Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Jonathan Soto for NY Assembly District 82
Candidate Name: Jonathan Soto
Office Seeking Election for: NY Assembly District 82
Campaign Website: https://www.soto4ny.com/
With the possibility of Donald J. Trump winning (stealing) the next Presidential election and ending democracy and civil rights in the United States, it is more important than ever that we elect progressive, dynamic leaders to the New York State Senate and New York State Assembly.
1. Based upon your life experiences and accomplishments, why should we believe you would be a dynamic, progressive leader who would stand up for Civil Rights and Democracy?
I am working tirelessly to build the future that the Bronx deserves -- where healthcare is affordable and public schools are fully-funded, where our neighbors live comfortably in their homes without fear of being
priced out. As Borough Director for the Bronx Long Term Recovery Group, I developed programs that helped the Bronx recover from Superstorm Sandy. As the first Director of the NYC Center for Faith and Community Partnerships, I helped unite communities and houses of worship in the fight for affordable housing, and against stop-and-frisk and homelessness—while leading city efforts to both aid Puerto Rico in rebuilding after Hurricane Maria, and provide shelter to evacuees here in NYC. And as an organizer with fellow democratic socialist and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, I developed programs that brought free one-on-one support to hundreds of students, and kept thousands of Bronx families fed.
2. What is your involvement in the LGBTQ Civil Rights movement? What candidates have you or are you supporting who are openly LGBTQ? What legislation have you/do you support to further LGBTQ rights? Do you /will you have an LGBTQ liaison in your office? What LGBTQ organizations have you been involved with, either on a volunteer or professional basis?
Since I am not an incumbent, I have not officially co-sponsored any legislation. When elected, my office will be responsive and attentive to the needs of the LGBTQ+ community. I have volunteered with DecrimNY, Black Queer Socialists of Harlem, Stonewall Democrats. I am proud to have been endorsed by the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club in 2022.
3. What demonstrations, rallies, and protests have you participated in support of LGBTQ issues, African-American, Hispanic, Asian-American Civil Rights, pro-choice legislation, criminal justice issues, and Resist Trump?
I helped organize vigils and rallies in support of the victims from the Pulse Nightclub shooting alongside community and LGBTQ faith leaders. I have marched with my family in the Women’s Marches and in support of pro-choice legislation. I have marched with Black Queer socialists during the BLM marches. I’ve marched and organized rallies against Stop-&-Frisk, not to mention countless anti-Trump rallies as well.
4. Do you support reparations to compensate African Americans for the history of slavery, Jim Crow, and systemic racism in this country?
Yes, absolutely. Reparations will help close the racial wealth disparity in this country and address the economic legacy of slavery, redlining, and Jim Crow.
5. What are your concrete proposals to address current systemic racism in terms of employment, housing, voting rights, and the criminal justice system in the U.S.?
Systemic racism must be addressed in a comprehensive manner, especially in The Bronx. The Bronx has been devastated by racist urban policy for decades, which is why we need targeted investments of good-paying, union jobs and deeply affordable housing throughout the borough’s highest-need neighborhoods.
It’s a shame that we are seeing the return of carceral policies like stop & frisk and over-policing, which are skyrocketing in the Bronx. We must end stop-&-risk, and expand voting rights to all citizens, including among the incarcerated.
6. Will you advocate for elder parole where incarcerated individuals aged 55 and older who have serviced in excess of 15 years obtain parole hearings? Are you a sponsor of the Elder Parole Bill, Senate 2423?
I will unequivocally advocate for elder parole and when I am elected I will immediately co-sponsor this bill.
7. Do you sponsor the Earned Time Act, Senate S774, which strengthens and expands “good time” and “earned time” to support rehabilitation efforts?
If elected, I will immediately co-sponsor this bill. Our justice system is fundamentally broken. We need to support efforts and programs that would actually help rehabilitate people – like “good time” and ”earned time.” Locking folks up is a bandaid – not a solution.
8. Do you sponsor Eliminate Mandatory Minimum Bill Act, S6471 which reduces excessive sentences and enables judges to look at individual factors and mitigating circumstances?
If elected, I would immediately co-sponsor this bill. Mandatory minimums should not exist, and judges must have the ability to take mitigating factors into each case to allow them to set more just sentences.
