Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas for NY Assembly District 34
Candidate Name: Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas
Office Seeking Election for: New York State Assembly, 34th District (Queens)
Campaign Address: People for Jessica, P.O. Box 721079, Jackson Heights, NY 11372
Campaign Website: www.voteJGR.com
Campaign Telephone: 917-794-4062
Campaign Social Media Handles (Facebook/Twitter):
@VoteJGR (All social media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram)
Campaign Contact (name/phone/email):
Cristina Gonzalez, +1 (917) 520-5156, cristina@millennialstrat.com
Explain, based on life experiences and accomplishments, why you believe you are best qualified to represent your district.
I am a Latina, daughter of an immigrant father and Puerto Rican mother who has lived in the community for over 20 years. The 34th Assembly District is 88% people of color, yet, we’ve never been represented by a person of color. Corona, East Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, and Woodside are among the most diverse neighborhoods in the world. It takes a leader who understands and connects to the experiences and struggles of our community to be an effective representative. We need a leader who will fight for all of us.
I am running for State Assembly because I am an activist with a proven track record of standing up and speaking out against injustices. I was on the founding board of NICE (New Immigrant Community Empowerment), a Jackson Heights-based organization, which fights for workers and immigrant rights. To expand participation in local government, I was a founding member of the progressive New Visions Democratic Club. In 2002, I successfully defeated the party-backed candidate to become the first Latina to represent our community on the State Committee. And for the past 13 years, I have served as the leader of an organization dedicated to building Latina power to advance gender justice, becoming a nationally recognized advocate for universal health care and reproductive freedom.
Do you now support or have you ever supported an openly LGBTQ candidate for public office?
Yes- absolutely
If applicable, what legislation directly affecting the LGBT community have you introduced or co-sponsored? (indicate accordingly)
What LGBT organizations have you been involved with, either on a volunteer basis or professionally?
I am not a current elected official, but as the Executive Director of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, I worked alongside many national LGBTQ organizations to advocate for LGBTQ liberation, affirming and dignified health care and fighting religious exemption policies that harmed our communities. We are an organizational supporter of the Equality Act and countless other intersecting progressive policies related to reproductive justice and immigration.
If applicable, what LGBT organizations have you allocated funds to?
N/A but in my organizational capacity, I have co-sponsored the Latinx Institute at the National LGBTQ Task Force’s annual Creating Change conference (which I have been attending since 2009) and regularly work alongside many LGBTQ organizations.
Do you consider yourself a member of the LGBT community?
Yes
Have you marched in Pride? Which marches and for approximately how many years?
Yes, I have marched in Queens Pride for decades, either joining elected official or organizations. One year, in the mid-2000s, I served as a judge for parade’s competition.
Have you employed openly LGBT individuals previously? Do you employ any currently?
Yes and Yes, both at my organization and on my campaign.
If you receive the endorsement, do you agree to identify the club on all literature and electronic materials where you list endorsements?
Yes
What press conferences, demonstrations, rallies and protests in support of LGBT issues, pro choice legislation, criminal justice issues and the Resist Trump Movement have you attended?
Almost too many to note! I have spoken and participated in the Women’s March since it’s inception and other reproductive justice matches/rallies/demonstrations. I have marched and rallied for liberation of Puerto Rico, immigrant rights, abortion access (spoke outside the Supreme Court), marriage equality, economic justice (the Fight for 15), trans rights, criminal justice and so on. I protested the inauguration of George Bush and attended many anti-Trump rallies.
Have you ever been arrested? If so please explain why and outcome of arrest.
Yes- twice for civil disobedience. In 2013 I was arrested in an all-woman action against Obama’s failure to advance comprehensive immigration reform where 125 of us blocked the streets in front of Congress. I paid a penalty and was released. Just 2 months ago, I was arrested with dozens of workers and advocates with Unite Here Local 100 at JFK on the busiest travel day of the year to protest the lack of health care and low wages for airport caterers. I was processed and given a ticket.
Will you advocate and sponsor legislation to mandate the review of sentences of incarcerated individuals over the age of 55 who have served in excess of 15 years to determine if they warrant release?
Yes, I support the Elder Parole Act
Do you commit to visit constituents who are incarcerated in state prisons such as Bedford Correctional Facility?
Yes
Do you believe sincere remorse, risk of reoffending and actions taken while incarcerated should be considered over the original crime in determinations of parole?
