1. What is the most important issue in Manhattan you would address if elected?

Manhattan is quickly becoming a place where New Yorkers can’t afford to live. Every day, we’re losing teachers, firefighters, police officers, nurses, artists, young families and seniors because of this affordability crisis. We don’t live here for spacious backyards. We live here because New York is the most vibrant and diverse city in America. I’m running for Borough President to keep it that way. I won’t stand by while Manhattan becomes an outdoor mall for multi-millionaires. I will fight every single day to build more affordable housing, strengthen our public schools, support small businesses and preserve the character and uniqueness of our neighborhoods.

2. What other important issues would you address if elected?

We need to set better priorities. I fought against the West Side stadium because it is the wrong priority for Manhattan. What are my priorities? We need to preserve the character of our neighborhoods, we need to pay our teachers a living wage so that we can recruit and retain quality educators, we need a long-term plan to solve our traffic and public transportation problems, and we need to lead America in progressive action on choice, healthcare, HIV/AIDS awareness, affordable prescription drugs, marriage equality and equal rights.

3. What makes you the best candidate for this office?

Creativity. This is a crowded field of candidates, most of whom have been in politics for many years. If we want real change, we need to vote for real change. I have spent my career getting things done: While at Harvard Law School, I spent my summers helping to integrate Southern schools. As a lawyer, I successfully represented women who sought admission to the Citadel and the Virginia Military Institute. I was proud to work on Lawrence v. Texas, the Supreme Court case that put an end to some of the nation’s most anti-gay and unjust laws. And as an openly-gay President of Manhattan’s District 2 School Board, I worked to create safe, harassment-free schools. My results-based approach to government sets me apart in this crowded field.

(Reprinted as supplied by the candidate.)

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