9. Do you sponsor the Second Look Act, S7872, which allows for reconsideration of prison sentences based on changes in law and circumstances?
If elected, I will immediately co-sponsor this bill. It’s common sense that if the law or circumstances change a person should be allowed to have their sentence reconsidered.
10. Have you participated, and will you participate in demonstrations and protests in relation to the issues of clemency and parole?
Yes, I have participated in protests and demonstrations on issues of clemency and parole with organizations like Releasing Aging People from Parole (RAPP).
11. Will you affirmatively seek to hire formerly incarcerated individuals?
Yes.
12. Have you and will you visit incarcerated constituents to learn of their conditions?
I have not visited incarcerated constituents yet but certainly will do so. It is important for elected officials to witness first-hand the conditions of the incarcerated, so that they can accurately legislate on their behalf.
13. What are your proposals to have prisons focus more on rehabilitation and less on punishment?
In prison, the humanity and individuality of the incarcerated is stripped away – as people are standardized to a set of numbers and “uniforms”. Without adequate mental healthcare and job training, recidivism will not decrease, and prisons will continue to fail not only the incarcerated, but society at large.
14. Do you support ending the cruel punishment of solitary confinement, such as was recently mandated by the New York City Council?
Absolutely. Solitary Confinement has no place in our society.
15. What are your proposals to facilitate individuals who have recently entered the U.S. to be able to live decently with employment and housing?
New arrivals in New York State need work permits so that they can begin to earn a dignified living for themselves and their families.
16. What proposals do you advocate to combat the cruel and inhumane immigration policies that the Trump Administration commenced and which, to some degree, are still in effect?
We should continue organizing against ICE and to protect the first amendment rights of our neighbors, in order to ensure that regardless of the outcome on November 5th, New York remains a safe haven against right-wing extremism and the reactionary policy of the federal government. We should expand Sanctuary protections to all public, civic and community spaces throughout New York State.
17. Do you believe in the decriminalization of sex work?
Yes, sex work is work.
18. Do you oppose legislation that promotes the Nordic model?
Yes, instead I support the decriminalization of prostitution.
19. What concrete proposals do you support to lift up women after four years of Trump being President?
I will continue to work alongside Democratic leaders throughout the state to ensure that New York remains a bastion of reproductive freedom. My opponent took a multi-thousand dollar donation from Donald Trump in 2015, months after he began running for President. Since then, my opponent has continued to solicit donations from Republicans, many of whom have publicly praised Donald Trump.
20. Do you support a single-payer universal health care system? Please elaborate.
Absolutely. I have loudly supported the New York Health Act and will continue to do so. No one should have to choose between seeking medical care or paying their rent. Medical debt is a policy failure of epic proportions and should not exist. New York has the opportunity to lead the way for the rest of the country and I look forward to making this a reality.
21. What have you done to facilitate reproductive rights, including access to contraceptives and abortion services?
I have proudly supported organizations that facilitate reproductive rights through contraceptives and abortion services with donations of both my time and money.
22. Will you refuse contributions from individuals or Political Action Committees representing the Real Estate industry, from police or correction communities?
Absolutely. My campaign is entirely funded by grassroots, small-dollar donors.
23. Will you refuse and refund any contributions from executives or corporations complicit in the Trump anti-American agenda?
Absolutely.
24. How do you propose that we address the current surge of Islamophobia and anti-Semitism?
We can best address the current surge in Islamophobia and anti-Semitism by forcefully combating White Supremacy, which is the root cause of both ills. As a faith leader, I have brought together stakeholders of many religious and cultural backgrounds across the five boroughs. This is the ethos of how I organize in my district, and this will be the spirit I bring to Albany when I am elected.
25. Did you or would you have voted for the censure of U.S. Representative Rashida Tlaib?
No, I would never have voted to censure Rep. Tlaib and remain appalled that some New York Democrats chose to do so.
26. Do you support an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East?
I have supported an immediate and lasting ceasefire for the duration of my campaign. The bloodshed in Gaza must end. My opponent has been silent on this issue and has benefitted from outside spending by the Solidarity PAC – the New York State proxy of AIPAC.
