Democratic Primary Debate for the 13th Congressional District — Full Debate

[0:00] Starting at 8, right here on New York 1. [0:51] It's 7 o'clock. [0:52] 1-800-GOT-JUNK for Homer Office. [0:55] We make junk disappear. [0:56] Good evening. [1:13] Welcome to New York 1's Democratic Congressional Primary Debate for New York's 13th District. [1:18] I'm Errol Lewis, political anchor here at New York 1. [1:21] And I'm New York 1's investigative reporter, Courtney Gross. [1:23] As a reminder, you can watch tonight's debate on the Spectrum News app and on our YouTube channel. [1:29] Early voting is already underway in both congressional and state legislative primaries across New York, [1:34] including tonight's race. [1:36] More than 44,000 voters in the city cast their ballots during the first three days of early voting through Monday. [1:42] Polls are open, or back open, at 10 o'clock tomorrow morning. [1:45] And the June 23rd primary is exactly one week from today. [1:49] New York's 13th congressional district spans portions of Upper Manhattan, [1:53] including all of Harlem and Inwood and some neighborhoods in the Bronx. [1:58] Tonight, we're joined by the two leading Democratic candidates, both of whom met our fundraising criteria. [2:04] Adriano Espiot is the incumbent congressman. [2:06] who has represented the district since 2017. [2:09] He also previously served in the New York State Senate and Assembly. [2:13] Daria-Liza Avila-Chevalier is a political newcomer, but has worked as a grassroots organizer in the district [2:18] and currently works for the Neighborhood Defender Services of Harlem. [2:22] The rules that you see on your screen right now have been agreed to by both candidates. [2:26] Each will have 60 seconds for an opening statement, and then answers to our questions will generally be limited to 60 seconds, [2:33] with 30 seconds allocated to answer rebuttals or follow-ups at our discretion. [2:38] And there will be both a cross-examination round, where the candidates get to ask one question to another candidate, [2:44] and a lightning round where answers should be yes or no or something very short. [2:48] Feel free to join the conversation online using the hashtag NY1Debate. [2:54] We begin now with one-minute opening statements. [2:56] The order was determined by a random drawing on live television this morning. [3:00] Adriano Espiot will go first. Good evening. [3:02] Good evening. Thank you, Errol. Hello, New Yorkers. [3:05] I'm Adriano Espiot, I represent the 13th Congressional District. [3:09] I'm an immigrant, a fighter, a real New Yorker, an immigrant kid that overstayed his visa, got his green card, [3:16] eventually became a U.S. citizen, a voter, and now I'm a member of Congress. [3:21] Someone that fought to get drugs out of northern Manhattan. [3:25] Someone that helped build over 12 new schools when kids were being bused out of our neighborhoods to other boroughs [3:32] because of the overcrowding problem. [3:34] Someone that also represented and made sure that tenants were protected right through two waves of gentrification in northern Manhattan. [3:45] I have been there. [3:46] I have been in the neighborhood all along during our most difficult times, and I ask you for your support. [3:53] I'm running on my record, a record of accomplishment, a record that has listened to people [3:58] and has brought back results to the community that I represent and that I'm very proud to live in. [4:04] Thank you so much for your support. [4:06] Okay. [4:07] Ms. Aveya Chevalier. [4:09] Well, first of all, thank you so much for having me. [4:11] I'm so excited to be here. [4:13] I am the daughter of Dominican immigrants. [4:16] I am a New Yorker, and like so many in our district, I am a renter who has had to wonder whether I can afford to stay in the city that I love. [4:23] I'm a teacher who has had students come to me and ask me not about their assignments or about their tests, [4:30] but about the food insecurity that they were experiencing, the housing insecurity that they were experiencing. [4:35] I am someone who has been organizing for over 14 years in our community, and I have to ask, [4:41] have things gotten better in our community under our current leadership? [4:44] Because for so many, things have only gotten harder. [4:48] When I walk out my door, I see more and more of my neighbors sleeping on the street. [4:52] I see more of them joining food pantry lines. [4:55] All the while, I see our tax dollars going towards war, towards a genocide, and toward things that are not helping our community. [5:02] We deserve a fighter who is actually going to make sure that our tax dollars are returning to our home to invest in our communities, in our babies and not bombs. [5:11] Okay. Thank you, candidates. [5:12] Great. Now, let's start by talking about the kind of Democrat you will be as a member of Congress. [5:18] Democrats make up the overwhelming majority of voters in this district, [5:22] and the winner of the primary is all but assured of serving in Congress come January. [5:27] The question we'll start with is what kind of Democrat each of you would be. [5:31] Ms. Chevalier, some mainstream Democrats have criticized the Democratic Socialists of America, [5:36] one of the organizations backing you, for positions at the national level [5:41] that include eliminating all borders, instituting a 32-hour work week with no reduction in pay, [5:46] limiting judicial review by the Supreme Court, [5:49] or extending full voting rights to non-citizens and to people with criminal convictions. [5:53] Some would call those proposals unrealistic or certainly at odds with the platform and positions of the Democratic National Committee. [6:00] If asked to choose between a DSA and a DNC position or priority, using open borders, say, as an example, [6:09] what should voters expect you to do? [6:11] Voters can expect that I will always fight for them. [6:14] I will always fight for the community in New York 13 because that is what I'm committed to. [6:18] I am running for Congress because I am someone who has felt deeply abandoned by the leadership that we have had, [6:24] leadership that has gotten us to this moment where we are facing an onslaught of fascism [6:29] by a president in the White House who is himself a fascist. [6:32] And we deserve representation that's going to fight for the needs of our community, [6:35] that's going to fight to win housing for all, [6:37] fight to make sure that our tax dollars come back to our communities, [6:40] to invest in our communities, [6:42] fight to make sure that we are abolishing ICE [6:44] and that we are creating pathways to citizenship for our community [6:47] so that our community no longer has to fear the terror of ICE. [6:51] We deserve representation who is actually going to listen to our community. [6:55] I am someone who has been organizing for over 14 years in our community, [6:59] been with New Yorkers on the hardest days of their lives [7:01] when they were facing ICE detention and reuniting them with their families, [7:05] been with them when they were facing police brutality [7:07] and been there with them to support them through that. [7:10] I am someone who will show up consistently for our community [7:12] and fight for progressive legislation. [7:14] So, I mean, just to follow up, I mean, again, [7:16] the DSA position is that people should be free to go from one country to the next, [7:19] workers, they say, without any real restrictions. [7:23] Is that something voters should expect you to do if you're elected? [7:26] I think what voters can expect is that I will fight for policy [7:29] that actually benefits the working people of our community. [7:32] And for so many working immigrant communities, [7:35] we have seen attacks on that community. [7:37] We should be able to have a reasonable immigration policy [7:41] that is going to benefit the working people of this district. [7:44] That includes, for example, making sure that we can get SBA loans [7:47] to people who are green card holders, [7:49] because it makes no sense that in a community [7:51] where small immigrant businesses are a cornerstone, [7:54] they do not have the support from our institutions. [7:58] Okay. [7:58] Mr. Espaillat, I have a question for you. [8:00] You've said on the campaign trail [8:02] that a member of Congress has to be willing to work with others [8:04] and find compromise, [8:05] but a growing number of voters are telling pollsters [8:08] that they want Democrats who are willing to fight [8:11] against the Trump administration, [8:12] against abuse by corporations, [8:14] and, if necessary, against the Democratic leadership itself. [8:18] Can you give some examples [8:19] of when you were willing to have those fights? [8:21] Well, Errol, I was one of the first members of Congress [8:26] to, one of the first four, actually, [8:29] to submit articles of impeachment [8:31] during the first Trump administration. [8:33] I have fought Trump and won. [8:36] We took him to court to ensure that, of course, [8:40] we will have access to the detention centers, [8:43] and we were able to win, [8:45] and now we're able to visit Delaney Hall [8:47] and other detention centers [8:49] and exercise our oversight of duties. [8:53] We were also able to sue the IRS, [8:56] who was willing and was on their way [8:58] to share confidential taxpayer information [9:02] of immigrants with ICE. [9:04] We were able to