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<h2>HOME RULE</h2>Every election candidates for City Council and Mayor run with ideas on how to improve our city. All too often the response is “will Albany go along with that?” But upstate politicians are funded by the same wealthy interests as New York politicians, they just don’t have to deal with the consequences of bad policy. New York City lacks the power to even try solving some of its most pressing issues, it’s time Albany got out of New York City’s business starting with: <ul><li>Home rule for taxes<ul><li>If New Yorkers vote for programs that will improve their lives, and the taxes to support them, we should be able to follow through without begging Albany. </li></ul></li><li>Home rule for housing<ul><li>Rent stabilization programs, eviction laws, vacancy rules and more — New York City is a unique housing market with a unique housing crisis that isn’t felt by the rest of the State. It should be empowered to develop and try solutions without Albany’s say-so. </li></ul></li><li>Home rule over Court Administration<ul><li>There is a severe judge shortage in New York, and NYC in particular. This creates huge problems like an inability to provide constitutionally mandated access to a speedy trial, long detainments for unconvicted persons that create life-long or life-threatening situations, a justice system incapable of serving legal and justice needs of New Yorkers. New York deserves the right to serve its residents by expanding the corps of civil servants dedicated to justice.</li></ul></li></ul>

Home Rule

<h2>DEMOCRATIC EMPOWERMENT</h2>Our democracy is only as resilient as the people in it. Trust in our system and our politicians has eroded to the point that millions are voting for any change they can get because they no longer believe that their voices are heard. No matter what policies are enacted in City Hall, Albany, or Washington, we are at a point where elected leaders need to be more than representatives in government; they need to be ambassadors of government and democratic decision-making to the people of their districts. As Assemblymember, I plan to fight for legislative changes to empower voters, and launch new forms of district programming — the most successful of which I will work to institutionalize in district offices across the State.<ul><li>Empowerment Hotline<ul><li>In teaching civic workshops across NYC, I have personally taught and heard from almost 8 thousand New Yorkers who lament how they never learned how government works, the incentives that politicians face, or how institutional players affect policy. Without knowing the system, it’s impossible to know how to make a change. My office will provide a hotline to serve as a one-stop shop about how our system works and how to make an impact. </li></ul></li><li>Empowerment workshops<ul><li>The way we build power for change is to get people involved, and to get people involved, you have to offer them something. A minority of people show up to community boards, town halls, and long-winded government functions that they feel are designed to give politicians a win. My office will run empowerment workshops, built on the incredibly popular Real Politics 101 curriculum I developed, to create programming around the district and in schools that offers more than just a way to shout into the void — but rather a concrete service with lessons on how to build power in our democracy.</li></ul></li><li>In-house data science<ul><li>Effective policy is only as good as the data. My office will employ an in-house data scientist to cut through politics and produce reports for the public on key issues facing the State and District, where misinformation or confusion poses a threat to good policy. </li></ul></li><li>Matching funds with a cap for State Races </li><li>Ranked choice voting for State elections </li><li>Expanded Vote By Mail and Mobile Voting with paper ballot validation </li><li>Same-day voter registration</li></ul>

Democratic Empowerment

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<h2>June 23rd</h2>

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<h2>June 13th to June 21st</h2>

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<h2>Apply by June 13th</h2>

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Join Team Yee! This campaign is about talking with New Yorkers across AD66 about how we make this city work for the many, not the few. And to do that, I need your help.Join an upcoming canvass or phone bank (or two!) and help us have real conversations with voters about affordable housing, free and fast buses, universal healthcare, and more.No experience is required. All canvasses &amp; phone banks start with a training and you will be paired up with a buddy if you are new to this. We can't wait to see you!

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<h2>COMBATING RAPE &amp; SEXUAL VIOLENCE</h2>Sexual violence is one of the most widespread and under-addressed crimes in our society. An estimated 39% of women and 17% of men experience sexual violence in their lifetime, with rates even higher in marginalized communities. Yet, when these crimes are reported, over 60% do not receive a meaningful investigation. Despite its prevalence and severity, sexual violence is often treated as inevitable—normalized to the point that a life-altering crime affecting nearly half the population is written off as a fact of life.Public debate routinely focuses on highly visible crimes like retail theft, while offering few concrete proposals for preventing sexual violence itself. Calls for more policing do not address the reality that nearly 80% of sexual violence occurs before age 25, often long before workplace or college interventions ever reach people. In fact, research has shown that many college and workplace trainings are statistically ineffective or even counterproductive, sometimes reinforcing already-learned behaviors rather than changing them. The result is a reactive system that accepts harm instead of preventing it.Ben rejects this resignation. Sexual violence is not inevitable. It is preventable—and the evidence is clear about what works.<ul><li>K-12 Age-appropriate consent education<ul><li>For the last decade, Australia piloted K-12 consent education in various States, finally releasing a mandatory, nationwide curriculum in 2020. These programs, as well as various studies in the US, have shown consent education can reduce sexual violence &amp; gender based bullying by 25%-50% </li></ul></li><li>Legal support for people reporting crimes (see <a href="/75f80a2d-9aa5-485f-b075-e33a537a50e0#block-9c22c5c0-bef2-4fd9-8a36-1423474a2e53">Public Safety</a>)<ul><li>It is difficult to report a crime, and sexual violence has the highest rate of “prosecutorial attrition” — reports that go nowhere — of any category. A large part of this is because reporters have no legal support unless the DA decides to get involved, which is dependent on a successful report. NYC recently started a program to supply any person facing housing court with an attorney; it is a civic imperative to provide this for people reporting crimes.</li></ul></li></ul>

Combating Rape & Sexual Violen

<h2>FUNDING GOVERNMENT</h2><ul><li>Restoring Corporate Responsibility: Realign New York’s corporate tax rate—which has been cut in half since the 90s—to match regional standards like New Jersey’s, ensuring corporations contribute fairly to the state’s infrastructure. </li><li>Fair Share Income Tax: Preserve the critical tax brackets for income over $1M set to sunset in 2027 and implement an additional 2% "Fair Share" surcharge on high earners to fund essential public services. </li><li>Speculation &amp; Vacancy Taxes: Enact a statewide Vacancy Tax on long-term empty storefronts and a Pied-à-Terre Tax on luxury secondary residences to discourage real estate speculation and put housing back on the market for New Yorkers. </li><li>Taxpayer Sovereignty: Support Home Rule for local taxation so that New York City can fund its own progressive programs without being blocked by special interests in Albany. </li><li>Closing the Wealth Gap: Use progressive tax revenue to directly fund the "3 Pillars" of the campaign—making government more effective, more empowering, and more visionary for the working class.</li></ul>

Funding Government

I am working to ensure a for fast, frequent, and free bus service alongside integrated regional rail to ensure that job access and economic opportunity are no longer gated by geography or car ownership.

Transportation

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<h2>ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT</h2><ul><li>Funding the Green Transition: Implement a first-of-its-kind "Data Center Tax," ensuring that the high-energy demands of the AI and tech boom directly fund the expansion of renewable energy across New York. </li><li>Smart Grid Innovation: Invest in intelligent grid improvements to reduce overall energy waste and create a more resilient, 21st-century power network capable of handling increased demand. </li><li>Stopping Fossil Fuel Expansion: Enact a strict ban on new oil and gas pipelines through urban neighborhoods and environmentally protected lands, prioritizing public health over fossil fuel interests. </li><li>Regional Energy Resiliency: Update and champion the NY HEAT Act with specific provisions for upstate resiliency, bridging regional divides to finally pass this critical legislation and lower utility costs for all New Yorkers. </li><li>Renewable Incentives: Expand tax incentives for renewable energy adoption, making it easier and more affordable for homeowners and businesses to transition away from carbon-intensive power.</li></ul>

Energy and Environment

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<h2>TRANSPORTATION</h2>Huge swathes of New York City and the metro area lack fast, reliable mass transit, effectively forcing car ownership in places where it should not be necessary. This is not just an inconvenience—it is a cost-of-living failure. Fragmented regional planning and underinvestment mean that housing demand is artificially concentrated in a few neighborhoods of NYC, driving up rents, while more broadly, job access and opportunity remain gated by geography.Global peers like Tokyo and Singapore show what is possible when an entire metro region is planned as a single, integrated transportation system: lower housing pressure, broader labor markets, and far lower household transportation costs. New York has the density, ridership, and need—but not yet the execution.<ul><li>Make buses fast, frequent, and affordable<ul><li>Fund and expand Bus Rapid Transit, including protected lanes, transit signal priority, and camera enforcement.</li><li>Support fast and free bus service on high-ridership corridors.</li><li>Treat buses as core infrastructure, not a fallback—especially for lower-income riders and outer-borough communities. </li></ul></li><li>Integrate the region’s rail systems with through-running<ul><li>Execute long-delayed plans to integrate Metro-North, LIRR, PATH, and the subway with through-running, coordinated schedules, and unified fares.</li><li>Shift from siloed commuter railroads to a true regional rail network that makes longer-distance living viable without car dependence.</li><li>Use regional integration as a housing pressure valve, expanding where people can realistically live and work.</li></ul></li><li>Fund frequent service beyond rush hour<ul><li>Increase night, weekend, and off-peak service on commuter rail lines and buses.</li><li>Align transit schedules with how New Yorkers actually work—especially healthcare workers, service workers, and others outside the 9-to-5 economy.</li><li>Treat reliability and frequency as equity issues, not luxuries. </li></ul></li></ul><ul><li>Plan for future intercity and highway corridors responsibly<ul><li>Explore high-speed highway corridors that leverage emerging safety and speed technologies where they deliver benefits at far lower cost than traditional high-speed rail.</li><li>Ensure any such investments complement mass transit, climate, and safety goals. </li></ul></li><li>Encourage alternative modes with smart regulation<ul><li>Create a licensing structure for alternative transportation modes (e-bikes, scooters, shared mobility) for vehicles that move at motor-vehicle speeds</li><li>License delivery app drivers and hold corporations accountable for incentivizing unsafe driving practices with fines and insurance requirements. </li></ul></li><li>Improve Congestion Pricing<ul><li>Explore additional pricing windows to create incentives for drivers to further spread commuting density during rush hours</li><li>Explore exemptions or discounts for vulnerable residents in the CP zone</li></ul></li></ul>

The energy on the streets over the last few weeks has been incredible. I've been meeting voters all over the district who are excited about our message of a more effective and visionary New York that truly delivers. We’ve been meeting people from across the district, tabling in the park, and joining rallies to demand No ICE, No Wars, and No Kings. The momentum is growing — tens of thousands are watching our social media videos and recognizing me on the street, or stopping our team to say they will be voting for me during the Democratic Primary on June 23rd. We’ve already knocked on thousands of doors and spoken with so many constituents across the district about what matters most to them. With early voting now less than a month and a half away, we’re in the home stretch — and we need your help to keep building. Want to Help? Here are 5 Things You Can Do Right Now:

