mental health and community resources.
We need our public mental health programs under ThriveNYC to be widely accessible, especially to those with serious mental illnesses. The Office of Mental Health must receive more funding.
Police officers who work to make contact with unsheltered individuals must be doing so alongside mental health professionals.
COVID-19 and Democracy
Our District is in crisis. We are at the center of the COVID-19 pandemic, and our neighborhood’s streets are empty and stores are largely closed. As Governor Cuomo says, we’re all hoping for the best and preparing for the worst. But we cannot let the virus become an excuse for us to go against our shared values. We need to demonstrate how we can continue to have strong civic participation during a crisis.
We need to move to no-excuse absentee voting so that everyone can participate in our elections.
When voting absentee, registered voters should be able to sign up online or via phone to have a ballot mailed to wherever they are.
The ballot postmark deadline should include Election Day, allowing the maximum number of people the maximum amount of time to cast their vote.
When the crisis is beginning to subside, we should use the unemployment rolls to proactively offer jobs as poll workers and census-takers.
If voting in-person is determined by health experts to be feasible, New York State should fund a strong public education campaign surrounding early voting to ensure that there is no overcrowding of poll sites.
The New York State Assembly should move to remote voting, and remain in session so that they can respond to this developing crisis in real-time.
All of our elected officials should give up their sources of outside income for the duration of this crisis, and pledge to serve us to the fullest extent of their abilities.
All petition and ballot challenges should be suspended so that candidates do not have to crowd at the BOE and our court system is reserved for only the most emergency issues.
We should pass legislation allowing community boards and other local entities to conduct meetings virtually while still preserving transparency and good government.