David Yassky, Candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives, 11th District

I support a professional sports team in Brooklyn, and the addition of affordable housing, new commercial space and an arena to Downtown. I do not support, however, the scale of Mr. Ratner's project, nor do I feel that the City and State governments have done nearly enough to prepare for the thousands of new commuters and residents that any new significant development would bring. Before I can endorse the Ratner plan to develop the Atlantic Yards area, the number and size of buildings in the development must be reduced significantly. Also, a realistic, comprehensive infrastructure and traffic plan must be developed and implemented. Even though so much investment in Downtown would provide jobs, tax revenue and cheaper housing for Brooklynites, this both potentially beneficial and detrimental project is not yet ready to be executed.

I believe in the use of eminent domain for the public good, but only as an absolute last resort by government. If eminent domain becomes necessary, landowners must be compensated accordingly, including payments that exceed the market value of their property, and added expenses for relocation.

Prospect Park is the backyard for thousands of Brooklyn families, and should be protected to ensure that it will be a safe and clean place to enjoy for generations to come. In order to best do that, I believe car traffic should be limited in the Park so that bicyclists, rollerskaters, joggers and parents with strollers can traverse the grounds easily and safely, without danger of an accident. Prohibiting cars will also improve air quality in the Park, which should be one of the few bastions of clean air in the City. I also realize, however, that diverting traffic flow at certain times could increase congestion on other roads near the Park. I support traffic studies to determine the effect these changes have to the surrounding communities, and to help plan traffic patterns so that nearby neighborhoods are not adversely affected.

I am in the race because of my City Council record of accomplishment in the areas of affordable housing, job creation, environmental protection and curbing illegal gun violence sets me apart from my opponents. In addition, my experience working for then-Congressman Chuck Schumer on such issues like the Brady Bill, the Assault Weapons Ban and for Domestic Violence Prevention legislation taught me valuable lessons in how to build coalitions from diverse groups in an effort to achieve a common goal. Lastly, the Democratic Party is in desperate need of a progressive thinker who can play a vital role in unifying the Party around a collective set of issues.

I have the utmost respect for the accomplishments and legacy left behind by Major Owens. Major Owens championed a lot of causes that I hold dear. Unfortunately, many of his legislative priorities never reached fruition because the opposition was reluctant to join the cause. One of my strengths as a Member of Congress will be to work diligently to build coalitions from those with different opinions. Creating effective legislation is only part of the equation, the willingness and ability to work alongside those who disagree in order to see that legislation become law, is an equally important facet. I believe my efforts to find a common sense; common-ground solution to our most pressing priorities is an area in which I would excel.

I truly believe that environmental protection and job creation will go hand-in-hand in the next decade. Working to wean our nation off of foreign and domestic oil, and toward more sustainable sources of energy will not only protect our environment, but will create thousands of new, permanent jobs. Working in Congress to make the important investments in new environmental technology like solar and wind power and hydrogen fuel cells will lead to the jobs our District so desperately needs. In the area of gun violence, getting illegal guns off our streets is a priority. In order to achieve this goal, we need more stringent registration and background checks on gun purchases. We must renew the Assault Weapons Ban and remove the shield of protection the gun industry enjoys. In Congress, I will work to repeal the immunity from liability granted to the gun industry. I have a strong record of taking on developers in order to secure affordable housing for New Yorkers, I will take that work ethic and passion to Congress to pass legislation that makes it easier for all Americans to achieve home-ownership and affordable housing. I would work to restore vital funding to the Department of Housing and Urban Development that was callously cut by the President and the GOP Congress, including increased funding for Section 8. In order to break the cycle of poverty, I would work in Congress to fight for not just minimum wage increases, but toward a more livable wage, so that working families can earn a salary they need in order to make ends meet.

Shaping the future of the district is a job that rests on all of our shoulders. My vision of the future for this District sees us replacing those lost jobs with permanent jobs in the areas of environmental technology. I envision a future where new, well-paying jobs, greater access to higher education help break the cycle of poverty. In addition, a national march toward universal health care will create a healthy society.

If I am given the honor to represent the 11th District in Congress, my primary theme would be merely an extension of my tenure in the City Council. In the Council, I realized early on working collectively can yield solutions to end our most pressing problems. That the more people leave their differences behind and celebrate our commonality, the most strides we can take toward a better world. My focus in Congress would be to only champion legislation that helps to lift all Americans. I would never vote for tax breaks that assist a small segment of the population or satisfy the needs of one corporate entity. I would work for the public interests and not the special interests. In short, I would put the people who sent me to Congress first.

I believe the President’s actions in areas ranging from misleading the nation as he rushed us into war, to the prison abuse scandal, to illegal wiretapping, deserve close scrutiny by Congress. I do believe enough evidence exists in order for Congress to hold hearings as to whether the President’s motives were in the best interests of our country. However, I feel that the Democratic Party must not become blinded in its desire to see the President impeached or censured while ignoring the lingering problems of millions of children still without health insurance, growing poverty and unemployment and a domestic security apparatus in need of repair. I feel the President’s actions are worthy of addressing in public hearings, but the true problems everyday Americans face deserve equal and intense attention as well.

I believe that US troops need to be withdrawn from Iraq immediately and that the US presence be replaced by a international coalition under our direction. I believe our nation must work to repair the breach created by other nations in disagreement of our recent foreign policy actions, with the understanding all nations have a stake in creating a safer world.

No answer was provided by Councilman Yassky.

The greatest problem our nation and district face is that we have lost tremendous faith in our government’s ability to protect and work toward our best interests. As the rich receive tax cuts and as relief from natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina played out in living rooms across the nation, government once again became a bad word. The challenge posed is to return to a government that people can rely on not only in the best of times, but the worse of times as well.

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NOTE: PlanetPLG has submitted these 12 questions to all candidates running for Congress in the 11th district. We will gladly publish the responses of the other candidates when they become available.