Name of Council Candidate: Helal Sheikh Name and Title of Person Completing Questionnaire: Campaign Website:

2013 CITY COUNCIL HUMAN RIGHTS QUESTIONNAIRE

1. Many in the United States think of international affairs when they think of human rights. Our work emphasizes the applicability of the human rights framework here in the United States. Please share your thoughts on the domestic applicability of human rights, and discuss why human rights are important to you in the context of New York City and the City Council. The domestic applicability of human rights should extend to education, safe shelter, medicine/health, religion, and the even application of law. 2. How have you used current or previous professional positions to advance human rights? As a high school math teacher, the educational advancement of my students has always been very personal for me. They have a right to the opportunity for success. On top of teaching in the classroom, I also volunteered my time outside of school as a math tutor, to ensure students who needed a little extra time to learn concepts received the help they need. 3. What will your top 3 legislative priorities be in your first term as Council Member? 1. Preserve affordable housing 2. Advocate for small businesses 4. What will your top 3 budget priorities be in your first term as Council Member? 1. More resources for public schools 2. Increased funding for senior services 3. Youth development programs 5. Do you plan to use participatory budgeting to allocate your discretionary funds? Why or why not? There is great value in citizen involvement in our democratic processes. While I do not have a firm outline yet on the parameters of the participation, I would like to use some form of participatory budgeting to help allocate discretionary funding.

6. Please provide examples of recent legislation in Council that you believe promotes human rights. I would cite the passage of the amendment to the New York City Human Rights Law that prohibits discrimination in hiring practices against people who are unemployed. The mere fact that someone does not have a job is not an appropriate measure by which to deny them employment. 7. Legislation is only one of many ways in which Council Members can work to advance human rights. What ways other than through legislation will you advance the human rights of New Yorkers as a City Council Member? I would work to help provide visibility to important human rights issues by using the publicity that comes with the office of City Councilman. I will also continually look for opportunities to create progress for all people. 8. Some advocates contend that the position of the Council Speaker has too much power over the progression of legislation. Please use this space to respond to that critique. The Council Speaker certainly has broad agenda-setting power, but the council also maintains an ability to check that power and bring legislation forward with enough votes. The most troubling controversy arises out of the discretionary monies that are included in the City Budget and allocated to all members of the City Council. This amount totals only $50 million, out of a total City Budget of $70 billion, a very small piece of the pie. But, since there is no rule that Council members receive equal funds, this money is not always allocated evenly amongst Councilmembers. These purse strings can become weapons used in the short term by the Speaker against insubordinate Councilmembers; and in the long term against the people of their districts. If we want a different process, we need to write different rules to govern our law enactment process. The Council should adopt rules that require all council members receive equal discretionary funding, perhaps with a small exception for Councilmembers who serve as committee chairs, or whose special assignments require extra staffing.

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