UES 73rd District Assembly Race 2022: Kellie Leeson Profile

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — Voters in New York City's 73rd Assembly district, which includes parts of the Upper East Side and Midtown, will see five names on their ballots when they vote in the June 28 primary election.

One of those names will be Kellie Leeson, a humanitarian advocate who is among the Democrats seeking to replace retiring member Dan Quart. (One of the five names on the ballot will be May Malik, who has since dropped out of the race and endorsed Leeson.)

Early voting runs from June 18-26. (Find your polling sites here.)

Patch reached out to all candidates in the election to create these profiles, asking for their positions on issues like affordable housing and public safety, and giving them the chance to describe their records in detail. Leeson's responses are below.

Name

Kellie Leeson

Campaign website

https://kellieforassembly.com

NYC neighborhood of residence

Southern part of Murray Hill

Office sought

State Assembly

District, if applicable

73rd Assembly District

Party affiliation

Democrat, Working Families Party

Education

I received a Master’s in International Education from Columbia University’s Teachers College, and a Bachelor’s from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Occupation

I have over 15 years of leadership experience as an international humanitarian leader, including positions with the International Rescue Committee and NYU’s Development Research Institute. Currently, I serve as a senior advisor with the Women’s Refugee Commission on the Refugee Self-Reliance Initiative, a global effort that I co-founded, that is leading the humanitarian sector in support of refugees rebuilding their lives. I serve as US Board Chair of Urban Refugees, a leading organization in supporting refugee-led organizations in East Africa. I’m also an Adjunct Assistant Professor at NYU's Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. I began my international career as a Peace Corps volunteer, serving in both West and Central Africa.

Family

My parents are both retired. My mom was a life-long New York public school teacher and member of NYSUT.My father was a factory worker at Kodak.
My sister and brother and their families happily reside in Charlotte, NC.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

N/A

Age

48

Previous public office, appointive or elective

N/A

Why are you seeking this office?

I’ve seen what happens when governments fail the people they are meant to support and protect. Here in New York, the COVID-19 pandemic destabilized New York in ways not seen in generations — however, a return to the status quo of costly child care, unaffordable housing, unreliable public transport, weakened public health infrastructure, and a climate crisis is morally unacceptable. With the vastness of our resources, we should be better, we should do better.

We must meet this moment with competence, compassion, and community-driven solutions —ensuring people have basic health care, a roof over their heads, affordable child care, and safe living conditions. I have worked around the world to better people’s lives and have organized here in New York to do the same. I have vast and diverse experience, extensive networks around the state,, and an understanding of the issues to be able to effect real change for ALL New Yorkers. And that’s why I’m running to be the first woman assembly member to represent New York’s incredible 73rd District!

Please complete this statement: The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ___, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Voters of all ages share their concerns that the climate crisis is the single most pressing issue facing this district. Addressing the climate crisis means planning for our future, a future that protects the health and safety of New Yorkers through updated infrastructure, safe electric buildings, and investments in a green economy. As the next District 73 Assemblymember, I intend to ensure New York’s nation-leading climate legislation is fully implemented and fully funded, so we can address every other issue that New Yorkers face on a daily basis.

How would you address ongoing concerns about public safety in New York City?

Everyone should feel safe in their community. Two turbulent years marked by isolation, death, trauma and economic instability has led to an increase in crime and violence. If elected, addressing the instability of the last two years to restore public safety and confidence would be my top priority. Fortunately many New Yorkers, already support evidence-based measures that will help to get NY back on track and reduce crime.

As a Mom’s Demand Action, Gun Sense Candidate, preventing gun violence is a top priority for my campaign and this legislative session showed great promise for action but more action is needed to get guns off our streets, a total ban on AR15s is one such step. But the reality is that until we can control guns from other states we have to invest in our communities and that is why I support deeper investments in community violence intervention programs to scale these life saving programs across the city and state. These programs have already reduced shootings by 40%.

We also must look expansively and aggressively at reducing crime and addressing root causes. , New Yorkers know that housing stability, affordable housing, and reducing homelessness will keep our neighborhoods safe. The Housing Our Neighbors with Dignity Act is a great example of a creative housing solution that will transform dilapidated hotels and commercial spaces into homes for low-income and homeless New Yorkers and will work with legislators on other similar efforts.

Do you think the NYPD's response to the recent surge in crime will affect efforts at police reform and, if so, how?

The recent surge in crime needs a multi pronged approach to restabilize the city following two tumultuous years. Unfortunately, the NYPD’s response to the recent surge in crime has yet to make anyone feel safer. The city and state must take an all hands on deck approach to helping to get the city back on track and that means investing in communities by helping to keep people in their homes, funding mental health in schools and supporting a robust economic recovery. We must do more to increase our public safety efforts, but that does not mean we should cease efforts to reform the NYPD. Moving forward with reforms, such as repealing qualified immunity and giving the Civilian Complaint Review Board power to hold officers accountable, will contribute to public trust and help to keep people safe.

