VOTE411 Voter Guide

As a public defender and Albany Common Councilmember, I work with those who fall through the cracks in the system every day.

In office, I will one, reduce the rising cost of living by supporting the creation of good-paying jobs, safe and affordable housing, and lowering utility and prescription drug costs.

Two, reimagine public safety, because everyone has a right to feel safe. I will prioritize addressing the root causes of crime and quality of life concerns, while also cracking down on guns coming into our community.

Three, take bold action to combat the climate crisis. Pollution and waste are destroying our ecosystem and disproportionately harming our most vulnerable communities. I will fight for a sustainable environment.

The climate crisis we face calls for bold action. New York state must do more to cut its emissions and be a global leader in climate policy.

First, it is vital that we pass the NY HEAT Act. This bill will end our subsidy of fossil fuel hookups and create a pathway to cap out-of-control utility costs.

Second, We must pass the Renewable Capitol Act which will transition the capitol complex to renewable energy and reduce the burden of pollution on the Sheridan Hollow neighborhood.

Third, our state must continue to invest funds in green infrastructure and the transition from fossil fuels.

Fourth, We must pass the remainder of the Climate, Jobs & Justice Package of bills that will expedite our state’s transition away from fossil fuels.

I would not be in the position I am today without the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Though I was pleased to see the Governor sign the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act into law in 2022, I believe our state still has more work to do.

If elected, I will support and work with relevant actors like NYCLU, NAACP, and the Brennan Center to assist in reforms. Specifically: Exempting poll worker pay from state local taxes (A1088), increasing minimum pay for poll workers (A2565), mandatory staffing levels at CBOEs (S1258A), requires that CBOE commissioners be full-time (A919A), and various mandatory training mandates for commissioners and poll workers (A268).

Furthermore, I support universal no-excuse absentee voting.

As a public defender and the first Latina to represent the 6th Ward, I am ready to tackle the issues of systemic racism and create legislation that gives reparation to those who have been disenfranchised. On the Common Council, I sponsor legislation to create a commission to examine how to equitably distribute cannabis tax revenue in Albany.

As your Assemblymember for the 109th, I will fight for policies that address social and racial justice in an intersectional way. Crises in our state negatively affect all but harm vulnerable communities the most. That is why I will advocate for universal free school meals, childcare, and after school. I will fight to pass the NY Health Act, which will create free healthcare for all in New York state.

My top three priorities in the New York State Assembly are peace, prosperity, and potential of New Yorkers. With those as the starting points, we can focus on reprioritizing our fiscal resources toward public safety, education outcomes, and supporting families who are struggling in a challenging economy. Addressing how New York State handles violence and crime, criminal accountability, and upholding law and order is paramount. If New Yorkers aren't safe and living in peace in their homes and on the streets in their cities and towns, that will affect everything else, including prosperity and potential. Prosperity depends on peace, but also on how resources and money are spent and right now - too much is spent on projects and not on people.

New York State has some of the most aggressive and expensive climate-focused projects and policies in the United States. With a $237 million budget, and a 39% increase in electric bills this year alone, it is clear that New Yorkers will not be able to reasonably sustain any additional increases to support such aggressive measures. Additionally, the current climate legislation in NY has extremely concerning provisions that removes oversight from Assembly representatives and gives it to single bureaucrat entities. The most beneficial thing we can do is reevaluate where climate legislation can bring the most environmental impact while ensuring it is sustainable for New Yorker to support with their tax dollars and still put food on the table.

I support ensuring that the laws in New York for voter identification are strong and enforced. I do not support broadening them.

New York State currently has the strongest anti-discrimination laws in the United States. However, laws are ineffective when not enforced. As a Representative, I believe it is *paramount* that constituents experiencing issues are heard and seen and that social and racial equalities are ensured. Many times Representatives are not accessible for these issues and "rule from the top" - whereas I believe in not waiting to be approached, but instead creating an environment where people have greater access to me as their Representative through things like town hall meetings, lobbying sessions, in-person meetings, and interactive sessions that go directly to people to learn ways they need help.