Want to Help? Here are 5 Things You Can Do Right Now:

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Sexual violence is one of the most widespread and under-addressed forms of harm in our society, being the second most common form of crime for people in the United States to experience after theft. For too long, our politics has treated sexual violence as an inevitable fact of life and our institutions have focused on responding only after the damage has already been done. I reject that. Sexual violence is preventable, and real <a href="/b0548de2-9aad-41ab-914a-0f0d44c46567">public safety</a> starts with prevention.That means we need to stop pretending a few workplace trainings or college seminars are enough. Not only does research show that trainings for those 18+ have nearly no impact, nearly 80%y all of this harm occurs before age 18. A safer word that takes sexual violence seriously needs age-appropriate consent education in K-12 schools. And we need it done right.Australia’s National Respectful Relationships Education Framework offers a strong model. It treats consent education not as a one-off lesson, but as part of a broader, evidence-based approach to teaching young people how to build respectful, equal, and safe relationships. It emphasizes that consent education should be age- and developmentally appropriate, expert-developed, embedded across school culture, and supported by families, educators, and communities. Make Age-Appropriate Consent Education I will pass legislation to fund and require the Department of Education to develop an age-appropriate consent education curriculum in K–12 schools, paired with emotional regulation, digital safety, and anti-bullying instruction. The model I support is evidence-based, expert-developed, and scaffolded by age: younger students learn bodily autonomy, boundaries, and emotional awareness; older students build toward consent, communication, healthy relationships, and sexual ethics. Strong frameworks abroad already use this whole-school approach and explicitly pair consent education with social-emotional learning and digital literacy.Treat Prevention as Key to Ensuring Public Safety Schools can play an important role in preventing gender-based violence by helping students build the knowledge and skills necessary for respectful relationships and by challenging harmful stereotypes early on in their development.Make it Inclusive, Trauma-Informed, and Accessible Consent education must be inclusive of LGBTQ+ students, students with disabilities, students from different cultural backgrounds, and students who have experienced trauma. It also means educators need proper training on how to respond to disclosures, prevent re-traumatization, and connect students to proper support.Teach Emotional Regulation, Media Literacy, and Online Behavior Alongside Consent Young people are learning about power, gender, relationships, and behavior online and offline every day. That is why I support pairing consent education with emotional regulation, critical media literacy, and digital literacy, so students can identify manipulation and coercion wherever they show up.Proven Results at a Low Cost The framework for this curriculum already exists and is proven to work. A survey conducted by Teach Us Consent, found a 43% increase in understanding of affirmative consent laws, with 93% of students reporting they received some form of sexual education in a 2021 survey. This program was piloted in Australia for a decade before being rolled out to all territories and states.

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<span class="image video image-right" data-embed="&lt;iframe width=&quot;560&quot; height=&quot;315&quot; src=&quot;https://www.youtube.com/embed/5Z-sZdPng5o?si=WJLcxTmTC6BRCXO6&quot; title=&quot;YouTube video player&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; allow=&quot;accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;strict-origin-when-cross-origin&quot; allowfullscreen&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;" style="width: 50%;"><img imageurl="https://run.imgix.net/0b319868-cd65-4bba-b8e7-94842f3be66a/54d5b72e-cefe-4d93-a2c5-e8ef266bcad0/54d5b72e-cefe-4d93-a2c5-e8ef266bcad0.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1280%2C720&amp;w=1500" embedcode="&lt;iframe width=&quot;560&quot; height=&quot;315&quot; src=&quot;https://www.youtube.com/embed/5Z-sZdPng5o?si=WJLcxTmTC6BRCXO6&quot; title=&quot;YouTube video player&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; allow=&quot;accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;strict-origin-when-cross-origin&quot; allowfullscreen&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;" alt="" caption="" align="right" alignwidth="50" src="https://run.imgix.net/0b319868-cd65-4bba-b8e7-94842f3be66a/54d5b72e-cefe-4d93-a2c5-e8ef266bcad0/54d5b72e-cefe-4d93-a2c5-e8ef266bcad0.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1280%2C720&amp;w=1500" data-embed="&lt;iframe width=&quot;560&quot; height=&quot;315&quot; src=&quot;https://www.youtube.com/embed/5Z-sZdPng5o?si=WJLcxTmTC6BRCXO6&quot; title=&quot;YouTube video player&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; allow=&quot;accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;strict-origin-when-cross-origin&quot; allowfullscreen&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;"><span class="video-button-placeholder" data-embed="&lt;iframe width=&quot;560&quot; height=&quot;315&quot; src=&quot;https://www.youtube.com/embed/5Z-sZdPng5o?si=WJLcxTmTC6BRCXO6&quot; title=&quot;YouTube video player&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; allow=&quot;accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;strict-origin-when-cross-origin&quot; allowfullscreen&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;">Artificial intelligence has already begun making decisions that shape people’s lives—who gets hired, who gets housing, who receives healthcare, credit, or public benefits, and who is flagged for investigation by law enforcement. When these systems are opaque, untested, or unaccountable, they can replicate bias, magnify harm at scale, and strip people of meaningful recourse.AI systems trained on flawed data or deployed without safeguards have already exacerbated harm to immigrants, low-income residents, seniors, and marginalized communities. Our government has seriously lagged behind technological innovation and must set clear, enforceable rules that ensure AI strengthens human judgment, protects civil liberties, and serves the public interest.Strong Data Protection<ul><li>Limit data collection and retention by government agencies and contractors to what is strictly necessary for a defined public purpose</li><li>Require baseline cybersecurity and privacy safeguards for any entity handling state or municipal data</li><li>Impose statutory penalties for negligent data misuse, unauthorized sharing, or preventable breaches</li><li>Classify sensitive personal data held by the state as protected civic infrastructure</li><li>Require equity impact assessments for data systems that disproportionately affect vulnerable communities</li><li>Create a legal “right to be forgotten” similar to the EU</li></ul>Regulate AI in High-Risk Decisions<ul><li>Require human review of AI-assisted decision-making in high-stakes areas like lay-offs, housing, loan approval, court sentencing, etc.</li><li>Require transparency disclosures when AI is used in hiring, housing, credit, healthcare, or public benefits decisions</li><li>Mandate bias testing and performance audits for AI systems used in consequential determinations</li><li>Require clear documentation of decision logic and system limitations</li><li>Guarantee a right to explanation and appeal for individuals affected by automated decisions</li></ul>Risk-Based AI Regulation<ul><li>Establish a tiered regulatory framework that applies stricter oversight to higher-risk AI uses and exempt low-risk uses from unnecessary regulatory burden to spur innovation</li><li>Regularly update risk classifications to reflect evolving technology and evidence</li></ul>AI Governance Inside Government<ul><li>Require pre-deployment risk assessments for AI tools procured by state or local agencies</li><li>Mandate audit trails for automated or algorithm-assisted government decisions</li><li>Require public reporting when AI meaningfully affects eligibility for rights, benefits, or enforcement actions</li><li>Prohibit agencies from delegating final decision-making authority to vendors or black-box systems</li><li>Establish uniform statewide standards for government AI procurement and oversight</li></ul>Consumer Protection in Digital Markets<ul><li>Expand enforcement authority against online fraud and deceptive digital practices</li><li>Ban manipulative interface designs like hidden fees and opt-ins that attempt to circumvent informed consent</li><li>Increase penalties for digital exploitation targeting seniors, children, or vulnerable consumers</li><li>Clarify that consumer protection laws apply fully to digital and AI-driven services</li><li>Ban dynamic pricing in stores </li></ul>Competition, Repairability, and User Choice<ul><li>Strengthen and enforce right-to-repair laws for digital devices and connected products</li><li>Require interoperability standards (e.g., uniform charging ports)</li><li>Promote repair access to lower costs and reduce electronic waste</li></ul>

<h2>PUBLIC SAFETY &amp; WELFARE</h2>New York City’s crime rate has remained at relatively low levels even as the size of the police force has fluctuated. This reflects a basic reality that decades of evidence have made clear: police and incarceration have diminishing returns as tools of public safety. There is only so much that police arriving after a crime has occurred can do, and there is a hard limit to how much public safety can be improved by incarcerating low-level offenders. Both strategies carry enormous social and fiscal costs, often without delivering lasting reductions in harm.Truly improving public safety means investing in the strategies that are actually proven to reduce dangerous situations before they escalate—approaches that address instability, untreated illness, and systemic failure rather than managing the consequences after the fact.<ul><li>Legal support for people reporting crimes (see <a href="/75f80a2d-9aa5-485f-b075-e33a537a50e0#block-9c22c5c0-bef2-4fd9-8a36-1423474a2e53">Public Safety</a>)<ul><li>It is incredibly difficult to report a crime. A large part of this is because reporters have no legal support unless the DA decides to get involved, which is dependent on a successful report. NYC recently started a program to supply any person facing housing court with an attorney; it is a civic imperative to provide this for people reporting crimes. </li></ul></li><li>Universal mental health and addiction services as public safety infrastructure<ul><li>Untreated mental illness and addiction are major drivers of homelessness, public disorder, and repeat interactions with police. Much of what people experience as “disorder” on the street—erratic behavior, public distress, and visible crisis—is rooted in the absence of accessible treatment, not criminal intent.</li><li>States that expand access to treatment see reductions in emergency room use, incarceration, and repeat offending. The alternative—cycling people through jails, shelters, and emergency departments—is vastly more expensive and less humane. </li></ul></li></ul><ul><li>Housing security (see <a href="/75f80a2d-9aa5-485f-b075-e33a537a50e0#block-d71ec099-08ff-4d6b-bdeb-413946007bf5">Affordable Housing</a>)<ul><li>Housing instability is one of the strongest predictors of crime victimization and contact with the justice system. Housing policy is therefore inseparable from public safety. Preventing eviction and homelessness does more to reduce crime than expanding jails or increasing patrols.</li><li>Fair housing — not discrimination for a felony </li></ul></li><li>Funding for more shelters and better shelter design<ul><li>Shelters are often treated as a last resort and funded accordingly, producing environments that feel unsafe for residents and surrounding communities alike. SRO-style units with secure storage, lockers, and appropriate staffing reduce conflict, improve outcomes, encourage shelter seeking, and cost less than policing street homelessness or building and operating jails.</li><li>Warming locations to draw folks off the street </li></ul></li></ul><ul><li>Consent and Emotional Regulation education (see Curriculum Reform)<ul><li>Ben supports K–12 consent education and emotional regulation instruction as part of a broader public safety strategy. Research shows that early, age-appropriate education reduces sexual violence, bullying, and later violent behavior far more effectively than downstream interventions, reducing incidents by 25-50%. Preventing harm is both more humane and more cost-effective than responding after lives have already been disrupted. </li></ul></li></ul><ul><li>Expand the court system and make it more flexible to permanently end the shortage of judges (see <a href="/75f80a2d-9aa5-485f-b075-e33a537a50e0#block-06d0a565-453c-4fdf-9017-b6c8da65e53a">Home Rule</a>)<ul><li>New York’s chronic shortage of judges, especially in New York City, brings the wheels of justice to a slow grind. Long waits for trial create a cascade of serious problems, from violation of constitution, to life-altering holding of unconvicted detainees, to a justice system that fails to bring people to justice. </li></ul></li></ul>

