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Yang entered the mayor’s race with a national profile thanks to his 2020 run for U.S. president but with no experience in city government. During more than two decades of living in the city, the 46-year-old Manhattan resident has never voted in a local election.
With experience leading a nonprofit promoting entrepreneurship and a test-prep company aimed at ambitious young professionals, Yang has presented himself as an innovator who will pursue uncharted paths and re-energize a wounded city as it emerges from the pandemic. His relative lack of knowledge about city government and partnership with a business lobbyist running his campaign have given opponents fodder to say he’s not really in charge, to which Yang replied: “If elected, my decisions will be mine alone.”
Yang has secured the sought-after backing of key Orthodox Jewish leaders after he pledged to minimize scrutiny of religious schools and has animated support among some Asian New Yorkers concerned that City Hall has not been responsive to community concerns.
Website: yangforny.com
Positions
THE CITY sent three multiple-choice surveys to every Democratic and Republican mayoral candidate on the ballot for the June 22 primary, starting in February. See how Andrew Yang answered below.
NYPD
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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
“We have to do everything in our power to make sure that people feel safe walking around our neighborhoods, with our families. And so we have to take the resources that are being deployed on the police department and make sure they're actually making us safer. And also that officers are conducting themselves in a way that's responsible and professional and accountable.”
from THE CITY interview, May 8, 2021 -
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
"Another data-driven approach is to scale up other organizations to respond to emergency calls instead of the police."
from Medium, June 8, 2020 -
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
"You should be of the community, certainly when you start on the force. And that, I believe, would fundamentally change the dynamic, because instead of seeing folks as strangers or potential perpetrators, you see them as your neighbors."
from WNYC, Jan. 26, 2021 -
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
"I will be amending disciplinary power from the NYPD commissioner so that an independent oversight body is able to hold officers accountable for misconduct"
from Streetsblog, Feb. 5, 2021
Education
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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
“I would not abandon the SHSAT, but I would broaden the criteria were using and I think if we do that we can actually get some of the families into these specialized high schools in a way that's going to benefit them.”
from Spectrum News NY1, Jan. 14, 2021 -
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
"To the extent that there are charters that are allocated by the state that are not being used, I think that we should look at reallocating them. But in my mind it’s about whether a school is performing for our kids. There're public schools doing great work and there're charter schools doing great work and that should be the goal."
from THE CITY interview, March 11, 2021 -
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
Yang said sharing should be “voluntary.”
from UFT Mayoral Town Hall, April 7, 2020
COVID Recovery
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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
"I would make the Open Streets and Restaurants programs permanent. We saw how integral these programs were during the pandemic."
from Streetsblog, Feb. 5, 2021 -
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
Yang proposes a basic income, an average of $2,000 a year to 500,000 poor people: "All New Yorkers are eligible for our cash relief program regardless of immigration status.… Our goal is to end extreme poverty in New York City."
from Campaign website -
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
“I will confess to being a parent that has been frustrated by how slow our schools have been to open, and I do believe that the UFT has been a significant reason why our schools have been slow to open."
from POLITICO, March 18, 2021
Transportation
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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
“Congestion pricing has been a long time in coming but we have to be mindful of our city's recovery. Right now 80% of midtown commercial real estate buildings are still empty so we have to accelerate the recovery by any means necessary. So I'd be flexible on the timing of adopting congestion pricing in line with the city's return of commuters.”
from NYC Mayoral Leading Contenders Debate, June 10, 2021 -
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
"I've looked at the numbers. It's not pretty, but the reality is, it's very very hard to manage a recovery if you're not managing the way five and a half million New Yorkers get around every single day and that includes the subways."
from District Council 37 Forum, Jan. 26, 2021 -
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
"We're subsidizing them as our budget is constrained. We'll have to make tough choices. I would try to support the routes that have proven they're helping New Yorkers and have demand."
from Forum on the Future of Transportation, March 25, 2021 -
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
"I want it so that, when someone moves to New York City, they think, ‘Great! I don't need to own a car.’ One aspect of that is going to be making the city as bike-friendly as it possibly can be."
from Newsweek, Feb. 23, 2021
Housing
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Which statement describes your preferred approach to spending the city’s affordable housing dollars?
