Fernando Mateo (R)

Should the NYPD uniformed force be downsized beyond currently planned levels?

Yes, redirect a substantial share of NYPD operating resources to other city agencies

No, maintain police officer headcount at roughly current levels

No, increase the number of NYPD officers

Should the NYPD respond to 911 calls involving people in severe emotional distress?

Yes, where the call suggests a risk to others’ safety

Yes, under most or all circumstances

No, NYPD officers should not respond to these calls

Should NYPD officers reside in the five boroughs?

Yes, all officers should reside in the five boroughs by the end of the new mayor’s term

Any new NYPD officer must live in the five boroughs but existing officers may live elsewhere until retirement

NYPD officers should be able to live in any of the counties currently authorized

Should the NYPD commissioner have final say on disciplining officers for conduct violations?

The commissioner should retain decision-making authority in all cases

The commissioner should retain decision-making authority in some cases

Decisions should be made by a newly empowered Civilian Complaint Review Board

The mayor should have the final say in all cases

Should admission to existing specialized high schools continue to depend on a single Specialized High School Admissions Test (SHSAT)?

Yes, keep the SHSAT

Keep the SHSAT but also require additional admissions measures

No, abolish the SHSAT

Should New York City have more charter schools?

Yes, advocate for more charter schools

No, discourage more charter schools

Advocate for more charter schools under stricter conditions than currently apply

Should middle school admissions remain limited to students attending school in or residing in a district?

Yes

Allow applicants outside the district, through set-asides or other means

No

Should public school parent associations continue to be able to raise unlimited sums?

Yes, keep fundraising as is

Yes, but a system is needed to share funds between schools with many wealthy families and those with many poor families

No. Limits or further ground rules are needed for fundraising

Should New York consider mandatory vaccinations (with appropriate medical exemptions) if voluntary uptake of COVID vaccines does not reach sufficient levels?

Yes

Yes, for health, education, law enforcement and other workers interacting with the public

No

Should the Open Streets program, including outdoor dining, become permanent?

Yes, ban vehicular access to current open streets

Yes, and expand the program to include more streets

No

Should NYC provide economic relief to undocumented immigrants who do not qualify for federal aid?

Yes, ongoing aid for the needy

Yes, one-time assistance

No

Which statement most closely reflects your view of Mayor de Blasio’s approach to school reopening?

Schools have reopened for in-person/hybrid learning too quickly

Schools have reopened for in-person/hybrid learning too slowly

Schools have reopened at an appropriate pace

Should New York proceed as soon as possible with congestion pricing, charging vehicles to enter central Manhattan?

Yes, supporting current plan to capture funds for the MTA

Yes, while pursuing city control over the revenue

No, or further evaluation is needed

Should New York City gain control of its subway and bus systems?

Yes, while splitting bridge and tunnel toll revenue with LIRR and Metro-North

Yes, provided the city also gains full control of bridge and tunnel toll revenue

No

What course will you chart for the city-funded NYC Ferry system?

Continue or build on current NYC Ferry service and expansion plans while keeping fare at $2.75, providing additional dollars to step up service

Alter NYC Ferry service or expansion plans while continuing $2.75 fare

Raise or change NYC Ferry fare to help support existing and expanded service

Raise or change NYC Ferry fare while reevaluating routes and/or service

Choose the statement that best describes your position on bike lanes:

NYC needs to expand its bike lane network into underserved areas, even where lanes have met some local resistance

Expand bike lanes, while being responsive to local objections in deciding where to put the lanes

Alter or remove existing lanes where warranted

Which statement describes your preferred approach to spending the city’s affordable housing dollars?

No response / no position

Do you intend to “upzone” (increase permitted building size) areas of low-density neighborhoods to promote affordable and other housing development?

Yes, as part of area-wide rezonings

Yes, for specific blocks or properties

No, the city is already overbuilt

Should NYCHA continue toward its goal of placing half of its apartments into private management under the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program?

Yes, this is the best way for NYCHA to upgrade its deteriorating apartments

Yes, but keep a substantial number of apartments out of RAD to maintain oversight of those apartments by the monitor

No, NYCHA should not rely on private firms to manage its buildings

Should surplus funds received by the city from Battery Park City — an estimated $400 million over 10 years — be steered exclusively to NYCHA?

Yes, NYCHA needs a dedicated revenue stream to pay for much-needed apartment upgrades

Yes, but split the money between NYCHA and other affordable housing programs

No, 100% of this money should continue to be dedicated to general affordable housing programs

Should non-citizens be allowed to vote in local elections?

No response / no position

Should government cash assistance be available to low-income undocumented immigrants?

No response / no position

Should NYC pay for attorneys to represent New Yorkers facing deportation in immigration court?

No response / no position

Do you support measures to legalize basement and attic apartments?

No response / no position

With hundreds of thousands of low-wage workers facing extended unemployment, which of the following would you make your top priority for investing federal aid dollars?

No response / no position

Should New York reclassify gig workers — including food deliverers and Uber drivers — as employees?

No response / no position

Which statement best describes your approach to bargaining with municipal labor unions?

No response / no position

New York has been a leader in increasing the minimum wage. Should the state increase it above $15 an hour in the first two years of your term?

Yes, and be indexed to inflation so the wage automatically rises each year

Yes, but not indexed to inflation — the wage should come under review before future increases

No

Will you direct the NYPD to stop arrests for drug possession?

No response / no position

Should NYC stay on course to close all jails on Rikers Island by 2027?

Yes, build all new planned smaller borough-based jails on the current timeline

Yes, build new smaller borough-based jails but consider changes to plans or timeline

Reevaluate closing Rikers

Close Rikers, but build no new jails

Should NYC ban solitary confinement within jails?

