Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Alessandra Biaggi for US Congress NY-03
Candidate Name: Alessandra Biaggi
Office Seeking Election for: US Congress NY-03
Website: https://alessandrabiaggi.com
1. Explain, based on life experiences and accomplishments, why you believe you are best qualified to represent your district. As a New York State Senator, I’ve delivered progressive change in Albany. Now I’m ready to do the same in Washington. I am running for Congress to protect and defend our democracy, to halt the climate crisis, to grow our supply of affordable housing, and to transform our government and economy to serve us all. Several of the most important fights in our country’s history are taking place in Washington right now, and I want to be on the frontlines.
New Yorkers from Westchester, Long Island, the Bronx, and Queens need a new generation of strong, fearless, and relentless leaders in Washington. And that’s exactly what they can expect from me.
I ran for State Senate in 2018 because New York was failing to live up to its highest potential. New York is one of the bluest states in the country, but had a Republican-controlled State Senate, enabled by turncoat Democrats like my predecessor, who was blocking many pieces of legislation that would protect New Yorkers (during the Trump administration, no less) for personal political gain. The legislative session after I unseated him was the most prolific and progressive legislative session in the history of New York State.
Three years later, the people of New York have rewarded us with a Democratic supermajority in the State Senate and I can proudly say that we have accomplished 100% of my 2018 campaign promises. We passed the Reproductive Health Act. We delivered on education funding for New York schools. We passed landmark voting rights legislation. We legalized marijuana. We passed gun safety laws and criminal justice reform. And we passed the most aggressive climate change law in the country.
When the pandemic began, and our community quickly became one of the hardest hit in the country, we mobilized and delivered billions of dollars in assistance for tenants and small landlords, and created the Excluded Workers Fund providing aid to undocumented New Yorkers. And we made it safe for all New Yorkers to exercise their right to vote while in a global health crisis.
I’m proud to represent an incredibly vibrant and diverse district now, and it’s been the honor of my life to form such strong bonds with these communities. We’ve made hard-won progress in Albany, and now it’s time to bring that same energy to Washington. NY-3 deserves an experienced progressive leader in Congress who isn’t afraid to hold powerful people accountable, and who will fight on behalf of hardworking New Yorkers every single day.
2. Do you now support or have you ever supported an openly LGBTQ candidate for public office? I have supported many openly LGBTQ candidates for office and endorsed them.
3. If applicable, what legislation directly affecting the LGBTQ community have you introduced or co-sponsored? (indicate accordingly). I helped to pass GENDA in New York, helped passed the START Act, helped repeal the Walking While Trans Ban, and banned conversion therapy in New York. I’m so proud of the work we’ve done here and am looking forward to taking our work to the national level.
4. What LGBTQ organizations have you been involved with, either on a volunteer basis or professionally? Stonewall Democratic Club of NYC, Trevor Project, Stonewall Community Development Corporation.
5. If applicable, what LGBTQ organizations have you allocated funds to? I am proud of our New York State budgets which have helped to fund numerous LGBTQ organizations throughout the state.
6. Do you consider yourself a member of the LGBTQ community? No.
7. Have you marched in Pride? Which marches and for approximately how many years? Yes.
8. Have you employed openly LGBTQ individuals previously? Do you employ any currently? Yes, and I currently employ openly LGBTQ individuals.
9. If you receive the endorsement, do you agree to identify the club on all literature and electronic materials where you list endorsements? Yes.
10. What press conferences, demonstrations, rallies and protests in support of LGBTQ issues, pro choice legislation, criminal justice issues and the Resist Trump Movement have you attended? My entire career as a politician has been working on these issues. I ran in 2018 to fight back against Trump, to expand the right to choose in New York, and to fight for criminal justice and LGBTQ rights. I am incredibly proud of my record and the work I did in my community on all of these issues. I have marched in protests, supported striking workers in many other ways.
11. Will you advocate for legislation to mandate the review of sentences of incarcerated individuals aged 55 and older who have served in excess of 15 years to determine if they warrant release? Yes, and I am a cosponsor of such a bill here in New York.
12. Will you advocate for legislation that would ensure those appearing before the New York State Parole Board are considered for release from prison based on who they are today and not exclusively based on the nature of their crime? Yes, and I was a proud cosponsor of Less is More here in New York.
13. Do you commit to visit constituents who are incarcerated in state prisons such as Bedford Correctional Facility? When was your last visit to visit incarcerated constituents? I do. I currently represent Rikers Island. I was part of a group of legislators that visited Rikers during the crisis last summer and I have been advocating to reduce incarceration levels my entire time as a State Senator.
14. Have you participated in any demonstrations or protests in relation to the issues of clemency and parole? I have participated in passing vital legislation in clemency and parole.
