City Council Candidate Responses

District 7

1. Please briefly share your background and note any experiences you may have in engaging older adults, whether professionally or personally, and in connecting with the non-profit sector.

Dan Cohen

I am a native New Yorker with deep roots in the community, an affordable housing advocate, a proud NYC public-school graduate as well as current public-school parent, and I serve on the school PTA. For the past decade I have been working for affordable housing nonprofits, since 2014 at the nonprofit sponsor the Housing Partnership, helping create and preserve thousands of affordable housing units – including senior housing - each year. I am running for city council to represent the community I have always called my home. My mom, a retired Cantor, lives in the same apartment in which I was raised, and she is involved in Bloomingdale Aging in Place, a great senior organization that deserves more support. Since 2010 I have been re-elected five times in the 69th Assembly District as the Democratic State Committeeman and I am a founder of the Progressive Caucus of the NYS Democratic Committee. I am involved in the community as an appointed member of Community Board 9, working to create a West Harlem Community Arts Center with affordable housing, limit runaway real estate development, protect local landmarks and preserve our parks. I am further involved through serving on the community advisory board of Mt. Sinai Hospital, as the elected President of the Valley Restoration Local Development Corporation, as the founder of Friends of Anibal Aviles Playground/Amigos del Parque de Anibal Aviles and on the board of Friends of Morningside Park. My family and I are lifelong members of Congregation Rodeph Sholom, and I live in the same neighborhood where my wife and I are raising our son today.

Stacy Lynch

During my time as Deputy Director of Intergovernmental Affairs to New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, I managed interactions with many external agencies and key community stakeholders including the Department of Aging. I was a senior advisor to former Commissioner Donna Corrado and the Department of Aging while serving in the Mayors Office Intergovernmental Affairs. I understand how to work within government while simultaneously dealing with and working alongside the non-profit sector to better our city. Beyond this, I have also worked with other black activists to create Daughters of the Movement -the daughters of Harry Belafonter, Diahann Carroll, Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis, Malcolm X, Rev. Al Sharpton and Percy Sutton. Daughters of the Movement has a working relationship with AARP to encourage and promote healthy intergenerational relationships like ours. I am also a caretaker to my mom - Mary Lynch.

Ray Sanchez

I have significant experience in the nonprofit sector. My second job was with the Hispanic Federation. In that role, I empowered and advanced the Hispanic community in education, economic development, and health. I was the CEO of a homeless shelter that helped people of all ages and from all backgrounds. During my time in government, I hosted several events, such as Bronx Week and a senior luncheon. I will advocate on behalf of the elderly and expand the subsidies for seniors citizens who rely on it for rent.

Maria Ordonez

I have volunteered in senior homes and helped in any way I can. On a personal level I used to help my grandfather when lived on his own and used to help him with errands or around the house.

Corey Ortega

I am a lifelong resident of my district, with 12 years of experience in state and municipal government and nonprofits. I started as a tenant organizer with Palante Harlem where I organized 3 rent strikes and helped get two buildings converted to permeant rent stabilization. I worked in constituent services for Assembly member Keith Wright, assisting many seniors with landlord tenant issues, home health aide and Medicare/Medicaid issues, then served as the executive director of the Black, Latinx, and Asian caucus of the New York City Council. During the pandemic I started a CBO, NYC COVID Coalition, to bridge the digital and outreach divide in my district between government resources like food assistance and eviction prevention and marginalized members of my community.

Carmen Quinones

I am the President of DOUGLASS HOUSES and represent 2,500 Residents and always interact with my seniors and all in my community. I also live in District 7 since the age of 14 years old have sat on resident watch with my elders and have served as their District Leader and their state Committee Woman.

Shaun Abreu

Both personal and professional experiences fuel my commitment towards securing a more equitable future for the constituents of District 7 in Upper Manhattan. I’m running to represent the place I’ve known my whole life, made up of families whose experiences I largely share to fight for stable housing, food security, and after-school programs. I am the son of Dominican immigrants and I grew up on 161st Street in Washington Heights. When I was in elementary school, my family was evicted and we took shelter with neighbors. My mom had recently lost her job and public assistance was no longer cutting it. Our situation improved after my mother landed a job at Zabars as a clerk, and my father, a proud 32BJ member, as a janitor at the Port Authority. Now, I am a tenants’ rights attorney at the New York Legal Assistance Group, a non-profit where I help keep families, including older adults, in their homes. As a board member of the Manhattan Policy forum, I have conducted several policy seminars with older adults living at Red Oak on 106th Street – a building run by the West Side Federation for Senior and Supportive Housing. As a future Council Member, I look forward to championing expanded free legal services for tenants facing eviction, as well as affordable housing and initiatives to combat food insecurity and health inequities for older adults.