No response / no position

Which of the following would you choose as your top priority in addressing individuals charged with a crime and awaiting trial:

No response / no position

The next mayor will inherit well documented inequities in property tax assessments. What will you do?

No response / no position

Should NYC resume collecting taxes on stock transfers?

No response / no position

Should New York impose a “pied a terre” tax on homes that are not a primary residence?

No response / no position

Will you further tax the ultra wealthy?

Yes, increase the income tax rate for those who earn more than $5 million annually

Yes, increase the income tax rate for those who earn more than $10 million annually

No additional taxes

The Bronx: Do you support building a stadium for the NYCFC soccer club next to Yankee Stadium?

No response / no position

Brooklyn: Do you support the National Grid’s proposal to expand its natural gas facilities, including building a pipeline through parts of Brownsville, Bed-Stuy, Bushwick, and Williamsburg?

No response / no position

Manhattan: Do you support commercial rent control?

No response / no position

Queens: The Sunnyside Master Plan envisions 12,000 affordable homes, a new regional rail station, 60 acres of open space and more to be built atop a platform over the western Queens rail yard. Will you work to realize the plan?

No response / no position

Staten Island: Will you commit to restoring 24/7 half-hour service on the Staten Island Ferry? If so, when?

No response / no position

Should NYC’s next mayor appoint campaign contributors to boards, commissions and other posts?

Yes, potentially to any type of position

Yes, only to advisory or other groups without decision-making authority

No

Should city officials be able to raise funds from private donors for affiliated nonprofit entities?

Yes, as currently permitted

Yes, adding disclosure of the nonprofits’ spending and recipients

No

Which of the following leadership styles will best serve NYC’s next mayor?

The decider — centralize decision-making with the mayor and close advisers

The delegator — hire top talent to run agencies and rely on their judgment

The partner — make decisions in coordination with the City Council

Should NYC’s next mayor veto any bills presented by the City Council?

Never — bills should only come to a Council vote following mayoral agreement

Only under extraordinary circumstances

As often as necessary

NYC is legally required to guarantee a “right to shelter.” Should related agreements be updated?

Renegotiate “right to shelter” into a “right to housing” to invest in permanent solutions

Keep “right to shelter” but lower existing barriers to families seeking shelter

Keep “right to shelter” as already agreed to

Should hotels remain residences for homeless people post-pandemic?

Yes, hotel capacity is needed for temporary or permanent housing

Keep current city plan to phase out hotels for the homeless by 2023

No, end homeless hotels as soon as possible

Should the NYPD play a role in response to people living on the streets and in the subway system?

Yes, generally

Yes, specifically when public safety risks arise

No, NYPD should not be involved in homeless response

Should NYC’s next mayor close the 30th Street shelter, the main point of entry into the system for single men?

Yes, completely close within the next mayor’s term(s)

Close but keep ready and available to handle surges in demand

Keep the 30th Street shelter open as is

By 2024, big NYC buildings will have to meet energy efficiency targets or face fines. Which one of the following should the next mayor prioritize to make sure they don’t fall short?

Help owners finance upgrades

Institute a cap-and-trade program that lets owners buy credits to offset their emissions

Revise the law’s timeline or penalties

None — Local Law 97 is solid as is

What should the next mayor’s top priority be for neighborhoods in the most vulnerable flood zones?

Limit new development and enable owners to sell properties to the city

Invest in elevating and fortifying homes and other buildings

Construct protective infrastructure such as seawalls and restore wetlands

No new action

NYC’s current mayor vowed to ban gas hook-ups in new construction by 2030. Are you on board?

Yes

Yes, and move the goal sooner and/or make strides to phase out fossil fuels in existing buildings

No

The newly revived organic waste recycling program will be available only in some community districts and only on demand. Should that change?

Maintain the program as is

Expand organic waste collection to all New Yorkers, but keep it optional

Expand organic waste collection to all New Yorkers and make it mandatory

Get rid of the program

What route should NYC’s mayor take to expand access to broadband internet at home?

Create a publicly owned and operated municipal broadband network

Build on the existing city plan inviting companies to build out low-cost service

New state law requiring $15/month broadband for low-income customers is sufficient

Should real estate developers be allowed to construct bigger buildings if they pay for elevator installation at nearby subway stations without access?

Yes, with the MTA maintaining the elevators

Yes, only if the developer also commits to providing ongoing maintenance

No

Should new real estate development require approvals beyond those that currently exist under the city land use review process?

Yes, require additional review

Stick with existing procedures and customs

The process needs fewer obstacles to development

Which of the following should NYC’s next mayor do first about sidewalk sheds attached to buildings?

Champion, sign and enforce a City Council bill that would require property owners to complete facade repairs within 90 days

Review existing building codes and enforcement to ensure the Department of Buildings doesn’t go overboard in requiring sheds

Focus on managing the current facade inspection and repair system

Should the mayor’s office crack down on short-term rentals from services like Airbnb, which are illegal under state law if the owner is not present during the stay?

Yes, large-scale professional operators only

Yes, all illegal rentals

No, let Airbnb be

Should NYC be home to full-fledged gambling casinos?

Yes — including Manhattan

Yes — not including Manhattan

No

Should city government open public restrooms as a widely available amenity?

City should launch effort to deploy and maintain public restrooms

No city restroom program, but incentivize business establishments to make their restrooms available to the public

No

A new law creates 4,000 new street vendor licenses over 10 years, most outside Manhattan. Should the city:

Expand the number of licenses further

Keep the number of licenses as set

Evaluate impact of new vendor licenses on businesses before further action