Public Safety & Welfare

<h2>HEALTHCARE &amp; MENTAL HEALTH</h2>In New York, rising costs, hospital closures, and unchecked consolidation have left too many communities without access to necessary care. Healthcare is an essential service and must ensure it serves patients, not just balance sheets; and reduces emergencies, not manages them more expensively.<ul><li>Universal healthcare with mental health<ul><li>Hospitals are required to serve all emergency patients regardless of ability to pay; as a result, hospitals cry poverty. Losses for these services, often due to the uninsured using the emergency room for preventable illnesses, would be eliminated with universal coverage.</li><li>Universal healthcare with addiction and mental health services improves public safety, prevents hospital visits from unhoused New Yorkers, and reduces high-cost policing and incarcerations </li></ul></li><li>Prevent hospital closures<ul><li>Requirements to prove systemic unprofitability to hospital chains looking to close locations, a losing location is not enough</li><li>Require Tier 1 trauma services within x travel time based on regional geography</li><li>Subsidize hospitals that could cause a network operator to collapse </li></ul></li></ul>

Healthcare and Mental Health

I will ensure a fair and sustainable future for New York by closing corporate tax loopholes and asking the wealthiest residents and speculators to pay their fair share for the public services we all rely on.

Call to Action

Ben Yee is a civics educator, tech innovator, and an open government advocate who has served our neighborhood for a decade as our Democratic State Committee Member. A lifelong resident of the district, Ben is the only progressive in this race with the experience to beat the real estate lobby and deliver results that the Democratic establishment has failed on, time and again. With Ben Yee, we can return power to the people and ensure Albany finally works for us.

Hands Off Greenwich Village

Do you want to know more about Ben's policies on issues ranging from affordable housing to healthcare reform to e-bikes? Drop us a line and get information on Ben's events, speaking engagements, and how to get more involved in the campaign as a volunteer.

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Long Form

"Real change doesn't come from the top down—it comes from our neighbors and the organizers standing right beside you."<h4>-Ben Yee</h4>

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Affordable Housing

<h3>A Record of Reform</h3><img src="https://run.imgix.net/0b319868-cd65-4bba-b8e7-94842f3be66a/d9b50fee-9c0e-46c6-bdbc-4a1231bba961/d9b50fee-9c0e-46c6-bdbc-4a1231bba961.jpg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C389%2C389&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="right" alignwidth="47" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed">For over a decade, Ben has led efforts to open New York’s Democratic Party to anyone interested in getting involved in our democracy. As Secretary of the Manhattan Democratic Party, he pushed it to become the most transparent County Party in the State of New York.Elected in 2016 to represent Lower Manhattan on the New York State Democratic Committee, Ben has become a key leader in the party’s Reform Coalition. He has built strong alliances with Committee Members and County Chairs statewide and is known for helping guide new members through the party process and parliamentary procedure.As one of the State Committee’s most active and effective members, Ben has helped to pass more reforms than any other member in over a decade. His wins include: requiring the public disclosure of Committee Member attendance, ensuring all adopted proposals are published on the Democratic Party’s website, pushing the Party to call for an end to the cooperation between law enforcement and ICE, and winning support for age-appropriate consent education in every public school.

A Record of Real Reform

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I am fighting to transform New York into a sanctuary for democracy, using the power of our state government to shield our residents, our funding, and our elections from federal overreach and fascist aggression.

Sanctuary NY

<h2>How to handle donations on your website</h2>Run does not process donations directly on our platform, as is standard with most political and advocacy sites.Campaigns are often required to comply with reporting requirements, donation limits, and other regulations, so using a donation processor that specializes in serving campaigns is generally a good idea. Sign up with a donation processor and then on your Pages sidebar, click the Link icon on the Donate page and add the link to your donation page. Some common options for donation processing include:<ul><li><a href="https://secure.actblue.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">ActBlue</a></li><li><a href="https://www.campaigndeputy.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Campaign Deputy</a> </li><li><a href="https://goodchange.app/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">GoodChange</a></li><li><a href="https://numero.ai/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Numero</a></li><li><a href="https://www.ngpvan.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">NGP VAN</a></li></ul>

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<h2>Privacy Policy</h2>Ben Yee for Assembly is committed to protecting your privacy online. This 10DLC &amp; Toll-Free Privacy Policy is in addition to and supplements all other privacy and data security obligations of "Ben Yee for Assembly", including our operations, employment and website privacy policies (collectively, our “Privacy Policy”). It describes our obligations and practices of how we collect and use customer consent and opt-ins for our texting and/or email services and programs.This 10DLC &amp; Toll-Free Privacy Policy applies to SMS and MMS texts from Ben Yee for Assembly.CATEGORIES OF INFORMATION COLLECTED:We will collect your name, phone number and indication of consent to receive text (SMS and MMS).HOW WE USE THE INFORMATION COLLECTED:In addition to providing the services and complying with our Privacy Policy, we use the information to confirm consent to receive text (SMS and MMS).TO WHOM DO WE SHARE THE INFORMATION COLLECTED:Text messaging originator opt-in data and consent will not be shared with any third parties, provided that the foregoing does not apply to sharing (1) with vendors, consultants and other service providers who need access to such information to carry out work on our behalf (and who will not use such information for their own purposes); (2) if we believe disclosure is required by any applicable law, rule, or regulation or to comply with law enforcement or legal process.Mobile information will not be shared with third parties/affiliates for marketing/promotional purposes.This Privacy Policy may be updated periodically and without prior notice to you to reflect changes in our information practices and applicable law. We suggest that you periodically review the Privacy Policy for amendments.

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I will make age-appropriate consent education a core part of public education, giving students the tools to understand consent, boundaries, and healthy relationships.

Consent Education

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<h2>SANCTUARY NY</h2>For the past 10 years, New York has taken action to be a sanctuary for immigrants from the Trump administration. Today, New York must do even more; it must be a sanctuary for democracy against growing fascism in the Federal government. <ul><li>Tax withholding to compensate for funds illegally stolen by Donald Trump to force compliance </li><li>Special election protection for voters from federal agents during voting (see <a href="https://x.com/yben/status/1941572742488236526">here</a>)<ul><li>Idea was introduced by Sen Harckman based on my suggestion </li></ul></li><li>Prevent NY law enforcement from working with ICE and empower them to arrest agents of the federal government if observed violation of the rights of NY residents </li><li>Bar ICE activities from State premises and using State buildings as staging locations </li></ul>

<h2>AFFORDABLE HOUSING</h2>Housing is the single largest expense for most New Yorkers—and when it fails, everything else starts to buckle. Families stretched thin disengage from civic life. Young people and working families leave the city and state. Homelessness rises. Entire neighborhoods hollow out as homes become investment vehicles instead of places to live. This unaffordability is a result of systemic policy that over-incentivizes large units for the luxury market so that our city builds massive structures, but few homes. This has turned New Yorkers against each other in piecemeal battles over plots of land when the real problem is our government’s approach to creating homes for New Yorkers.Ben will fight for: <ul><li>Vacancy Tax<ul><li>Eliminate the advantage of warehousing residential or commercial units and incentivize release into the market. </li></ul></li><li>Pied-a-terre Tax<ul><li>Ensure landowners who pay taxes elsewhere give their fair share to NYC</li><li>Penalize empty towers that lead to empty streets and monoculture communities</li><li>Rebalance the housing market, which incentivizes luxury market development </li></ul></li><li>State Land for Affordable Housing<ul><li>Any state land, or land in which the State has an interest through an Authority, should be required to be a minimum of 50% affordable. </li></ul></li><li>Affordable Housing Fund<ul><li>A new, dedicated lockbox for funding high-density, affordable housing in New York State in areas within commuter distance of economic hubs funded by vacancy and pied-a-terre taxes</li></ul></li><li>Replace AMI with Cost of Living<ul><li>AMI is relative to local incomes, not affordability, distorting the market. </li></ul></li><li>Restore Home Rule (see <a href="/75f80a2d-9aa5-485f-b075-e33a537a50e0#block-06d0a565-453c-4fdf-9017-b6c8da65e53a">Home Rule</a>)<ul><li>Allow NYC to set its own housing and tax policies, currently blocked by Albany. </li></ul></li><li>Require the Dept of Transportation, MTA, and Port Authority to develop regional plans (see <a href="/75f80a2d-9aa5-485f-b075-e33a537a50e0#block-0c06687d-34d1-4b75-a043-7bf3fdd898a3">Transportation</a>) to drastically reduce rent pressure on the urban core<ul><li>More deeply integrating the metro-area means NY State can expand access to housing, development opportunities and economic opportunity. </li></ul></li><li>Increase mandatory affordable housing for tax breaks to 35% </li><li>Provide grants to municipal governments that create comprehensive development plans <ul><li>Create reliable plans to enable long-term investment in housing and other city services.</li><li>Force local legislators to do their jobs and address city planning instead of endlessly blocking critical projects piecemeal for political points. </li></ul></li><li>Tenant Protections<ul><li>Get rid of the housing court black list</li><li>Housing access vouchers</li><li>Reform the housing court</li><li>Fund true right-to-counsel for tenants</li></ul></li></ul>

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These are some of the top priorities our campaign is focused on.

POLITICS &amp; GOVERNMENT

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Ben joined the Senate CIO’s unit to modernize the chamber’s digital infrastructure, helping turn one of the nation’s most opaque legislative bodies into an award-winning model of open government.• Fiscal Stewardship and Taxpayer Savings: Implemented innovative technology solutions that saved the Senate $1.3 million in its first year alone.• Expanding Public Access to Power: Directed the adoption of live-streaming for Senate sessions and social media integration, ensuring that legislative proceedings were accessible to every New Yorker in real-time.• Modernizing Legislative Tools: Led the design and rollout of the Senate’s modern website, the first individual Senator websites, and digital CRM systems to streamline communication between elected officials and their constituents.

Digital Strategy Director, NY State Senate

Ben was recruited to lead the digital strategy for the general election in New York, where he pioneered tech-driven grassroots organizing.• Digital Infrastructure &amp; Team Leadership: Built and managed a dedicated team responsible for the campaign’s data analysis, social media, and web presence.• Grassroots Training: Designed and led digital organizing workshops at "Camp Obama" events, empowering local volunteers with the tools to mobilize their communities online.• A New Model for Power: Honed a lifelong approach to grassroots power by using technology to scale personal engagement and bridge the gap between digital activism and traditional organizing.