2. As we live longer and healthier lives, what are your priorities with respect to promoting equity across all ages in our City?

Dan Cohen

I grew up in rent-regulated housing, my father was the in-house lawyer for the tenant association fighting back against our unethical landlord. I also live in rent-regulated housing today. I have gone to Albany, repeatedly, to press for tenant regulations and protections, and was gratified to see many of them made permanent recently. For the last decade I have worked at affordable housing not-for-profits, for the past seven years with the nonprofit Housing Partnership. Working in affordable housing I see the urgency of the issue. As a member of Community Board 9, I have advocated 1,000 new affordable units in the district on sites either owned or controlled by New York City. I would push for half of those units to be senior housing, the fastest growing sector of New Yorkers with housing insecurity, enabling seniors to stay in the communities they have always known. Also, I have refused to accept campaign contributions from real estate developers so my perspective is clear.

Stacy Lynch

Equality across all lines, whether it be age, socio-economic status, skin color, gender, and more, is a huge priority of mine. I promise to advocate for policies which aim at making a more equitable New York a reality. Some of my top priorities include universal quality healthcare, addressing food insecurity especially for vulnerable populations (older adults and children), affordable housing and education.

Ray Sanchez

When I was in government, our vision was improving health outcomes centered on educating the public on adopting healthier lifestyles through exercise, diet, and better access to more nutritious foods. I held senior roles in the Office of the Bronx Borough President from 2011-2018. I was involved in several of our health initiatives, including getting FreshDirect to deliver to all Bronx zip codes, especially those with food deserts, and launching a pilot program to use EBT on their website and our #NOT62 Campaign.

Maria Ordonez

We need to fight to ensure that as many older adults can stay in their homes as possible. This means expanding access to subsidies for affordable housing, expanded access to healthcare, and supporting non-profits in investing resources into our senior community.

Corey Ortega

We must ensure that all community members have easy access and knowledge of the resources and services available from the government and we must partner with local vendors, nonprofits, and community organizations to equalize quality of life across all members of society. Economic security for aging populations differs across racial and ethnic lines as older women of color are living at twice the level of poverty as white women. We can and must do more to proactively address the inequities that perpetuate throughout the lives of individuals and culminate in disparate outcomes for vulnerable populations. Advocacy and education around issues like mandatory Medicaid estate recovery must be increased.

Carmen Quinones

I believe we need to make sure that our young people and our seniors communicate, bring them both together will give the longevity, I have grand and great grand and they keep me young in mind and heart.

Shaun Abreu

I will fight for affordable older adult housing and support policies that make homes, streets, and mass transit more accessible for older adults. I will also back initiatives that provide older adults greater access to healthy food options, cultural enrichment programs, medical support services, and safe access to medications.

3. Do you support increasing the budget for the Department for the Aging (DFTA), which funds programs such as Senior Centers, NORCs, home-delivered meals, and more? Please give rationale for your response and specify any specific funding changes you are most committed to achieving.

Dan Cohen

Yes, absolutely. Programs such as these enable people to remain in the communities they have always known. This is a moral issue foremost, but also an economic one, as people able to safely age in place are more likely to live longer and healthier lives. As we have seen in the pandemic, some of these services were keeping people alive when virtually all other forms of assistance had closed or been curtailed. We need to robustly invest in such programs to help restore them, and the communities they have served, back to health.

Stacy Lynch

Yes, I support increasing the budget for the DFTA. During COVID, many people lost jobs, many businesses closed down, and many communities were left devastated as a result. Many people were impacted, but it was and is evident that there were some communities impacted worse than others. One of these communities is the Older Adult population - where many of our older residents were at high risk and thus could not leave their homes. As a result of this, many seniors could not access basic necessities such as food and toiletries. I believe that no individual should have to choose between health and access to basic necessities, and as such, I fully support increased funding for the DFTA. Additionally DFTA has been underfunded for years. The Mayor recently made a commitment to invest - a five year $58 million plan to expand aging support services such as additional OACs and NORCS. But we need to invest more for a vastly growing population.

