Ray McGuire (63) – former vice chairman at Citigroup, a businessman who knows the City’s economy.
Excerpted from Link (Bloomberg Opinion)
Ray McGuire: If I think about the biggest challenge that we have — and education is right at the core of this — I think about a draft that I wrote before I went on this path, that identified the impact of systemic inequities in education, in health care, in the economy, in the criminal-justice system. We have to begin to address that. And the way we’re going to do that — there’s no social justice without economic justice. My plan calls for the greatest and most inclusive economic comeback in the history of this city. It calls for the creation of 500,000 jobs that are focused on “Go big, go small, go forward.”
“Go big” is focused on infrastructure. Let’s rebuild the city. Let’s focus on bridges and highways and parking, subway elevators and sewers, and truly affordable housing. We need to focus on broadband because we’re in a digital divide now. And we need to make certain we also have clean energy and we focus on climate resiliency. That’s the “Go big” part.
But what is also critical is “Go small,” which focuses on small businesses, because small businesses are responsible for 50% of the workers in New York City. And what I want to do there is to take 50,000 of those small businesses. I want to pay for 50% of the workers’ salary for one year. I want to allow city permits and licenses to renew for one year without any fees. I want to see if we can negotiate a holiday for the FICO credit scores. I will also have a deputy mayor for small businesses. And I’m going to supplement this with support, with capital that can be used for either low-interest loans for those beginning, or grants for those who now need a lifeline, and/or equity that we invest in the community banks.
And then my other plan, “Go forward,” is to focus on the MWBEs [Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises]. In 2020, we spent $22.5 billion dollars, of which $1.1 billion, or less than 5%, got to MWBEs. Eighty-two percent of the MWBEs received nothing. There’s clearly an opportunity for us to invest, and when we invest, all boats rise in a rising tide. That’s the only way we’re going to bring this city back.
We are reaching out to Mr. McGuire for his position on Business and Professional Women, and will post the response(s) we receive.
Replies
How will you ensure that women’s participation and leadership are fully integrated across New York City government and that every decision made is considered through an anti-racist, gender-focused lens?
My commitment to diversity is weaved into every aspect of my effort to lead this city beginning with the team I have hired to run this campaign. Every major department in my campaign is led by women, primarily women of color, including communications, finance, political, and field. I didn’t just hire these women, but I hired the companies they run and that is responsible for the creation of hundreds of jobs. I will have high ranking women in my administration inside City Hall and throughout the departments to enact my vision of a renewed New York City. My administration will embrace diversity at all levels of hiring to ensure that it is reflective of the city it serves. It is important that the mayor has the leadership and management experience to drive outcomes when it comes to quality of life issues that affect all New Yorkers especially for women of color who are much too often left behind, and exhibits the leadership to hold themselves accountable for getting it done. That’s exactly what I promise to do and what I will look for in all ranks of my administration.
Affordable and Safe Housing
Some women and families live in New York City’s homeless shelters for over a year because they cannot find safe, affordable places to live with the current rate of NYC rental subsidy. As mayor, how will you address this reality and help families build their lives outside of the shelter system?
To keep more New Yorkers from facing evictions and to help others exit the shelter system for good, I will increase the amount the City currently spends on rental subsidies and vouchers from approximately $130 million to $400 million. Additionally, we must reform the bureaucracy that results in long wait times for people trying to access rental assistance and landlords to receive payment from the city. Under my administration, I will ensure that all shelters provide access to tailored support services, including mental health, job training and placement, and childcare. Using my management expertise, I will also streamline services across agencies while holding both city employees and service providers accountable for moving folks out of shelters and into permanent housing. Lastly, increased targeted support will be available for individuals at highest risk of homelessness, including those exiting hospitalization and youth aging out of foster care.
Fair Wages
While all women continue to earn less on average than men in New York City, women of color and immigrants, who are more likely to work in low-paid jobs in the public and private sectors, face significantly larger gaps and higher poverty rates. What are your plans for eliminating these disparities in New York City?
My plan addresses multiple challenges women face entering the workforce, including pay equity, opportunities in business, and childcare. Women of color especially have been hit hardest by the economic disaster brought on by COVID-19. We all benefit by making it easier for women to earn a living and contribute to the comeback of our economy. As mayor, I would lead by example, enforcing pay equity within my administration. I will work with labor unions to bring pay equity to the full city workforce. Businesses partnering with the city will also be asked to demonstrate a commitment to pay equity, and my administration will consider their record of doing so when reviewing applications for tax incentives. To tackle the issue of limited opportunities for women in business, my new deputy mayor for small MWBEs will undertake a comprehensive review of all city contracts and franchise agreements, and identify any opportunities to extend or expand MWBE contracting and subcontracting.