Digital Director, Obama '08

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I am fighting for universal healthcare to ensure that the survival of our community hospitals depends on patient needs and public safety, not the profit margins of corporate chains

Healthcare

<h2>ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY</h2><ul><li>Integrate economic centers with regional transportation (See <a href="/75f80a2d-9aa5-485f-b075-e33a537a50e0#block-0c06687d-34d1-4b75-a043-7bf3fdd898a3">transportation</a>)<ul><li>Mandated regional planning</li><li>Through-running trains</li><li>Increased commuter service</li><li>High-speed highway corridors </li></ul></li><li>Incentives for high-tech and AI-first businesses that generate direct and secondary employment<ul><li>Biotech/life sciences</li><li>Manufacturing/robotics</li><li>Healthcare/diagnostics</li></ul></li></ul>

Economic Opportunity

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NYS Democratic Committee, AD 65

Vic Lee

<h2>TECHNOLOGY, DATA PRIVACY, &amp; AI</h2>Artificial intelligence has already begun making decisions that shape people’s lives — who gets hired, who gets housing, who receives healthcare, credit, or public benefits, and who is flagged for investigation by law enforcement. When these systems are opaque, untested, or unaccountable, they can replicate bias, magnify harm at scale, and strip people of meaningful recourse. AI systems trained on flawed data or deployed without safeguards have already exacerbated harm to immigrants, low-income residents, seniors, and marginalized communities. Our government has seriously lagged behind technological innovation and must set clear, enforceable rules that ensure AI strengthens human judgment, protects civil liberties, and serves the public interest.Strong Data Protection<ul><li>Limit data collection and retention by government agencies and contractors to what is strictly necessary for a defined public purpose</li><li>Require baseline cybersecurity and privacy safeguards for any entity handling state or municipal data</li><li>Impose statutory penalties for negligent data misuse, unauthorized sharing, or preventable breaches</li><li>Classify sensitive personal data held by the state as protected civic infrastructure</li><li>Require equity impact assessments for data systems that disproportionately affect vulnerable communities</li><li>Create a legal “right to be forgotten” similar to the EU </li></ul>Regulate AI in High-Risk Decisions<ul><li>Require human review of AI assisted decision-making in high-stakes areas like lay-offs, housing, loan approval, court sentencing, etc.</li><li>Require transparency disclosures when AI is used in hiring, housing, credit, healthcare, or public benefits decisions</li><li>Mandate bias testing and performance audits for AI systems used in consequential determinations</li><li>Require clear documentation of decision logic and system limitations</li><li>Guarantee a right to explanation and appeal for individuals affected by automated decisions </li></ul>Risk-Based AI Regulation<ul><li>Establish a tiered regulatory framework that applies stricter oversight to higher-risk AI uses and exempt low-risk uses from unnecessary regulatory burden to spur innovation</li><li>Regularly update risk classifications to reflect evolving technology and evidence </li></ul>AI Governance Inside Government<ul><li>Require pre-deployment risk assessments for AI tools procured by state or local agencies</li><li>Mandate audit trails for automated or algorithm-assisted government decisions</li><li>Require public reporting when AI meaningfully affects eligibility for rights, benefits, or enforcement actions</li><li>Prohibit agencies from delegating final decision-making authority to vendors or black-box systems</li><li>Establish uniform statewide standards for government AI procurement and oversight</li></ul>Consumer Protection in Digital Markets<ul><li>Expand enforcement authority against online fraud and deceptive digital practices</li><li>Ban manipulative interface designs like hidden fees and opt-ins that attempt to circumvent informed consent</li><li>Increase penalties for digital exploitation targeting seniors, children, or vulnerable consumers</li><li>Clarify that consumer protection laws apply fully to digital and AI-driven services</li><li>Ban dynamic pricing in stores </li></ul>Competition, Repairability, and User Choice<ul><li>Strengthen and enforce right-to-repair laws for digital devices and connected products</li><li>Require interoperability standards (e.g., uniform charging ports)</li><li>Promote repair access to lower costs and reduce electronic waste</li></ul>

Technology, Data Privacy, & AI

<span class="image video image-right" data-embed="&lt;iframe width=&quot;560&quot; height=&quot;315&quot; src=&quot;https://www.youtube.com/embed/8PI3K-7VVmg?si=DVkJdQ2nboDy7L1b&quot; title=&quot;YouTube video player&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; allow=&quot;accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;strict-origin-when-cross-origin&quot; allowfullscreen&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;" style="width: 50%;"><img imageurl="https://run.imgix.net/0b319868-cd65-4bba-b8e7-94842f3be66a/e786ff22-c1aa-4dd9-bf48-8e153853dbf0/e786ff22-c1aa-4dd9-bf48-8e153853dbf0.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1280%2C720&amp;w=1500" embedcode="&lt;iframe width=&quot;560&quot; height=&quot;315&quot; src=&quot;https://www.youtube.com/embed/8PI3K-7VVmg?si=DVkJdQ2nboDy7L1b&quot; title=&quot;YouTube video player&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; allow=&quot;accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;strict-origin-when-cross-origin&quot; allowfullscreen&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;" alt="" caption="" align="right" alignwidth="50" src="https://run.imgix.net/0b319868-cd65-4bba-b8e7-94842f3be66a/e786ff22-c1aa-4dd9-bf48-8e153853dbf0/e786ff22-c1aa-4dd9-bf48-8e153853dbf0.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1280%2C720&amp;w=1500" data-embed="&lt;iframe width=&quot;560&quot; height=&quot;315&quot; src=&quot;https://www.youtube.com/embed/8PI3K-7VVmg?si=DVkJdQ2nboDy7L1b&quot; title=&quot;YouTube video player&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; allow=&quot;accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;strict-origin-when-cross-origin&quot; allowfullscreen&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;"><span class="video-button-placeholder" data-embed="&lt;iframe width=&quot;560&quot; height=&quot;315&quot; src=&quot;https://www.youtube.com/embed/8PI3K-7VVmg?si=DVkJdQ2nboDy7L1b&quot; title=&quot;YouTube video player&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; allow=&quot;accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;strict-origin-when-cross-origin&quot; allowfullscreen&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;">For the past 10 years, New York has taken action to be a sanctuary for immigrants from the Trump administration. Today, New York must do even more; it must be a sanctuary for democracy against growing fascism in the federal government.<ul><li>Tax Withholding to Compensate for funds illegally stolen by Donald Trump to force compliance </li><li>Special Election Protection for voters from federal agents during voting (see <a href="https://x.com/yben/status/1941572742488236526" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>)<ul><li>The idea was introduced by Sen Harckman based on my suggestion</li></ul></li><li>Prevent NY Law Enforcement from Working with ICE and empower them to arrest agents of the federal government if observed violation of the rights of NY residents </li><li>Bar ICE Activities from State Premises and using state buildings as staging locations</li></ul>

Dear Neighbors,I’m writing to enthusiastically endorse Ben Yee for New York State Assembly. At a time when so much of our political work can feel hard or exhausting, Ben is exactly the kind of leader we need in government right now.For me, my time on the New York State Democratic Committee has often felt deeply uninspiring — but Ben has been a clear and consistent exception. I’ve genuinely enjoyed watching him competently and doggedly push the committee forward, even in the face of real opposition.<h3>"Ben does not accept inertia. He shows up prepared and is willing to challenge the status quo when it stands in the way of meaningful progress."</h3>Ben does not accept inertia. He shows up prepared, speaks with clarity, and is willing to challenge the status quo when it stands in the way of meaningful progress. While many are content to manage the process, Ben is focused on outcomes. He is a champion for good ideas, a fantastic advocate, and, most importantly, he is successful.Assembly District 66, and our entire state, would benefit enormously from a representative like Ben. He is someone who will unapologetically push for tangible results and bring energy, seriousness, and determination to Albany.For these reasons, I am proud to support his candidacy and strongly encourage your endorsement.Sincerely,Alana SawchukNew York State Democratic CommitteeAD 106

Jim Magee Endorsement Letter

PARTY REFORM LEADERSHIP

Ben has built and led the largest coalition of reform-minded State Committee members, forging unprecedented alliances between downstate activists and upstate County Chairs.• Proactive Upstate Engagement: Established a culture of trust with rural leaders by organizing the first annual downstate delegation to the Democratic Rural Conference, bridging the regional divide for six consecutive years.• Champion of Transparency: Authored and passed the most significant updates to Party Rules in a decade, mandating that meetings be live-streamed and that all resolutions, attendance, and voting records be made public for the first time.• Setting the Progressive Agenda: Passed more policy resolutions than any other member in over ten years, successfully putting the State Party on record for defeating the IDC (Independent Democratic Conference) and supporting their challengers, designating New York as a Sanctuary State for immigrants, and mandating consent and bodily autonomy education in New York schools.

Democratic State Committee Member

After running the Open Seat Project and getting new members elected to New York’s County Committee, Ben was elected Secretary of the County Democratic Party where he continued his commitment to grassroots organizing and good government. • Modernizing Party Communication: Built and launched the first website and social media channels for the Manhattan Democratic Party, establishing a digital standard that other county organizations across NYC eventually followed.• Radical Transparency in Leadership: Pioneered the live-streaming of all County Party and Executive Board proceedings, ending the era of closed-door meetings and opening the party's internal functions to the public for the first time.• Democratic Education &amp; Empowerment: Designed and led comprehensive training programs for County Committee members and local Democratic Clubs to demystify party structures and provide activists with the tools to navigate and influence the political system.

Secretary, Manhattan Democratic Party

I am running on a platform focused on making government work for everyday people: tackling the housing crisis, reforming public safety, and building a more transparent, accountable state government.My approach is rooted in practical problem-solving, democratic reform, and a commitment to making Albany more responsive to the people it serves.

Ben Yee's Policy Positions

I am building a modern public safety infrastructure that replaces reactive policing with proven investments in mental health, housing stability, and preventative education to stop harm before it starts.