Ray Sanchez

Definitely, I would support increasing the budget for the Department for the Aging. I would like to scale programs like those run by Community League of the Heights (“CLOTH”) that serves homebound New Yorkers, seniors, and the elderly. We need to leverage food delivery programs and other grass-root organizations that communicate with seniors to figure out the other needs of homebound New Yorkers. We need to start pairing delivery services with an outreach program.

Maria Ordonez

Yes we need to increase the budget for the DFTA. We should invest more in senior homes and give them everything they need in order to live a healthy lifestyle. On top of this, the Department of Health should have more oversight to ensure sanitation and reduce the exposure of the coronavirus.

Corey Ortega

Absolutely, these programs are needed in light of the pandemic as well as the long term aging of the populations in order to promote equity across our city. Food insecurity among older populations has increased, they are more separated from familial and community support due to the pandemic and in need of support. Additionally, NORCs are vital parts of autonomy and self-direction for older populations and should be reinforced, especially given decreases in funding during the pandemic.

Carmen Quinones

Yes, Why because we have to many seniors alone with only their home health aides to assist them, those meals come in very handy. This pandemic showed me how vulnerable we all are. Yes seniors deserve so much I stand on their shoulders. We must do all we can to make sure that they know they matter.

Shaun Abreu

Yes, I will support increasing the budget for the Department for the Aging (DFTA). In Council District 7 senior centers are magically disappearing, and this is a huge problem. One example is the Senior Center that existed at 3333 Broadway. These centers are a critical part of community for our older adults–and I will advocate to bring them back.

Further, I will advocate for the establishment of Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs) in Park West Village, Manhattan Valley, and Washington Heights, so that older adults have access to preventative health care, wellness activities, classes and educational activities, volunteer opportunities, and other services.

More specifically, I will advocate for the establishment of Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs) in Park West Village, Manhattan Valley, and Washington Heights, so that older adults have access to preventative health care, wellness activities, classes and educational activities, volunteer opportunities, and other services.

4. Do you support implementing a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) increase for city-contracted human service workers and the full implementation of the Indirect Cost Rate (ICR) initiative for non-profits? Please explain your response.

Dan Cohen

Yes. Otherwise without changes each year workers get paid incrementally less and nonprofits receive less funding even if salaries and grants remain level-funded. We live in a low-interest rate environment but the cost of living marches on, and there is no assurance it will remain that way in the future. Rather than squeeze workers, CBOs and communities a little bit each year, lets be more forward-thinking about how we approach the capital investment in people and communities that work in the human-services space.

Stacy Lynch

Yes, I support implementing a COLA increase for city-contracted human service workers and the full implementation of the indirect cost rate initiative for non-profits. By implementing these two measures, seniors and those on social security will have access to more benefits. It is essential that we reevaluate how much social security is given to individuals based on a changing economy, especially during unprecedented times such as these. Without appropriate reevaluation, social security and financial aid will become outdated as the economy progresses and inflation inevitably occurs. It is a priority of mine that all residents live in a fair and safe New York. We must research and evaluate new policies as well as reevaluate and improve upon old policies which aim at making an equitable New York reality.

Ray Sanchez

Yes, I have seen firsthand how these essential workers are underpaid. We need to pay people a livable wage. I fought for a local living-wage law that passed in 2012 while I worked in the government. Benefits have to keep up with the cost of living. New York’s cost of living increases higher than inflation because it is one of the most expensive places to live in the country. We have to be sensitive to that and ensure that benefits and wages increase at the same rate as the cost of living. We need more benefits with a consumer price index (“CPI”) adjustment.

Maria Ordonez

Yes, we need to fully fund these to ensure that everyone has a livable wage and can continue to do their work.

Corey Ortega

Absolutely. Indirect Costs are costs that our nonprofits face and we need them as strong and as well staffed as possible coming out of the pandemic, as need will be immense. Human service workers are effectively City employees and entitled to the same regular wage support and they perform vital work. We must ensure sufficient supply of trained and caring staff and that they are able to live lives of dignity commensurate with the value of their work.

Carmen Quinones

Yes! They make and sacrifice to make things for other and we should show them their commitment and sacrifice is reward.

