Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Sandra Ung for City Council District 20

Sandra is from Cambodia and has lived in Flushing, New York since she was 10. She attended Flushing High School before earning her bachelor's degree from Hunter College and her law degree from Columbia Law School. 

District 20 - Sandra Ung

Sandra is a staff attorney at Sanctuary for Families. She also previously worked as a special assistant to Congresswoman Grace Meng, Special Assistant to the NYS Commissioner on Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, a legislative assistant to former New York City Comptrollers Bill Thompson and John Liu, and the Chief of Staff to former New York State Assemblyman Jimmy Meng. She also worked as an associate attorney at Dorsey & Whitney, LLP.

The New York City Council - Sandra Ung

Sandra is currently a member of the New York City Council, representing District 20. She was first elected in 2021 and is serving her 1st term. 

Supports securing multilingual special liaisons in the NYC Small Business Services to help entrepreneurs navigate bureaucracy.

Plans to bring legal and business seminars to small business owners and expand minority and women-owned business enterprise (MWBE) programs to help them access government contracts.

- Supports securing multilingual special liaisons in the NYC Small Business Services to help entrepreneurs navigate bureaucracy.
- Plans to bring legal and business seminars to small business owners and expand minority and women-owned business enterprise (MWBE) programs to help them access government contracts.

Economy

Plans to improve the 311 system to better connect residents with social services and mental health resources, and to reduce wait times for language services.

Supports universal healthcare and believes the City Council can help raise awareness of Medicaid eligibility and expand health coverage.

Supports working with organized labor and the community to identify potential reforms.

Plans to work with the Mayoral Administration and the School Construction Authority to secure funding for a new school in the district.

Supports targeted housing programs for domestic violence survivors, including expanding shelters and allowing survivors to apply for rent subsidies after obtaining an order of protection.

- Plans to improve the 311 system to better connect residents with social services and mental health resources, and to reduce wait times for language services.
- Supports universal healthcare and believes the City Council can help raise awareness of Medicaid eligibility and expand health coverage.
- Supports working with organized labor and the community to identify potential reforms.
- Plans to work with the Mayoral Administration and the School Construction Authority to secure funding for a new school in the district.
- Supports targeted housing programs for domestic violence survivors, including expanding shelters and allowing survivors to apply for rent subsidies after obtaining an order of protection.

Public Services

Supports the Home Stability Support bill, believing it will address homelessness by providing permanent housing instead of using the shelter system.

- Supports the Home Stability Support bill, believing it will address homelessness by providing permanent housing instead of using the shelter system.

Housing & Urban Development

Supports adding social workers and mental health specialists at local precincts and Police Servicing Areas (PSAs) to handle domestic violence and mental health crises.

Supports hiring more bilingual officers and prioritizing gender and racial diversity in the police department.

Supports removing NYPD officers from traffic enforcement.

Supports investigating reports of corruption and misconduct by the NYPD Vice Squad and reexamining previous cases for misconduct.

Supports the NYPD Commissioner requiring confirmation by the City Council.

Supports making the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) more independent and powerful.

Supports legislation to prohibit discrimination against formerly incarcerated people in housing.

Supports extending NYPD training, having social workers respond when possible, and using "properly trained professionals for situations that require a more delicate approach."

- Supports adding social workers and mental health specialists at local precincts and Police Servicing Areas (PSAs) to handle domestic violence and mental health crises.
- Supports hiring more bilingual officers and prioritizing gender and racial diversity in the police department.
- Supports removing police from schools.
- Supports removing NYPD officers from traffic enforcement.
- Supports investigating reports of corruption and misconduct by the NYPD Vice Squad and reexamining previous cases for misconduct.
- Supports the NYPD Commissioner requiring confirmation by the City Council.
- Supports making the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) more independent and powerful.
- Supports legislation to prohibit discrimination against formerly incarcerated people in housing.
- Supports extending NYPD training, having social workers respond when possible, and using "properly trained professionals for situations that require a more delicate approach."

Public Safety

Supports investing in green spaces, renewable energy roofs, and improved sewage systems.

Supports reducing congestion on the 7 train by making the Flushing and Murray Hill LIRR stations swipeable with a MetroCard.

Supports expanding broadband access for New Yorkers.

- Supports investing in green spaces, renewable energy roofs, and improved sewage systems.
- Supports reducing congestion on the 7 train by making the Flushing and Murray Hill LIRR stations swipeable with a MetroCard.
- Supports expanding broadband access for New Yorkers.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Plans to invest in more green spaces, prepare the sewage system for increased stormwater, and improve cooling centers for low-income residents and seniors.

Supports legislation to protect the environment and prepare for climate change, including updating flood maps, expanding composting access, and installing solar panels on city buildings.