Public Safety and Welfare

Who Is Ben Yee

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&lt;/div&gt;"><h2>“At a time when our rights are under attack, the answer is more democracy, a government that answers to the people."</h2>

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<h2>Announcement</h2>This is a momentous electionFor the first time in 35 years, Assembly District 66 will have an open seat. It’s an opportunity not just to elect a new generation of leadership, but to decide how we want to shape our politics, our government, and our democracy with this seat.Some might say that this is a safe blue seat in Lower Manhattan. Or that a local assembly race can’t really impact the big picture. I think that is a dangerous perspective. Every single elected official is critical, especially now. Trump and the MAGA Republicans are a symptom of a deeper problem, the loss of faith in our democratic system and its ability to deliver for regular people. We are beset by an affordability crisis, mega-corporations trying to squeeze every penny from working people, and tech giants using our personal data against us.Our best leaders — people like Barack Obama, AOC, Zohran Mamdani — are those who have big ideas, big policies, on how to change things for the better. And, focus equally on engaging and empowering people, inspiring hope through the promise of participation.This requires someone who’s lived that philosophyI got my start on the Obama campaign in 2008, as Digital Director for New York State, doing grassroots organizing online. From there, I went to State government, using tech to improve the transparency and accessibility of the NY State Senate — turning what was ranked the single most corrupt legislative body in the country into one that was winning awards for transparency and openness. When Donald Trump was elected in 2016, I started a nonprofit to demystify politics and government, giving people the tools they needed to become leaders in their own community. I spoke to over 8,000 people personally, and my proudest accomplishment is helping hundreds of them to become activists, start political groups, and run for office. People you may not know, but have made a huge difference — District Leaders, County Committee Members, and Presidents of local Democratic Clubs, including three in my local Assembly District — and folks you might have heard of, like Luba Gretchen Shirley, who ran for Congress in Long Island and founded Vote Mama. Even AOC joined a workshop.For the last 5 years, I’ve been in education technology, criss-crossing the world, helping to define how remote classes and AI are reshaping how we teach, learn, and work; and how governments are responding. And I’ve had a front-row seat to the culture that people like Peter Thiel and Elon Musk are building in Silicon Valley.And, for the last eight years, I’ve been representing our community in Albany to Democratic Party leadership, passing more reforms than any other State Committee Member in the last decade, consistently winning against a leadership hostile to change by building coalitions that span every part of NY State.These are the skills, abilities, and knowledge I hope to bring to the assembly seat.I still believe in the “Hope and Change” that got me involved, because that’s the story of my familyMy father‘s parents came here from China at a time when the Chinese Exclusion Act barred them from becoming citizens. My mother‘s parents were Jews who survived the holocaust; she was born a refugee in Poland. Both of these families came here looking for a better life, and they found it. My father became a civil engineer who worked for the MTA and the Port Authority for his whole life. My mother became a lawyer in a male-dominated field, and when one of America’s largest law firms made it clear that they were not promoting women to partner, she quit and took two of their top women attorneys to start what is possibly the first women-founded, owned, and run trademark law firm in the country.My parents had amazing opportunities, but they faced many challenges. An interracial couple, they got married just 10 years after the Supreme Court affirmed that interracial marriage is a civil right. They fought for those civil rights, and the civil rights of others, and they taught me that everybody has a place in this country and this democracy — but we still have to fight for that fundamental truth.That’s why I’m running Today, the dark threads of our history — racism, sexism, bigotry, predation, and corruption — are at the center of our politics and government. And we have to fight that with everything that we have.I’m running to bring all of my knowledge, my skills, my abilities — all of who I am — to fight to make New York a sanctuary for our values, our people, and our democracy.And that’s the problem today, the dark threads of our history — racism, sexism, bigotry, predation, corruption — are at the center of our politics and government. And must fight that with everything that we have. That’s why I’m running for the seat, to bring all of my knowledge, my skills, my abilities — all of who I am — to fight to make this district, this city, this state a sanctuary for our values, our people, and our democracy. My campaign is built on three pillars to do just that by making government:One, more Empowering — doing exactly what I’ve been doing for 20 years and turning this seat into a hub for civic engagement, reaching out beyond the self-selecting club members and community boards to engage people who think government is intimidating or politics is not for them. And by fighting for reforms that give power to voters, like statewide ranked-choice voting and a stronger matching funds program.Two, more Effective — truly addressing our problems by rewriting the rules of the housing market for affordability, providing healthcare to New Yorkers, improving our quality of life in the only way the works, with humanity, by housing the unhoused, providing mental health and addiction services and investing in proven urban design and educational programs that stop violent crime before it starts, and addressing wealth inequality by finally making the most fortunate pay their fair share.Three, more Visionary — by looking to the future and the society we want to build. By making civics education mandatory; by passing consent education to combat sexual violence; by teaching media and financial literacy; by being proactive in regulating AI and ensuring humans, not algorithms, are in charge of our lives; and by using state power to safeguard our elections and our democracy from those who are trying to tear them down.I am so grateful for your support over the yearsThank you all again for your support, your involvement and your activism. Our task in this moment of history is daunting, but together we can give Albany an upgrade to what it must become. -Ben Yee Candidate for NY Assembly, District 66

include parts, how we will protect them, maintain them, elizabeth street gardens, grant power to the people for their parksDemand Full Transparency and Accountability I will push for a full public accounting of what happened to the funding tied to Tony Dapolito, including the release of records, capital plans, agency communications, and timelines. New Yorkers deserve to know how this happened and who is responsible.Rebuild Tony Dapolito as a Public Space The site should remain as a vital public space. I support restoring or rebuilding the rec center as a sustainable hub with recreational space, youth programming, and flexible space for community use.Use Block Grants for Community-Led Planning I support grants that allow our neighborhoods to create comprehensive plans before developers and agencies make decisions for us. The community should set the vision first, and development should fit into that vision.End the False Choice Between Public Space and Housing New Yorkers shouldn't be forced to choose between a recreation center and <a href="/cc6f074e-8d94-43b4-824c-2e0c9b74248c">affordable housing</a>. We need both. <a href="/cc6f074e-8d94-43b4-824c-2e0c9b74248c">My housing plan</a> funds local planning through taxes on luxury speculation, requires deeper affordability on public land, and invests in homes that working families can actually afford.

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I will fully fund New York City schools and modernize our classrooms with civics, media literacy, financial fluency, and prevention-focused education so every child has the tools to succeed.

Education

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I will protect LGBTQ+ New Yorkers by defending gender-affirming care, expanding safe housing, and fighting to ensure queer and trans people can live out and proud.

LGBTQ+ Rights

ICE has become a weapon of terror in our communities. It rips families apart, targets working people, and turns everyday life into a minefield of fear. No one should be afraid to take their kid to school, go to work, report a crime, or seek medical care because a federal agency is hunting immigrants through our neighborhoods.New York cannot claim to stand for justice while allowing ICE to operate here with cooperation from local institutions. I believe we must end all unnecessary collaboration with ICE, make New York a true sanctuary state, guarantee legal representation for anyone facing deportation, and bar ICE from schools, hospitals, courts, shelters, and all public property unless they have a judicial warrant. We should not be helping a deportation machine that thrives on fear, secrecy, and cruelty. NY for All, add in

New York City’s crime rate has remained at relatively low levels even as the size of the police force has fluctuated. This reflects a basic reality that decades of evidence have made clear: police and incarceration have diminishing returns as tools of public safety. There is only so much that police arriving after a crime has occurred can do, and there is a hard limit to how much public safety can be improved by incarcerating low-level offenders. Both strategies carry enormous social and fiscal costs, often without delivering lasting reductions in harm.Truly improving public safety means investing in the strategies that are actually proven to reduce dangerous situations before they escalate—approaches that address instability, untreated illness, and systemic failure rather than managing the consequences after the fact.<ul><li>Legal Support for People Reporting Crimes (see <a href="https://www.votebenyee.nyc/public-safety" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Public Safety</a>)<ul><li>It is incredibly difficult to report a crime. A large part of this is because reporters have no legal support unless the DA decides to get involved, which is dependent on a successful report. NYC recently started a program to supply any person facing housing court with an attorney; it is a civic imperative to provide this for people reporting crimes.</li></ul></li><li>Universal mental health and addiction services as public safety infrastructure<ul><li>Untreated mental illness and addiction are major drivers of homelessness, public disorder, and repeat interactions with police. Much of what people experience as “disorder” on the street—erratic behavior, public distress, and visible crisis—is rooted in the absence of accessible treatment, not criminal intent.</li><li>States that expand access to treatment see reductions in emergency room use, incarceration, and repeat offending. The alternative—cycling people through jails, shelters, and emergency departments—is vastly more expensive and less humane.</li></ul></li></ul><ul><li>Housing security (see <a href="https://votebenyee.nyc/affordable-housing/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Affordable Housing</a>)<ul><li>Housing instability is one of the strongest predictors of crime victimization and contact with the justice system. Housing policy is therefore inseparable from public safety. Preventing eviction and homelessness does more to reduce crime than expanding jails or increasing patrols.</li><li>Fair housing—not discrimination for a felony</li></ul></li><li>Funding for more shelters and better shelter design<ul><li>Shelters are often treated as a last resort and funded accordingly, producing environments that feel unsafe for residents and surrounding communities alike. SRO-style units with secure storage, lockers, and appropriate staffing reduce conflict, improve outcomes, encourage shelter seeking, and cost less than policing street homelessness or building and operating jails.</li><li>Warming locations to draw folks off the street</li></ul></li></ul><ul><li>Consent and Emotional Regulation education (see <a href="https://votebenyee.nyc/sa-prevention" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Consent Education</a>)<ul><li>Ben supports K–12 consent education and emotional regulation instruction as part of a broader public safety strategy. Research shows that early, age-appropriate education reduces sexual violence, bullying, and later violent behavior far more effectively than downstream interventions, reducing incidents by 25-50%. Preventing harm is both more humane and more cost-effective than responding after lives have already been disrupted.</li></ul></li></ul><ul><li>Expand the court system and make it more flexible to permanently end the shortage of judges (see <a href="https://www.votebenyee.nyc/home-rule/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Home Rule</a>)<ul><li>New York’s chronic shortage of judges, especially in New York City, brings the wheels of justice to a slow grind. Long waits for trial create a cascade of serious problems, from violation of constitution, to life-altering holding of unconvicted detainees to a justice system that fails to bring people to justice.</li></ul></li></ul>

Events Post

I will ensure that mental health is treated as seriously as health by expanding community-based treatment and investing in crisis response that helps people before they reach their breaking point.

Mental Health

Why I'm Running

NYS Democratic Committee, AD 106

Alana Sawchuk

Contact Us

NYS Democratic Committee, AD 37

Jim Magee

<img src="https://run.imgix.net/0b319868-cd65-4bba-b8e7-94842f3be66a/d452a565-4d1c-417b-ad21-9ff281029d08/d452a565-4d1c-417b-ad21-9ff281029d08.jpg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1500%2C1500&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="left" alignwidth="40" tiltdirection="left" variant="base"><h3>A Vision for a Modern Democracy</h3>Ben believes that the current crisis in our democracy is a symptom of a government that has become detached from everyday reality. Whether it's housing, healthcare, or the quality of life on our streets, New Yorkers are losing faith that their voices matter. Ben is running for the State Assembly because he has the innovation, experience, and the fight to bring government back to the people.