Shaun Abreu

I support both a Cost of Living Adjustment and a Indirect Cost Rate in order to provide older adults with greater resources in the areas of housing, social security, and more. Non-profit human service workers are severely underpaid and should be getting these increases, particularly as the cost of living in this city rises, including the need for older adult care.

5. Given that many older New Yorkers rely on limited fixed incomes and would prefer to age in community, rather than entering costly nursing homes, how will you address the need for affordable senior housing with services for a growing older population? How will you evaluate/respond to affordable senior housing proposals during ULURP?

Dan Cohen

Some seniors live in buildings that they have "outgrown" as they have stairs that are harder to climb, or fixtures that are not user-friendly for people with increased mobility and/or dexterity challenges. Enabling those residents to stay in the community, with their formal and informal networks - neighbors, small businesses, community organizations that they know and rely on it essential to maintaining their quality of life. Retrofitting buildings to enable people to remain at home is the most humane, and cost-effective, way for people to continue to age in place. And I would support legislation and financing to catalyze and accelerate this process. If that is not feasible, such residents should get first priority for new affordable housing in their communities, and I would require any ULURP for affordable senior housing to explain how they intend to reach home-bound seniors for their units as a condition to my approval.

Stacy Lynch

Affordable housing is a huge priority of mine. The percentage of rent-burdened low-income and moderate-income households in District 7 is on a steady incline. Too often what we discuss to be affordable housing is not actually affordable for a majority of New Yorkers. It is too often that those in need of housing cannot find livable spaces due to the overwhelmingly high prices of housing units in our communities. As City Council Member, I fully intend to improve and expand upon the quality and number of livable units within our district and in New York as a whole. Beyond this, I believe that any land use or housing project must be run by the people prior to me making a decision on a proposed development. I will take seriously the senior housing proposals during ULURP. These people, those making sure their voices are heard, are incredibly important to my decision-making process as they are the people who will be directly impacted by the development plans I will vote on. As City Council Member, I will bring on an independent housing advocate whose role will be to address housing issues throughout the District with a focus on NYCHA developments, HDFC building, and problematic landlords. Listening to the people and their concerns has been and will continue to be essential to any decision I am a part of.

Ray Sanchez

In my time of government, NYC, specifically through the Economic Development Corp (NYCEDC) focuses too much on connecting housing with retail facilities. We have too many examples of economic development policy driven by shopping malls like the Hudson Yards.
This question reminds me of a ULURP I worked on in 2017, during my tenure in the Bronx Borough President’s Office. The Baychester Square shopping center proposal was selected by NYCEDC to develop a parcel of land that is located immediately east of New England Throughway (I-95) and across from The Mall at Bay Plaza in Co-op City. As noted in Crain’s NY, in 2012 the MTA “along with the EDC issued an RFP for the Bronx site that prioritized applicants by the value of their offers. Grid Properties won the bidding with a plan to develop for retail, a potentially lucrative use that allowed the firm to offer $30.5 million.” The contentious debate over this project was ultimately resolved when Council Member Andy King made it clear that he would not support the project. See https://www.bxtimes.com/bronx-malls-duke-it-out-its-bay-plaza-vs-baychester-square/
The Baychester Square project is an example of why we need to de-emphasize retail as an economic development anchor strategy. I worked closely on that ULURP. From that experience, land use activation strategies need to be on a case-by-case basis. We need more affordable housing and supportive housing. We can provide housing below market rates with direct services on site. We need to build supportive housing on its own without tying it to anything else.

Maria Ordonez

We need to provide greater subsidies so older New Yorkers can afford to stay in their homes. We also need to provide greater transparency around the ULURP process and ensure that the voices of older New Yorkers are centered in our land use process.

Corey Ortega

We need to support NORCs to keep seniors in their homes and communities, as well as working with and funding nonprofit developers and organizations to increase the stock of truly affordable units, both to ensure adequate stock of housing as well as relieve upward pressure on housing costs. We need to support the expansion of programs that allow family members to be paid as home health aides and encourage multi-generational living arrangements. Senior housing proposals should be evaluated on their ability to keep individuals in their homes at prices they can afford, while addressing concerns like accessibility and mobility. We need to build such that all members of the population have their needs addressed and anticipated, whether that means ramps, elevators or other infrastructure.