27. Should we condition further aid to Israel? What conditions should we stress that Israel abides by?
We must cease all military aid to Israel for the remainder of Netanyahu’s regime. The Netanyahu government has repeatedly proven to be undeserving of United States taxpayer dollars due to their callous indifference to Palestinian life, both in Gaza and the West Bank. If elected, I will co-sponsor the “Not On Our Dime” Act because New York State’s taxpayer dollars should not be funding settler advancements in the West Bank. New York State should be investing in NY based economic development programs and green infrastructure projects, not in corporations that prop up the Israeli state as it continues to kill, injure, and displace millions of Palestinians.
28. Will you refuse funds from Trump-supporting AIPAC?
Absolutely. AIPAC is a trojan horse for right-wing interests to influence Democratic Primaries. AIPAC and its Trump-loving donors should have no home in the Democratic Party. My opponent has gleefully taken money from the Solidarity PAC – the New York State analogous of AIPAC.
29. What are your concrete proposals to prevent Trump and his cult from taking over this country and ending democracy?
First, we must ensure that any elected officials who have enabled Trump are beaten at the ballot box. My opponent has received thousands in donations from Donald Trump after he announced his run for president and I’m committed to ensuring his defeat.
Although it’s beyond my scope as a state legislator, I will advocate for ending the electoral college, which negatively impacts our state and allows for candidates who lose the popular vote to still win a presidential election. On the State level, we can prohibit anyone who has been convicted of obstructing federal or state proceedings, or convicted of other January 6th related charge, from receiving NYS’s delegates during the general election.
30. How can we combat the movement in this country to ban books, prevent colleges from discussing issues and demonizing intelligence as “woke”?
We can combat disinformation by investing in public education resources close to home, like our chronically under-resourced public schools here in the Bronx, not to mention CUNY and SUNY, which educate the next generation of New York’s working and middle class.
31. As Christopher Columbus caused the death/slavery of thousands, should we replace the Christopher Columbus statue in Columbus Circle, and if so, what should replace it? Do you authorize the use of your name for such a purpose?
We should replace the Christopher Columbus statue with a monument or testament that honors the legacy of indigenous people throughout New York State. Additionally, we should rename Columbus Circle as well.
32. As Edward I Koch caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people with AIDS and was blatantly racist, should we rename the former Queensboro Bridge? Do you authorize the use of your name for such a purpose?
Yes, I support renaming the Queensboro Bridge – Ed Koch’s race-baiting and negligence with respect to the AIDS epidemic is shameful. He should never have been rewarded with his name on one of New York City’s most iconic public works.
33. What will you do to support nightlife in New York State? Do you commit to speaking with liquor license applicants and restaurant/nightlife industry representatives before taking a position on policies affecting their businesses?
The best way to support small businesses and nightlife is by working to ensure that the communities they inhabit are whole – which starts with investments like fully-funded schools, community-based crime prevention programs, and strong human rights protections for the marginalized. If elected, I commit to meeting with liquor license applicants and restaurant/nightlife industry representatives before taking a position on policies that affect their businesses.
34. What is your opinion of Eric Adams as New York City Mayor? Are you involved in finding someone to run for Mayor of New York City?
Eric Adams must be a one-term Mayor and I am working alongside many organizers, advocates, and progressive leaders to ensure that is the case.
35. How can we mandate that every community do its share to have affordable housing and care for the recently arrived people?
New York City needs to outlaw exclusionary zoning and invest in deeply affordable housing across the five boroughs. We must support the recent arrivals with work permits and supportive housing to help them settle and begin making dignified lives for themselves and their families.
36. Are you a sponsor of Good Cause Eviction S305 legislation?
On my first day in office as a State Assembly Member I would immediately co-sponsor Good Cause Eviction. The watered down version that passed this budget cycle is not good enough. We must pass the original version of the bill, granting strong tenant protections to every single renter in New York State. Carveouts for new construction and other loopholes serve as concessions to Big Real Estate that we cannot afford to make.
37. Do you support allowing legal Immigrants to vote in local elections?
Absolutely. Immigrants make New York City what it is and they deserve to have a say in our elections because the decisions our electeds make impact them the same way they do anyone else.