Khader El-Yateem

Khader El-Yateem

Democratic Party

Education

Bachelor's

Evangelical Theological Seminary, Cairo

Graduate

Lutheran Theological Seminary

Personal

Profession

Clergy

Contact

Personal website

Khader El-Yateem was a Democratic candidate for District 43 representative on the New York City Council in New York. He was defeated in the primary election on September 12, 2017.

Biography

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El-Yateem earned a B.A. from the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo, Egypt, and an M.Div. from the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia.

El-Yateem founded the Salam Arabic Lutheran Church and cofounded the Bay Ridge Unity Task Force. His experience includes work in the patient relations department at Maimonides Medical Center and service as a clergy liaison for the New York Police Department and a member of Community Board 10 and the boards of St. Nicholas Home, Lutheran Augustana Home, and the Arab American Association of New York.

Elections

2017

See also: Mayoral election in New York, New York (2017) and Municipal elections in New York, New York (2017)

Justin Brannan defeated Khader El-Yateem, Nancy Tong, Vincent Chirico, and Kevin Carroll in the Democratic primary for the District 43 seat on the New York City Council.

New York City Council, District 43 Democratic Primary Election, 2017
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Justin Brannan	38.66%	3,670
Khader El-Yateem	30.89%	2,932
Nancy Tong	15.84%	1,504
Vincent Chirico	8.02%	761
Kevin Carroll	6.36%	604
Write-in votes	0.23%	22
Total Votes		9,493
Source: New York City Board of Elections, "2017 Primary: Certified Results," accessed September 28, 2017

Campaign themes

2017

El-Yateem's campaign website highlighted the following issues. Click "show" on the boxes below for more information about his positions.

FAIR AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING

"Advocating for REAL affordable housing in the district so that lower and middle-income families can continue to live in their homes without compromise. We will fight for rent freezes for lower and middle income families and seniors, rent stabilization, increased accountability for landlords, and real solutions to address homelessness. Fighting illegal home conversions and providing assistance to victims of the practice to ensure the safety and quality of life of tenants by providing adequate living space and adhering to building codes. This practice targets undocumented immigrants by forcing them to live in dangerous and inhospitable spaces. Ignoring and violating building codes results in a hazardous living situations for tenants and reduces stability of a building endangering neighbors and any responding emergency personnel."

SAFER ROADS AND MODERN PUBLIC TRANSIT

"Invest in public transit to expand train and bus service, upgrade aging transit infrastructure, and re-examine routes and community needs. More public transit means less traffic congestion and allows for a reliable and effective transportation option to those in the district. Provide reduced cost MetroCards to Low-Income Families(Fair Fares) to combat income inequality and expand opportunities for low-income New Yorkers. This ensures mobility for purposes of job interviews, attending work, going to school, finding affordable housing, and to shop for groceries and other necessities. No one should have to choose between a MetroCard and a meal. Improve R-train performance and bus service in the district to reduce delays and increase access to public transportation enjoyed by other parts of the city. We must fix the notoriously late and unreliable R-train service. Make more subway stations wheelchair-accessible so that New York is accessible to ALL New Yorkers. Only a quarter of the subway stations in the city are designated as wheelchair accessible and often the elevators in those stations that are accessible are out of service. Lack of accessibility limits opportunities to people that rely on mobility devices or wheelchairs and restricts them from large swaths of the city. We must invest in modernizing our subway stations and bringing it to parity with most major cities in America. Accessibility and maintenance should be an urgent priority for the MTA. Mandate the NYC Department of Transportation increase safety for motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists by holding a community based planning process to ensure that everyone can travel safely and effectively. We will add protected bike lanes which reduce traffic fatalities and decrease congestion."

