Two seasoned New York City politicians vying to become the next city comptroller sought to differentiate themselves at a debate on Tuesday, but ultimately agreed that the city should take additional fiscal measures to improve the cost of living and improve affordable housing.
At a debate at New York Law School, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine took the stage opposite Brooklyn Council Member Justin Brannan, who is the chairman of the Council's Committee on Finance.
Levine and Brannan seemed to agree that transparency on budgets and spending need to be expanded to regain the trust of New Yorkers. Brannan pointed to the current administration’s “fuzzy math forecasting” and under-budgeting.
“I think New Yorkers have to better understand that $15 billion budget is made up of their tax dollars and it's important that they understand where that money is going,” Brannan said.
The two politicians focused on cost of living issues like affordable housing, universal childcare and the pension system. When asked about whether the city should step in if New York City Health + Hospitals is affected by the proposed federal cuts to Medicaid, Levine said it would be his top priority to shore up the city's public health system should that happen.
“I think the city is going to have to be ready to step in and fill the gaps where possible,” Levine said. “This would have to rate as one of the highest priorities if we’re facing cuts. Maintaining medical care for low-income New Yorkers has to be one of our top priorities.”
When asked to identify which agency they would audit, Levine said he would focus on Housing Preservation & Development, Department of Education, New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) and homeless services.
“We have thousands of vacant apartments right now in NYCHA in the midst of a housing crisis,” Levine said. “Sometimes the delay can be nine or 12 months to turn around a vacant apartment.”
Brannan said he would prioritize the DOE. “With a $35 billion budget, I don’t know that a parent in the city that thinks their kid is getting a $35 billion education,” Brannan said.
During the lightning round of questions at the end of the debate, Levine and Brannan said they would both support closing Rikers Island.
When asked to name one agency that should have more or less funding, Brannan said the city should spend more on HPD and less on the Police Department, while Levine said the city should spend more on HPD and less on “all uniform agencies.”
On the topic of tax rates, the candidates were asked if they’d increase, decrease or keep income tax rates the same on high-income earners. Brannan said he would support “progressive taxation,” while Levine said “it’s best to be done at the federal level so we don’t compete with neighboring states.”
Both candidates also agreed that congestion pricing should continue.
Halfway through the debate, a handful of audience members asked why Ismael Malave was not on stage debating the other candidates.
Malave, who has worked as a financial analyst for various city and state agencies, was not approved because he did not meet one of the debate requirements, or to have raised $125,000 in campaign funding, according to a representative from the Citizens Budget Commission, one of the hosts of the debate.
Other candidates running for comptroller include state senator Kevin S. Parker, Saint Jermaine Endeley, Peter Kefalas and Daniel Maio.
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