Restoring Confidence and Participation in Government

"At its best--as we saw in the election of Barack Obama--democratic participation can inspire us to recognize higher ideals, and spur us into action with friends and strangers to achieve goals we never thought possible. And it should assure us that when we elect public servants, they will continue to represent the public."

Local democracy is a precious thing -- one we too often taken for granted. Democracy is not just a once-every-four-years right to vote. It is an ethos of inclusion, individual worth, and shared responsibility. It is the dual recognition that we can only achieve large-scale goals by working together, but that responsibility lies with each of us to make sure we get there.

Our confidence in the fairness and integrity of local government is shaken when elected officials favor developers who make hefty campaign contributions, or give grants without oversight or results; when the Schools Chancellor trivializes local democratic bodies like Community Education Councils; and, when the Mayor and City Council vote themselves another four years over the twice-expressed will of the voters.

As a community organizer, community planner, and community board member, Brad has led dozens of efforts, mobilizing thousands of people, to include community residents in democratic decision-making about affordable housing, financial regulations, land use, and community preservation.

That's why Brad will work to: 

• Demand sunlight and accountability in City contracting and budgeting (Read more...)

• Eliminate the culture of "pay-to-play" (Read more...)

• Provide citizens with the information they deserve (Read more...)

• Respect the will of voters and extend democracy’s reach (Read more...)

For nearly two decades, Brad has been fighting to strengthen our local democracy. He has had the courage to stand up against special interests, winning reforms that have made our city and state government more transparent, and saving taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.

• Brad is not accepting contributions from PACs, corporate lobbyists or developers.
• He helped to lead the fight against the extension of term limits without a public vote.

• He led the successful effort to end a multi-million dollar annual giveaway to luxury developers by reforming the City’s 421-a tax exemption program.

• Brad filed an amicus brief in support of strict new restrictions on the campaign contributions of those who are “doing business with” the City, like developers and lobbyists, to make sure government decisions do not go to the highest bidder.

• He exposed irregularities at the New York State Housing Finance Agency in the Pataki Administration that awarded public subsidies to campaign contributors, and helped bring about an overhaul of the agency’s practices.
• As a community organizer, community planner, and community board member, Brad has led dozens of efforts, mobilizing thousands of people, to include community residents in democratic decision-making to shape land use, affordable housing, financial regulations, and community preservation.