15. Will you affirmatively seek to hire formerly incarcerated individuals? Yes.
16. Do you believe in the decriminalization of sex work? Yes.
17. Will you oppose any legislation that promotes the Nordic model? Yes.
18. What proposals will you advocate for the protection of immigrants and further New York as a Sanctuary City? Yes.
19. Will you advocate, including introducing legislation, to remove public funding from religious schools? Yes.
20. Do you support the establishment of safe consumption spaces? Yes.
21. Have you ever endorsed any member of the IDC or any candidates who challenged IDC members? Please identify all candidates. I beat Jeff Klein in 2018 and helped take down the IDC.
22. Will you commit to hiring a member of the LGBT community to serve as a liaison to the community? Yes.
23. Will you commit to ensuring diverse LGBT representation among your staff? Yes.
24. Who did or do you support for office in the Democratic primary in the following races A) mayor and comptroller in 2021 B) President in 2016 and 2020 C) Governor and Lt. Governor 2022. A) Maya Wiley and Brad Lander; B) Hillary Clinton and Elizabeth Warren; and on C) I am undecided.
25. Describe any federal legislation and policy changes that you support in order to address the ongoing effects of slavery, racism, colonialism, and discrimination
I believe in targeted universalism to help address our legacy of slavery, genocide, and legalized racial discrimination. I support the 10-20-30 plan where at least 10 percent of federal investment would go to communities where at least 20 percent of people have lived at or below the poverty line for at least 30 years. I support full investment in free public college and at HBCUs. I support policies to help all Americans build wealth regardless of race like baby bonds and the creation of public land trusts. I also support large investments in clean water, clean air, and lead abatement that will address the long standing environmental inequities in our communities.
26. 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?
We must expand affordable college and create Federal colleges that are free. As a state senator, I have also supported New York’s attempt to remove the punitive aspects of our state version of free college tuition - namely the restriction that someone be required to maintain a 3.7 GPA with 18 credits, that they pay back the loan if they do not complete their schooling, and that they remain in the state for at least 5 years after graduation. We should be supporting those who want to be educated and encouraging those who are to compete on a national and international level. Restricting a recent graduates’ geographical opportunities is not in line with the future of work or a modern economy.
27. Do you support a single-payer universal health care system? Please elaborate. Yes. I am a proud co-sponsor of the New York Health Act, and would be a co-sponsor of Medicare for All if elected to Congress.
28. Discuss your stance on reproductive rights, including access to contraceptives and abortion services. I am incredibly proud of my record on reproductive health care and abortion, including leading the charge to get the Reproductive Health Act and the Comprehensive Contraception Coverage Act passed. I have been one of the foremost advocates of reproductive health care in New York State and I will do the same in Congress.
29. Will you refuse money from individuals or Political Action Committees representing the real estate? Yes.
30. Will you refuse money from police and corrections unions? Yes.
31. Will you refuse and refund any contributions from executives at corporations complicit in the Trump agenda? Yes.
32. What additional information would you like Jim Owles to consider when we are making our endorsements decisions? I have been a strong, progressive legislator that fundamentally changed the direction of New York in a more liberal direction after beating Jeff Klein. I am the best person in this race to push progressive goals forward.
33. If you resign in the middle of your term, will you let the voters decide? Do you plan to serve your term and not send a vacancy to the county committee? I will not be resigning in the middle of my term.
34. Who are you supporting for Speaker/Democratic leader in 2023? I have not made that decision yet and will make that determination when members move forward for that role. I am seeking the endorsement of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
35. In view of the fact that Ed Koch has been documented to have caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people with AIDS, and was blatantly racist, would you support a city bill to rename the former Queensboro Bridge? Do you authorize the use of your name for such a purpose? Yes.
36. What is your position on removing the Christopher Columbus statue in Columbus Circle and if so, what should replace it? It should come down and I have advocated for moving Italian heritage celebration to better representations of our wonderful contributions to this country.
37. What is your position on FOSTA/SESTA, passed in 2018? Do you or will you sponsor the Safe Workers Study Act which has been introduced by Elizabeth Warren and co- sponsored by Reps. Barbara Lee and Ron Wyden and a host of other sponsors including Bernie Sanders. FOSTA/SESTA were bad bills that endangered sex workers and made them more vulnerable to violence. I would sponsor the Safe Workers Study Act.
38. Do you support the class-wide scheduling of Fentanyl-related substances, which groups like Human Rights Watch have argued would worsen pretrial detention, mass incarceration, and racial disparities? Yes.
39. Do you support the Green New Deal? Yes.
40. President Biden has not granted a single pardon or commutation. When have you publicly demanded that Biden do more on this issue? Will you pledge to publicly speak out about this in 2022? I will push the President to do more on clemency, just as I have pushed New York State to be better on clemency. In particular, I will push for clemency review for older incarcerated individuals who do not pose a threat to society.
41. Do you commit to not supporting Joe Manchin or Kyrsten Sinema? Will you consider supporting a primary opponent? Kyrsten Sinema and Joe Manchin have blocked progressive legislation and have prevented us from addressing very real threats to our democracy. I would support a primary opponent for Senator Sinema but not for Joe Manchin.
42. Some members of congress indicate they will only support incumbents regardless of their politics and regardless of who is presenting them a primary. Are you one of them? I will not be, as my 2018 race demonstrated.
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