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2013CityCouncilCandidateQuestionnaire

CandidateInformation

FullName:KenBiberaj

Address:54W.76thStreet,NewYork,NY10023

PersonalPhone:703-593-0608

WorkPhone:646-707-0817

PersonalEmail:ken2013uws@gmail.com

DistrictInformation

District#:6thDistrict(Manhattan,UpperWestSide)

Areyouanincumbent?NO

Ifyes,whenwereyoufirstelected?

CampaignInformation

Fromwhichpartiesareyouseekinganomination:Democratic

FullNameofCampaignCommittee:Ken2013

CampaignHQAddress:54W.76thStreet,4R,NewYork,NY10023

HQPhone:646-707-0817

HQFax:n/a

CampaignManagerName:MedihaKosovrasti

ManagersCell:609-954-5381

ManagersEmail:mediha@ken2013.com

PleasereturntoRobertAtterburyatRobert.Atterbury@gmail.combyApril15,2013,withSDNYCQuestionnaire[CandidateName]asthesubject.

AdditionalCandidateInformation

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Endorsements

Listheretheunion,organizations(community,civic,media,issuegroups),andelected

officialsthathaveendorsedyou.

Manyunions,communitygroups,orissuegroupshavenotendorsedyetinthisrace,andwearewaitingtohearbackfromthesegroups.MycampaignisaboutbringingrenewedenergytotheUpperWestSidewhilestandingfortheprogressivevaluesthatmakeourneighborhoodstrong.Todate,Ihavebroughtmycampaigndirectlytothevoters:standingatsubwaystations,attendingcommunityforums,andhostinghouseparties.Aswemoveforward,IhopetobeendorsedbyorganizationssuchastheStonewallDemsthatsharemyvaluesandthevaluesofmycommunity.

CandidateExperience

- Pleaseexplainanyactivitiesand/orexperiencesthatdemonstrateyourcommitmenttotheLGBTmovement.

AsalifelongDemocrat,IhavespentmanyyearssupportingDemocraticcandidatesaroundthecountry.AftergraduatingwithaMaster'sinPublicPolicyfromtheHarvardKennedySchool,IjoinedJohnKerry'spresidentialcampaignin2004,servingashisPolicyResearchDirectorinFlorida.Inthatcapacity,IworkedtoadvanceaprogressiveagendainthecampaignthatsupportedadvancingLGBTrights.

- Whatexperiencedoyouhavetodemonstrateyouarethebestpersontorepresentthedistrictofficeyouseek?

Ibelievewearethehardestworkingcampaigninourdistrict.Ourgrassrootscampaignisrunningsuccessfully.Wearebuildingsupportacrossthedistrict,butweneedthehelpofgroupslikeSDNYCtohelpstrengthenourmessageandsetusapartfromothercandidates.WewanttostressthatweneedrenewedenergyinCityHallafterMayorBloombergleaves.IstandfortheissuesthatSDNYCismostfocusedonandwouldbehonoredtohaveyoursupportinthisrace.IenteredtheracelastMarchandbyJulyoflastyearweraisedallthemoneythat

weneedfortheentireelection(over$130,000)fromnearly900donors.IamnowsolelyfocusedonmeetingresidentsoftheUpperWestSide.Ihavebeencrisscrossingtheneighborhoodtomeetpeopleathousepartiesandatsubwaystations.Additionally,IbelieveourfocusonsmallbusinessesandthefutureoftheCitysetusapartfromouropponents.IhavethesupportofmanylocalsmallbusinesseswhobelievethatIcanadvocateforthem.

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- PleasedetailanyspecificpolicyproposalsyoumayhavethatwillaffecttheLGBTcommunity,thatarenotaddressedinthenextsection.

IamrunningforCityCouncilbecauseitmatters.IbelievethatlocalCityofficehasmoreofanimpactonourdaytodaylivesthanCongress.Iamlookingforwardto

workingwithgroupslikeyourstohelpthelivesofallNewYorkers.

PolicyPositions

Pleaseanswerthefollowingquestionsinfull,usingyourpolicyproposalsandincluding

specificexamplesofyourpreviousactionsonanygiventopicwhenpossible.

Marriage

Doyousupportfullmarriageequalityforsame-sexcouples?YES

WillyouworkwithNewYorkscongressionaldelegationtosupporttherepealofthe

DefenseofMarriageAct?YES

Adoption:

Doyousupportfulladoptionrightsforlesbian,gay,bisexualandtransgendercouples?

YES

HumanRights

Doyousupportequalrightsandtreatmentforpeopleoftransgenderexperienceinthe

NewYorkShelterSystem,bothadultsheltersandyouthshelters?YES

HIV/AIDS

In2011,MayorBloombergproposedcutting248casemanagersandmillionsinrental

assistancefromtheHIV/AIDSServicesAdministration(HASA).Individuallegislatorsendedupusingdiscretionaryfundstofillthegap.

DoyousupportincreasedfundingfortheHASA?YES

PleaseexplainyourpositiononusingdiscretionaryfundstosupportagencieslikeHASA.