- Plans to invest in more green spaces, prepare the sewage system for increased stormwater, and improve cooling centers for low-income residents and seniors.
- Supports legislation to protect the environment and prepare for climate change, including updating flood maps, expanding composting access, and installing solar panels on city buildings.

Energy & the Environment

Supports public funding for reproductive care. 

Supports the creation of safe consumption sites (SCSs) and would support using NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) authority to establish SCSs without New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) authorization.

- Supports public funding for reproductive care. 
- Supports the creation of safe consumption sites (SCSs) and would support using NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) authority to establish SCSs without New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) authorization.

Healthcare

Supports including Asian history in public school curriculums.

Supports increasing diversity in schools.

- Supports including Asian history in public school curriculums.
- Supports increasing diversity in schools.

Education

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Sandra Ung

Sandra Ung emigrated to the United States from Cambodia when she was 7 years old and has lived in Flushing since she was 10. She attended P.S. 22, J.H.S. 189, Flushing High School, Hunter College, and Columbia Law School. She lives in Flushing, New York.

Sandra is a staff attorney at Sanctuary for Families, where she provided free legal services to victims of domestic violence. She later served in government at the municipal, state, and federal levels, including as a special assistant to Congresswoman Grace Meng, where she assisted constituents with immigration, veteran affairs, and social security cases. Earlier in her career, Sandra was the Special Assistant to the NYS Commissioner on Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, a legislative assistant to former New York City Comptrollers Bill Thompson and John Liu, and the Chief of Staff to former New York State Assemblyman Jimmy Meng. She also worked as an associate attorney at Dorsey & Whitney, LLP.

Sandra is currently a member of the New York City Council, representing District 20. She was first elected in 2021.

Plans to create special liaisons to help ESL speakers access benefit programs and learn about regulations, and to improve translations on government forms and websites.

Believes the City Council should ensure all communities, especially immigrants, receive necessary services and "make government work for everyone and not just the rich and powerful."

Supports creating more cooling centers and retrofitting public buildings and NYCHA to withstand heat and increased rainfall.

Supports opening a new school in Flushing, expanding free after-school programs, and continuing to expand New York City's 3K program.

Sandra Ung emigrated to the United States from Cambodia when she was seven years old. She attended P.S. 22, J.H.S. 189, Flushing High School, Hunter College, and Columbia Law School. She lives in Flushing, Queens.

Sandra is a staff attorney at Sanctuary for Families, where she provided free legal services to victims of domestic violence. She later served in government at the municipal, state, and federal levels, including as a special assistant to the NYS Commissioner on Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, a legislative assistant to former New York City Comptrollers Bill Thompson and John Liu, and the chief of staff to former New York State Assemblyman Jimmy Meng. She also worked as an associate attorney at Dorsey & Whitney, LLP. After graduating from Columbia Law School, Sandra worked as an attorney at Sanctuary for Families.

Sandra is currently a member of the New York City Council, representing District 20. She was elected in 2021 and is serving her first term. 

Plans to bring legal and business seminars to small business owners and expand minority and women-owned business enterprise (MWBE) programs.

Supports universal healthcare and believes the City Council can help with outreach to inform residents about Medicaid eligibility.

Plans to improve the 311 system to better connect New Yorkers with social services and mental health resources, and to reduce wait times for language services.

Plans to expand broadband access for New Yorkers.

Believes the City Council should ensure equitable access to services for all residents, regardless of language or economic status.

Supports securing funding for a new school in the district and expanding after-school and homework assistance programs.

Plans to work with organized labor and the community to identify potential reforms.

Supports passing Int 0146, which would tie the value of the Family Homelessness and Eviction Prevention Supplement (FHEPS) to the Section 8 rate, making it easier for those with rental vouchers to find an apartment.

Opposes the removal of homeless individuals from the Lucerne hotel, saying "Housing is a human right" and supports expanding housing vouchers and rental subsidy programs.

Supports creating more affordable housing for seniors and programs that allow seniors to age in place with dignity.

Supports removing police from mental health response calls, homeless outreach, and social services, and advocates for trained professionals to handle these issues.

Supports the idea of the NYPD Commissioner requiring confirmation by the City Council.

Believes decisions on bus routes and investments should be made locally and supports increasing community outreach before changes are made.

Supports legislation to protect the environment and prepare for climate change, including updating flood maps, expanding composting access, and installing more solar panels on city-owned buildings.

Supports universal healthcare and believes the city council can help raise awareness of Medicaid eligibility.

Supports expanding Gifted and Talented programs and advocating for specialized high schools.

- City Council Members work together to enact local laws, approve the city budget, and oversee land use and zoning regulations. ​
- Council Members oversee city agencies, ensuring they effectively serve the public and address community needs. ​