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Former Citigroup banker Ray McGuire has earned celebrity endorsements from Spike Lee and Jay-Z, and has raised over $7.4 million in private contributions from Hollywood and hedge-fund honchos. That’s allowed him to forgo the city Campaign Finance Board’s matching funds program and raise and spend more than participants can.
But the 64-year-old McGuire says his background as a Black man raised by a single mom in Dayton, Ohio, lets him empathize with the struggles of working-class New Yorkers.
“I’m as regular as it gets,” he told radio station WQHT Hot 97, recounting his journey “from the streets to the suites…. Nobody out there realer than me.”
His bid for mayor emphasizes education and opportunity, including a promise that he’ll have every child reading by the end of third grade.
McGuire maintains that his record of demanding accountability and managing billion-dollar budgets is just what the city needs to recover from the pandemic.
The Manhattan resident has been blasted as being out of touch, though, particularly after botching a New York Times editorial board question about the median house price in Brooklyn, which he guessed as “somewhere in the $80,000 to $90,000 range” — well below the median sale price of $900,000.
Website: rayformayor.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 Ray McGuire 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 am not for ‘defund.’ I'm for restructuring, having better policing, not fewer police."
from Brian Lehrer Show, WNYC, Dec. 2, 2020 -
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
“When someone calls 911 for those cases, the responding personnel should be equipped to deal with the situation effectively and nonviolently. The NYPD’s emergency response teams, therefore, have to include social-service workers”
from , May 31, 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
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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
"As mayor, I will hold the police commissioner accountable for taking appropriate disciplinary actions, and further empower the CCRB to investigate misconduct — including access to body camera footage within 48 hours of request."
from Campaign Facebook page , Feb. 21, 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 think the specialized high schools are one element on which we should focus. I would teach, though, to the child; I would not teach to the test. I think we need to expand criteria."
from New York Jewish Agenda forum, Feb. 18, 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
McGuire supports city control of the cap on charter schools. “As mayor, Ray will work to increase the number of charter chools allowed in NYC and give families as many high-quality school options as possible,” said a spokesperson.
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
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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
"Would I share the funding of those people who have been successful funding with others? I would share the resources."
from Education First Mayoral Candidates Forum, Jan. 28, 2021
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
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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 will reimagine our streets in ways that create more public space, improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists, create space for restaurants and other small businesses, reduce congestion and increase sustainability. Doing this will require reductions in street parking in some neighborhoods, so we have to make sure that New Yorkers who need a vehicle — particularly our mobility impaired and working families — are rightly accommodated.
from Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats forum, Jan. 19, 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
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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
“Kids are safer inside a school building than outside of it.... There are so many things about in-person learning that you simply can’t replicate in remote sessions.”
from The New York Times, Dec. 9, 2020
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
"I support congestion pricing not only as a way to raise revenue for transit, but also because it has the added benefit of reducing the number of cars that are on the road and thus lessening emissions. However, we need to make sure the MTA uses this revenue well."
from Tribeca Citizen, May 24, 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
"We simply cannot afford this...and we don't have the resources to be able to run the MTA the way that it's supposed to be run."
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
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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
“What we haven’t done with major projects like this before is involve the people who are going to be most impacted.... We prescribe, but we haven’t included. In my leadership, we would get the right leaders in the communities and if we have to go down by neighborhood, then we’ll do that, because that’s where people’s lives will be most impacted.”
from Streetsblog, March 3, 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
"I'll double the city's current level of investment, and the majority of that money will go to build deeply affordable housing. What does that mean? That means housing for a family of three earning less than $51,000."
from McGuire NYC Housing Plan video , April 1, 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
McGuire's campaign says he "will advance a citywide rezoning that will drive new residential construction."
from Campaign website, April 1, 2021 -
Should NYCHA continue toward its goal of placing half of its apartments into private management under the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program?
No response / no position
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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
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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
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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
“My plan will also make it easier for homeowners to earn income from the property by converting existing spaces into new rental apartments, that means updating our zoning rules to allow for basement and garage apartments and other necessary dwelling.”
from McGuire NYC Housing Plan, April 1, 2021
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
"I've identified what I call a comeback accelerator plan, which gives wage subsidies to 50,000 small businesses. We’ll pay 50% of the workers’ salary for one year by jumpstarting the economy. It’s going to cost me 900-plus-million dollars over two budget years, which I can pay for by using the existing federal and state funds.”
from Citizens Budget Commission Mayoral Candidate Forum, Feb. 24, 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
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Which statement best describes your approach to bargaining with municipal labor unions?
No response / no position
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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
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Should NYC stay on course to close all jails on Rikers Island by 2027?
No response / no position
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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
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
“My approach would be to fix our property tax system through legislative action in Albany."
from New York Daily News, April 11, 2021 -
Should NYC resume collecting taxes on stock transfers?
Yes
No
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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
McGuire said he believes wealthy people like him should pay more, but not if federal stimulus funding is set to come in.
from NY1 News, April 6, 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
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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
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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
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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
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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?
No response / no position
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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
"As mayor I will eliminate all forms of quid pro quo and pay to play, including elected officials benefiting from the use of non-profits."
from Twitter , May 18, 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
"My management style is one where I’ve managed large businesses that are similar to NYCHA.... I managed them from the depths of crisis. We’re going to find the best talent. You’ve got to attract. You’ve got to recruit and retain the best. Empower them and give them metrics."
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
"If I were mayor, we would end street homelessness in New York City and we would do it by reimagining the right to shelter as a right to housing."
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
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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
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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
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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
"My major infrastructure plan is to accelerate resilient and sustainable infrastructure throughout New York City with a focus on Sandy-impacted neighborhoods like Coney Island, Hunts Point, Lower Manhattan, Red Hook, and the Rockaways."
from Waterfront Alliance survey -
NYC’s current mayor vowed to ban gas hook-ups in new construction by 2030. Are you on board?
No response / no position
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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
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
“This has got to be fundamental to who we are; access to broadband is essential. We need to make sure that the right people are at the table. And given the relationships that have been developed over the past 25 to 30 years, I have that access to the key decision-makers and we can bring those decision-makers to the table, so that we can ensure that, at a reasonable period with all deliberate speed, we provide Internet access and tablets to all New Yorkers.”
from NYC Mayoral Candidates Address the Digital Divide, April 29, 2021 -
Should real estate developers be allowed to construct bigger buildings if they pay for elevator installation at nearby subway stations without access?
No response / no position
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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
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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
"We need a top to bottom review to streamline the public construction contracting process. I will identify and wholly remove nonsensical and complex requirements that raise the prices of the most simple procurements and lengthens construction. I will also work with private contractors to expedite projects by issuing permits efficiently and enforcing reasonable time frames."
from Tribeca Citizen, May 24, 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
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Should NYC be home to full-fledged gambling casinos?
Yes — including Manhattan
Yes — not including Manhattan
No
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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
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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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