IbelieveprovidingadequateaccesstohealthcareandsocialservicesisoneofthebiggestchallengeswefaceasaCity.IthinkeveryNewYorkerdeservesthesebasicrights,andasaCouncilmemberIwouldadvocateforsustainablewaystoprovidefortheseservicesforindividualswhoneedthemmost.WeshouldnotsolelyrelyondiscretionaryfundingforchallengesthatimpactmanyNewYorkers.

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WhatactionsdoyouthinktheCityCouncilshouldbetakingtoprovideemergency

housingforhomelesspeoplelivingwithAIDS?

HomelessnessisaproblemformanyNewYorkers,andweneedtoaddressthisissuenotjustbyprovidinghousing,butbyprovidingtheappropriatehealthcare,mentalhealth,andsocialservicestothosewhoarehomeless.Formanyindividuals,homelessnessislinkedwithmedicalandsocialconcerns.Cityhomelesssheltersneedtobeadequatelyequippedtoemploysocialworkers,mentalhealthprofessionals,aswellassocialserviceemployees.

Furthermore,theCityisresponsibleforprovidingaroofforanyonewhoisinneed.CitycontractsforhomelesssheltersoperateunderaFairSharerule,whichstatesthateveryneighborhoodintheCityis

requiredtotakeontheirfairshareofservicecenters.IwouldadvocateforenforcementofthisruleonthepartoftheCity,sincetherearesomeneighborhoodsthathaveadisproportionateamountofservicesintheircommunities.Beingabletoaccessthespaceandresourcesofallneighborhoodswouldleadtomoreoptionsforcreatingemergencyhousing,temporaryhousing,orevenpermanenthousing.

AIDSfundingnolongercorrespondstothedemographicsofwhichcommunities

representthegreatestnumberofHIVcasesinNYC.Wouldyousupportyearly

statisticsofboththegeographicareaswhereHIVismostprevalentandaswellas

whichpopulationsinthoseneighborhoodsaremosteffected,andthenallocateyearlyfundingtoservicesandcommunitiesbasedontheseresults?

Themoreresearchandinformationwehave,thebetterequippedwearetomakeinformeddecisions.Yearlystatisticsshouldbemadeavailabletolegislatorsonthisissue.And,becausenewHIVcasesmustbereportedtoDOHMH,thisshouldnotbeadifficulttaskforCityhealthofficials.Ithinkwealsoneedtolookatthehistoryofpreventativemeasuresinparticularcommunitiesandneighborhoodsbeforeshiftingfunding.Perhapsthereason

thereisalowerprevalenceofHIVincommunitiesthatwerepreviouslyafflictedisbecausethefunding/programsinthatcommunityareworking,andneedtobecontinuedforsuccess.Eitherway,acomprehensiveneedsassessmentthatincludesstatistics,history,andcurrentprogramevaluations.

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CommunityBoards:

ManyCommunityBoardsroutinelyopposeapplicationsforliquorlicensesintheir

areas,particularlyiftheproposedvenueistailoredtoappealtotheLGBT

community.Pleaseexplainyourpositionontheappropriatebalancebetween

supportfornightlife,minoritycommunitiesandrespectforneighborhoodconcerns.

IthinksmallbusinessesfacemanychallengesfromtheCityaswellastheirlocalCommunityBoards.Iammakingsupportforsmallbusinesses,especiallywomenandminorityownedsmallbusinesses,apriorityonmycampaign.Ifelected,IbelieveourCityCouncilmembersDistrictofficeshouldserveasasortofeconomicdevelopmentofficefortheneighborhood,wherebusinessesownersandcommunitymemberscancomeandlearnabouttheirrights.Ibelievethatthemorespaceswecreatefordialogue,information,andeducation,themorewecancreatetheappropriatebalanceyousuggest.

PleaseoutlinethecriteriayouwoulduseinselectingCommunityBoardmembers.

IbelievethatCommunityBoardsshouldberepresentativeofthecommunitiestheyserve.Iwouldaimtoensurethatmembersaccuratelyrepresentedtheirconstituentsandwerewellinformedabouttheissuesaffectingtheneighborhood.

NYPD

TheNYPDoftentargetsbars,restaurantsandclubsservingtheLGBTcommunityforincreasedscrutiny.Theyhaveusedhealthcodeviolations,allegationsofdrug

useorsale,allegationsofprostitution,allegationsofservingminors,andamyriadof

toolsattheirdisposal.WhatchangeswouldyouimplementtoensureLGBTinstitutionsaretreatedequallybyenforcementagencies?

Oftentimes,minoritypopulationsarestigmatized,anditisnotsomethingthatIsupport.InmyDistrictIwouldadvocateforcommunityliaisonsfromdifferentcommunitygroupsthatwouldbeavailablefordialoguewiththeenforcementofficials.Again,Ithinkdialogueiskeyforaddressingconcerns.The20thprecinctholdsmonthlycommunitymeetings.Inadditiontotheirreportingthestatisticsofthenumberofarrestsandotherenforcementactivities,theDepartmentcanalsoreportontheiroutreachandcommunitybasedinitiatives,thereforeholdingthemresponsiblefortheworktheyshould

continuouslybedoingtobettertheirPrecinct.