Carmen Quinones

This is my most important fight I believe in resident management, Senior Housing is top and my list we don't have enough senior housing, I would partner with non for profit organizations to fight the city, state whatever it takes to make sure our seniors live comfortably. I lost my grandma to Florence Nightingale nursing home and the abuse was horrible, I help close it down in her memory. So I am committed to do all I can for seniors in her name.

Shaun Abreu

I am aware that many older adults in Council District 7 want to stay in their homes and neighborhoods as long as possible, rather than transitioning to institutional settings that can be impersonal and expensive. This is why I will champion many policies that enable older adults to age in place. As the next Council Member, I will push for increased subsidies for affordable housing for older adults, like the West Side Federation for Senior and Supportive Housing development on 108th Street.

Going further, I’d adopt policy proposals offered by Comptroller Stringer, such as expanding the senior citizen homeowners exemption (SCHE), creating tax credits to encourage age-friendly renovations to apartments and homes, and supporting senior centers where older adults live.

Finally, as established above, I will advocate for the establishment of Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs) in Park West Village, Manhattan Valley, and Washington Heights, so that older adults have access to preventative health care, wellness activities, classes and educational activities, volunteer opportunities, and other services. Supporting NORCs throughout District 7 is critical to aging in place, particularly for those older adults who live in smaller buildings without a concentration of comprehensive resources for them.

6. While many older adults wish to be connected, many lack the financial resources or training necessary to fully access technology, exacerbating the digital divide. How would you encourage the City to address this?

Dan Cohen

There are already a number of programs which provide seniors some technical assistance - West Side One Stop, BAiP, LilY, to name several. My mother also uses the Geek Squad to help her from time to time when her son (that would be me) is not immediately available. God bless the Geek Squad. But particularly the latter two groups I referenced, they operate almost entirely on a volunteer basis. Some of these programs provided the only human connection seniors had through technology during the pandemic lockdown until the vaccines were available. I strongly support investing in such programs, to strengthen them and invest in new ones to meet the needs of our senior residents.

Stacy Lynch

Economic disparity persists and is perpetuated in many ways. In some instances, racism and misogyny are the driving forces of the economic stratification we see in New York and many places throughout the world. In other contexts, we see the main factors are ones such as the digital divide that spans across all generations, whether it be children attempting to get a virtual education during this pandemic or seniors scheduling their vaccines online. Either way, the digital divide, an issue that has only been inflamed and thus emphasized by the pandemic, is a problem the City must address and attempt to handle. As our world moves increasingly towards a reality which is riddled with technology, it is important that all people, whether young or old, have access to and can use computers, smart phones, tablets, and more. As City Council Member, I promise to advocate for and push policies which aim at lessening the gap caused by this digital divide. I will also work closely with an organization called OATS to address the digital divide within the District for Older Adults. There should be more digital hubs for seniors to have access to new technology and stay updated.

Ray Sanchez

The internet is an essential utility like water and power. Our policies need to reflect that reality. A lot of the problems in New York City are because the outreach to vulnerable populations is poor. We can educate seniors on better utilizing our existing free wifi service known as LinkNYC (the conversion of pay-phones to wifi kiosks), especially in the district. We need a census-like outreach program, where people knock on doors with tablets to determine and document the needs of the community, especially for homebound seniors. Because of COVID, lots of people are in need of work, but we need to pay them a real wage to do this outreach. Our economy does better when we have a strong social security net system.

Maria Ordonez

We need to pass legislation for universal broadband and ensure that everyone can have access to technology, whether it is a smartphone, tablet, or computer.

Corey Ortega

We must aim for full municipal broadband as the goal and provide all members of society with subsidized internet access leveraging the City’s buying power to achieve cost savings. Additionally, we need to provide laptops, tablets, and smartphones to those in need. Training around these devices provides an excellent opportunity for unionized community jobs as well as encouraging intergenerational friendships and acquaintances

Carmen Quinones

Fund all senior non for profit so they have the tools they need Social Worker to visit and assist, also counselors, along with visiting nurses to check on them. That would let us know what they are capable of doing. Then the Non for profits would know where to start. Work across the aisles if necessary to get it done.

Shaun Abreu

As Council Member, I am committed to allocating funds from my office’s aging pot, as well as the digital literacy and inclusion initiative, to support programs and services that teach technology literacy to older adults.

Further, I will advocate for larger investments in technology for senior centers to facilitate social, cultural, and educational activities remotely. To this end, I will also allocate discretionary funds for senior centers across District 7 to ensure they have updated technology and infrastructure for virtual activities.