<h2 style="text-align: center;">Assembly District 66</h2>Assembly District 66 covers Lower Manhattan — covering Tribeca, Civic Center, SoHo, NoHo, NoLIta, Greenwich Village, the West Village, and half of the East Village.

District 66

Yee Foundation

I am fighting to break New York City’s dependency on Albany, ensuring that our city has the autonomous power to tax, house, and deliver justice for its own residents without state-level interference.

I will ensure that substance use treatment is affordable and accessible, and ensure access to harm reduction, removing barriers to proven lifesaving care.

SUD Treatment & Harm Reduction

Find my Voting Site

<span class="image video image-right" data-embed="&lt;iframe width=&quot;560&quot; height=&quot;315&quot; src=&quot;https://www.youtube.com/embed/Q7JuT_0SWOI?si=7g1BVM-iu6Am6M8o&quot; title=&quot;YouTube video player&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; allow=&quot;accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;strict-origin-when-cross-origin&quot; allowfullscreen&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;" style="width: 50%;"><img imageurl="https://run.imgix.net/0b319868-cd65-4bba-b8e7-94842f3be66a/40e17fc9-0b8a-471e-be1a-252ab5864bd3/40e17fc9-0b8a-471e-be1a-252ab5864bd3.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1280%2C720&amp;w=1500" embedcode="&lt;iframe width=&quot;560&quot; height=&quot;315&quot; src=&quot;https://www.youtube.com/embed/Q7JuT_0SWOI?si=7g1BVM-iu6Am6M8o&quot; title=&quot;YouTube video player&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; allow=&quot;accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;strict-origin-when-cross-origin&quot; allowfullscreen&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;" alt="" caption="" align="right" alignwidth="50" src="https://run.imgix.net/0b319868-cd65-4bba-b8e7-94842f3be66a/40e17fc9-0b8a-471e-be1a-252ab5864bd3/40e17fc9-0b8a-471e-be1a-252ab5864bd3.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1280%2C720&amp;w=1500" data-embed="&lt;iframe width=&quot;560&quot; height=&quot;315&quot; src=&quot;https://www.youtube.com/embed/Q7JuT_0SWOI?si=7g1BVM-iu6Am6M8o&quot; title=&quot;YouTube video player&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; allow=&quot;accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;strict-origin-when-cross-origin&quot; allowfullscreen&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;"><span class="video-button-placeholder" data-embed="&lt;iframe width=&quot;560&quot; height=&quot;315&quot; src=&quot;https://www.youtube.com/embed/Q7JuT_0SWOI?si=7g1BVM-iu6Am6M8o&quot; title=&quot;YouTube video player&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; allow=&quot;accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;strict-origin-when-cross-origin&quot; allowfullscreen&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;">Education is the foundation of a healthy democracy and a resilient economy. For too long, policy has treated schools as job-training pipelines focused narrowly on test scores and “marketable” skills, while underinvesting in civic knowledge, emotional development, and information that prepares students for real life. These aren’t skills that can be taught as an elective in high school; they are habits whose value must be established early in life and built over time. At the same time, our government underinvests in schools and people who make them work. For years Albany failed to meet its obligations under the State Constitution and only paid off a multi-year debt in 2024. Schools are one of the quintessential institutions in every community. They provide the critical infrastructure of educating future New Yorkers and a trusted gathering point for families that have a unique capacity to provide services beyond education to those in need. We Need: 21st Century CurriculumSchools need to do more than prepare students for employment—students should graduate ready for citizenship, healthy relationships, financial independence, and life in an increasingly digital society. This has been common knowledge for years; it’s time we updated education for the 21st century with: <ul><li>Mandatory civics that puts teaching about government and democracy back in schools to ensure students know how our system works, know why it works that way, and feel empowered to participate. </li><li>Emotional regulation &amp; decision-making to help students cope with emotional impulses. Studies show emotional regulation classes improve student behavior and reduce violent crime by 20-30%, and recidivism to violent crime by 45% </li><li>Financial literacy education to prepare students for real-world economic realities like budgeting, credit, debt, investment, taxes and other topics that have long-run impact on financial well-being </li><li>K-12 media &amp; technology literacy so critical thinking and awareness of the risks and benefits of technology are a regular part of learning. </li></ul>Social SchoolsSchools are one of the core institutions of any community. Unfortunately, many families rely on them to solve problems that exist far outside the classroom—from untreated mental health needs and food insecurity to unstable housing and lack of healthcare access. Still, schools and teachers are expected to manage these issues without the staffing, funding, or support necessary to do it effectively. The result is students that fall behind academically not because of classroom instruction but because of external factors schools end up addressing. Instead of pushing families away or overworking untrained staff, we can make schools the natural first line of defense that they are. We can prepare schools to provide resources and guidance to families in need at the most trusted and accessible location in their community. Instead of forcing parents to navigate disconnected bureaucracies, schools can be stable neighborhood hubs capable of addressing the broader conditions that shape child success.<ul><li>Expand Medicaid reimbursement pathways for school-based healthcare and mental health services </li><li>Fund on-site social workers, counselors and care coordinators in high-needs schools </li><li>Provide grants for schools to partner with hospitals, nonprofits, food assistance providers, and local social service organizations </li><li>Allow schools to collocate healthcare clinics, counseling services, childcare, and family support programs on campus </li><li>Fund universal after-school/childcare </li><li>Create integrated case-management systems so schools, healthcare providers, and social services can coordinate support while maintaining privacy protections </li><li>Establish outcome tracking focused on attendance, mental health stabilization, graduation rates, violence reduction, and long-term student well-being rather than test scores alone </li></ul>High-Impact Tutoring to Close Learning GapsHigh-impact tutoring is one of the few interventions with strong evidence in closing learning gaps. Stanford’s National Student Support Accelerator (NSSA) cites gains over an academic year averaging the equivalent of an extra four months in elementary literacy and nearly ten months in high school math.Many States, including New York, launched virtual, high-impact tutoring programs during the COVID-19 pandemic to address learning loss. Several kept their programs running when federal ESSER funding ended; New York should, too. Modern virtual learning platforms have consistently been shown to produce outcomes for individual and small group tutoring similar to in-person sessions and substantially lower cost. New York City already provides similar support in the form of the Dial-A-Teacher program, which should be upgraded and expanded.<ul><li>Create a statewide high-impact tutoring fund targeted to schools with the largest learning gaps </li><li>Require funded tutoring programs to meet evidence-based standards: at least three sessions per week, consistent tutors, small groups, curriculum alignment, progress monitoring, in-school daytime and afterschool options </li><li>Expand and modernize Dial-A-Teacher into a statewide virtual tutoring and homework-help platform </li><li>Fund school districts to partner with certified teachers, SUNY/CUNY education programs, nonprofits, and trained tutors </li><li>Use virtual tutoring platforms to reach students in under-resourced, rural, overcrowded, or hard-to-staff schools </li><li>Continue provision of state grants for broadband, devices, and in-school tutoring spaces so virtual tutoring does not deepen the digital divide </li></ul>Intelligent Use of Technology in ClassroomsTechnology in schools should be judged the same way we judge any other educational intervention: does it measurably improve learning outcomes, and does it support healthy child development? Right now, too much classroom technology fails that test. Research increasingly shows that excessive screen exposure for younger children is associated with worse attention, weaker emotional regulation, poorer sleep, and lower academic performance.At the same time, there are areas where technology clearly works. High-impact virtual tutoring and assistive technologies improve access for students with disabilities, and AI tools can reduce administrative burden on teachers and help identify where students are struggling.New York should adopt a research-based framework that limits passive and developmentally inappropriate technology use while investing in tools that have demonstrated measurable educational value.<ul><li>Establish statewide age-based limits on nonessential screen use in early childhood and elementary classrooms </li><li>Restrict the use of passive “click-through” learning software in place of direct teacher instruction for younger students </li><li>Preserve local school autonomy but provide them with independent evidence standards for EdTech procurement </li><li>Prioritize funding for interventions with strong outcome data, including high-impact virtual tutoring and accessibility technologies </li><li>Require transparency and parental disclosure around student data collection, AI use, and algorithmic decision-making in classroom software </li><li>Fund teacher training focused on evidence-based classroom technology integration rather than blanket device adoption </li><li>Establish a statewide longitudinal research program to continuously evaluate educational technology effectiveness, student attention outcomes, and developmental impact so funding decisions are tied to measurable results rather than vendor marketing</li></ul>

We don't just need your email; we need your voice. Albany is full of "insider" politics and "market logic" that has left our neighbors behind. We are building a plan that actually delivers.

Welcome to Team Yee!

<h2 style="text-align: center;">Meet Ben Yee</h2><img src="https://run.imgix.net/0b319868-cd65-4bba-b8e7-94842f3be66a/967aa77b-389d-4e2c-8365-21f684478f0f/967aa77b-389d-4e2c-8365-21f684478f0f.jpg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C3448%2C5168&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="left" alignwidth="40" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed">Ben Yee is a lifelong New Yorker, political reformer, and candidate for State Assembly in Lower Manhattan. Ben is a product of New York’s public schools, attending P.S. 234, East Side Middle, and Bronx Science High School.His commitment to protecting democracy is deeply personal: he is the son of a first-generation Chinese-American father and a Jewish immigrant mother whose family survived the Holocaust and moved to the US as refugees after WWII.<h3>Modernizing Government</h3>Ben has spent his career at the intersection of politics, government, and technology, working to make systems work better for people. He got his start as the New York State Digital Director for the 2008 Obama Campaign. Afterward, he moved to the New York State Senate where he helped pull our state government into the digital era.Since then, Ben has worked with both local &amp; national nonprofits and startups to help strengthen our democracy. Recently, he's focused on the education crisis by joining an EdTech startup during the Pandemic. Ben helped to build virtual classrooms and AI tools that help to close the post-COVID learning gap.

Modernizing Gov't

Our democracy is only as resilient as the people in it. Trust in our system and our politicians has eroded to the point that millions are voting for any change they can get because they no longer believe that their voices are heard. No matter what policies are enacted in City Hall, Albany, or Washington, we are at a point where elected leaders need to be more than representatives in government; they need to be ambassadors of government and democratic decision-making to the people of their districts. As Assemblymember, I plan to fight for legislative changes to empower voters, and launch new forms of district programming — the most successful of which I will work to institutionalize in district offices across the State.<ul><li>Empowerment Hotline<ul><li>In teaching civic workshops across NYC, I have personally taught and heard from almost 8 thousand New Yorkers who lament how they never learned how government works, the incentives that politicians face, or how institutional players affect policy. Without knowing the system, it’s impossible to know how to make a change. My office will provide a hotline to serve as a one-stop shop about how our system works and how to make an impact.</li></ul></li><li>Empowerment Workshops<ul><li>The way we build power for change is to get people involved, and to get people involved, you have to offer them something. A minority of people show up to community boards, town halls, and long-winded government functions that they feel are designed to give politicians a win. My office will run empowerment workshops, built on the incredibly popular Real Politics 101 curriculum I developed, to create programming around the district and in schools that offers more than just a way to shout into the void — but rather a concrete service with lessons on how to build power in our democracy.</li></ul></li><li>In-house Data Science<ul><li>Effective policy is only as good as the data. My office will employ an in-house data scientist to cut through politics and produce reports for the public on key issues facing the State and District, where misinformation or confusion poses a threat to good policy.</li></ul></li><li>Matching funds with a cap for State Races</li><li>Ranked choice voting for State elections</li><li>Expanded Vote By Mail and Mobile Voting with paper ballot validation</li><li>Same-day voter registration</li></ul>

I will fight to make New York a place where immigrant communities are protected, not preyed upon — and where our government stands with families instead of with ICE.