dismantle an organization [9:08] that the airlines put together [9:10] to sell passenger information [9:12] to the law enforcement agencies. [9:15] Joe Biden implemented my sensitive locations bill, [9:20] which this allows ICE from going into houses of worship, [9:24] schools and hospitals. [9:25] We were able to get the body camera program going [9:29] as well during the Biden administration. [9:30] This is a fight of proven results. [9:33] And were there, could you tell us about an instance [9:35] where the Democratic leadership [9:37] was going in a direction [9:38] that you felt you needed to push back against? [9:40] All my life, Errol, I ran against the grain. [9:43] I defeated a 16-year incumbent [9:46] when I was an assemblyman. [9:47] As you know, I fought even within my own party [9:51] to have greater access, a bigger tent, [9:54] so other voices could be heard. [9:56] I've been a fighter for my community [9:58] in and outside of the Democratic Party. [10:01] May I respond to you? [10:02] Yes. [10:03] So, you know, I find that concerning [10:05] that that is the example that he's giving [10:07] of having fought against Trump [10:08] when, for example, he has taken hundreds of thousands [10:12] of dollars from the very donors [10:14] that Trump himself has taken. [10:16] He is someone who has voted in favor of the Genius Act, [10:19] which has enriched people like Trump and his crypto buddies. [10:22] He is someone who has refused to condemn a genocide [10:25] and continues to vote time and time again [10:26] to send taxpayer money to a country [10:30] that is currently enacting a genocide [10:32] in a time where we need fighters [10:34] who can stand up against that [10:35] and stand up to defend our democracy. [10:38] He is somebody who has refused to fight [10:40] for his own constituents in his district [10:41] in a time where Trump himself said [10:43] that that constituent was the blueprint [10:45] for how immigration enforcement [10:46] would be conducted going forward. [10:48] Let's let him respond. [10:49] Errol, my opponent obviously doesn't know anything [10:54] about her insulting tweets [10:57] that have insulted Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, [11:02] a host of people. [11:03] She doesn't know where her money is coming from. [11:07] Yesterday, she got her campaign benefited [11:11] for another influx of $700,000 [11:14] in addition to the $1.5 million [11:18] that her campaign benefited from [11:20] from a Texas billionaire, millionaire, [11:24] that has bankrolled Greg Abbott, [11:26] the same guy that's caging kids, [11:28] sending immigrants here to New York City [11:30] and separating families. [11:32] Okay. Can I now... [11:32] I'm going to let my partner, Courtney Gross, [11:36] pick it up because we have some questions [11:38] about those very topics. [11:39] So let's move forward. [11:40] Yeah, we are going to get to a lot of those topics [11:42] that you mentioned. [11:42] But first, let's start with Ms. Avila Chevalier. [11:45] We did want to talk to you about those social media posts [11:48] between the times of 2018 [11:50] through approximately the spring of 2022. [11:53] You used expletives against Vice President Kamala Harris [11:55] at the time, called Joe Biden a rapist [11:58] and a war criminal. [11:59] And you have said in previous debates [12:01] and interviews that you take accountability [12:04] for these statements. [12:05] But what does that actually mean? [12:08] Do you regret saying them [12:09] and do you still believe in those statements? [12:12] I deeply regret my tweets. [12:16] I regret them. [12:17] And I regret that it has taken away [12:19] from a conversation where New Yorkers deserve [12:22] someone who is fighting for the things [12:24] that they want to be discussed [12:25] on the national stage. [12:27] Something that for far too long, [12:29] they have not had. [12:30] We have not had representatives [12:32] who are talking about the fact [12:34] that there is a lack of dignified [12:36] and affordable housing in our district, [12:38] that there is a lack of a fight [12:40] against the way that ICE [12:41] has been conducting in our district. [12:43] And so, yes, I regret that. [12:45] But when we talk about accountability, [12:47] I have yet to see my opponent [12:49] be accountable to his own record, [12:51] a record which shows that he has taken [12:53] over $250,000 from the very real estate corporations [12:58] that are pricing people out of our district, [13:00] a record that in the last two days alone, [13:02] he has taken over $200,000 [13:04] from real estate and Wall Street. [13:07] He is someone who has taken over $670,000 [13:09] from AIPAC, all while voting to send our tax dollars [13:12] to a country that is enacting a genocide, [13:14] and someone who has voted, [13:16] who has taken over $115,000 [13:17] over the course of his career [13:19] from ICE contractors [13:20] while voting to then also fund ICE [13:23] to the tune of $7 billion. [13:24] So just to be clear, [13:26] you don't believe any of the statements [13:28] that you did put out on social media [13:30] during that time period anymore? [13:32] Again, I deeply regret those tweets. [13:35] And the values that I hold [13:36] are the values of justice, [13:39] of human dignity, of accountability. [13:42] And so this is me taking accountability, [13:44] and I'm happy to model accountability. [13:46] And I also must ask that my opponent [13:47] be accountable to his own record, [13:49] a record that is one in which [13:51] he has held political office, [13:53] has had power over our community, [13:55] and that has had an impact [13:57] on the day-to-day lives of New Yorkers [13:58] and the policies that he has enacted. [14:04] Mr. Esbayat, you, well, [14:06] we should give him a chance [14:06] to respond if he would like to. [14:08] Yes, these disparaging tweets [14:11] didn't happen a decade ago, 15 years ago. [14:16] They were just a few years ago. [14:18] Just when many of the women in our district [14:23] were rallying and really happy [14:26] and proud about Kamala Harris' candidacy, [14:31] she was irresponsibly tweeting [14:34] disparaging statements about her. [14:37] She was calling the president a rapist. [14:40] This is not just some common statement [14:43] that was made when you were a young person, [14:45] a teenager, an adolescent. [14:47] This was just a couple of years ago. [14:50] And I think it's irresponsible [14:52] for someone that has [14:55] a chronically irresponsible social media [14:58] to go to Congress. [15:00] Words really matter. [15:01] Let her respond. [15:02] I have said time again [15:03] that I deeply regret this. [15:06] And listen, I am someone who [15:07] would have loved to have had [15:09] a black woman president. [15:11] I am a black woman, [15:11] and I would have loved to have had [15:13] a black woman president. [15:14] I was critical. [15:15] I am someone who has been working [15:17] with families who are facing [15:18] mass incarceration, [15:20] who are facing police brutality. [15:21] And I was, yes, [15:22] I was critical of Kamala Harris' record. [15:24] And I voted for her. [15:25] Because like so many black and brown people, [15:27] I am someone who has been having to be forced [15:30] to save the Democratic Party from itself. [15:32] And that is because we have had representatives [15:34] like my opponent [15:35] who has refused to listen to his constituents, [15:37] who has refused to actually listen [15:39] to the will of their democratic base. [15:41] And it's time that we have representatives [15:43] who actually listen to their democratic base. [15:45] Okay, let me, [15:45] I have a question for you, Mr. Esbayat. [15:47] You've called yourself a progressive leader. [15:49] You're a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. [15:53] In the 2021 municipal elections, [15:55] you first supported Scott Stringer for mayor, [15:57] then dropped that support [15:58] and backed Eric Adams. [15:59] Last year, you supported Andrew Cuomo, [16:01] who then lost the Democratic primary [16:03] and then settled on Zoran Mamdani. [16:06] Would you say that those choices [16:07] along the way were progressive? [16:09] Well, the common denominator has been, Errol, [16:12] that I've always supported [16:13] the nominee of the Democratic Party. [16:16] And in last year's election, of course, [16:19] the nominee was Zoran Mamdani, [16:21] and I supported that nominee. [16:23] And I am a progressive Democrat. [16:26] I am proud to have the support [16:27] of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. [16:30] I'm proud to have the support [16:31] of people like Attorney General Tish James. [16:35] And my values are very much progressive. [16:37] I am someone that works for working families. [16:40] I believe in protecting Medicaid. [16:42] There's 480,000 constituents in my district [16:46] that are Medicaid recipients. [16:48] There are savage cuts against them [16:51] that will kick in. [16:52] I will fight to take the money back from ICE, [16:55] the $170 billion, [16:58] plus the additional $70 billion [17:00] that Trump and the Republicans [17:02] just gave to ICE, [17:04] to bring it back where it belongs, [17:06] in the Medicaid program, [17:08] to ensure that we have SNAP, [17:10] that we have a food stance [17:11] for working-class families. [17:13] I am a progressive Democrat, [17:16] and I'm proud of my record. [17:17] Okay. [17:18] The