Accessible Caregiving
This pandemic has exacerbated the big holes in our caregiving systems, including childcare and long-term care. How do you propose addressing these issues and creating a fair and equitable system both for families and the caregiving workforce?
I understand that access to affordable, quality childcare is still a barrier for many working mothers. As the son of a single mother, I bore witness to the challenges women face when they are forced to choose between career and family. Mothers everywhere continue to face the same issue. As part of my “Cradle to Career” education plan, I will launch an Affordable Childcare for All Initiative that will guarantee every parent access to early childcare, as well as education for infants and toddlers. These programs will be designed to address all aspects of early childhood development, which will help every kid enter school on a level playing field and ready to succeed. The initiative will provide operating funds and capacity building to existing programs, and make urgent grants to help providers launch new initiatives in underserved “childcare deserts.” I will also partner with CUNY to provide professional development to providers to ensure that every child in New York City has access to a quality early childhood development experience. Lastly, I will appoint a childcare czar to oversee a comprehensive citywide survey of childcare programs to assess how many and what type of childcare is needed in each neighborhood, and what existing providers or programs could be scaled or up skilled in order to address unmet demand..
Ending Gender-Based Violence
There has been a significant uptick in reports of sexual harassment and violence against women and gender expansive people during the pandemic. What is your plan to address gender-based violence in New York City in both the private and public sectors?
I will continue to incorporate comprehensive sexual harassment trainings in workplaces that provides resources people can use when in a hostile or dangerous environment. For those experiencing domestic violence, the most important thing I will do as mayor is to provide individuals with access to safe and affordable housing. My housing plan would expand access to supportive housing for those who need it, and would also increase rental assistance to help people move from domestic violence shelters to permanent housing. I will pair the NYPD DV Unit with civilian specialists as part of my Emergency Services System plan to provide on-scene crisis intervention counseling and share victim awareness of community resources to break the cycle of violence, and get abuse victims out of their situation. These DV teams can also act as referral agents to other professionals, such as a domestic violence or housing agency, family justice center, mediation, or counseling.
Education
Cities across the country, including several in New York, have begun to take steps to remove police from schools. As mayor, would you remove police from schools in New York City, and if so, would you reinvest the money toward educational programs and support resources?
For routine security needs, I don’t believe that the NYPD is appropriate in schools since for too long it has criminalized student misbehavior, particularly students of color, when behavior management is a job for parents and teachers. However, my plan in no way excludes NYPD involvement when a crime has occurred or there is a heightened and specific threat. In exceptional cases where a principal feels a permanent NYPD presence is necessary, I will ensure there is a process for them to consult with the DOE to determine it on a case-by-case basis. We need to establish more inclusive educational climates that respect students and, ultimately, help keep them in the classroom.
Maternal Health
How will you use city agencies, the budget, and your role as a public figure to address the crisis of maternal mortality and specifically the disproportionate impact on Black women in NYC?
In NYC, Black women are 8 times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related complication than white women. Although the World Health Organization recommends midwives as an evidence-based approach to reducing maternal mortality, nearly half of New York City hospitals with maternity units have no midwives who can support mothers throughout their pregnancy. I will expand the scope of programs for midwives and doula care, and increase the quality and reach of primary care in low-income communities of color. As mayor, I will work to improve maternal health outcomes in partnership with local communities, hospitals, and the diverse array of maternal health providers, and launch a public education outreach program for prospective mothers to understand their medical options. I will also create birthing centers in each borough that offer low- and no-cost services, partner with CUNY and SUNY to institute a doula training program, and certify doulas and midwives as MWBEs, so the city can increase contracts with them for educational and health programming to the most at-risk communities.
Legal Justice
Low income New York City families, many headed by single mothers, continue to be impacted negatively by the lack of early civil legal representation in their interaction with City entities, such as the Administration for Children’s Services and Family Court. How would you reform the NYC civil justice system so that all NYC families have access to timely, competent legal assistance to protect their families, homes and livelihoods?
I will make sure that agencies interacting with low income families give appropriate legal services in a streamlined, easily accessible way to help these families navigate their options. I will also partner with local community based organizations in underserved, hard-to-reach communities to provide resources and will ensure outreach is done in a culturally sensitive way.
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