Immigration

<img src="https://run.imgix.net/0b319868-cd65-4bba-b8e7-94842f3be66a/0c6be30c-1180-4c44-8986-595eba47df87/0c6be30c-1180-4c44-8986-595eba47df87.jpg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C325%2C1433%2C1035&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="left" alignwidth="40" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed"><h3>Empowering Our Community</h3>A grassroots organizer at heart, Ben's philosophy is that leadership means empowering others. In response to the first Trump Administration, he co-founded <a href="https://www.youmatternation.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">You Matter Nation</a>, an organization dedicated to providing free political training and civic education. Between 2017 and 2025, Ben has personally led workshops for over 8,000 New Yorkers across all five boroughs, hundreds of whom have used those lessons to become organizers, leaders, and elected representatives in their own communities. He’s also partnered with organizations like WNYC to create content like the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnI7iBxCN4A" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">People’s Guide to Power</a>.Now, Ben is taking his experiences in government, policy, and empowering others to the State Assembly for a vision of how government should support the communities of New York.

Empowering the Community

Videos

<span class="image video image-right" data-embed="&lt;iframe width=&quot;560&quot; height=&quot;315&quot; src=&quot;https://www.youtube.com/embed/0JwEbno5pEA?si=nNOxtLMwCoJz5OFX&quot; title=&quot;YouTube video player&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; allow=&quot;accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;strict-origin-when-cross-origin&quot; allowfullscreen&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;" style="width: 50%;"><img imageurl="https://run.imgix.net/0b319868-cd65-4bba-b8e7-94842f3be66a/f7549094-4786-4dc3-aa0e-36cfd1388cca/f7549094-4786-4dc3-aa0e-36cfd1388cca.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1280%2C720&amp;w=1500" embedcode="&lt;iframe width=&quot;560&quot; height=&quot;315&quot; src=&quot;https://www.youtube.com/embed/0JwEbno5pEA?si=nNOxtLMwCoJz5OFX&quot; title=&quot;YouTube video player&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; allow=&quot;accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;strict-origin-when-cross-origin&quot; allowfullscreen&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;" alt="" align="right" alignwidth="50" src="https://run.imgix.net/0b319868-cd65-4bba-b8e7-94842f3be66a/f7549094-4786-4dc3-aa0e-36cfd1388cca/f7549094-4786-4dc3-aa0e-36cfd1388cca.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1280%2C720&amp;w=1500" data-embed="&lt;iframe width=&quot;560&quot; height=&quot;315&quot; src=&quot;https://www.youtube.com/embed/0JwEbno5pEA?si=nNOxtLMwCoJz5OFX&quot; title=&quot;YouTube video player&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; allow=&quot;accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;strict-origin-when-cross-origin&quot; allowfullscreen&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;"><span class="video-button-placeholder" data-embed="&lt;iframe width=&quot;560&quot; height=&quot;315&quot; src=&quot;https://www.youtube.com/embed/0JwEbno5pEA?si=nNOxtLMwCoJz5OFX&quot; title=&quot;YouTube video player&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; allow=&quot;accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;strict-origin-when-cross-origin&quot; allowfullscreen&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;"><ul><li>Funding the Green Transition: Implement a first-of-its-kind "Data Center Tax," ensuring that the high-energy demands of the AI and tech boom directly fund the expansion of renewable energy across New York.</li></ul> <ul><li>Smart Grid Innovation: Invest in intelligent grid improvements to reduce overall energy waste and create a more resilient, 21st-century power network capable of handling increased demand. </li><li>Stopping Fossil Fuel Expansion: Enact a strict ban on new oil and gas pipelines through urban neighborhoods and environmentally protected lands, prioritizing public health over fossil fuel interests. </li><li>Regional Energy Resiliency: Update and champion the NY HEAT Act with specific provisions for upstate resiliency, bridging regional divides to finally pass this critical legislation and lower utility costs for all New Yorkers. </li><li>Renewable Incentives: Expand tax incentives for renewable energy adoption, making it easier and more affordable for homeowners and businesses to transition away from carbon-intensive power.</li></ul>

PRIVATE SECTOR CAREER

Recruited to lead operations for a VC-backed education technology startup, where he spearheaded the development of AI-driven tools and remote learning platforms designed to close the educational gaps worsened by the pandemic.

Chief of Staff, Pencil Spaces

Founded and consulted for startups like Shift Spark, dedicated to building digital tools that lower the barrier to civic participation and modernize the way residents interact with their local government.Advised numerous political campaigns and mission-driven organizations on technology infrastructure, helping them scale their grassroots power and digital outreach to reach a 21st-century electorate.

Civic Tech Entrepreneur

Join us in the community. This movement is for all of us.

Upcoming Events

Dear Neighbors, My name is Vic Lee, and I’m a member of Downtown Independent Democrats and a State Committee representative for our club and Assembly District 65. I’m pleased to support Ben Yee for New York State Assembly and encourage you to do the same. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to serve alongside Ben on the State Committee, where I’ve seen firsthand how deeply he understands both the process and the politics of Albany. Ben has an exceptional ability to work within complex structures, navigate rules and procedure, and move ideas forward even in challenging or resistant environments. What makes that expertise especially meaningful is that it’s grounded in real community work. Over the years, I’ve seen Ben consistently show up for disadvantaged communities in Lower Manhattan. During the pandemic, he helped deliver food to neighbors during lockdown. He continues to volunteer with food distribution efforts serving NYCHA residents and other underserved communities, and he has led hundreds of training sessions to empower downtown voters to engage meaningfully in our democracy.<h3>"Ben brings that rare combination of preparation, follow-through, &amp; institutional fluency. His depth of knowledge &amp; commitment to service make him uniquely prepared to be an effective Assembly member from day one."</h3>Ben’s command of both policy and process allows him to turn values into action. He doesn’t just understand how institutions work — he understands who they are meant to serve, and how to make them responsive. As someone who has founded and led a nonprofit, I have deep respect for people who can translate ideas into implementation. Ben brings that rare combination of preparation, follow-through, and institutional fluency. His experience, depth of knowledge, and commitment to service make him uniquely prepared to be an effective Assembly member from day one.&nbsp; For these reasons, I proudly support Ben Yee’s candidacy and encourage you to vote for him on June 23rd in the Democratic Primary. Sincerely,&nbsp;&nbsp;Vic Lee&nbsp;&nbsp;New York State Democratic Committee, AD 65&nbsp;&nbsp;Downtown Independent Democrats

Ben Yee is running for the State Assembly to lower the cost of living for working-class New Yorkers.

Whether you volunteer, invite a friend, make a donation, or do all three (because you're a rockstar), it truly makes a difference. And from the bottom of my heart, I am truly grateful to have your support.Thank you for being part of this, Ben Yee

Healthcare Champion

I will transform the Assembly office into a Civic Laboratory, moving beyond traditional representation to provide every resident with the tools, data, and education needed to build real power in our democracy.

Democratic Empowerment

Terms and Conditions

Some might say that this is a safe blue seat in Lower Manhattan. Or that a local assembly race can’t really impact the big picture. That is a short-sighted perspective. Every single elected official is critical, especially now. Trump and the MAGA Republicans are a symptom of a deeper problem, the loss of faith in our democratic system and its ability to deliver for regular people. Our most effective leaders—people like Barack Obama, AOC, Zohran Mamdani—are those who have big ideas and big policies on how to change lives for the better. And focus equally on the importance of engaging and empowering people to inspire hope through the promise of direct participation.<h2>My Organizing Origins</h2><img src="https://run.imgix.net/0b319868-cd65-4bba-b8e7-94842f3be66a/f16d3f94-72cb-45c8-8ddc-e653d19f4cdf/f16d3f94-72cb-45c8-8ddc-e653d19f4cdf.jpg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1080%2C1080&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="left" alignwidth="40" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed">I got my start on the Obama campaign in 2008 as digital director for New York State, doing grassroots organizing online. From there, I went to the New York State Senate, using technology to improve the transparency and accessibility of the state government—helping to turn what was ranked the single most corrupt legislative body in the country into one that was winning awards for transparency and openness.&nbsp; When Donald Trump was elected for the first time, I started a nonprofit to demystify politics and government, giving people the tools they need to create change. I spoke to over 8,000 people personally, and hundreds of them became leaders in their own communities—like Luba Gretchen Shirley, who ran for Congress in Long Island. Even AOC came through one of our workshops. For the last ten years, I’ve been representing our community in Albany to Democratic Party leadership, building coalitions with leaders from all around the state to pass more reforms than any other State Committee member in the last decade, and through a leadership hostile to change.<h3>Where I Came From</h3><img src="https://run.imgix.net/0b319868-cd65-4bba-b8e7-94842f3be66a/e0634934-b0b1-4920-8e86-9ae1f3f12027/e0634934-b0b1-4920-8e86-9ae1f3f12027.jpg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=509%2C0%2C1231%2C1186&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="right" alignwidth="40" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed">My father‘s family came to New York from China. My mother‘s family were Jews who survived the Holocaust; she was born a refugee in Poland. Both of these families came here looking for a better life, and they found it.&nbsp; My father became a civil engineer who worked for the MTA and the Port Authority his entire life. My mother became a litigator in a male-dominated field. And when Proskauer Rose, one of America’s largest law firms, made it clear that they were not promoting women to partner, she said FU and took two of their top women attorneys to start what is possibly the first trademark law firm owned, run, and founded by women. But they also faced challenges.<img src="https://run.imgix.net/0b319868-cd65-4bba-b8e7-94842f3be66a/8513483b-08d8-4440-9bae-2c9dbc9b9627/8513483b-08d8-4440-9bae-2c9dbc9b9627.jpg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=195%2C0%2C922%2C1035&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="left" alignwidth="40" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed"><h4>Civil Rights Leadership</h4>As an interracial couple, they got married just 10 years after the Supreme Court ruled that interracial marriage is a civil right. They fought for those civil rights and the civil rights of others and protested unjust wars. My parents taught me that everybody has a place in our country and in our democracy, but we have to fight for that fundamental truth. And that’s the problem today: the dark threads of our history—racism, sexism, bigotry, predation, corruption—are at the center of our politics and government. And must fight that with everything that we have.&nbsp;That’s why I’m running for the seat, to bring all of my knowledge, my skills, my abilities—all of who I am—to fight to make this district, this city, this state a sanctuary for our values, our people, and our democracy.&nbsp;