What is one policy you would support to make housing more affordable in New York City?

Good cause eviction will make housing more affordable. As we’ve seen in just the last year, rents are skyrocketing, and the median rent in Manhattan reached the highest price ever reported at $4,000 a month. This not only keeps people and their families out of most communities but also forces tenants out of their homes when their landlord increases rent by an exorbitant amount. Forty percent of District 73 residents already pay at least 30% of their income towards rent; good cause eviction will ensure our neighbors can stay in their homes and do not have to choose between paying rent and putting food on the table.

Should officials do more to encourage New Yorkers to return to work in person? If so, how? If not, why not?

I do not believe in returning to the office just for the sake of returning to the office. Right now, many workers are returning to the office, only to be stuck at their desks/in their offices for zoom meetings. A hybrid work from home/office model is much more reflective of the lives New Yorkers live, giving them the flexibility to support themselves and their families, while also remaining productive. For example, if a child cannot go to school because they’re sick, a parent should have the option to work from home instead of being forced to take paid leave.

AD73 includes Midtown East and this change in office norms creates a significant shift for this part of the city that will need thoughtful leadership to transition and adjust to a new reality. In this moment, we have the opportunity to ensure New York City is a place people want to be rather than have to be for their job.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

First, the obvious: I am the only woman running to represent AD73. If elected I will not only be the first woman to represent AD73. I believe representation is important (and women make up 56% of our district), but so is experience. And I bring extensive professional and organizing experience along with a record of successfully fighting for this City, for New Yorkers like you, in Albany.

I am also the only candidate who has experience working to build stability after crises; and that’s exactly what we need here in New York. I have more than 15 years of experience managing global teams to solve real people’s problems with limited resources. My work as a humanitarian leader provides me with the exact skills needed to help NY to recalibrate – empathy, collaboration, and strategic leadership. I have lived my values.

I’m also the only candidate who’s received endorsement from sitting New York State and City legislators, signaling my already-formed relationships with my future colleagues and their desire to work with me in Albany.

Finally, I’m the only candidate in this race who is not self-funding my campaign. My campaign is funded by grassroots support ensuring that my focus continues to be on addressing the issues that impact the lives of the constituents while maintaining strong ethics and ensuring that our government is accountable and transparent.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

With district 73 facing rising sea and temperature levels (as is all of NYC) because of climate change - we must address climate adaptation and mitigation. This includes thoughtfully investing infrastructure funding in our roads, buildings, and subways so they can withstand any climate disasters. We need to create more green spaces across Manhattan, and especially in District 73. We also need to protect our senior citizens who may not have adequate access to a/c or cooling centers.

Additionally, we need to increase funding in our schools- from early childhood all the way through high school. NYC schools are facing a $215 million cut next year, at a time when we should be investing in the academic, social, and emotional well-being of our students. I will also fight for universal childcare so that every New Yorker can afford to raise a family here in our city. And, just as we need to invest in our youngest New Yorkers, we must invest in our elders. Everyone deserves to age in place; New Yorkers deserve access to high-quality home-care provided by home-care workers who are paid a living wage. We must ensure retired New Yorkers are not priced out of their homes, as well.

We also need to restore public trust in our government, which means increasing transparency, and accountability, and restoring democracy. Albany’s budget process heavily favors the governor, leaving the Senate and Assembly to negotiate for critical investments with one hand tied behind their back. I will fight for stronger checks and balances in the budgeting process, empowering legislators to fight for their constituents and the services they deserve. I will also seek to create more opportunities for public input on bills, extend the legislative calendar to be year-round, and finally upgrade the Assembly’s technology so committee hearings are video-streamed and archived for later viewing.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

While working with the International Rescue Committee with a team of over 400 staff members, I successfully created, implemented, and scaled programs that saved lives and then helped people to restabilize their lives after fleeing war, famine, and other catastrophes. And I did all of this while working with an always-too-small budget. This work has uniquely prepared me to help bring much needed stability to District 73 residents and all New Yorkers after more than two years of a pandemic that has led us to this moment of vast instability in our city.

In addition, many people believe that no one is prepared for “big, bad Albany politics.” But I worked in South Sudan during the civil war, and was questioned by the FSB while working with displaced people in Russia. I know I can handle Albany, and I’m ready to deliver for District 73 and all New Yorkers.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I have lived a life of service. I began my global career as a peace corps volunteer, because I truly wanted to make a difference in other people’s lives. That experience put me on a path of humanitarianism – where I have been privileged to work with leading organizations dedicated to improving the lives of refugees and displaced people around the world. My commitment to service is also demonstrated in the decade I have spent as a volunteer here in New York, organizing for better representation, advocating for social justice and a more transparent government and standing up to elected officials. This run is an extension of my life’s work. I will bring the same dedication and passion to Albany in service of the constituents of District 73.