candidates. [17:19] Okay, we're going to move on [17:20] to our next topic, [17:21] and that is campaign finance [17:22] and campaign donations. [17:23] And, Mr. Espaillat, [17:24] that we are going to start with you. [17:26] Over the years, [17:26] you have accepted thousands of dollars [17:28] from the pro-Israel lobby known as APAC. [17:31] This cycle, [17:32] our analysis has shown [17:33] you've accepted at least $140,000 [17:35] given to you through contributions [17:38] made through the organization, [17:40] and then the PAC itself [17:41] has given to you separately. [17:43] You went to Israel in 2022 [17:45] with the support of APAC's sister organization. [17:47] So the question is, [17:49] how do you describe [17:50] your relationship with APAC, [17:52] and do you regret accepting [17:53] any of the support from the group [17:55] following the war in Gaza, [17:57] where the group has strongly backed Israel [17:59] and unrestricted aid for it? [18:02] First, no one dictates [18:05] or tells me how to vote. [18:07] My constituents do that. [18:09] I listen to them. [18:11] I weigh how their opinions are. [18:14] I make sure that I consult with them. [18:16] And then I follow through [18:18] by voting their way. [18:20] Now, my opponent, [18:23] that's a drop in the bucket. [18:25] My opponent just today, Courtney, [18:28] today got her campaign benefited [18:31] $700,000 from a rich millionaire in taxes. [18:35] Not yesterday, not last week, today. [18:39] And last week, she got an additional [18:40] $1.5 million from that same rich donor [18:46] that bankroll Greg Abbott. [18:49] That's the height of the hypocrisy. [18:51] That's why politics has a bad name, [18:54] because there's blatant hypocrisy [18:57] in people running for office. [19:00] And so, yes, [19:01] she's taking super PAC money, [19:03] and she's the only candidate [19:05] that has in her website [19:07] a statement that says [19:09] that she denies [19:10] or she denounces [19:12] taking ever, ever taking super PAC money. [19:16] So it's a blatant lie. [19:17] Our question, [19:18] our next question actually [19:19] is on this topic, [19:20] so we definitely want to give you [19:21] a chance to respond, [19:22] Ms. Avila-Chevalier. [19:23] Your candidacy did begin [19:25] in part when a super PAC [19:26] called Justice Democrats [19:28] recruited you to run, [19:29] and your campaign has been boosted [19:32] to the tune of hundreds of thousands [19:33] of dollars from the super PAC, [19:34] Mr. Espiot is referring to, [19:36] known as American Priorities. [19:38] Some of that cash to the super PAC, [19:40] not to you directly, [19:42] did go or did come [19:43] from a Texas businessman [19:45] who has also supported [19:46] Republican Governor Greg Abbott. [19:48] How is this money [19:49] any different from the money [19:51] that is supporting Mr. Espiot from APAC? [19:54] And please explain. [19:55] Yeah, well, first of all, [19:56] I'd like to note that my opponent [19:58] has yet to actually clearly [20:00] and directly answer the question [20:02] regarding his APAC money. [20:04] He's repeatedly refused [20:05] to answer that question [20:06] with regards to any [20:07] of the direct contributions [20:09] he has taken to his campaign. [20:10] Now, I am very proud of the fact [20:12] that I have run a campaign [20:13] where we have raised [20:14] over a million dollars [20:15] in contributions from people [20:18] where the average contribution [20:19] was $66. [20:20] Now, in terms of the spending [20:22] that's happening, [20:23] that is outside spending. [20:24] I can control my campaign, [20:25] and I am proud of the campaign [20:27] that I have run [20:27] and the over a million dollars [20:29] that I have raised [20:29] from that type of contribution. [20:31] In terms of who is supporting [20:34] this campaign [20:34] and how they're supporting it, [20:36] I am proud to say [20:37] that if anybody is supporting [20:38] this campaign in any way, [20:39] shape, or form, [20:40] it is because of the fact [20:42] that I have refused [20:43] to take corporate PAC money. [20:44] It is because of the fact [20:45] that on day one, [20:46] I will sign on [20:47] to Congresswoman Summer Lee [20:48] and Senator Bernie Sanders' bill [20:51] to abolish super PACs, [20:53] something that my opponent [20:53] has had the opportunity to do, [20:55] and yet has not to this day. [20:57] Just by a show of hands, [20:58] I mean, I know you just addressed this, [21:00] but do you support abolishing super PACs? [21:03] Yes or no? [21:04] I think that we should have [21:05] a real conversation [21:06] about campaign finance reform. [21:09] But what did you sign? [21:09] I believe that super PACs [21:10] should be abolished. [21:11] But my opponent, [21:12] just in two weeks, [21:14] got over $2 million [21:16] for a super PAC, [21:18] and she refuses time and time again [21:20] to acknowledge that. [21:22] I would ask her [21:23] to denounce that publicly. [21:24] The super PAC [21:26] that just funded you, [21:27] $700,000 today. [21:30] Not yesterday, [21:31] not last week, [21:32] today. [21:32] Would you denounce that? [21:34] And will you denounce [21:34] the over $4 million [21:36] that you are spending [21:37] to criticize, [21:38] not any policy [21:40] that I have talked about, [21:41] but my character [21:42] and myself as a person [21:43] and my own identity, [21:45] where you have [21:45] multiple surrogates [21:46] going on press tours [21:47] in the Dominican Republic [21:48] saying blatant lies [21:50] about who I am [21:51] and what my identity is [21:52] and have multiple [21:53] of your supporters [21:54] under my social media comments [21:55] using incredibly degrading [21:57] language about me, [21:59] incredibly racist [22:00] and dehumanizing language? [22:01] Will you denounce that? [22:02] Will you denounce [22:03] the $4 million [22:03] of super PAC money [22:05] that is currently being used [22:06] to degrade me as a person? [22:08] Again, she doesn't [22:09] answer the question. [22:10] She doesn't know her tweets. [22:12] She doesn't know [22:12] what happened to them, [22:13] although they only happened [22:14] a couple of years ago. [22:16] She doesn't know [22:16] what she's getting [22:17] over $2 million. [22:18] in just two weeks. [22:20] And she doesn't know [22:21] legislation, Courtney. [22:23] She doesn't know legislation. [22:24] This is a critical time [22:26] in America. [22:27] We need a fighter, [22:28] somebody that really [22:29] knows government. [22:30] I've got $7.7 billion [22:32] for the Second Avenue subway [22:34] to connect Harlem [22:36] to the rest of the world. [22:38] That's real work [22:39] and that's what we need [22:40] in Congress. [22:40] Okay, Candace, [22:41] we're going to move on. [22:43] This is something [22:44] that is very timely. [22:45] The White House [22:46] has announced [22:46] a memorandum [22:47] of understanding [22:48] with Iran [22:48] that could result [22:49] in a temporary cessation [22:51] of hostilities, [22:52] including in Lebanon, [22:53] as well as the lifting [22:54] of the U.S. naval blockade [22:56] and a reopening [22:56] of the Strait of Hormuz. [22:58] We don't yet have [22:59] specific language, [23:00] but based on [23:00] what we know so far, [23:02] would you support the deal? [23:04] And is the world [23:05] a safer place [23:06] in the wake [23:06] of the U.S. attacks [23:08] on Iran? [23:08] We'll start with you, [23:09] Ms. Chevalier. [23:10] No, I believe [23:11] that we need to be [23:11] engaging in diplomacy. [23:13] And any act of war [23:15] that we are engaging in [23:17] is an act of war [23:17] that is creating [23:18] more instability [23:19] across the globe [23:20] and for Americans [23:21] here at home. [23:22] We need to make sure [23:23] that we are protecting [23:24] human lives [23:24] and that we are centering [23:25] human lives at the heart [23:26] of this. [23:27] Any dollar that we use [23:28] and we spend [23:29] towards this war machine [23:30] is a dollar [23:31] that is being stolen [23:32] from the mouths [23:32] of our children [23:33] here at home. [23:34] Every day [23:35] that we are in this war [23:36] with Iran, [23:36] we are spending [23:37] over a billion dollars. [23:39] In the first six days [23:40] of this war, [23:41] we could have funded [23:42] the universal child care [23:43] program [23:44] that Mayor Zoran Mamdani [23:45] ran on last year. [23:46] We should be investing [23:47] our tax dollars [23:48] on our children [23:49] here at home. [23:50] We can eradicate [23:51] childhood poverty. [23:52] We can expand [23:53] the child tax credit, [23:54] fight for universal child care, [23:55] make sure that we are [23:56] fighting for parents [23:57] to have paid parental leave. [23:59] But we cannot do that [24:00] so long as our society [24:01] continues to value [24:03] the war machine [24:04] over the lives [24:05] of our children here. [24:06] It is time [24:06] that we invest [24:07] our tax dollars here [24:08] and invest in diplomacy [24:09] to address them. [24:11] Okay. [24:12] Certainly, [24:12] I have been [24:14] an anti-interventionist [24:16] all my life. [24:18] I was in the Dominican Republic [24:19] when we were intervening [24:21] back in the 60s. [24:23] So traditionally [24:25] and philosophically, [24:26] I have stood [24:27] against any type [24:28] of intervention. [24:30] I think this was [24:30] an ill-equipped [24:32] and wrong war, [24:34] an illegal war [24:35] that I think [24:36] that the White House [24:37] has to come to Congress. [24:40] I voted [24:40] for the War Powers Act. [24:43] to protect them twice, [24:44] not once, [24:45] but twice. [24:46] I will continue [24:46] to ensure [24:47] that we don't give [24:48] one penny [24:49] for that illegal war [24:51] in Iran. [24:52] I think that [24:53] we need to have peace. [24:55] The way to do that [24:56] is through, [24:57] obviously, [24:57] vigorous diplomacy. [25:00] We need to make sure [25:00] that the money [25:01] that is being spent [25:02] in the war [25:02] goes to Medicaid. [25:05] 480,000 [25:06] of my constituents [25:07] are Medicaid recipients. [25:08] That goes into SNAP. [25:09] 300,000 households [25:11] are recipients of SNAP. [25:13] These are critical programs [25:15] that must come home. [25:17] I vote against the NDAA, [25:19] which is the military budget, [25:20] consistently [25:21] because of that reason. [25:23] Okay. [25:23] I've got a question [25:24] for both of you. [25:25] Both of your biographies, [25:27] candidates, [25:27] include time spent [25:28] in the Middle East. [25:30] Take a minute [25:30] to describe [25:31] where you went [25:32] and things [25:33] that you saw there [25:34] that you would not [25:35] have known [25:35] if you didn't visit [25:36] in person [25:37] that would shape [25:38] your service [25:39] as a member of Congress. [25:40] Let's start with you, [25:41] Ms. Jebel. [25:41] Yes. [25:42] So I was in Nablus [25:43] for almost two months [25:45] and I visited [25:46] many cities [25:48] in the region, [25:49] both in the West Bank [25:50] and in Israel. [25:51] And what I found [25:53] in my time there [25:54] was a system [25:56] of apartheid. [25:57] And I saw [25:58] so many connections [25:59] between what was happening [26:00] to Palestinians [26:01] there in Palestine [26:02] and what was happening [26:03] to so many communities [26:05] across the U.S., [26:06] particularly black [26:07] and Latino communities, [26:08] who have been [26:09] priced out [26:10] and pushed out [26:10] of our homes. [26:11] When we talk [26:12] about displacement [26:12] in the West Bank [26:13] or in Gaza, [26:14] it is a very similar, [26:16] visually similar situation [26:18] where people [26:19] who have been [26:19] in a place [26:20] for generations [26:21] are being displaced [26:22] because of corporate interests, [26:24] because of folks [26:25] who are coming in, [26:26] claiming the land [26:27] and buying it up [26:30] and kicking the people [26:31] who live there out. [26:32] And I've seen [26:33] a lot of similarities, [26:34] not just [26:35] in the way [26:36] things are done, [26:36] but also [26:37] in the very institutions [26:38] that are enacting [26:38] that violence. [26:39] The tear gas [26:40] that was being dropped [26:41] on Palestinians [26:42] in Gaza in 2014 [26:43] was the same tear gas [26:44] that was being dropped [26:45] on black protesters [26:46] in Ferguson in 2014. [26:48] And that memory, [26:49] that summer for me, [26:50] was incredibly formative [26:51] because it showed me [26:52] that connection [26:53] is not only one [26:54] that is like, [26:55] but it is the very same system. [26:57] Thank you. [26:58] Mr. Asper. [26:58] Yes, I've been to, [27:00] of course, [27:00] Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. [27:02] Also, I met [27:03] with the Palestinian authorities [27:05] in the West Bank. [27:07] And my visits there [27:08] have shaped my opinion [27:10] about the region in general. [27:13] I am for a two-state solution. [27:16] I am for providing vigorous [27:18] humanitarian assistance [27:20] in Gaza. [27:21] I believe that the expansion [27:24] of the settlement is wrong. [27:26] I believe that Gaza [27:27] should be developed [27:28] by Palestinians, [27:30] for Palestinians. [27:31] But I also believe [27:33] in the existence of Israel. [27:36] And I think the difference [27:37] between me and my opponent [27:39] is that I believe [27:40] in a two-state solution. [27:41] And she doesn't believe [27:43] in the existence of Israel. [27:45] In fact, [27:46] the day after the October 7th attack, [27:48] she went to celebrate, Errol, [27:50] to celebrate [27:51] among radical people. [27:55] Even Mayor Mandani [27:57] and Comptroller Landers [27:59] did not attend this rally. [28:02] She went to celebrate [28:03] the death [28:04] of innocent people [28:06] in Israel [28:08] right after the attack. [28:10] Not even a month [28:11] or two later. [28:12] The day after [28:13] she was spotted, [28:14] seen there, [28:16] celebrating the death [28:17] of innocent people. [28:18] The difference between me [28:19] and her [28:19] is that I believe [28:20] in a two-state solution. [28:22] She doesn't believe [28:22] in the existence of Israel. [28:25] So, I am just shocked [28:28] by the dehumanizing language [28:29] that was just used. [28:30] I would never celebrate [28:31] the death [28:32] of any human being. [28:34] I am someone [28:34] who was in the West Bank [28:36] when tensions were rising [28:40] after a kidnapping [28:41] that had happened. [28:42] And the day after [28:43] I arrived in the U.S., [28:45] Israel began bombing Gaza. [28:48] And I remember [28:50] sitting at home, [28:51] scrolling through the photos [28:53] of the 1,400 victims [28:54] of that bombing. [28:56] The 1,400 Palestinian people [28:58] who looked so much [28:59] like the people [28:59] I had just left behind [29:00] in Nablus. [29:01] And feeling so incredibly [29:03] powerless [29:03] to do anything [29:05] to stop their deaths. [29:07] I was there [29:08] at that rally [29:08] on October 8th [29:10] because I remembered [29:10] what happened in 2014. [29:12] And I knew [29:13] that the reaction [29:14] would be an outsized reaction [29:16] that would cause [29:17] the death of thousands [29:18] upon thousands of people. [29:20] And that is what [29:20] I was there to protest. [29:22] And that my opponent [29:22] continues to dehumanize [29:24] Palestinian life, [29:25] continues to dehumanize me [29:26] for caring about human dignity [29:28] is something that, frankly, [29:31] I would not tolerate [29:32] if not for the fact [29:33] that this fight for me [29:34] is a fight for my community. [29:36] It's a fight to make sure [29:37] that the people of New York 13 [29:39] have someone [29:40] who's going to fight for them [29:41] because that is what [29:42] the people of New York 13 deserve. [29:44] Someone who sees them [29:45] as people [29:46] worth fighting for, [29:47] not statistics, [29:48] not problems to explain away, [29:50] not someone [29:51] who comes [29:52] and explains the policies [29:53] and then ignores [29:54] the impact that it has [29:55] on the people of New York 13. [29:57] Errol, you know, [29:58] what has happened [29:59] in Gaza [30:00] is horrible. [30:03] Benjamin Netanyahu [30:04] has committed war crimes. [30:08] He should be held accountable [30:10] and if found guilty, [30:13] he should be punished for it. [30:15] But equally troubling [30:18] is the fact [30:19] that my opponent [30:20] who now wants to be [30:21] a voice for the district [30:22] in Washington [30:24] was there at a rally [30:26] where the mayor, [30:28] Mayor Mandani [30:28] and others [30:29] took notice [30:31] and decided not to attend [30:33] because they knew [30:34] of the radical elements [30:37] and extremist elements [30:38] that were there [30:39] and they were there [30:40] to celebrate [30:41] the unfortunate [30:42] and tragic killing [30:44] of a few thousand. [30:46] I don't want us [30:46] to repeat ourselves, [30:48] candidates, [30:48] and I want to move on [30:49] to our cross-examination round. [30:51] That's where each of you [30:52] will get a chance [30:53] to answer one question [30:54] of your adversary [30:55] and please listen respectfully [30:58] as they give you the answer. [30:59] We'll start with you, [31:00] Mr. Espaillat. [31:02] You can ask her a question. [31:04] Yes. [31:05] I would like to ask my opponent [31:07] if you will apologize [31:10] to Kamala Harris. [31:13] As you know, [31:14] when she ran for office, [31:16] many women, [31:17] and particularly women of color, [31:19] were excited about her race. [31:21] For the first time, [31:22] we would have [31:23] an African-American woman [31:25] in the White House [31:26] and you proceeded [31:28] to irresponsibly tweet [31:31] disparaging things about her. [31:33] Will you publicly now [31:35] apologize to Kamala Harris? [31:37] Yes, and to Vice President [31:38] Kamala Harris. [31:39] I sincerely apologize [31:41] because you did not deserve [31:42] that language from me [31:43] and I would have loved [31:44] to have seen [31:45] a black woman president. [31:47] As a black woman, [31:47] I know how much [31:48] that would have meant [31:49] to so many, [31:49] including myself. [31:51] Okay. [31:52] Ms. Chevalier, [31:53] your chance to ask a question. [31:55] You know, [31:56] as the chair [31:57] of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, [31:58] it means something [31:59] to so many immigrant communities here [32:01] to have someone in that seat [32:03] who will fight for them. [32:04] And when my friend Mahmoud Khalil [32:06] was taken from the streets [32:07] of our district, [32:09] you refused to meet [32:10] with his wife, Noor. [32:11] So I ask now, [32:13] what would you say to Noor [32:15] and the millions of people [32:16] in her shoes right now [32:18] who fear that their partner, [32:20] the love of their life, [32:22] might be taken by ICE [32:23] at any moment? [32:24] First of all, [32:25] I want to congratulate you [32:26] for assisting them. [32:29] I did meet with Mr. Khalil [32:30] and his attorneys [32:31] at my office in Washington. [32:33] Once a year later. [32:34] And, and of course, [32:36] you know, [32:37] I am entrusted, [32:38] Errol and Courtney, [32:40] by the constituents [32:41] that I represent [32:42] to provide services [32:44] to thousands of people. [32:46] And my office provides [32:48] immigration services [32:49] to people [32:50] that are on the way [32:51] to be deported, [32:52] 700 of them last year, [32:54] to people [32:55] that need to reunify [32:56] with their families. [32:57] In fact, [32:58] this past week, [32:59] we worked [33:00] to get [33:01] a humanitarian visa [33:03] for someone [33:04] that came from [33:04] the Dominican Republic [33:05] for a life-saving operation [33:07] for a senior citizen [33:09] right here [33:10] in New York. [33:11] My office [33:12] has provided services [33:14] for thousands [33:15] upon thousands [33:16] of immigrants [33:18] across the city [33:18] of New York [33:19] and in my district. [33:20] People come [33:21] from outside [33:21] of my district [33:22] to get services, [33:23] immigration services. [33:24] I'm very proud [33:25] of the service [33:26] that we provide. [33:27] And I think [33:28] it's disingenuous [33:29] to say [33:30] that I'm voting [33:31] against him. [33:32] I am an immigrant. [33:33] I came here [33:34] on a visitor's visa, [33:35] overstayed the visa, [33:36] and now I'm a member [33:38] of Congress [33:38] and a very proud [33:39] member of Congress [33:40] at that. [33:41] Okay. [33:41] Thank you, candidates. [33:43] Let's have a short [33:44] lightning round. [33:44] We'll ask you [33:45] a few questions [33:46] and you can answer [33:47] mostly yes or no [33:48] or a short answer. [33:49] And Ms. Chevalier, [33:51] have you watched [33:52] a World Cup match [33:53] and if so, [33:53] which one? [33:54] Uh, this year? [33:56] Not yet, [33:56] but I was on my way. [33:57] I was watching [33:58] the Senegal, [33:59] or a score [33:59] for Senegal and France. [34:00] Okay. [34:00] Mr. Espaillier. [34:01] Yes, I watched Morocco [34:02] win recently, [34:04] the last game. [34:05] Okay. [34:05] Are you going [34:06] to the Knicks parade [34:07] on Thursday? [34:08] I'm hoping to, yes. [34:09] Yes. [34:10] Ah. [34:11] Mr. Espaillier, [34:12] what's the last movie [34:12] you saw in a movie theater? [34:15] Oh, I believe it was, [34:17] uh, it was an old movie [34:19] of, uh, Apocalypse Now, [34:21] an old version of it. [34:22] Okay. [34:23] Well, hopefully not [34:24] in the first run. [34:25] Um, no, not 20 years ago, [34:26] but recently. [34:27] Ms. Chevalier. [34:28] I believe it was [34:29] a Devil Wears product too. [34:31] Uh, is congestion pricing [34:33] working, Mr. Espaillier? [34:35] Absolutely. [34:36] It's reducing, uh, pollution, [34:38] is easing, uh, traffic [34:40] in the Midtown [34:41] and Downtown area, [34:42] and it's, [34:43] most importantly, [34:45] is-is driven funding [34:46] for the Second Avenue [34:48] subway project. [34:49] Um, I believe [34:50] that it is bringing funding [34:51] for-for, uh, the-the, uh, [34:53] project of expanding the MTA. [34:54] I also am concerned [34:55] about what we're seeing, [34:57] um, growing rates [34:58] of-of air pollution [34:59] in areas like Harlem, [35:01] Inwood, Washington Heights, [35:02] as a result. [35:03] Okay. [35:04] Ms. Chevalier, [35:04] when's the last time [35:06] you visited [35:06] the Dominican Republic? [35:08] Um, I believe it was [35:10] four years ago [35:11] with my family. [35:11] Okay. [35:12] I go there three times [35:13] a year, I know. [35:14] I can't afford to go [35:15] every year, but... [35:16] Okay, we're gonna move on [35:18] from the lightning round [35:19] and onto our next topic [35:20] and talking about [35:21] the New York City [35:21] Public Housing Authority. [35:23] Uh, this district is home [35:24] to multiple public [35:25] housing developments, [35:25] including Wagner, Johnson, [35:27] Manhattanville, [35:28] Marble Hill Houses. [35:29] The Housing Authority [35:30] has been urging [35:31] select developments [35:32] to strike deals [35:33] with private building managers [35:35] with the cost of upgrades [35:37] and operations [35:38] covered by Section 8 vouchers [35:40] instead of the traditional [35:41] funding used for public housing, [35:43] which is Section 9. [35:44] Do you support [35:45] these conversions [35:46] and if not, [35:47] how would you address [35:48] the housing authority's [35:49] $78 billion capital need? [35:52] And we'll start [35:52] with, uh, Ms. Avila Chevalier. [35:54] Yes, well, first of all, [35:55] no, I don't support this [35:57] because I believe [35:58] that we need to make sure [35:59] that public housing [36:00] remains public. [36:02] NYCHA was promised [36:03] to be a pathway [36:04] to the middle class [36:05] for so many, [36:06] and what we're seeing right now [36:07] is that for so many, [36:08] it is a last resort. [36:10] We need to protect NYCHA. [36:12] We need to protect Section 9 [36:13] and make sure [36:14] that we are fighting [36:15] for the repairs [36:15] that it needs [36:16] by fighting for a green new deal [36:17] for public housing, [36:18] which would not only allow us [36:20] to repair NYCHA [36:21] so that residents [36:22] can have a dignified place to live, [36:23] it would also decarbonize it [36:25] to make it so that, uh, [36:27] housing that has disproportionately [36:28] impacted children [36:30] to have higher asthma rates [36:31] than the other parts of the city, [36:32] um, can now have cleaner air [36:34] with the equivalent [36:35] of taking 400,000 cars [36:36] off the street. [36:37] And it would also create [36:39] dignified union jobs [36:40] for so many members, [36:41] um, of the NYCHA community [36:43] so that they can actually [36:44] have a pathway [36:45] to the middle class [36:46] in the way that NYCHA [36:47] was supposed to be. [36:48] We need to protect public housing [36:50] because we need to make sure [36:51] that we have dignified housing [36:52] for all, [36:53] and public housing [36:54] is at the heart of that. [36:55] Mr. Osprey, [36:56] I have the same question to you. [36:57] Yeah, I would oppose [36:58] that program. [36:59] Um, let me tell you, Courtney, [37:01] what we did [37:01] when we federalized, [37:03] and you mentioned [37:03] the housing complex, [37:05] Marble Hill. [37:06] At one point, [37:06] Marble Hill was not federalized, [37:09] and we were able to get [37:10] that housing complex federalized. [37:13] What we did was [37:14] we got stimulus money [37:15] to do the envelopes [37:17] of the building [37:18] to ensure that we do, uh, [37:20] roof work, [37:20] that we do pointing work, [37:22] that's brick work, [37:23] to ensure that we don't have mold [37:25] and chipping paint [37:26] and leaky, uh, pipes [37:28] in the apartments. [37:29] In order to preserve [37:30] the conditions of the apartment, [37:32] you have to do [37:33] the envelope of the building, [37:34] and that, of course, [37:35] requires capital dollars. [37:38] Now, if you don't do that [37:40] and you fix the mall, [37:41] believe me, [37:42] it will come back. [37:43] And so we did that [37:44] at Marble Hill. [37:45] I think that we need [37:46] to get capital dollars, [37:48] and again, [37:49] the money that was given [37:50] to ICE, [37:51] $170 billion, [37:53] plus another $70 billion [37:55] just last week, [37:57] is enough money [37:58] to take care [37:59] of Medicaid snap [38:00] and a down payment [38:01] to begin to fix NYCHA. [38:03] And we know [38:04] that the federal government [38:04] has been divesting [38:05] from the New York City [38:06] Housing Authority [38:07] for many, many decades, [38:08] and like I said before, [38:09] the capital need [38:10] is $78 billion. [38:11] That's correct. [38:12] I know that you said [38:13] that you could perhaps [38:14] take some money from ICE, [38:15] but is that how you can [38:16] try to close $78 billion? [38:18] You're not going to get [38:19] all of that potentially [38:20] from the federal government. [38:21] Well, first, [38:21] I think that HUD [38:22] also has to be rescued, [38:25] because right now [38:26] it's being dismantled [38:27] by the Trump administration. [38:29] We had to increase [38:30] Section 8 vouchers. [38:31] I would like to unveil [38:33] here for the first time [38:34] also my idea [38:35] of a major project [38:38] for housing, [38:39] deeply affordable [38:40] housing construction. [38:42] That should happen [38:43] at the Inwood Rail Yards. [38:45] I think there's enough space [38:46] there to build thousands [38:48] of deeply affordable [38:50] units of housing. [38:52] It's a great program. [38:53] We have the site. [38:53] All we need to do [38:55] is now identify the dollars. [38:58] And Ms. Avila-Chevalier, [38:59] how would you close [39:00] the $78 billion gap? [39:02] Yeah, absolutely. [39:03] Again, I think we need [39:04] to fight for a Green New Deal [39:05] for public housing, [39:06] because this is something [39:07] that we would be able [39:09] to provide dignified union jobs. [39:11] There are so many policies [39:12] that we could be also passing [39:14] to make sure that we are, [39:15] that we're fighting [39:17] for affordable housing [39:18] across the board, right? [39:19] And to make sure [39:20] that we are signing [39:21] onto the Homes Act [39:22] to create the social housing policy [39:24] that we desperately need [39:25] to fund affordable housing. [39:28] But again, the $78 billion, [39:30] we can fight for that tooth and nail [39:32] by funding and advocating [39:33] for a Green New Deal [39:34] for public housing. [39:35] And that's something [39:36] that I would work with folks [39:37] across our party [39:39] to make sure [39:40] that we are delivering, [39:41] because this is something [39:42] that will impact [39:43] public housing [39:43] across the country. [39:45] So the affordability crisis [39:46] obviously became [39:47] the central issue [39:48] in last year's [39:49] municipal elections [39:50] and remains a top concern [39:51] for families [39:52] in this district. [39:53] Please tell us [39:54] your number one priority [39:55] to address your constituent's [39:56] affordability needs. [39:57] And we'll start with Mr. Espaya. [39:59] First, rent, of course, [40:01] is right at the center [40:03] of affordability. [40:05] And we need to have [40:06] more housing stocks [40:08] available for our residents. [40:11] That is why I'm proposing [40:12] the Inville Railyard Project, [40:15] one that will ensure [40:16] that we have deeply [40:18] affordable housing [40:19] available for people [40:20] in the district [40:21] and in the city of New York. [40:22] In addition to that, [40:24] the Kingsbridge Armory [40:25] Project, [40:26] which we were successful [40:27] in gaining $200 million [40:29] for, [40:30] will provide 600 units [40:31] of affordable housing [40:33] for Bronx residents. [40:35] We must increase [40:36] the housing stock [40:37] to ensure [40:38] that we have available housing [40:40] that's deeply affordable, [40:41] but also that [40:42] it will impact favorably [40:44] on the levels of rent. [40:47] Ms. Chevalier. [40:47] Yes, absolutely. [40:49] I mean, there are [40:49] a number of things [40:50] that we need to do [40:51] to address the affordability crisis. [40:53] Chief among them [40:54] is addressing our housing crisis. [40:56] We need to make sure [40:57] that we are investing [40:58] in public housing. [40:59] This is the district [41:00] with the most public housing units [41:01] in the country. [41:02] And we need to actually make sure [41:04] that we are delivering [41:05] dignified housing for them. [41:06] We need to also make sure [41:07] that we are providing [41:08] good union jobs [41:09] in the process. [41:10] We can fight for [41:11] that Green New Deal [41:12] for public housing. [41:13] And we need to make sure [41:13] that we are protecting [41:15] tenants' rights to organize, [41:16] because right now, [41:17] the only tenants [41:18] who have that right [41:19] are public housing residents. [41:21] And we need to guarantee [41:22] that right across the board [41:23] to every tenant [41:24] and have that be federally protected. [41:27] We need to also make sure [41:28] that we are creating pathways [41:29] to homeownership [41:30] because right now, [41:31] 88% of our district [41:32] is our renters. [41:34] I am one of those 88%. [41:35] And we need to make sure [41:36] that we are expanding access [41:37] to that through expanding HDFCs, [41:39] investing in community land trusts, [41:41] and signing on to the Homes Act [41:42] to make sure [41:43] that we have the social housing [41:44] so that folks can actually [41:45] be stabilized [41:46] and find pathways to that. [41:48] We need to also address [41:49] childhood poverty [41:50] because we are in a point [41:51] where 40% of our children [41:53] are living below the poverty line. [41:54] And we need to expand [41:55] the child tax credit. [41:56] We need to invest [41:57] in universal child care. [41:58] And we need to make sure [41:59] that we are fighting [42:00] for our education system [42:02] to be fully funded. [42:03] So the Mamdani administration [42:04] has proposed building [42:05] one of its city-owned grocery stores [42:07] in the district [42:08] at La Marqueta. [42:10] Some local businesses [42:11] are concerned [42:12] this will hurt their bottom line. [42:14] Do you support the city-owned store [42:16] and how do you address [42:17] the concerns [42:17] of those local businesses? [42:19] We'll start with Ms. Chilvalier. [42:20] Yeah, absolutely. [42:21] I support the city-owned grocery store [42:24] and I also support small businesses. [42:27] Small businesses are at the heart [42:28] of what makes our community what it is. [42:31] It is the small immigrant businesses [42:32] that take in customers [42:35] who are in need [42:36] and say, [42:37] I can't afford to buy diapers [42:38] for my children. [42:39] And the small business owners [42:40] who say, [42:41] don't worry about it. [42:42] Come back next week. [42:43] We need to protect those businesses [42:44] because they do so much [42:45] for our community. [42:47] And we do that [42:47] by making sure [42:48] that we are fighting [42:49] for immigrant businesses [42:50] to be able [42:51] to get SBA loans [42:53] to make sure [42:53] that they can actually survive. [42:55] We need to fight [42:55] to make sure [42:56] that the cost of their rent [42:58] isn't going up. [42:59] Making sure [42:59] that we are engaging [43:01] in tax reform [43:02] that won't have them [43:03] being taxed [43:04] at the same rate [43:04] as these major corporations [43:05] that are pricing them out. [43:07] We need to fight [43:08] for our small businesses [43:09] because they are the heart [43:10] of what makes New York City businesses [43:12] what New York City is. [43:14] And so we really need to think about [43:15] how is it that we support [43:17] our communities [43:18] who are in food deserts [43:20] while also supporting [43:20] these small businesses [43:21] who need to, [43:23] who cannot bear the brunt [43:24] of these rising costs. [43:26] Mr. Aspaya? [43:27] I've fought for small businesses. [43:30] I've been in these neighborhoods [43:32] in East Harlem, [43:33] in Washington Heights, [43:34] in Harlem, [43:35] in the Bronx part of the district [43:37] where the real commercial arteries [43:40] are, are strengthened [43:41] by these small businesses [43:43] that provide most of the jobs [43:45] for our local residents. [43:46] And, and I fought for them. [43:49] I worked to ensure [43:50] that we installed [43:51] smart energy equipment [43:54] in bodegas, [43:55] refrigeration equipment [43:56] in bodegas, [43:57] air conditioning equipment [43:58] in bodegas [43:59] that will lower [44:00] their utility costs [44:02] by as much as 50%. [44:04] That's a real savings. [44:07] That's a real savings [44:08] for small businesses. [44:09] I support the one store, [44:12] public grocery store per borough, [44:15] as long as it doesn't [44:16] unfairly compete [44:18] with the local businesses [44:20] in the area. [44:21] We should not crush them. [44:23] We should be smart [44:24] about where we placed them. [44:26] It should be in a food desert [44:28] that doesn't have many supermarkets [44:31] or bodegas in them, [44:32] but we should not place them [44:34] next to a small business [44:36] and crush them [44:37] because of unfair practices. [44:38] Thank you. [44:40] Okay, candidates. [44:41] I want to talk about [44:42] immigration enforcement. [44:43] Both of you are in favor [44:44] of abolishing ICE, [44:46] but there are cases [44:48] in which migrants to New York [44:49] have committed violent crimes, [44:51] including murder, [44:52] in this district. [44:53] Under normal circumstances, [44:55] undocumented defendants [44:56] charged with crimes [44:57] go through the system, [44:58] and if convicted, [44:59] they get deported [45:00] before or after serving time. [45:03] Ms. Chevalier, [45:04] you recently said [45:05] on WNYC radio [45:06] that defendants [45:07] who commit crimes [45:08] should not be deported [45:09] after serving time. [45:11] Why is that? [45:12] Because we have [45:13] a criminal system. [45:14] It's an imperfect system. [45:15] It's an imperfect criminal system [45:16] that I've been critical of, [45:18] but we have one. [45:19] And if we truly believe [45:20] in a system [45:21] where we don't have [45:22] double jeopardy [45:23] on the basis [45:23] of where someone was born, [45:25] then we cannot also have [45:26] a system of punishment [45:27] that is unique [45:28] to people who were born elsewhere. [45:30] We need to make sure [45:31] that if we really value [45:33] equality in this country, [45:35] that we are treating people equally, [45:38] regardless of where they were born. [45:40] It cannot both be [45:41] that a person [45:42] who has citizenship [45:43] is tried and convicted [45:45] in one way, [45:46] and a person [45:46] who does not have citizenship [45:47] is tried, convicted, [45:49] and then forced [45:50] to also endure [45:51] another type of punishment [45:52] on the basis [45:53] of where they were born. [45:54] Mr. Esbayat, [45:56] how do you think [45:56] government should deal [45:57] with migrants [45:58] or undocumented New Yorkers [45:59] who have committed crimes [46:01] before or after [46:02] they have served their sentence? [46:04] Well, Errol, [46:05] the problem is that [46:07] the vast majority, [46:09] a