IMPROVING THE HEALTH OF NEW YORKERS

"Work in collaboration with and pressure state colleagues to pass the New York Health Act, ensuring that all New Yorkers have access to truly affordable healthcare. Combat opioid use among area youth and address rising deaths from opioid overdose. We must confront this epidemic that affecting users and their loved ones by providing effective treatment, recovery programs, and preventive education. Unconditionally defending a woman's right to choose in all aspects of local, state, and federal government, and protecting funding for Planned Parenthood and other clinics and organizations that provide access to women's healthcare. Reduce HIV-related stigma through educational campaigns that debunk commonly held myths and provide useful information on transmission risk, preventative measures, and testing options. Expand city-wide campaigns promoting safer sex practices and condom usage as well as information on and access to PrEP and PEP in NYC."

FUND THE ARTS & EDUCATION

"Fight for fully-funded CUNY to expand educational programming and research, increase campus services, ensure fair wages and benefits to faculty and staff, and provide effective and first-class education for students. Expand the free lunch program to end youth hunger. No child should have to go hungry because they can’t afford to eat. Expanding the free lunch program will reduce stigma and provide quality nutrition for children all across the city. Provide more funding and resources for Afterschool programs and wraparound services to support and nurture the wellbeing of NYC students and families. Increase the promotion and funding of arts programs, including independent theater, to support a vibrant and entrepreneurial creative sector in the district and city-wide. NYC will continue to be a leader in creating new art and media. Affirm and protect LGBTQ youth in schools through implementing policies that reduce harassment and bullying, providing programming that affirms LGBTQ identities and experiences, and educating teachers, parents, and community leaders on their obligations to their LGBTQ youth."

PROTECTING OUR SENIORS

"Grow the availability of affordable housing for seniors, particularly for those living in poverty, through rent freezes, support for senior housing assistance programs, reformation of the housing code to accommodate larger households with extended families common in immigrant communities, and increased funding for housing developments aimed at older New Yorkers. Streamline and expedite the process for accessing government programs and benefits to expand accessibility of services, particularly for the rising number of immigrant seniors that will soon make up a majority of older New Yorkers. Increase support for community-based organizations that provide vital services and programming to older New Yorkers, particularly in immigrant communities, such as language access programs, food banks, legal assistance, and health and wellness services. Improve walkability and accessibility, pedestrian crossings, sidewalks, and entrances to public transportation, including adding time to the crosswalk timers at busy intersections, fixing broken and uneven curbs, and adding elevators to train station entrances."

REAL AFFORDABILITY & LIVABILITY

"Address untenable rent costs for small businesses in the district to increase commercial growth and maintain long-term locally owned businesses that have served communities for years. Increase accessibility by fixing uneven curbs that are inaccessible for wheelchairs and adding ramps and elevators to commercial and residential building. Increase the crossing time at major intersections to reduce pedestrian wait times and allow for safer crossings. Crack down on unruly local construction projects and increase oversight through more frequent and thorough inspections and by levying fines and penalties for violations."

IMMIGRATION

"Protect the IDNYC program and continue to provide services to the most vulnerable New Yorkers such as the homeless, formerly incarcerated, and undocumented immigrants without fear of retaliation. We will guarantee that cardholder personal data such as names, addresses, and phone numbers remain secure and ensure that the database can be destroyed to prevent unauthorized use by other government entities. Keep ICE out of schools and city institutions to ensure that city institutions remain a secure resource for New Yorkers to obtain municipal services and interact with city government without exception. Schools, courthouses, and other city services should not permit immigration officers access without a signed judicial warrant. Fear of arrest or detention will reduce cooperation from witnesses or victims of crime and will hamper criminal investigations. Maintain NYC as a Sanctuary City to protect the more than 500,000 undocumented immigrants living and working in the city. The city can combat harassment and deportation by funding legal services for people in detention and asylum seekers and by limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement officials. We will eliminate the flawed practice of 'Broken Windows' policing that allows for minor offenses like fare evasion to lead to identification and deportation."

