Friday, February 5, 2021
Interview Questionnaire
Personal Information:
Full Name SULTAN MARUF
Questions and Details:
What O ce/District are you running I am running for NYC City Council position in District 26.
for and why? I am running to make the community a better place. I have
been living here almost 2 decades. During that time I have
witnessed and endured so much corruption on a city and
state level that I want to make a difference so that others
will have a better future. For example, rising rents, judicial
misconduct, MTA fare hikes, rising homelessness, 20+k
evictions each year, slumlords, deplorable condition in
NYCHA, over development, displacement of our
communities, barely any ADA compliance transportation
system, racism, greedy/sellout politicians, hunger, poverty,
outsiders taking our jobs, students' hunger/homelessness,
legal help, crumbling hospitals, etc.
How long have you lived or worked in While taking classes and finishing up almost 4 Master
the District and how active are you in Degrees, I focused mainly on global issues. I was so
the community right now? distracted with global issues that I almost forgot about
local issues. In 2010, I started to do HOPE Homeless survey
and then I realized that I need to focus our communities
where local people are suffering. Some of my life's timeline:
2003 (Fall): Requested my classes in BMCC for a silent
prayer for the victims of 9/11
2003-Present: Antiwar Activist
2004+-Present: Global Climate change advocate
2004+-Present: Global Human Rights Activist
2005+: Lions Club president
2008+-Present: Fighting against corrupt landlord in courts
(7+ court cases including eviction)
2009+- 2018: Volunteer Sailing instructor, dockmaster, and
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marine conservation activist
2009+-2018+: UN funding and global issues by advocating to
elected officials in Washington as a representative of UNA
Queens and eventually became president.
I had an accident in 2013. So, my physical condition
deteriorate gradually. It actually opened my eyes about
poverty, hunger, rising transportation issues, rent crisis, etc.
Only a victim can understand the pain of others, so I started
to advocate for tenants' rights, Anti Amazon, Anti over
gentrification, free legal assistant, anti tenant black listing,
judges corruption, etc.
What is your current occupation? I'm an essential worker (Health Aide to an
immunocompromised, at-risk elderly patient). I also have a
small multimedia business. Furthermore, I do part-time jobs.
What were your thoughts on the I hated it.
Amazon HQ2 proposal in Long Island I raised my voice against Amazon in Community Board 1
City? and 2. I informed NYCHA residents about the issues by
going door to door, I participated rallies, informed residents
in social media, etc.
https://www.facebook.com/sultan.oceans/posts/288648599
1376992
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1082637188583176/per
malink/1124832047697023
I live in long Island City and I oppose Amazon Headquarters
in our community because
1. 25,000 new employees will yield almost 75,000 new
residents in Queens. i.e. Spouse+kids
2. It will replace our residents due to higher rent, higher
housing prices, competition for job, etc.
3. Our local residents voting power will shift to somewhere
else
Alternative options from my personal perspective:
1. Under contractual agreement, 95%-100% of NYC Amazon
employees have to be NYC residents who lived here for the
last 5 years
2. Build subsidized or public housing where 50% will be
allocated to local residents and 50% should go towards
Amazon employees for certain years
3. Never give incentives such as 3 billion dollars to rich
corporations like Amazon
We need that money for other purposes. For example, (a)
You can give $2,000 to 125,000 people for whole year, or (b)
You can give FREE Apartment/Condo to 15,000 people if we
estimate the price for each Apartment $200,000. (c) There
are so many alternative that I lost count.
My mistake:
After campaigning the issues, I should have conducted a
survey/poll and/or start a petition. If 51%+ residents were
anti amazon, then I could tell Amazon supporters about
democratic choice and/or people voice.
What is your view on the Phipps While I always support affordable housing program for all,
Houses rezoning proposal on Barnett
2
Avenue in Sunnyside?
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BUT,
1. I MUST OBEY local residents and their voices. If 51%+
local residents do not support the project, then I will not
support it. I must be the voice of our district's people.
2. Is it a scam project in the name of affordable housing
because real estate developers often scam us.
3. Sadly, our elected officials never sent us an email or mail
regarding this issues and elected official never disclose the
project until concern residents exposed the secret deals.
In summary, local residents' 51%+ voices are my voice.
A rezoning application is likely to It all depends on local residents' choice:
move forward on the private property Personally, I wish to see
surrounding the Anable Basin in Long 1. Affordable housing: keep in mind, if we have more
Island City where Amazon was apartments, then rent will eventually be lower in the long run.
proposed to go. It is likely to involve For example, we are witnessing affordable rental units in
thousands of residential units and Manhattans now.
hundreds of thousands of square feet 2. Community space for the needy people (Concert, events,
gallery, art project, etc.)
of commercial space. Would you
3. Schools, indoor playground,
approve such a development? What
4. Small stores exchange program where mom-and-pop
would you be looking for?
stores remain in our communities in centralized locations.
5. others with the recommendation from the local residents
Do you think the rezoning process 100% NOT.
(ULURP) is working? If not, how would Let's review the board members' appointment process:
you change it? "... Board Members are appointed by their respective
Borough President. Half of them are appointed at the
recommendation of their local City Council Member..."
So, Borough President and City Council members determine
whole will be their puppet.
I strongly believe in democratic process where local
residents will determine the board members based on local
election.
Should the city council cut police It is a controversial issue and I have not fully reviewed yet
funding? If so, by how much? the NYPD budget.
But, I like Times article and proposed budget cut option by
the advocacy groups:
"$397 million – Cut overtime, public relations and
surveillance technology use, and cap uniformed o cers to
budgeted amount.
$287 million – Fire abusive o cers, cut modi ed duty and
deduct settlement payouts from the operating budget as a
punitive measure.
$263 million – Freeze new hires, cancel new cadet classes
and cancel cadet training program.
$219 million – Reduce uniformed o cers by about 5
percent, to 2014 levels.
$96 million – Remove o cers from schools, transit
systems, homeless outreach and mental health response
programs."
(Source:
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/06/20/nyregion/
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defund-police-nypd-budget.html )
I need more time and local residents' opinion about this
issue.
Do you think non-citizens (including YES... 100% sure. They contribute (taxes) to our city and
undocumented immigrants) should be keep the city moving.
able to vote in New York City
elections?
How would you select community Democratic local election process where local residents
board members and is the current will select their members.
system working?
Are you an advocate for protected YES. I have 2 bikes at home right now. It is extremely
bicycle lanes in the district and, if so, dangerous to share main road with other vehicles. So,
where do you think they should go? protected bike lanes help cyclist more secured voyage.
They should go to all elected o cials (State, City,
community leaders, etc.) about their demand.
What is your view on the MTA should be completely FREE.
transportation network in Queens? All subway should have elevators.
What would you do to improve it? If we impose 1.2% MTA Tax (Wealth Tax), then I think up to
40K earners do not have to pay any MTA Tax. Further up will
have to pay reduced fares. For example,
$50,000 gross salary recipient should pay tax $50/monthly.
Similar way,
$200,000 gross salary recipient should pay $200/monthly.
And takes will go on for the higher earners.
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