Dear Neighbors,I’m writing to offer my strong endorsement of Ben Yee for New York State Assembly. Ben’s unique ability to bridge the divide between the left and center of our Party, between reformers and establishment, is exactly what our politics need at this moment. When we talk about future Democratic leaders who can heal our Party and our country, I believe we are talking about people like Ben, and it’s critical we start electing them now.For the last several years, I have had the opportunity to observe Ben closely representing your district in Albany. Throughout that time, he has consistently demonstrated a rare combination of courage, energy, and seriousness. Ben is not afraid to speak up when reform is needed and more importantly, he brings an inexhaustible willingness to engage, organize, and explain, even when doing so is difficult or time-consuming.<h3>"Ben’s ability to bridge the divide between the left and center of our Party, between reformers and establishment, is exactly what our politics need at this moment. When we talk about future Democratic leaders who can heal our Party, I believe we are talking about people like Ben."</h3>What has impressed me most, however, is that while Ben is as eager to improve our party and our institutions as anyone, he also has the patience to operate within the system we actually have, and the wisdom to understand when compromise is necessary to make real progress.The Democratic Party is divided right now. This divide is hampering not only our electoral success, but our ability to govern effectively. As both a State Committeeman and a member of DSA-NYC from Queens, I believe that the left has concluded that there is no value remaining in our institutional Party. Like our new Mayor, Ben doesn’t share that view. He recognizes that while the DSA’s attention to pocketbook issues provides a focus that the Party at large is sorely lacking, a statewide majority is not possible without the Party’s institutions. Ben has the credibility and temperament to help bridge that divide rather than deepen it.I am hopeful for a state led by people like Ben Yee. His skill set, principled, energetic, collaborative, and grounded in reality, is precisely what contemporary government is lacking.For all these reasons, I strongly support Ben’s candidacy.Sincerely,Jim MageeNew York State Democratic CommitteeAD 37, Queens

I will end the era of 'backroom Albany' by banning non-fiscal budget riders and restoring true Home Rule, ensuring that our laws are debated in the light of day and our city has the power to govern itself.

Government Transparency

<h2>ANIMAL WELFARE</h2><ul><li>Accessible Veterinary Care: Expand public funding for low-cost spay, neuter, and wellness clinics across the state, ensuring that every New Yorker can afford to keep their pets healthy and safe. </li><li>Humane Entertainment Standards: Champion legislation to end the use of wild animals in circuses statewide, aligning New York with modern standards of animal protection and public safety. </li><li>Prioritizing Schools Over Subsidies: End the "hidden" subsidies for horse racing provided by slot machine revenue, redirecting those hundreds of millions of dollars to fund New York’s public schools and early childhood education. </li><li>Strengthening Animal Rights: Advocate for stricter enforcement against animal cruelty and neglect, treating the safety of our companion animals as a matter of community well-being. </li><li>Smart Resource Reallocation: Leverage the transition from outdated subsidies to create a permanent, dedicated funding stream for local animal shelters and rescue organizations.</li></ul>

Animal Welfare

Ben Yee for State Assembly AD66

New York City is the cultural capital of the world, and Assembly District 66 sits at the heart of that legacy. Our district was the birthplace of countless artistic movements and today is home to world-class museums, galleries, theaters, dance studios, performance spaces, and creative institutions that make New York unlike anywhere else. This abundant culture is built by the thousands of creative workers who bring New York’s big ideas, bright lights, and public life to the world. The creative sector remains one of New York City’s greatest economic engines, employing more than 326,000 New Yorkers in 2024. But that workforce has declined by 6.1% since 2019, and nearly 50 theaters, music clubs, museums, and galleries have closed since 2020. If artists and creative workers cannot afford to build their lives here, New York will lose the very people who make this city the capital of the world.To preserve New York’s leadership, our state must: <ol><li>Build and preserve affordable artist housing and creative workspaces New York already has a model that works: Westbeth Artists Housing. Created from the former Bell Laboratories complex in the West Village, Westbeth was conceived in the 1960s as affordable housing and studio space for artists and became one of the country’s first examples of adaptive reuse for artist housing. In addition to ambitiously addressing our housing affordability crisis, we can:<ul><li>Expand artist-preference housing in dedicated artist housing developments while preserving strong anti-discrimination and fair housing protections.</li><li>Support nonprofit and community land trust acquisition of small theaters, rehearsal spaces, galleries, and studios at risk of displacement through programs such as the recently proposed NY SPACE program (Saving Performing Arts and Cultural Experiences).</li></ul>2. Support Cultural Institutions The retreat of federal funding, philanthropic support, and declining visitorship across the cultural landscape is a dire crisis for many of New York’s cultural institutions. NYSCA, the state’s cultural grantmaking arm, was only apportioned .043 percent of the state’s overall adopted budget in Fiscal Year ‘26.&nbsp; Together, we can:<ul><li>Expand multi-year general operating grants so arts organizations can plan beyond one budget cycle.</li><li>Prioritize small and midsized cultural organizations by supporting emergency stabilization funding for small venues, galleries, theaters, and community arts spaces facing displacement.&nbsp;</li><li>Streamline the state's capital project management by implementing Design-Build and Best Value contracting so that cultural institutions don’t face ubiquitous funding gaps, cost overruns, and threats to project completion.&nbsp;</li><li>Increase funding for accessibility improvements, including ADA upgrades, captioning, interpretation, and multilingual programming.&nbsp; </li></ul>3. Support Art Workers New York should not just train the next generation of artists; it's also important that they have the space and opportunity to practice and exhibit their art.&nbsp; New York State should:<ul><li>Increase funding for sponsoring organizations that provide support for non-501(c)(3) artist-run gallery spaces and artist-service organizations.&nbsp;</li><li>Provide incentives for the build-out of affordable studio space for painters, dancers, sculptors, and digital artists alike.&nbsp; </li></ul>4. Community Programming New Yorkers are hungry for community building and 3rd spaces where they can interact with their environment and each other. This is evidenced by the explosion in organizations like <a href="https://www.vogue.com/article/philosophy-club-is-hot-just-ask-these-gen-z-new-yorkers" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Philosophy Club</a>, <a href="https://www.hivepublicspace.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Hive</a>, and other efforts to provide a public space for creative and intellectual collaboration. To promote this, we can:<ul><li>Improve the funding process so that nonprofits implementing and running community programming receive their grants on time, instead of being forced to take bridge loans or cease operations waiting for promised support.</li><li>Use state funds and state-owned land to host projects that create community spaces focused on local interaction and conversation.</li><li>Use funds allocated to the Assembly office to immediately and directly fund public space and conversations inspired by organizations like <a href="https://nyphilosophy.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">NYC Philosophy Club</a>, which draws hundreds of New Yorkers weekly to discuss concepts like democracy and justice.</li><li>Use Assembly office funds to immediately create civic education programming modeled off of, and expanding, Ben’s popular Real Politics (101), which drew tens of thousands of New Yorkers to learn about civics.</li></ul></li></ol>

<h2>GOOD GOVERNMENT &amp; TRANSPARENCY</h2><ul><li>Ban Policy in the Budget and limit the budget to appropriations. Banning non-fiscal riders will restore transparency and ensure major policy changes receive a standalone debate rather than being forced through behind closed doors.</li><li>Strengthen NYC Home Rule and grant NYC constitutionally protected authority over local taxation, land use, and elections. The City should not need Albany’s permission for routine self-governance.</li><li>Streamline the Courts to simplify the NYS court structure, increase the number of judges, and reduce delays.</li><li>Expand Voting Rights by enabling "no-excuse" mail-in voting and same-day voter registration.</li><li>Institute Ranked-Choice voting for general elections to give voters more choice and reduce party gatekeeping in districts where the primary effectively decides the outcome.</li><li>Allow multi-member Assembly districts to improve representation, reduce gerrymandering, and better reflect our diverse electorate.</li><li>Create a truly Independent ethics body in the State Constitution to prevent the Executive from constantly challenging ethics enforcement.</li><li>Make legislative results more transparent, allowing voters to easily search all the bills passed, vetoed, or killed in committee each year.</li></ul>

Good Government & Transparency

<h2>Ben's Supporters</h2>Want to see who else supports Ben and his candidacy for AD66 as your next Assemblymember? Review our endorsements page to learn more.

Announcement

Want to learn about where Ben stands on the issues that matter most to you?

LEADERSHIP IN GRASSROOTS ACTIVISM

In response to Donald Trump’s devastating win in 2016, Ben founded You Matter Nation.• He organized the first large-scale resistance event in NYC. 800+ people showed up after the election to learn about what happened and what they could do. • Ben spent four years giving talks around NYC to schools, universities, and grassroots groups about government, organizing, and local politics, reaching over 8,000 future leaders. • He inspired hundreds of people to join or found local political groups and run for office.

Founder &amp; Director, You Matter Nation

• VP, Young Democrats of America: Recruited and led a volunteer tech team to rebuild the organization’s digital infrastructure, successfully saving the national body from bankruptcy.• President, Manhattan Young Democrats: Created the award-winning Learning Labs, providing young activists with specialized training in data science, graphic design, and political Spanish.• VP, Manhattan Young Dems: Launched the first Open Seat Project, a landmark initiative that successfully recruited and elected 68 young leaders to the New York County Committee.• VP, Manhattan Young Dems: ran the first online petition in support of Marriage Equality after the bill was initially voted down, mobilizing thousands of New Yorkers and generating the national pressure needed to pass the historic bill.

Elected Leader, Young Democrats

Ben worked to bring the energy of Occupy Wall Street into the political mainstream by convincing Democratic Party leadership to engage directly with activists at Zuccotti Park.• Organizing Against Inequality: Led voter registration drives and mass petitioning efforts against hydrofracking and the billionaire-class tax cuts of the Cuomo administration.• Empowering the Electorate: Founded the OWS Electoral Politics Working Group, creating a framework to transform economic grief into sustained political action through candidate recruitment and voter education.

Organizer /Activist, Occupy Wall Street

With Reinvent Albany, Ben championed government reforms and transparency.• National Technology Research: Authored comprehensive white papers analyzing nationwide best practices for state-level technology use, providing a roadmap for New York to modernize its digital infrastructure.• Improving Service Delivery: Developed strategic frameworks for deploying technology to bridge the gap between bureaucracy and residents, focusing on making government services more transparent, accessible, and efficient.

BOLD IDEAS TO BRING US FORWARD

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