Yes
Have you participated in any demonstrations or protests in relation to the issues of clemency and parole?
Back in late ‘90s/early 2000s, marched to free Mumia Abu-Jamal, journalist and political prisoner and a group of Puerto Rican political prisoners (many- not all- who were eventually pardoned by Clinton).
Will you affirmatively seek to hire formerly incarcerated individuals?
I have and I would
Do you believe in the decriminalization of sex work? Are you sponsoring the bill introduced by Jessica Ramos?
Yes - and I would support Ramos’ bill when in the Assembly
Will you actively oppose legislation that would implement the dangerous Nordic model instead of decriminalization of prostitution?
I would not support the Nordic Model
What proposals will you advocate for to protect immigrants and the further New York as a Sanctuary City?
I would like to expand the ICE out of courts bill to include schools, hospitals, clinics, places of worship, social service sites and transportation hubs.
Will you advocate, including introducing legislation, to remove public funding from religious schools?
Yes, and I actively have opposed religious exemptions.
Do you support the establishment of supervised drug consumption spaces?
I would have to learn more about this but I absolutely support harm reduction models
Have you ever endorsed any member of the IDC or any candidates who challenged IDC members? Please identify all candidates
I supported Jessica Ramos, my State Senator, when she ran against Peralta in 2018
Will you commit to hiring a member of the LGBT community to serve as a liaison to the community?
Yes
Will you commit to ensuring diverse LGBT representation among your staff?
Yes
Who did you support for office in the following races
A) mayor and Public Advocate in 2014: DeBlasio & Leticia James
B) President in 2016: Bernie in primary; Hillary in General
C) Governor and Attorney General 2018: Cynthia Nixon & Jumaane Williams
Describe any legislation and policy changes that you support in order to address the ongoing effects of slavery, racism, colonialism, and discrimination.
I feel that all issues are intersectional and my priorities around education, healthcare, immigration, public transit and public financing of elections (banning corporate money) are addressing systemic inequalities that are rooted in slavery, racism, colonialism, discrimination
and neo-liberalism. I would push for policies that would stop the school-to-prison pipeline, the ICE deportation force, over policing in the MTA and a healthcare system that is dependent on the whims of insurance companies. I would work towards racial justice,
LGBTQ liberation, immigrant justice, disability rights, gender justice and criminal justice through public policy.
What legislation or other policy changes do you support in order to make college and graduate school affordable for poor, working-class, and middle-class Americans and to alleviate the crushing loan debt that many students and alumni are facing?
A main platform item is a free CUNY. It was free until there was greater racial integration and high enrollment of people of color in the late 70’s. It can be free again.
Do you support a single-payer universal health care system? Please elaborate.
Absolutely and I am on record fighting for it at a national level since 2007. I’ve written opeds, lobbied Congress, organized Latinas around this issue to advocate as well.
Discuss your stance on reproductive rights, including access to contraceptives and abortion services.
For the last 13 years, I have lead the National Latona Institute for Reproductive Health, a women of color reproductive justice organization and been an extremely outspoken leader on this. I am most proud of advocating for requiring public insurance programs (Medicaid, federal
employees , Indian health services, etc) to cover Abortion care.
Will you refuse money from individuals or Political Action Committees representing the real estate industry?
Yes
Will you refuse and refund any contributions from executives at corporations complicit in the Trump agenda?
Yes
Are you against the opening of casinos in New York owned and controlled by Trump mega-donor Sheldon Adelson?
Yes
Do you support the surrogacy bill introduced by Senator Brad Hoylman allowing women to decide control of her body in regard to surrogacy?
Yes
Will you cosponsor the legislation to prohibit evictions without good cause (previously S2892A)?
Yes
Will you push for the passage of Home Stability Support (HSS) to bridge the difference between the public assistance shelter allowance and fair market rents for NY's 95,000 homeless?
Yes
What additional information would you like Jim Owles to consider when we are making our endorsements decisions?
I have been an advocate for decades in many social justice arenas: racial justice, LGBTQ liberation, immigrant justice, disability rights, gender justice and educational justice. I am running to be an advocate in Albany that brings an inclusive and intersectional vision to policy and address systemic inequities so that all people could thrive.
Here is an article that shares a bit of my background and the framework I would bring to Albany:
https://luzcollective.com/jessica-gonzalez-rojas-wants-systemic-change/
I would be humbled to have the Jim Owles Democractic Club Endorsement