Focus city funding on development projects that mix affordability at a range of incomes, using rents paid by higher earners to help cover costs for the lowest-income tenants
Focus city funding on 100% affordable development projects for the lowest-income tenants, even if that may create fewer units overall
Scale back city subsidies to affordable housing development, focusing resources on helping renters pay for existing housing
Yang has said that housing built on public land should be 100% affordable at a range of incomes.
from NYC Mayoral Candidate Forum on Tenants Rights, Feb. 27, 2021 -
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
"Housing costs and rent are going up for more and more Americans while income stagnates. Relaxing zoning laws and NIMBYism would help in many areas, as would micro-apartments and innovative approaches to communal housing."
from Twitter, Aug. 11, 2019 -
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
"I think that a lot of the friction we're describing is because too many NYCHA residents don't feel like they have a say...the NYCHA board, instead of being minority tenants, should be majority tenants."
from NYC Mayoral Candidate Forum on Tenants Rights, Feb. 27, 2021 -
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
Immigration
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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?
Yes
Yes — special pandemic assistance only
No
"The pandemic exposed how many New Yorkers live on the edge of ruin... Getting more money directly into people’s pockets was once radical and is now mainstream."
from USA TODAY, March 3, 2021 -
Should NYC pay for attorneys to represent New Yorkers facing deportation in immigration court?
Yes, immigrant New Yorkers facing deportation should have a right to counsel
Continue existing city funding sponsoring legal services for immigrant New Yorkers held in detention
No
Yang wrote on his campaign website that he supports expanding access to and funding for the New York Immigrant Family Unity Project and other similar immigration legal services.
from Campaign website -
Do you support measures to legalize basement and attic apartments?
Yes, revise building codes to allow current illegal apartments to be compliant
Yes, revise building codes and encourage conversions through financing, counseling or other means
No
Yang's campaign website says he will pick up where the current mayor left off with a basement apartment pilot program, as well as support changes in state law and city code to promote more such units.
from Campaign website
Labor
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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?
Wage subsidies to help employers bring back and retain their employees
Extended unemployment benefits to all impacted people
Access to loans for entrepreneurs and worker cooperatives
Government jobs in underserved communities to rebuild local economies
“Most everyone knows that if I had my way, we’d all be getting $1,000 a month from the federal government,” Yang said in reference to his proposed universal basic income plan, which he would target to NYC's neediest. “I’m thrilled to make it happen in the biggest, greatest city in the country.”
from Bloomberg CityLab, Jan. 28, 2021 -
Should New York reclassify gig workers — including food deliverers and Uber drivers — as employees?
Yes, require companies to classify workers as their employees
Yes, give workers flexibility to decide whether they are classified as employees or independent contractors
No
"The California bill to reclassify contract workers for companies like Uber as employees, not contractors, is a positive step. In many cases the companies have as much or more control than traditional employers."
from Twitter, Sept. 11, 2019 -
Which statement best describes your approach to bargaining with municipal labor unions?
The mayor is working for voters and taxpayers, who must come first in bargaining with city employees
Municipal employees keep the city running and the mayor should put their needs first
Mayors should strive to find a balance between taxpayers and workers, even when that leaves everyone unhappy
"I'm going to wring the budget of everything that is not people, to try and balance the budget in a way that does not affect you and yours.”
from DC37 Mayoral Forum, Jan. 25, 2021 -
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
"If I had a choice between something like universal basic income and a higher minimum wage, I would choose universal basic income. But if I don't get universal basic income, then I'm all for raising the minimum wage."
from Pitchfork Economics podcast, April 3, 2021
Criminal Justice
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Will you direct the NYPD to stop arrests for drug possession?
Marijuana only
Marijuana and one or more other drugs
No
“I'm for the total decriminalization of cannabis and marijuana. … I'm for the decriminalization of many of these prescription opioids that, frankly, the drug companies have generated billions of dollars of blood money from. … I'm for legalization of psilocybin mushrooms, and I'm open to the public policy impact of legalizing other substances.”
from VOCAL-NY’s Mayoral Candidate Forum, March 17, 2021 -
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
“We need to re-examine the four borough jail project really from A to Z because I've met many New Yorkers who did not feel properly included in that plan. … I do think that we should be moving to close Rikers as soon as possible, but we need a better plan that more community members are on board with in terms of what comes next.”
from NY1’s “Inside City Hall, Jan. 14, 2021 -
Should NYC ban solitary confinement within jails?
Ban solitary confinement entirely
Maintain current plan to allow minimum 10 hours per day out of cells
No
-
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
Taxes
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The next mayor will inherit well documented inequities in property tax assessments. What will you do?