7. During COVID-19, Senior Centers continued to work remotely, offering services in new ways to ensure their clients’ needs were met. To date, providers have not been authorized to operate in-person, despite restaurants, movies, and other entities, which older adults could also attend, being open. Further, community-based organizations, in many cases, have not been leveraged in the new meal delivery system. What are ways that you feel the City should work with nonprofits and engage older adults in the event of a future emergency?

Dan Cohen

Particularly now that many seniors have gotten the vaccine, it seems logical to begin in-person operations again. Perhaps because those businesses - restaurants, movie theaters, and so forth, have lobbyists on their behalf. But we should invest in strengthening local CBOs and institutions so that we are better prepared for the next emergency. Food banks and senior centers have been depleted, now, while it is on our minds, we should be reinvesting them. Lets also look at the technology capability - too often broadband is considered a luxury product, but it is a utility like energy or water - we could not imagine someone without it, and too many people were isolated because of a lack of proper internet connections to their homes. We have the fiber in the streets, we just need to turn it on, and we can do it at low cost, or even no cost, for every New Yorker.

Stacy Lynch

I believe the government must work with the nonprofit sector in order to offer goods and services to those in need now and for any emergencies which may occur in the future. The government should provide incentives to nonprofits for their work in aiding and engaging with older adults. While Senior Centers have not yet been authorized to continue their work in person, I do think it is incredibly important that we make sure all that we can do has been done. I do not think the government worked well enough alongside the nonprofit sector to aid seniors to the highest extent. In the future, our government must provide non-profits incentives to aid and work with seniors so that our recovery plan occurs safely, smoothly, and fairly.

Ray Sanchez

My mom is a physical therapist at a nursing home. She has been working non-stop through the pandemic with infected populations and has never tested positive. Moreover, I have heard from her plenty of stories about how problematic certain senior centers and nursing homes can be. She has been COVID19 free because PPE works. The reality is that we need 3D printers at hospitals and senior servicing facilities so that they can stockpile and produce PPE. We need to provide them with resources on-site or at a close-by location. The number one lesson is to wear masks, wear PPE, and have an emergency network in place. That has been the most important thing. In the event of a future emergency, we can maintain existing operations with adequate reserves of PPE on site. Whether it is reopening the economy, or social services, mandating and providing PPE reduces the need to change how we operate.

Maria Ordonez

We need to eliminate the barriers around finding funding and grants that community-based organizations often face. We must also expand this funding to the organizations that have been on the frontlines doing this work during the pandemic. The city should also work with nonprofits to connect them to more resources and help build their networks, so they can better serve their communities.

Outreach and information are key. I started my CBO because so many members of my community were unaware of the resources available. Too often language and technology divides were at the root of the problem. By focusing on language justice and access as well as using outreach methods like mailers and phone calls, we were able to reach thousands who were outside the grasp of the City-based outreach. By working with and funding local nonprofits and their existing networks within the older communities and by incorporating feedback and input from these communities, the City could achieve much better results in the case of a future emergency.

Corey Ortega

This is my main reason for running for City Council, I saw the devastation that my people were going through and when I say my people I mean District 7, I have been serving meals since March the beginning of the Pandemic when every one hid and NYCHA did nothing my heroes and I fed not only Douglass Houses but 13 other developments. And still to today we serve 18,000 pounds of food to the whole upper westside whoever needs it. Have a community fridge open 24 hours a day, along with 1 freedom and City Harvest. Imagine what I will do when I become your City Council Person.

Shaun Abreu

I will push the City to work with nonprofits like LiveOn and others to develop a pandemic management plan that is specific to the older adult community. This plan should streamline healthcare, meals, groceries, medicine, and support services. This program should account for the social isolation older adults face with closure of senior centers, libraries, restaurants, and houses of worship.

Additionally, I will work with non-profits in my district to disseminate important information and resources to older adults.

8. With 1 in 5 New Yorkers over the age of 60, what are the changes you would seek to make to create a more age-friendly district? Please consider addressing the physical infrastructure of your district (walkability, accessibility, etc.), health care access, safety net resources, and other district specific items of note.

