Gotham Gazette

The Place for New York Policy and politics

Although the "Super-Tuesday" Democratic primary on March 2 involves caucuses and primaries in ten states, the Democratic candidates are focusing considerable attention on New York. New York is rich in delegates (236 of the 2165 needed to clinch the nomination). The city is also a big fundraising stop (residents give twice as much to national campaigns as any other city). But while the candidates are eager to win New Yorker’s votes, it is not always clear just where the candidates stand on the critical issues facing the city.

As a guide for voters, Gotham Gazette presents an issue-by-issue breakdown of the candidates’ urban agendas. Compare the candidates on broad issues, then click on “more” for expanded details and a series of articles on federal policy and New York City. Then post your thoughts on our Democratic Primary message board.

ANTI-
TERRORISM

• Aid for Local Police
Would give $10 billion for local Homeland Security efforts. more Would reimburse cities for Homeland Security expenses and create fund for 100,000 firefighters. more Would cut Pentagon budget and channel money to local efforts. more Would cut military spending and spend more on local efforts. more Promises to increase Homeland Security money for states and cities by 10 percent. more
• Patriot Act Would amend the Patriot Act. more Would amend the Patriot Act. more Would repeal the Patriot Act. more Would repeal the Patriot Act.more Would continue to support the Patriot Act. more
CRIME
• Gun Laws
Opposes granting gun makers immunity from civil lawsuits; supports background checks for guns. more Opposes granting gun makers immunity from civil lawsuits; supports background checks for guns. more Opposes granting gun makers immunity from civil lawsuits; supports background checks for guns. more Opposes granting gun makers immunity from civil lawsuits; supports background checks for guns. more Favors granting gun makers immunity from civil lawsuits; supports background checks for guns. more
• Policing/
Sentencing
Would expand community policing; would reform probation and parole; promises to end racial profiling. more Would expand community policing; would review sentencing laws for non-violent crimes; would expand drug rehab programs. more Would not expand community policing; would reduce sentencing for non-violent crimes; would expand drug rehab programs. more Would not expand community policing; would reduce sentencing for non-violent crimes; would expand drug rehab programs. more Would not expand community policing; would not reduce sentencing for non-violent crimes; would not expand drug rehab programs. more
• Death Penalty Supports the death penalty.more Opposes the death penalty, except for terrorists. more Opposes the death penalty. more Opposes the death penalty. more Supports the death penalty. more
ECONOMY
• Jobs
Would provide federal funds to match private investment to bring new jobs to cities; would establish job training programs through local colleges and businesses to train residents. more Would give $50 million in tax breaks for manufacturing jobs; would create new urban business zones; would expand programs for minority and women owned businesses. more Would lend $50 billion a year, interest free to state and local governments for job creation. more Would spend $50 billion a year for five years to rebuild infrastructure and create jobs. more Would continue tax cuts to encourage job growth. more
• Minimum Wage Would raise the minimum wage to $6.65 an hour.more Would raise the minimum wage, but did not say how much. more Would raise the minimum wage to $8.50 an hour. more Would raise the minimum wage to $7.15 an hour. more Would not support a minimum wage increase. more
• North America Free Trade Agreement Would amend NAFTA.more Voted for NAFTA, but says it may need to be amended. more Would repeal NAFTA. more Would repeal NAFTA. more Would support NAFTA. more
• Taxes Would repeal tax cuts for families with incomes above $200,000.more Would repeal tax cuts for families with incomes above $200,000. more Would repeal all tax cuts and give $87 billion in tax credits for middle- and low-income families. more Would repeal all tax cuts. more Would continue tax cuts, totaling over $1 trillion over six years. more
EDUCATION
• Higher Ed
Would pay college tuition for teachers who agree to work in difficult urban schools; would provide one year of free college tuition in exchange for 10 hours of community service a week. more Would expand tax credits for college; one year of free college tuition for two years of community service. more Would provide free college tuition for public university students. more Supports a Constitutional amendment guaranteeing every American a quality education. more Would continue to support tax credits for college. more
• No Child Left Behind Would reform No Child Left Behind program and provide more money to meet the requirements. more Would reform No Child Left Behind program and guarantee funding for it. more Would reform No Child Left Behind program and provide more money to meet the requirements. more Opposes No Child Left Behind program. more Supports No Child Left Behind program. more
• Vouchers Opposes vouchers for private schools. more Opposes vouchers for private schools. more Opposes vouchers for private schools. more Opposes vouchers for private schools. more Supports vouchers for private schools. more
HEALTH CARE Would provide expanded health coverage for low-income people; would require that all Americans under 21 have health insurance. more Would offer every American access to health care plan offered to federal employees; would expand existing programs to cover 96 percent of population. more Would create a national health care plan financed by federal government. more Would create a national health care plan financed by federal government. more Would expand medical savings accounts to give workers more control; would increase tax credits to help uninsured buy medical coverage. more
HOUSING Would give a tax credit of up to $5,000 to cover down payments for low- and moderate-income families buying a home. more Would create a housing trust fund to build 1.5 million apartments over ten years; would use tax credits to build and rehab 500,000 homes over the next ten years. more Would create a housing trust fund to build 1.5 million new apartments and houses for low- and moderate-income families over ten years. more Would support housing assistance for low-income families. more Would support fund to help families with down payments for homes; would support programs to encourage minority home ownership. more

IMMIGRATION

 

Would reform current policy to expedite citizenship process for some immigrants; would increase enforcement on U.S./Mexico border. more Would reform current policy to expedite citizenship process for some immigrants; would increase enforcement on U.S./Mexico border. more Would reform current policy to expedite citizenship process for some immigrants; would work with Mexico to curb illegal immigration. more Would reform current policy to expedite citizenship process for some immigrants. more Would offer temporary visas to immigrants who register with employer; would increase enforcement on U.S./Mexico border. more
MASS TRANSIT Would support federal mass transit initiatives. more Would support transportation policy that allows cities to choose how best to use federal money. more Would create a federal program to employ the jobless to rebuild infrastructure, including roads, highways, and mass transit. more Would spend $50 billion a year over five years on highways, railways, and infrastructure. more Would continue to support federal mass transit initiatives; would continue support of federal aid to rebuild lower Manhattan’s transit system. more
POVERTY Would provide job training and childcare for welfare-to-work programs; would support initiatives to require fathers to pay child support; would create safety net for homeless; would launch campaign to reduce teen pregnancy. more Would provide job training and childcare for welfare-to-work programs; would support initiatives to require fathers to pay child support; would build affordable housing for homeless. more Would create a zero-unemployment economy; would create living wage; would building affordable housing for homeless. more Opposes welfare-to-work programs; would create massive job program to help poor. more Would increase work requirements for welfare-to-work programs; would create faith-based initiatives to meet needs of poor. more