DoyousupportreformingStop-and-Frisk?Pleasedetailanyspecificchangesto

theprogramyoubelievearenecessary.

Idontbelieveenforcementofficialsshouldbecommittingcrimestopreventcrimes.Iamnotinfavorofstop-and-friskbecauseitviolatestherightsofNewYorkers.

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Doyouopposetheuseofcondomsasevidenceofprostitutionincriminalcases?

Pleaseexplainyoursupportoropposition.

Yes.Usingthepossessionofcondomsasevidencetoprosecutecriminalcasesisirresponsibleandstigmatizing.Likeneedleexchangeprograms,weneedto

workfromaharmreductionmodelwhentryingtohelpindividuals.

RunawayandHomelessYouth

Willyousupportincreasingthefundingforbothemergencyshelterbedsandtransitionalbedsforhomelessyouth,ahugepercentageofwhomarefromtheLGBT

communityandwillyoupledgetosupportcapitalandexpensefundingfor

programsservingthispopulation?YES

Whatwillyoudotoexpandaccesstoservicesforrunawayandhomelessyouth?

Runawayandhomelessyouthshouldhaveaccesstoservices,asshouldeveryNew

Yorker.Weneedtoworkwithexistingstructuresandemploystrategiesthatwillmakeservicesmoreaccessibletoyouth,especiallyLGBTyouthbecausetheyaremostvulnerableforhomelessness.

LGBTServicesandFunding:

TheLGBTcommunityhasnodirectfundingfortheartsfromtheNEAorother

fundingsourcesbecauseofinstitutionalhomophobia.Wouldyourofficehelpwith

fundingforLGBTArts?Ifyes,pleaseexplainhow.

IbelieveinNewYorksinstitutions.TheartsareanintegralpartofNewYork,

especiallytheUpperWestSide.Iaminfavorofhelpingfundthearts,includingfundingfortheLGBTcommunity.Ilookforwardtostrategizingforthebestwayspossibletoincreaseoureffortsinthearts.

TheLGBTcommunityisingreatneedofseniorhousingformanyofouraging

population.Manyseniorsexperiencehomophobiainseniorfacilitiesmakingthem

feeltheymustbecloseted.Wouldyouhelpwiththefundingofseniorhousingfor

theLGBTcommunityinyourdistrict?YES

TheUpperWestSideisanagingcommunity.Wemustcreatelivingspacesthatareaffordableandsustainableforallseniors,includingseniorsintheLGBT

community.IwouldliketolearnmoreaboutwhatisneededforseniorsintheLGBTcommunitytofeelsafeinseniorfacilities.

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Ifyouarecurrentlyinoffice,haveyoumadememberitemgrantsorsupportedLGBT

fundingrequests?Ifseekingofficeforthefirsttime,wouldyougivestrong

considerationtoLGBTsocialserviceorganizationsseekingfundingfromyouroffice

ifelected?YES

IbelieveinincreasedaccesstoservicesforallNewYorkers,especiallythoseincommunitiesthathavehistoricallyexperiencedroadblockstoaccess.

WhatactionswillyoutaketohelpsupporttheLGBTcommunitycenterinyour

borough?IfthereisnotanLGBTcommunitycenterinyourborough,whatactions

willyoutaketohelpdevelopone?

TheLGBTcenterintheWestVillageisaremarkablecenterprovidingmuchneededresourcesandprogrammingtomanyNewYorkers.Iwouldworktoensurethiscenterisproperlyfunded.IwouldalsoworktoeducatemyconstituentsontheUpperWestSideaboutthiscentersotheymayutilizeitordonatetoittomakesureprogrammingcontinues.

LGBTServicesandFunding:

PleasestateconcreteachievementsfortheLGBTcommunitythatyouare

responsibleforinyourcurrent,orprevious,electedoffice/s.

Asafirsttimecandidate,IlookforwardtobeingavocaladvocatefortheLGBTcommunity.

HaveyouendorsedanyLGBTcandidates?Whichones?

Ihavenotendorsedanycandidates. IfendorsedwillyoudisplaytheendorsementoftheStonewallDemocraticClubof

NYCinyourliteraturewheneveryoulistotherendorsementsandwillyoudisplay

theendorsementonyourwebsite?YES,proudly!

WillyouhireopenlyLGBTstaffand/ordesignatealiaisontoourcommunitiesif

elected?YES

Iwillhirestaffregardlessofrace,sexualorientation,age,sex,gender,religiousaffiliation,abilitystatus.Ihopetohavealiaisonsandalliesfrommyofficeto

manycommunities,includingtheLGBTcommunity.IhopetoalsohavemembersofyourcommunitiestoengagewithourofficetomaketheUpperWestSideasafeandinclusiveneighborhoodforall.