Dan Cohen

I have called for a new commuter rail stop at 125th Street and 12th Avenue to enable people to move from District 7 to Penn Station in 8 minutes, in a fully ADA-accessible ride. Otherwise the only elevator in the entire district is at 96th Street and Broadway. I would also protect and expand bus service, the only ADA compliant component of the MTA. We need to expand nonprofit medical health clinics in the district. Despite having a world-regarded hospital, Mt. Sinai Morningside, health care outcomes for residents in the district is the lowest of all 10 community boards, and the second lowest in the city, in part due to poverty, but access is the key issue. Urgent care clinics is not the answer, we need community-based health care clinics to provide residents long-term reliable health care closer to home.

Stacy Lynch

As a City Council Member, transforming and improving our public transit system will be one of my main priorities. I will make sure places which do not have much access to train stations or bus stops get that access by requiring that the Federal COVID relief funding is distributed equitably per capita to the NYC Department of Transportation. Part of the problem surrounding our transit system is the fact that people don't have access to trains or buses, the infrastructure is weak, or it is not ADA or senior friendly. By distributing funds equally, we can expect that those places which do not have good access to trains or buses or the stations in poor conditions will be worked on. If we expect our communities and residents to use the public transport system, we must make sure that they have a quality and reliable system to turn to. Beyond this, I intend to expand the protective street infrastructure for bikes and transit, making streets safer for pedestrians, thereby increasing the walkability of our city.

Ray Sanchez

The biggest opportunity is to make Riverbank State Park more accessible to seniors. It is reached by crossing an enormous bridge over the West Side Highway. We should be running shuttles to the park for seniors and hosting programs for them at these facilities. It is the biggest park in the district. Moreover, we have to open more local clinics for seniors, and I am a huge believer in preventative healthcare. We cannot just rely on the big hospitals. We need more supportive housing with more services on site.

Maria Ordonez

I will add elevators and ramps to all train lines across Council District 7, and ensure that all buildings are fully accessible. We must also expand access to healthcare and homecare so older New Yorkers know that they can stay at home and have the resources they need. Additionally, we must also expand green spaces, community gardens, and ensure that we expand access to affordable housing.

Corey Ortega

We need to upgrade the infrastructure of public housing, where many older people live in my district to ensure adequate heating and cooling, elevator access, laundry and supermarket access. We need to increase the available areas for outdoor gatherings and public green spaces. We need far greater outreach for healthcare and preventative medicine, as too many are suffering from long term ailments that could be reduced or ameliorated with greater accessibility to healthcare. Home visits and the use of community spaces for medical outreach would do wonders if paired with education and culturally appropriate outreach around nutrition and preventative care. We need to staff up the public hospitals both doctors, nurses, and support staff and social workers as well as increasing language access. We must do better with language access around safety net resources as well as making any interaction with city government into an opportunity to enroll in any and all available programs as part of a proactive push to increase uptake.

Carmen Quinones

First I would address access a ride needs to be fixed, sidewalks need to be more accessible, we need to address our sidewalks that are not leveled, all stores should also be accessible. Subways also need to be accessible all of them. Healthcare is a right we need to make sure our emergency rooms are well stocked for emergencies. Wheelchair accessible in all places.

Shaun Abreu

I will work to build age-friendly communities throughout the district by championing improvements to senior centers, improving street designs, and adding bus shelters and benches at major intersections. Further, it’s about time that we install elevators at the 125th Broadway and 97th Central Park West train stations along the 1 and C train line.

9. In the event of a budget shortfall, how would you push for the City to close the gap? Are there agencies or programs you feel should or should not absorb cuts? Please be specific.

Dan Cohen

I would reassess our budget for law enforcement. In the 90's we had 500,000 felonies every year and 24,000 police officers. Thirty years later we have 100,000 felonies every year and 36,000 police officers. We have an 80% reduction in crime but a 50% increase in police. And the crime dropped prior to the increase in police capacity. I want to reduce the total police budget - right now it is $6 Billion, and I believe it can handle a reduction of up to $1 Billion without impacting the ability to respond to crime. That money could be redistributed to other things that require capital funding, like mental health services, affordable housing, transportation and climate change. I will keep our streets safe, and I believe we can do it with a more efficient and focused police force, while also prioritizing other areas of need.

