Paperboy Love Prince is an artist, rapper and entrepreneur whose Utopia Plan includes a universal basic income of $2,000 and health care and housing for all.
“I’m going to create a utopia, because anything less is not an option,” Prince told The Wall Street Journal. “I’m the only one bold enough, crazy enough to put it out there and say, ‘This is what we’re going to do.’ ”
In the 2020 primary, Prince, who uses gender-neutral pronouns, lost a race for Congress against Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-Brooklyn/Manhattan/Queens).
Prince’s Utopia Plan proposes to turn the police into a “Love Team” and NYCHA developments into mansions. WiFi for all would close the digital divide.
Prince studied journalism at the University of Maryland before moving to New York City to work as a performer, party planner, web developer and brand consultant.
The candidate owns the Love Gallery in Bushwick, Brooklyn, a combination community center, art gallery, vintage store and futurism incubator.
Website: paperboyprince.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 Paperboy Prince 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
"I’m really out here leading the way on Abolishing the Police... thank me later !"
from Twitter, Feb. 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
"We should have a Love team that focuses on mental health and well-being."
from THE CITY Interview, May 3, 2021 -
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
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
-
Should New York City have more charter schools?
No response / no position
-
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
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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
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
-
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
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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
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
-
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
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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
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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
Housing
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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
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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
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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?
Yes, permanent residents (green card holders) only
Yes, all New Yorkers, regardless of their immigration status, should be allowed to vote
No
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Should government cash assistance be available to low-income undocumented immigrants?
Yes
Yes — special pandemic assistance only
No
"We can create other forms of funding for undocumented immigrants through specific programs."
from THE CITY Interview, May 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
-
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
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
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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
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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
-
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?
No response / no position
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
-
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
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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
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Which of the following would you choose as your top priority in addressing individuals charged with a crime and awaiting trial:
Promote use of city supervised release programs for more people
Promote release without supervision programs for more people
Promote pretrial jail for more people who currently must be released
Leave the current system as is
"We need mentors and love agents that work to help folks deal with the issues that led them to committing a crime."
from THE CITY Interview, May 3, 2021
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
"City suffers from a culture of overtaxing and generally that falls on minority communities."
from THE CITY Interview, May 5, 2021 -
Should NYC resume collecting taxes on stock transfers?
Yes
No
"Taxes on stock transfers just seems to penalize folks for investing."
from THE CITY Interview, May 5, 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
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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
"There are more ways to tax the ultra wealthy, but we have to do it in a futuristic way."
from THE CITY Interview, May 5, 2021
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
"I would love for New York City to have the first arena centered around a women's sports franchise."
from THE CITY Interview, May 10, 2021 -
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
"Pipeline would negatively affect the marginalized communities and families that live there and cost a lot of money in the process."
from THE CITY Interview, May 10, 2021 -
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
"The rent is too damn high.... We can't continue to commodify necessities."
from THE CITY Interview, May 10, 2021 -
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?
Yes, as planned
Yes, but the project’s cost, scale, community input or other fundamentals need revisiting
No
"It's about listening to the folks that are most affected. And what happens is with plans like this, the people that are most affected don't find out until it's already set in stone."
from THE CITY Interview, May 10, 2021 -
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
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
Paperboy Prince said people worked on their campaign would "still go through a process where they're vetted under the same scrutiny" as other candidates.
from THE CITY Interview, May 10, 2021 -
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
"I wouldn't want to stop a good thing as far as someone who's actually trying to help the community. But I think there should be a cap on the amount of funds raised."
from THE CITY Interview, May 10, 2021 -
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
"We need to have love leaders," who focus on "bringing people together," and "collobaration and not competition."
from THE CITY Interview, 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
“There's a lot of housing that is already in certain neighborhoods that's old, that is deteriorating, that needs to be revamped and remodeled. I think we start there, but my goal is kind of to revolutionize the whole city and the architecture of the city.”
from THE CITY interview, May 10, 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
“We're going to make sure that there's housing for all the city. The best way to deal with the housing crisis is to give housing.”
from THE CITY interview, May 10, 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's a lot of police officers that are very good at dealing with folks that are in distress and that are dealing with mental health issues, but the fact is that they're just not trained to do that. And a lot of times, it ends with the wrong person going to jail, it ends with someone ending up hurt.”
from THE CITY interview, May 10, 2021 -
Should NYC’s next mayor close the 30th Street shelter, the main point of entry into the system for single men?
No response / no position
Climate Change
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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
"The same way how they want to build bigger buildings and higher buildings, I am going to build bigger forests, bigger jungles, more trees, more gardens, nature's farm and parks."
from THE CITY Interview, May 10, 2021 -
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
"It's good for the environment."
from THE CITY Interview, May 10, 2021
Building NYC Better
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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
“A strong public option would force [internet providers] to be better. It would also allow us to create more job opportunities in the city and it would allow us to take our place as a leader in the digital world.”
from THE CITY interview , May 10, 2021 -
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
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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
“I've had some scaffolding that I feel like it's been up all my life in New York. So that's something I would definitely get to the bottom…not saying that 90 days would be an extreme penalty after that, but definitely something that incentivizes folks to complete these projects as quickly as possible.”
from THE CITY interview , May 10, 2021
Quality of Life
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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
"What I have proposed is that the city create its own version of Airbnb that could compete with some of these companies and replace them."
from THE CITY interview, May 10, 2021 -
Should NYC be home to full-fledged gambling casinos?
Yes — including Manhattan
Yes — not including Manhattan
No
"I would be open to casinos after we establish our love centers, which are a place where folks can meet new people where they can get inspired, make friends, get help for issues that they're going through."
from THE CITY interview, May 10, 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
"There should be public restrooms on every block in New York City. There should be as many public restrooms as possible."
from THE CITY interview, May 10, 2021 -
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
"It should be done on a rolling basis. And there shouldn't necessarily be a cap. It should be a situation where we allow more folks to pursue their dreams."
from THE CITY interview, May 10, 2021
Candidates
Meet Your Mayor
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