Tax TO: Stonewall Dorocrats Fax Number: (800)557-3981 Date: 7/28/09 From: Michael P. Keaens Telt (718-600-5610 Number of pages including cover: = 9. Regarding: Stonewall Democrats Q&A‘Stonewall Democrats of WNY Questionnaire 4)Why are you seeking this office? lam running for Mayor of Buffalo to restore leadership, accountability, accessibility and integrity to City Hall. The residents of Buffalo are entitled to an accessible city government that works for them. 2)Why are you seeking the endorsement of the Stonewall Democrats of WNY? Rebuilding and revitalization of Buffalo cannot be accomplished without identifying and including the concerns of all our citizens, residents and taxpayers. | believe a collaboration of GLBT advocates, the Common Council, a Kearns administration as well as community based economic, housing organizations are needed to grow our city. 3) What three issues do you consider to be most important to the people served by the office you seek? A) Affordable and Safe Housing B) Crime C) Economic Development For each issue: a) Provide an example of specific action(s) you have previously taken--either as a public official or as a private citizen--to bring about positive change relative to this issue; and b) Specity what additional action(s) in regard to this issue you intend to propose if elected to the office you seek. A) Created a proactive board of public officials and private citizens to address housing and neighborhood concerns for South District Residents. Aided in the removal of properties from the FEMA Flood Plain Zone saving residents from costly flood Insurance premiums.‘Stonewall Democrats of WNY Questionnaire B) | will work with PBA to address critical needs and seek input from officers, block clubs and residents to identify efforts that will promote and improve crime prevention. C) Establish a cost-benefit analysis of housing and economic development agencies such as BERC and BURA to determine their need and usefulness. 4)What three civil rights issues do you perceive to be most important , bisexual and transgender (GLBT) community? iscrimination employment policies for GLBT persons iscrimination family law policies of GLBT persons 3)Anti-Discrimination policies for GLBT grade school and high- school students. 5) Stonewall Democrats of WNY strongly believes that candidates have a responsibility to provide voters with truthful, fair and clean campaigns for public office and to conduct themselves in a manner conducive to a civil, issue-oriented debate with their fellow candidates. Will you sign a written pledge to conduct your campaign accordingly? Yes. 6) If endorsed by the Stonewall Democrats of WNY, will you list the endorsement on all applicable campaign literature (ie., all literature listing any other endorsements)? Yes. 7) If endorsed by the Stonewall Democrats of WNY, will you attend a GLBT community forum to introduce endorsed candidates? Yes.‘Stonewall Democrats of WNY Questionnaire 8) Please describe how you will eliminate prejudice in your own office if elected. | will establish a code of conduct that will require professionalism from all City Hall employees when dealing with each other as well as the public. 9) Please describe how your election to this office would be a benefit to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. I would like to work not only with GLBT organiziations but also seek the support of other government leaders that support GLBT communities such Assemblymembers and Senators to help extend and unify GLBT advocacy. 10) What are you doing or what will you do to advocate for greater GLBT representation and empowerment at the ballot box and in elected office locally? | would like to establish a Mayoral GLBT Task Force/ Commission/Advisory Board to address the education, business, safety and welfare of GLBT persons. 11) Would you seek endorsement of or advrtise on any homophobic websites, including but not limited to politicswny.com/ politics.net? No. 12) Have you advertised or intend to advertise on such websties for your election/reelection? No.‘Stonewall Democrats of WNY Questionnaire Legislation/issue “GENDA (A.5710/5.2806) Prohibits discrimination based on gender fdentity or ‘expressin defives “gender Wenlty oF expreasion” a> having oF being pesvelwed as having a gender identity, self mage, appearance, behavior or expression swhather or nat thot andar identity, self image, appearance, behavior or ‘expression is different from that traditionally associated with the sex assigned +0 that person at birth; further includes offenses regarding gender identity or expression within the fist of offenses subjett to treatment ay hate eens. J Dignity For All Students Act (A3001/5.1987): Enact the “Dignity For All ‘Stufents Act; authorizes the commissioner of education to establish policies ‘and procedures affording all students in public schools an environment free of harassment and discrimination based on ectual or perceived race, national ‘origin, ethnic group religion, csabilty, sexual acento, erie! ot sex; requires reporting harassment and discrimination to such commission; makes ‘exemptions. Nn ‘Marriage Equality Bill: The Gomestc relations law is amended by adding 2 new ‘section to read as follows: A marriage that is otherwise vald shall be valid rogaedlazs of whether the partics to the morrioge are of the same or different \ ‘5 1835/- Equal access to Family Courts for domestic partners (Duane):Provides ‘that orders of protection may be antered against any member of the came ‘farmly or household; expands the defnrtion of "members of the samme family or household”, for purposes of issuance of orders of protection and temporary ‘orders of protection and the concurrent jurisdiction of family courte and criminal courts, to former spouse whether or not living together and unrelated ‘persons who continually or at regular intervals reside in the same household or fhave done so in the past, and persons who are or have been ina dating ar‘Stonewall Democrats of WNY Questionnalre Jntimate relationship whether or not they have ever lived together. ‘8.3496/5.1571 -Dignity For All Students Act: Enaets the "Dignity For Ail Students Act"; authorizes the commissioner of educotion to establish policies ‘end procedures affording all students in public schools an environment free of ‘harassment and discrimination baved on actual or perceived race, national 4 origin, ethnic group, religion, disability, sonal orientation, gender or sex, requires reporting harassment and discrimination to such commissions makes ee 2 pay eee ees Se Wj ersans of the same sex. ty GENDA - Gender Non- Discrimination Act: Prohibit discrimination based on _gender identity or expression; define “gender identity oF expression” as having ‘or being perceived as having 2 gender identity, self image, apperance, behavior ‘ar expression that is dffarent from that traditionally associated with the sex | szzigned to that person at birt Deartnerships and to extend provisions of laws that currently apply te spouses or next-of kin to domestic partners. City Bereavement Leave for demestic partners: Provide thal bereavernent leave be granted to individuals Involved in same-sex relationships on the same basis as those grerted to ernployees who are married. ‘City Domestic Partnesship Legislation: To provide legal status for domestic Wi | attest that this quastionnaire represents my opinion of the issues on this questionnaire: candidate's signatures pate: F/I LO Please complete the attached issues surveys, sign below and return questionnaire, surveys and your résumé by ‘fax to (800}597-3981 by July 24, 2009,