NYC Council District 9 Election: Joshua Clennon Seeks Harlem Seat

HARLEM, NY — Voters in New York City's 9th Council district, which includes all of Central Harlem and parts of East Harlem and Washington Heights, will see 13 names on their ballots when they vote in the June 22 primary election.

One of those names will be Joshua Clennon, a manager for the property management firm UMDI, treasurer of Community Board 10, and former executive director of the Uptown Democratic Club.

Patch reached out to all candidates in the election to create these profiles. Clennon's responses are below.

Age (as of Election Day)

28

Position Sought

City Council District 9

Party Affiliation

DEMOCRAT

Neighborhood of residence (i.e., East Village, Astoria, etc.)

Harlem (Doctors Row)

Family

Raised by my mother, and grandmother. I have three brothers and two sisters.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

B.S Health Policy & Administration Pennsylvania State University

Occupation

Affordable Housing Manager

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Treasurer of Manhattan Community Board 10

Campaign website

Joshuaclennon.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

To bring more resources and investments into the Harlem community while preserving its rich culture and history.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Harlem is facing a housing crisis that requires the stewardship of a representative with real experience in land use and affordable housing. As a Council Member I would introduce bold progressive policy to implement a comprehensive and community driven approach to rezoning, permanent income based housing, develop affordable home-ownership opportunities, and restore and protect NYCHA from privatization. While also safeguarding our community from the over-concentration of addiction treatment facilities.

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

I am one of the few candidates who is a lifelong resident of Harlem and attended public school in the district. I lost my father at a young age to gun violence, I've been both housing and food insecure- I more than understand the challenges our community is facing, I've lived those challenges. Furthermore, I am the only candidate with prior and current experience working in Affordable Housing and who has successfully preserved affordable housing in our community. I have the clear cut strongest grasp on housing policy and the failures of our city's current housing agenda and how we can best strengthen tenant protections to keep Harlemites in their homes. Also as Treasurer of Manhattan Community Board 10 and Chair of the District Needs Taskforce, I understand the budgetary needs of our community more so than any other candidate and will work to ensure Harlem receives its fair share of the city's $98B budget.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

The incumbent has not introduced or sponsored a single piece of legislation in his last term. While he has had an honorable career in public service it has become abundantly evident that now is the time for a change in representation at City Hall.

How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?

We required better leadership on the local level to take decisive action, disseminate quality information to save lives and alleviate panic. From the onset I would have engaged our religious and cultural institutions to disseminate information regarding the virus, to distribute PPE, stage testing sites, and as vaccine distribution sites. I would've sought to implement city wide zero waste initiatives to purchase unsold products by restaurants at discount costs to address food insecurity while also supporting small businesses.

Many in Harlem are worried about gentrification and the displacement of longtime residents. What is one specific policy you would push for to slow gentrification?

1.) Start with a comprehensive city plan that is developed by New Yorkers so the needs of their communities are truly represented and prioritized. All zoning and development decisions must align with the overarching city plan and be supported by the communities impacted. 2.) Prioritize building permanently affordable income-based housing, shifting how affordability is determined to what people can actually afford--not regional-based AMI, implementing programs that create a path to homeownership, and helping existing homeowners stay in their home during times of economic hardship 3.) Expand tax abatement and relief programs for small homeowners and HDFC cooperatives to ensure working class homeowners are not displaced.

Some Harlem residents complain that the neighborhood is “over-saturated” with methadone clinics. Would you welcome more services for vulnerable people in the neighborhood, or push for a moratorium?

As a member of Manhattan Community Board 10 I have supported a moratorium on additional methadone clinics in Harlem. Our community is oversaturated and as a council member I will work to introduce legislation to ensure that these clusters of addiction treatment facilities are broken up and that future facilities are equitably distributed throughout our city to prevent any one neighborhood such as Harlem from becoming the dumping ground for addiction treatment facilities.

Many Harlemites have complained of dirty streets during the pandemic. How would you help clean up the sidewalks?

I would use data as a powerful tool to fight against street litter and overflowing trash bins. Trash bins with sensors that indicate when a bin is full will enable waste collection services to optimize their routes and reduce mileage. The data can also be used to hold waste collection services accountable, reduce government waste, and support community clean-up efforts by CBO’s.

Plans were recently unveiled for a large new development on 145th Street — it would include up to 282 affordable apartments, but some neighbors suggested that the buildings are too large for the neighborhood. As Council Member, would you support this project, oppose it, or push to change it?

I have concerns in relation to the size, environmental impact, and proportion of affordable vs market rate units proposed by the developers for this project and will be an advocate for tenants and residents in the surrounding area. However, as a member of Community Board 10 who will vote on this proposed rezoning in ULURP it would be irresponsible for me to take a stance on this proposal without first reviewing the full plan in detail and also hearing all the opinions and concerns of community residents at public hearings.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Our campaign is based on progressive practical polity to deliver environmental justice, economic equity, and ensure health care and housing are guaranteed as a human right.

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

As the Chair of District Needs Taskforce for Manhattan Community Board 10, I've effectively advocated for resources for the Harlem community within the City's budget process including Smart waste bins, Park improvements, and a non police response to non-violent mental health related 911 calls which resulted in a successful pilot program in Harlem which will now be implemented city wide.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Learning is never cumulative, it is a movement of knowing which has no beginning and no end.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I'm a diehard Knicks fan. I've spent my entire adult life in service to the village of Harlem and hope to continue my service in the City Council when you elect me with your #1 vote on June 22nd.