SUPPORT FAIR AND EQUITABLE LABOR

"Unionize affordable housing construction to ensure quotas for local hiring for large construction projects, standardize safety measures, and secure build quality. Support and bolster apprenticeship programs that move workers into the middle class and grow the ranks of tradespeople with long-term and versatile skillsets. Mandatory robust safety trainings for all workers to reduce workplace injuries and decrease medical costs. Support labor peace agreements for publicly subsidized projects and allow labor to organize to increase safety, secure better pay and benefits, and level the negotiation playing field with management. Revise contracting process to eliminate wasteful and non-unionized contractors while increasing support for Minority and Women owned businesses."

BETTER POLICING

"Pass the Right to Know Act to increase accountability and transparency for the NYPD while reducing prejudicial and abusive tactics. Law enforcement must always identify themselves with their name, rank, and command. Importantly, they should always provide a specific reason for stopping you. Advocate for more funding for our local police precincts, and help to build a stronger and more productive relationship between law enforcement and the community. End all bias-based profiling of Muslim communities by NYPD to protect and uphold the free practice of religion. Criminal investigations where religion, race, or ethnicity are a major motivating factor should not be pursued. End all unofficial ticketing and arrest quotas to stop for-profit policing and reduce the staggering number of people snared in a flawed criminal justice system. Law enforcement can’t view the communities they serve as a revenue source. Ticketing and arrest quotas make the job harder for law enforcement by reducing community trust. Close Rikers Island NOW and end an institution with a long history of violence and abuse. There must also be independent oversight to ensure expedient closure. Closing Rikers is a small step to ensure that NYC is a leader in reform of a flawed criminal justice system that routinely targets communities of color. Our city resources are better spent on robust re-entry programs (pre-release investments focused on educational programming, mental health services, transitional and long-term employment programs) and to provide for communities. Mandate comprehensive educational training and accountability measures for law enforcement at all levels on the unique needs and experiences of LGBTQ community. End HIV criminalization by keeping medical records confidential and not allowing them to be used to prosecute people living with HIV."

INCREASE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

"Build the district's first-ever community center to create a space for community forums, programs, and events. A community center will directly address the needs of our neighborhood and work with community stakeholders to direct programming and host special events. Bring Participatory Budgeting to the District to bring increased transparency to the spending of public funds. We will bring community members directly into the decision making process and fund projects to improve parks, schools, and other public spaces as well as new construction projects in the district. Enact 'Municipal Voting' which allows green card holders to vote in municipal election to increase political involvement and representation for tax-paying permanent residents of New York. We will increase political participation and community involvement and expand representation to communities that are affected by matters decided at the local level. Fight to move Community Boards to an election vs. appointment model and ensure diverse and representative Community boards that react to the needs of their constituents in an accountable and inclusive manner. Community Boards should be held to the same standard as all municipal decision makers in the city. Making local government more accessible by holding quarterly town halls, participatory budgeting, extended office hours, and increased language access so that all voices are heard. Promote and support political candidates and city appointees from diverse communities that truly reflect NYC such as LGBTQ individuals, people of color, immigrants, and people from low-income households."

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

"Mandatory retrofits for large public buildings to curb greenhouse gas emissions and reduce our carbon footprint, increase energy cost savings, and create construction and and [sic] energy jobs for New Yorkers. Calling for NYC to divest any city-owned assets or investments from the fossil fuel industry and the corporations that profit from it. Expand recycling and composting programs across the city to reduce waste by composting organic waste such as food scraps and yard trimmings. We are responsible for the trash collected in landfills and we must act to reduce, reuse, and recycle. vBring running water for park bathrooms, cleaning up & preserving public parks to beautify public spaces, increase park use, and maintain our natural spaces."

Endorsements

2017

El-Yateem received endorsements from the following in 2017:

• Democratic Socialists of America - NYC
• LiUNA
• Mason Tenders PAC
• Muslim Democratic Club of New York
• New Kings Democrats
• New York State Immigrant Action Fund
• New York State Nurses Association
• Sierra Club
• Tenants PAC

Recent news

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Khader El-Yateem New York City Council. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

Khader El-Yateem - Google News

See also

New York, New York	New York	Municipal government	Other local coverage

External links

Suggest a link

• New York City Council
• Campaign website
• Social media
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