Name of Council Member: Andy L.

King Name and Title of Person Completing Questionnaire: Stephannia Cleaton, Communications Director Campaign Website (if applicable): n/a

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 human rights structure here in America is something that is always evolving. Human rights here at home needs to be respected, understood, embraced and always at the forefront of decision making when it comes to serving New Yorkers. In order to apply this thinking of human rights as an equal partner in society we must put people first. Human rights is truly a value to me because of the struggle that we have gone through over the years, decades and centuries here in America. For all of the great strides that have been taken to build and increase peoples acceptability of one another, we are still in a deep hole when it comes to moral stability for all man-kind. Once we truly understand the definition of human rights then fairness and equality can and will be applied in all decision making. This is even more required in a Council that is made up of a city that represents a global culture. 2. Please share briefly how you have used your role in Council to advance human rights. Since being in the Council for eight months, Ive used my position to advocate for fair treatment of all New Yorkers as the co-sponsor of the Community Safety Act. In addition, as a member of the City Council Civil Rights Committee I voted to pass law to protect the unemployed against job discrimination; to prevent unfair treatment of pregnant women in the workplace and prohibit discrimination based on ones consumer credit history. I have been outspoken when it came to inequality and low-pay rates for New Yorkers who work in the fast-food industry or jobs that provide less than minimum wage. Ive proposed legislation to protect our service workers from injury and protect city bus drivers from being attached by irate riders.

3. Legislative priorities: Please list your top 3 legislative priorities for 2013 [you may include legislation that has passed]: 1. Community Safety Act 2. Paid Sick leave 3. Voted to amend the Citys Human Rights Law to prohibit pregnancy discrimination in the work place What will be your top 3 legislative priorities as a Council Member in the upcoming legislative session? 1. To create an equal and just education system 2. Ensure everyone the opportunity for employment advancement 3. Pass legislation that will create a system of funding higher education for children, starting at kindergarten 4. Budget priorities: Please list your top three budget priorities of 2013: 1. Education and afterschool programs 2. Renovating parks 3. Senior service programs What will your top 3 budget priorities be as a Council member in the upcoming legislative session? 1. Passing legislation for baseline funding for libraries and cultural institutions 2. Create legislation to build affordable housing for every working New Yorker 3. Legislatively advocate for an equal and just education school system 5. Have you used participatory budgeting to allocate your discretionary funds? Why or why not? No 6. Please provide examples of recent legislation in Council that you believe promotes human rights. Community Safety Act, Paid Sick Leave, and bill (Intro 974-A) to amend the Citys Human Rights Law to prohibit discrimination at work based on an employees pregnancy, childbirth or a related medical condition.

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 plan to host forums on inequality of any and everything that is wrong. There is so much that can be done, and as a City Council Member I will be an advocate to speak out when fairness is not the cry of the day. I will speak out when New Yorkers are treated unfairly by our education system. I will speak out against unfairness in the work place. I will speak out when New Yorkers are treated unfairly by those ordered to protect and serve us. I will speak out when the economic policies of this city discriminates against New Yorkers. I will speak out until every New Yorkers living conditions are respectable. I will speak out until fairness is the norm of all our conversations. 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. We do need to create a system that allows the progression of legislation to run an equal course.