Stacy Lynch

One of my main priorities as City Council Member will be to create a more equitable New York for every resident living here. The group I helped to form, the “Daughters of the Movement” group dedicates itself to continuing the never-ending struggle towards justice and equality in our city and nation. Whether it be inequality bred from the COVID pandemic or the interminable inequality we have seen throughout history caused by institutional racism or societal inequalities, the Daughters of the Movement group is dedicated to reaching a safer, more equitable New York for all. Part of the inequality New York faces now result from things such as unequal funding. As City Council Member, I will work towards fixing problems such as unequal funding, those problems being factors in why inequality persists today. I will work closely with my colleagues, the executive branch, Council Finance, agencies and offices across the city to ensure that we are spending efficiently and using savings wisely. I will cut funding for the NYPD and put that money into community building programs, job training programs, and child care services. These developments will go towards creating better foundations for youths growing up in less affluent neighborhoods so that they will grow up more successful and better equipped for the working world.

Ray Sanchez

We are fortunate that the New York State budget received a $12 billion infusion from Congress that will dramatically relieve/reduce the pressure to make cuts on the New York City budget, especially around education and some social welfare programs. The suppressed interest rate environment has not changed since 2008 because of the Federal Reserve action. We need to take advantage of that favorable monetary policy while we still have it because most economists forecast and expect inflation to increase quickly. We should take advantage of the low interest rates while we have them for issuing debt. Public finance markets are able to help us smartly use debt to fill parts of the budget shortfall. We have to fund essential services such as education, healthcare, sanitation, auditing the police, and a holistic approach by investing in preventative measures. Whether it is investing money in youth programs or preventative health programs, both will significantly reduce the cost of delivering services in the near and long term.

Maria Ordonez

We need to defund the NYPD by at least $1 billion and reallocate that money towards our community. We need to provide more funding towards our public schools through the Department of Education, public housing, and supporting our older New Yorkers through funding to the Department of the Aging.

Corey Ortega

We need to increase linkage and impact fees for all private development. We must review the budget line by line to cut from bloated budgets like the NYPD to reallocate to services that more effectively increase community safety and wellbeing. The programs most needed by vulnerable populations should not be cut as they were by far the most hurt by the pandemic and its economic costs. We need to push the State for Home Rule and increased control of the fiscal purse as well as the ability to raise funds through bond issuance.

Carmen Quinones

I believe our non for profits have been short change, our community is really Family oriented, we know our non for profits and should be able to make sure they have the tools to help their District. We can't continue to fund organizations outside our Districts.

Shaun Abreu

In the event of a budget shortfall, I would raise revenue by advocating for taxes to be imposed on luxury development. I do not think the Department for the Aging should absorb any budget cuts.

10. How should your constituents look to measure your success in achieving your responses outlined above?

Dan Cohen

If there is more affordable housing, new transportation options, renewed programs for seniors and a bold new approach to climate change. That is why I am running, and I look forward to constituents holding me to account on those issues, and more.

Stacy Lynch

I am committed to standing by the principles I have laid out and will remain beholden to my constituents.

Ray Sanchez

I have formulated my policy agenda by the prioritization of hiring more teachers and paying them more, expanding seats to reduce class size. All of these actions are within the council budgetary preview. Lastly, I want to repurpose the glut of excess office space that will permeate over the next 2-10 years. For example, JPMorgan Chief Executive Jamie Dimon was quoted in Crain’s NY this week saying the pandemic will “significantly reduce our need for real estate” as “fewer workers return to the office after the scourge finally passes.” See https://www.crainsnewyork.com/commercial-real-estate/jpmorgan-says-pandemic-will-significantly-reduce-its-need-office-space How we reutilize excess office space, whether for seniors or schools, is a great opportunity created by the pandemic. I want to be measured on how we accomplish these goals.

Maria Ordonez

I am committed to being a voice for you all and look forward to co-governing with you. This is a model through which you all will have a voice and a seat at the table when I legislate for Council District, to ensure that your interests are also represented.

Corey Ortega

I believe that material outcomes are the only true measure of success. Number of affordable units created, households pulled across the digital divide, new boilers and heating systems installed, new beds and doctors in public hospitals, those are the metrics to judge me by.

Carmen Quinones

When I came to District 7 I was 14 years old, was in the Red cross for 4 years with my siblings due to a fire, I never forget when my mom got this apartment she kissed the floor and thanked God she had all her children together and had a home, Now I have grand children and Great grand. I love my home and my District 7 family I will defend what has blessed me so much. Thank You for your time. cross

Shaun Abreu

Measure our success by our actions – our efforts to make it easier for older adults to age in place.