good number [46:10] of the migrants [46:11] or the immigrants [46:12] that are being deported [46:13] are folks [46:14] that have committed [46:15] offenses of moral pertitude. [46:18] That means, for example, [46:19] jumping the turnstile, [46:21] a traffic infraction. [46:23] People are actually [46:24] getting deported [46:25] for these offenses, [46:27] not the violent offenses, [46:29] not the violent offenses, [46:29] like murder or rape, [46:31] and the vast, [46:32] a good number of them [46:33] is fueling [46:35] the deportation system. [46:37] I support it [46:38] and I have legislation [46:39] that will reform that, [46:42] that will reform the fact [46:44] that people should not [46:45] get deported [46:46] for an infraction [46:48] or a speeding ticket. [46:50] If you committed rape [46:53] or violent crime, [46:55] then obviously [46:56] the criminal justice system [46:58] should take its course. [46:59] But say more. [47:01] I mean, the question [47:01] on the table is, [47:02] if it is a serious crime, [47:04] not jumping the turnstile, [47:06] but murder, rape, [47:07] kidnapping, violent assault. [47:09] There is a process, [47:10] a criminal justice process, [47:12] that everyone [47:14] that has committed [47:14] a very violent crime [47:16] should go through. [47:17] And I believe [47:19] that the vast majority [47:20] of people [47:20] that are actually [47:21] getting deported [47:22] are not those individuals. [47:24] At the conclusion, [47:25] I mean, again, [47:26] it's a hypothetical, [47:27] although it has happened [47:28] in the district, [47:29] at the conclusion [47:30] of, say, [47:32] serving their sentence, [47:33] should they be deported? [47:34] If the law mandates [47:35] that someone [47:36] that committed rape [47:37] or someone [47:38] that committed [47:39] multiple murders [47:40] should be sent back home, [47:43] I agree with that. [47:44] Okay. [47:45] Did you want? [47:45] So, yes, I mean, [47:46] my point is that [47:47] when we see so many people [47:49] who have not committed [47:50] any crime whatsoever [47:51] being deported, [47:52] when we see people [47:53] whose crime is crimes [47:54] of poverty being deported, [47:56] that is the direct result [47:58] of a system [47:59] that allows deportation [48:01] to be used [48:01] as a form of punishment [48:02] on the basis [48:03] of where someone was born. [48:05] Now, I actually have spent [48:06] many years studying this issue [48:07] as part of my doctoral research, [48:09] and what I've found [48:10] time and time again [48:11] is that the net [48:13] gets bigger and bigger [48:15] when we start to create [48:16] these categories [48:17] of who is considered [48:18] a criminal deportee. [48:21] And so what I have said [48:22] time again [48:23] is we have a system [48:24] that we're supposed to use [48:26] to handle these issues [48:28] of criminality, [48:28] and we cannot then add [48:30] on top of that [48:31] another system [48:32] on the basis [48:33] of where someone was born. [48:34] Okay. [48:35] See, Errol, [48:36] this is the difference [48:37] between myself [48:38] and my opponent, [48:40] you know, [48:40] government and Congress [48:42] is not a PhD program. [48:46] It is knowing [48:46] how to resolve problems [48:48] of people every day, [48:51] real-life problems, [48:52] like immigration problems. [48:54] It is assisting someone [48:56] that's about to be deported [48:58] and preventing them [49:00] by providing legal services [49:02] to them from being deported. [49:04] It is ensuring [49:05] that a mom is able [49:07] to reunify with her children, [49:09] not by waiting seven, [49:11] ten years, [49:12] but relatively quickly. [49:13] It is to make sure [49:15] that you get [49:15] a humanitarian visa [49:17] for someone [49:18] that's a donor, [49:20] a kidney donor, [49:21] to save somebody's life. [49:23] These are complex things. [49:24] This is not a PhD program. [49:27] This is government, [49:27] and you need experience. [49:29] Experience matters. [49:31] We are living the Trump era, [49:33] and experience really matters. [49:35] Understood. [49:35] Did you want to respond? [49:36] Oh, I mean, [49:37] I just think [49:37] it's really interesting [49:38] that a PhD program [49:40] is somehow considered [49:42] less rigorous [49:44] than government, [49:46] and the fact [49:47] that I have spent [49:48] over seven years [49:48] studying this issue precisely [49:50] is somehow seen [49:52] as less worthy [49:52] of expertise [49:54] by my opponent. [49:55] I have worked directly [49:57] with folks [49:57] through my research [49:58] to understand [49:58] the impact [49:59] of these systems [50:00] on them, [50:01] on their families, [50:01] on their community, [50:02] and I have also worked [50:04] as an organizer [50:05] and successfully gotten [50:06] folks out of ICE detention [50:07] through my organizing work, [50:09] and I've done that [50:09] not while holding power [50:11] in office, [50:11] but as a community member [50:13] because my community needed me. [50:14] Okay, let's move forward. [50:15] I want to talk about [50:16] the case of Mahmoud Khalil, [50:17] a student protester [50:19] targeted for deportation [50:20] by the Trump administration. [50:22] Ms. Chevalier, [50:23] you've mentioned [50:23] multiple times [50:24] that Mr. Esbayat [50:25] did not respond [50:26] to you and other activists [50:27] who were fighting [50:28] on behalf of Mr. Khalil, [50:30] but just lay out for us [50:32] what exactly did you [50:33] want him to do, [50:34] and if elected, [50:36] would you extend [50:36] the same level of support [50:38] to people facing [50:39] possible deportation [50:40] whose political views [50:42] you do not share, [50:43] for example, [50:44] an Israeli migrant [50:44] who supports [50:45] Benjamin Netanyahu? [50:47] Absolutely, [50:47] because as I've stated, [50:49] deportation is wrong, [50:50] and I am someone [50:51] who will fight tooth and nail [50:53] for every person [50:54] in our district, [50:55] and the fact [50:56] that the congressman [50:56] failed to act [50:58] and the only thing [50:58] he could say [50:59] was that he trusted [51:00] Trump's DOJ [51:01] to act in accordance [51:03] with the law [51:03] when they were actively [51:04] violating the law [51:05] by taking Mahmoud [51:06] to begin with [51:07] is deeply troubling. [51:09] There were other members [51:10] of Congress [51:11] who stepped in [51:11] and advocated [51:12] on Mahmoud's behalf. [51:14] I was working [51:15] with my community [51:16] to advocate for him [51:17] and get him out of jail. [51:19] He could have, [51:20] at the very least, [51:21] met with Noor, [51:22] met with our friends, [51:23] met with the folks [51:24] who were trying [51:25] to get him out [51:25] of ICE detention, [51:27] knowing that Trump [51:28] had already said [51:29] that he would be used [51:30] as the blueprint [51:31] for how immigration [51:33] enforcement [51:33] would be conducted [51:35] going forward. [51:36] And for somebody [51:37] to ignore a case [51:39] like Mahmoud [51:40] in his district [51:41] as the chair [51:42] of the CHC [51:43] and not see [51:44] the impact [51:45] that that would have [51:45] on millions [51:46] of immigrants [51:47] across the country [51:48] is, to me, [51:49] astounding, [51:50] considering the impact [51:51] that it has [51:52] on the community, [51:53] the Latino community, [51:54] the immigrant community, [51:54] everyone in New York 13th. [51:56] Look, let him respond. [51:57] Uh, Errol, [51:58] I have worked [52:01] all my life [52:02] for immigration. [52:04] That has been my passion. [52:06] That has been my drive [52:08] to work for immigrants [52:10] across my district [52:11] and across the country. [52:14] I ensure that [52:15] a woman met her child [52:18] at the Kajuga Center [52:19] right in East Harlem, [52:20] and she came [52:21] all the way [52:22] from Arizona, [52:23] being driven [52:24] by a caravan [52:25] of people [52:27] that volunteered [52:28] to drive her [52:29] state through state [52:30] because she refused [52:31] to take [52:32] a Greyhound bus [52:33] because she felt [52:34] she was going to be arrested, [52:35] and we unified that family. [52:38] I went to 26th Federal Plaza [52:40] to support [52:42] a 32BJ worker, [52:45] went inside the building [52:46] to the 8th floor, [52:47] nearly got arrested, [52:48] surrounded by ICE agents. [52:50] I went to Delaney Hall [52:52] recently [52:53] after we won a case [52:54] in court [52:55] that ensured [52:57] that members of Congress, [52:59] and I was a plaintiff [53:00] in that case, [53:01] would have access [53:02] to any and all [53:03] detention centers. [53:04] I went to Irwin, Georgia, [53:06] where women denounced [53:08] that they were subjected [53:09] to sterilization, [53:11] and we shut down [53:13] a privately run [53:14] detention center [53:16] in Irwin, Georgia. [53:18] The fact that [53:19] my opponent hasn't been here [53:21] to see that work [53:23] is not my fault. [53:25] She hasn't been [53:26] in the district. [53:27] Let me just [53:28] to follow up, [53:30] Mr. Espayat, [53:31] are you satisfied [53:32] with how your office [53:34] handled that particular case [53:36] of Mr. Khalil? [53:37] Absolutely. [53:37] We met with him [53:38] and his attorney. [53:39] I'm happy that [53:40] my opponent helped out [53:41] and other people helped out. [53:43] It takes everybody [53:44] to address immigration, [53:46] but 700 cases [53:48] this past year, [53:50] immigration cases, [53:52] serious cases, [53:53] deportation cases, [53:54] there's nothing [53:55] more serious, Errol, [53:57] than a mom [53:57] that wants to reunite [53:59] with her child, [54:00] and she left her child [54:01] when the child [54:02] was seven years old, [54:03] and now it's 10 years. [54:05] That child now [54:06] is an adolescent, [54:07] a different person, [54:09] because the system [54:10] has failed her. [54:11] And we work every day [54:12] to accelerate [54:13] family reunification, [54:16] to ensure that people [54:17] are not deported, [54:18] that people's rights [54:19] are protected, [54:19] and I'm very proud [54:21] of that, [54:21] because I'm an immigrant, [54:22] and I'm one [54:23] that was formerly [54:24] undocumented myself. [54:25] Okay. [54:26] We'll wrap up [54:27] that topic there. [54:28] Thank you, candidates. [54:29] Okay, we're gonna move [54:29] on to a different topic, [54:31] which is, [54:32] while crime has been [54:33] dropping in general [54:34] across the city, [54:35] felony assaults [54:35] are still up [54:36] in the police precincts [54:37] in Manhattan North [54:38] in particular. [54:39] We've seen over the years [54:41] that the representative [54:42] of Harlem [54:43] has a unique prominence [54:44] and credibility [54:45] in national conversations [54:47] about public safety [54:48] and justice. [54:49] If elected, [54:50] what strategies [54:51] would you champion [54:51] in order to help [54:53] keep your constituents safe? [54:54] We'll start with Michelle Valliere. [54:56] Yes, well, thank you so much [54:57] for the question, [54:57] because I am someone [54:58] who has been studying [55:00] this very issue, [55:01] both from a policy perspective [55:03] through my sociology research, [55:05] but also someone [55:05] who has been organizing [55:06] to make sure [55:07] that our communities [55:08] get the things [55:09] that they need [55:10] to actually build [55:11] real meaningful safety [55:12] in our communities. [55:13] And so I think [55:14] for so long, [55:15] we have divested [55:17] from the very systems [55:18] that actually [55:19] have been proven sociologically [55:21] to correlate [55:22] with increased levels [55:23] of safety, [55:24] things like social safety nets, [55:26] things like secure housing, [55:27] things like making sure [55:28] that we are addressing [55:29] the opioid crisis. [55:31] And so making sure [55:32] we are funding [55:32] those programs [55:33] to make sure [55:34] that our communities [55:35] have the things [55:36] they need to thrive, [55:37] making sure [55:37] that we are providing [55:38] our kids [55:39] a dignified place [55:40] to spend their time [55:41] after school. [55:42] All of these things [55:43] are correlated [55:44] with driving [55:45] the rates of crime down [55:46] and ensuring [55:47] that we are increasing [55:48] safety overall. [55:49] And that is a commitment [55:50] that I will continue [55:51] to bring to Congress [55:53] and to work [55:53] with all levels [55:54] of government [55:54] to make sure [55:55] that we are making [55:55] our communities safer. [55:57] Mr. Espyat, [55:57] the same question. [55:58] I work well [55:59] with the police commissioner. [56:01] I don't think [56:02] my opponent [56:02] will work well with her [56:04] because she has stated [56:05] that she wants [56:06] to eliminate [56:07] the police. [56:10] This is in one [56:11] of her irresponsible tweets [56:14] in her social media. [56:16] I will work [56:16] with the police commissioner [56:17] to make sure [56:18] that the police department [56:19] is respectful [56:21] to the community [56:21] but that they do [56:23] their job [56:23] in bringing public safety [56:25] to each [56:26] and one [56:26] of their neighborhoods. [56:27] Now, the opioid crisis [56:29] is a very important one [56:31] because Harlem [56:32] has been redlined [56:34] with over 13 [56:36] methadone programs [56:37] right on 126th Street [56:39] between Lexington [56:41] and 3rd. [56:41] And I know that very well [56:42] because I lived there [56:43] right in the middle [56:45] of that epicenter [56:46] where also 800 people [56:49] are brought in [56:50] every day [56:50] from Wars Island. [56:52] And I'm working [56:53] with Governor Hockel [56:56] to ensure [56:57] that that redlining stops. [57:00] Harlem cannot shoulder [57:02] the entire crisis [57:05] of opioids [57:06] in its streets. [57:07] It must be spread [57:09] out equitably. [57:11] 75% of the people [57:12] that come for services [57:13] there, [57:14] and we're happy [57:14] that they're getting services, [57:16] are from other neighborhoods [57:19] and other boroughs. [57:21] We must work together [57:22] to ensure [57:23] that we decentralize [57:24] that opioid crisis [57:26] right there in Harlem. [57:27] Ms. Chevalier, [57:28] very quickly, [57:29] can you respond [57:29] to what Mr. Espayot said [57:32] regarding your past [57:34] social media posts [57:35] wanting to abolish [57:36] the police? [57:37] You know, [57:38] I really think that [57:39] in a time [57:40] where we are spending [57:41] more money [57:42] than we have ever spent [57:43] on policing, [57:44] in a time where policing [57:45] is more militarized [57:46] than it has ever been, [57:47] the fact that we are still [57:48] asking the question, [57:50] do we feel safe, [57:51] is very telling. [57:53] And as someone [57:53] who studies this question [57:55] of safety, [57:56] in my research, [57:57] this question of criminality, [57:58] I am someone [58:00] who has looked for answers [58:01] that actually bring real safety [58:03] to our communities [58:04] and that is funding [58:04] the programs [58:05] that are actually correlated [58:06] with an increased sense of safety [58:08] and actual safety [58:09] in our communities. [58:10] And that is work [58:11] that I am proud [58:12] that I will continue [58:13] to advocate for. [58:14] I know that we will not [58:15] get rid of police overnight. [58:17] That was never the goal. [58:18] But the goal [58:19] is to make sure [58:19] that we get to a place [58:20] as a society [58:22] where we do feel safe. [58:24] Because at the end of the day, [58:25] I want everyone [58:26] in our community [58:27] to feel that [58:28] they never have to pick up [58:29] the phone to call the police [58:30] because that is how safe they feel. [58:31] Thank you. [58:32] We're going to move on [58:32] to our lightning round. [58:35] I'll start it off with, [58:38] would you support [58:38] Representative Jeffries [58:40] as speaker [58:41] if Dems take back the house? [58:43] Ms. Chevalier. [58:44] Well, I'm focused [58:45] on my primary right now, [58:46] but I'm open to speaking [58:47] to my community about that. [58:49] Ms. Dress. [58:49] She doesn't support, [58:50] she won't support Jeffries. [58:52] She spoke badly [58:53] about Kamala Harris. [58:55] I think my district [58:56] would be very proud [58:57] to have a New Yorker [58:59] be the speaker [59:01] of the House of Representatives. [59:02] That is historical. [59:05] It will bring resources [59:06] to our district. [59:07] Mr. Espaya, [59:08] would you support [59:09] Senator Schumer [59:09] if he should run [59:10] for re-election in 2028? [59:12] That is his choice [59:13] to run for re-election. [59:14] Ms. Chevalier. [59:15] I would not. [59:16] Best mofongo [59:17] in the district, [59:18] Mr. Espaya. [59:19] Casa del mofongo, [59:20] of course. [59:22] Tie between [59:23] Mambi and Floridita, [59:24] and they're right [59:25] across the street, [59:25] so I keep going back [59:26] to Belgium. [59:26] Okay. [59:27] Ms. Chevalier, [59:27] what's the best park [59:28] in the district? [59:29] Marcus Garvey. [59:31] Inwood Hill Park. [59:34] Do you prefer [59:35] the West Side Highway [59:36] or the Harlem River Drive, [59:37] Mr. Espaya? [59:39] The Harlem River Drive. [59:41] I like the Harlem River. [59:43] I don't really drive. [59:43] I mostly take the train. [59:45] Ms. Chevalier, [59:46] have you purchased anything [59:47] in a cannabis dispensary [59:48] in the district? [59:49] I have not, actually. [59:50] Mr. Espaya? [59:51] No, but I'm willing [59:52] to try the gummy bears. [59:55] Best president [59:55] of your lifetime, [59:57] Mr. Chevalier. [59:58] Barack Obama. [1:00:01] John Fitzgerald Kennedy. [1:00:04] As a kid, [1:00:04] I looked up to him. [1:00:05] That will be [1:00:06] the last response. [1:00:07] Thank you very much, [1:00:08] candidates. [1:00:08] That's going to do it [1:00:09] for tonight's debate. [1:00:10] I'd like to thank [1:00:10] the candidates [1:00:11] for participating [1:00:12] and all of you at home. [1:00:13] If you missed [1:00:14] any part of this debate, [1:00:15] you can watch it [1:00:16] in its entirety [1:00:16] at ny1.com [1:00:18] and on the Spectrum News app [1:00:19] and on the Spectrum News [1:00:20] YouTube page. [1:00:22] Early voting is underway. [1:00:23] The polls reopen [1:00:24] tomorrow morning [1:00:25] at 10 a.m. [1:00:25] with several other races [1:00:26] on the ballot as well. [1:00:28] Primary day is just [1:00:29] one week away. [1:00:30] And as you prepare [1:00:31] to head to the polls, [1:00:32] be sure to check out [1:00:32] New York One's voter guide [1:00:33] on the Spectrum News app. [1:00:35] Thanks so much for watching [1:00:36] and have a great evening.