Respond without impacting overall tax dollars collected, even if that means some will pay more than before
Respond without increasing anyone’s tax burdens in the process — potentially reducing tax dollars collected
Maintain existing property tax assessment system
"Some NYC homeowners in poorer neighborhoods are paying seven times the effective property tax as people that own luxury apartments in Manhattan. Property tax reform is one of the great opportunities to unlock billions of dollars of value and make NYC fairer and more equitable."
from Twitter, Feb. 17, 2021 -
Should NYC resume collecting taxes on stock transfers?
Yes
No
“There are other ways that we can generate revenue in ways that are constructive to New Yorkers, like taxing vacant lots at fair market value, which generate hundreds of millions. So there are different approaches.”
from THE CITY interview, May 8, 2021 -
Should New York impose a “pied a terre” tax on homes that are not a primary residence?
Yes, for all part-time residents (less than 180 days a year)
Yes, for international owners only
No
"I do think the city should be considering things like a pied-a-terre tax that would generate hundreds of millions of dollars."
from Citizens Budget Commission Mayoral Candidate Forum, March 25, 2021 -
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
Borough Edition
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The Bronx: Do you support building a stadium for the NYCFC soccer club next to Yankee Stadium?
Yes, I will do whatever I can to make this happen
Yes, but only if a deal can be reached with no public subsidy or tax breaks
No
-
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?
Yes
Yes, but the proposed route requires more review
No
-
Manhattan: Do you support commercial rent control?
Yes — I’m ready to work toward implementing a system
Let’s study the issue and see if any model could possibly succeed in Manhattan
No, commercial rent control does not work
"When you say rent control, to me, you'd want to try and ensure that small businesses can survive, particularly the types of mom and pops that define New York, but I wouldn't want to have like, you know, hard and fast rules that may work in some part of the city and not others."
from NYC Mayoral Candidate Forum on Tenants Rights, Feb. 27, 2020 -
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?
Yes, immediately after taking office
Yes, within my first term
No
The ferry is “one of the main ways people get from Staten Island to the rest of the city and if you have hours of the day, even very late at night, when you don't have service, then it's going to mean that some people might not otherwise be spending time out and about are going to have their ability to get home limited”
from THE CITY interview, May 8, 2021
Leadership
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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
“I’m someone who wants to identify people who are passionate and dedicated and mission-driven, and then wants to give them room to run.... You need to empower leaders and managers and in different environments and different agencies so that they feel like, as long as their values are sound and their process is good, that they can make decisions on their own.”
from The New York Times, May 10, 2021 -
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
Homelessness
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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
“We need more permanent affordable housing, the sheltering system is not meant to be permanent.”
from First Democratic mayoral debate, May 13, 2021 -
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
“The issue with the hotels right now is that they're being treated as a stopgap and we need to figure out what structures can actually be converted into housing ongoing and then have that be a more longstanding solution.”
from Future of Family Homelessness and Poverty Forum, May 20, 2021 -
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
“There may be occasions when a police officer would be present but they should not be the primary actor. They should be standing a ways away as a tertiary or or support staff while someone else who's better trained to actually intervene with a person who's having an issue is leading and making sure that the issue is being addressed the right way as opposed to having someone who's not trained for that kind of that kind of activity.”
from Caring & Compassionate New Deal for NYC forum, March 17, 2021 -
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
Climate Change
-
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
Yang "will use the City’s own buildings as demonstration projects for how landlords and building owners can meet the emissions reductions requirements and will advocate for state and federal tax credits to offset costs."
from Campaign website -
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
"As mayor, I will invest in the building of new flood protection projects along the city's waterfront, as well as supporting the rapid completion of existing efforts like the construction of dunes in the Far Rockaways."
from Waterfront Alliance survey -
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
"You have to roll it out in certain parts where you have the resources."
from First Democratic mayoral debate, May 13, 2021
Building NYC Better
-
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
Yang's campaign said he would work with the governor’s office to implement the recent mandate that “all internet providers need to include a low-cost broadband plan.”
from Campaign website -
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
“Our city is in crisis, and we need to move efficiently, quickly and with the will of the people. To that end, we need to also make long-term changes” to Uniform Land Use Review Procedure.
from Andrew Yang's YouTube channel -
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
“There are nearly 300 miles of New York City streets covered with scaffolding, and under current law, building owners have zero incentive to make the necessary repairs to prevent debris from hitting pedestrians.”
from Crain's New York Business, Feb. 10, 2021
Quality of Life
-
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
“New York City should have its own casino on Governors Island. And who’s going to use that casino? A lot of tourists. It's going to generate tons of money...you can see that thing becoming a major draw, generating hundreds of millions of dollars a year.”
from The Breakfast Club, Jan. 14, 2021 -
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
Candidates
Meet Your Mayor
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