Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Ambur Nicosia for NY Assembly District 75
Candidate Name: Ambur Nicosia
Office Seeking Election for: NY Assembly District 75
Website: https://amburforassembly.com
1. Explain, based on life experiences and accomplishments, why you believe you are best qualified to represent your district. I am a native New Yorker and four continuous generations of my family have lived in district 75. I was raised in a politically and socially progressive community and I have been involved in activism and advocacy my entire life - I am very comfortable taking a stand on issues that are necessary for our community. I believe my deep roots and personal and professional experience make me uniquely qualified to represent our district. In my day- to-day business I am responsible for addressing the needs of the residents and all of the operations and infrastructure for an area that covers 6 city blocks. I work with city and state agencies, HP, HUD, city council, assembly, state senate and even the us senators office. In University I majored in Human Service and have been a life long Healthcare Advocate – I have worked with Visiting Nurse Service of New York (VNSNY) and GMHC and volenteer to help launch MAMM Magazine. I have increased annual funding to PSSS one of the most vibrant Senior Centers on the West Side, providing care, services and programming for thousands of seniors in our district. I spent a year working in a homeless shelter that had a supportive program specifically for homeless struffling with mentally ill and can be a champion for effective and compassion help. My wife (a teacher in the district and UFT memeber) and I have two school age children and are active public school parents. . I was on community board 4 for 6 years working on education and quality of life issues. If we are going to meaningfully address our school issue - reduce class size and make schools more inclusive, develop a social justice curriculum - we need parents and teachers making more decisions !
2. Please identify any openly LGBTQQ candidate for public office you have previously or presently endorsed? Brad Holyman, Erik Bottcher,
3. If applicable, what legislation directly affecting the LGBTQ community have you introduced or co-sponsored? (indicate accordingly)
4. What LGBTQ organizations have you been involved with, either on a volunteer basis or professionally? I have been involved in the Center since the mid 1980s and have had an opportunity to volunteer with probably a 100 different groups over the last 35 years. Professional Pro-bono client work include The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD)
5. If applicable, what LGBTQ organizations have you allocated funds to? GMHC, ACT UP, The Center, Lesbian Avengers, GLADD, HRC, and many more!
6. Do you consider yourself a member of the LGBTQ community? Yes
7. Have you marched in Pride? Which marches and for approximately how many years? My first Pride Protest March was 1986 and I have been attending most years since then. I have been attending the Dyke Protest March most years beginning in 1995. 1987 march in Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights.
8. Have you employed openly LGBTQ individuals previously? Do you employ any currently? Yes. I currently have 139 fulltime employees and several part time employees throughout the year. The majority of our staff Union, which strongly supports equal protections under the law and our culture and values support this.
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? I have been attending protest and rallies to support LGBTQ issue, pro-choice legislation since the 1980s. I attended trump resistant rallies in NYC from the time he was elected.
11. Have you ever been arrested fighting in pursuit of legislation or for the purpose of protesting? Please elaborate.
12. If you are an incumbent, what have you accomplished in your most recent term?
13. For the following pieces of legislation, please answer if you are currently a sponsor or co-sponsor (if you are an incumbent), or if you will co-sponsor (if you are not an incumbent):
1. Fair and Timely Parole (S.1415A / A.4231A): A bill pending in Albany that would ensure the parole release process for incarcerated people in New York State is based on incarcerated peoples’ rehabilitation and current risk to public safety. Yes
2. Elder Parole (S.15A / A.3475A): A bill pending in Albany that would allow incarcerated people defined by the state prison as older adults, and who have served at least 15 years, an opportunity to appear before the Parole Board for an individualized review of their case and chance at release. Yes
14. If you will not co-sponsor any of the above legislation, why not?
15. Do you oppose the efforts of law and order conservatives to weaken bail reform as written? Yes
16. Do you commit to visiting constituents who are incarcerated in state prisons and city jails? Yes
17. When was the last time you were inside a correctional facility?
18. Do you believe sincere remorse and actions taken while incarcerated should be considered over the original crime in determinations of parole? Yes
19. What do you believe should be done to ensure more clemencies are granted every year? Focus on rehabilitation and value of reintroduction into society? Yes
20. Will you publicly call on the governor to use her clemency power to the many incarcerated New Yorkers who can safely return home? Will you tweet out your support for this or issue a public statement? Would you be willing to be critical of a governor who does not exercise their power to grant clemencies and commutations to those worthy of release? Yes Have you ever spoken out in such a way? Yes
21. Have you participated in any demonstrations or protests in relation to the issues of clemency and parole?
22. Will you affirmatively seek to hire formerly incarcerated individuals? Yes
23. Do you support legislation to prohibit discrimination against formerly incarcerated people in housing and employment? Yes
24. Do you believe in the decriminalization of sex work? Are you or will you co-sponsor the bill introduced by Julia Salazar (S.6419 / A. 8230), which fully decriminalizes and decarcerates sex work? Yes
25. Will you actively oppose legislation (S.6040 / A.7069) that would implement the dangerous Nordic model instead of decriminalization of prostitution? Explain in detail your views on full decriminalization, the Nordic model, legalization, and the existing criminalization approach. Yes
26. Do you support ending qualified immunity for police officers? Yes
27. What proposals will you advocate for to protect immigrants and the further New York as a “Sanctuary State”?
28. Do you support the establishment of supervised drug consumption spaces? Yes
29. Have you ever endorsed any member of the IDC or any candidates who challenged IDC members? Please identify all candidates NO
30. Will you commit to ensuring diverse LGBTQQ representation among your staff? Yes
31. Who did you support for office in the following primaries or special elections: A) Mayor in 2021 B) President in 2016 and 2020 C) Governor and Attorney General in 2018? Clinton / James
32. Have you made an endorsement in the current bid for Governor? If so, who? Kathy Hochul
33. Describe any legislation and policy changes that you support in order to address the ongoing effects of slavery, racism, colonialism, and discrimination.
34. 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? Free tuition for State and City Universities, loan forgiveness programs for working in underserved neighborhoods, school loans programs that don’t require cosigners
35. Do you support a single-payer universal health care system? Do you or will you co-sponsor the New York Health Act? Please elaborate. Yes
36. Discuss your stance on reproductive rights, including access to contraceptives and abortion services. I have always and will continue to support
37. Will you refuse money from individuals or Political Action Committees representing the real estate industry or law enforcement unions/associations? Yes
38. Will you refuse and refund any contributions from executives at corporations complicit in the Trump agenda? Yes
39. Will you cosponsor the legislation to prohibit evictions without good cause (S.3082 / A.5573)? Yes
40. 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? Will you co-sponsor S.856 / A.6032, which amend the Social Services Law to create a statewide rent supplement for families and individuals who are eligible for public assistance benefits and who face eviction, homelessness, or loss of housing due to domestic violence or hazardous living conditions? Yes
41. What should happen to 421-a? Would you end it, mend it, continue it? End.
42. Do you support legalizing accessory dwelling units? Yes
43. Do you support more state funding for NYCHA? If so, how much? Yes
44. Do you, or will you, co-sponsor the Climate and Community Investment Act? (S.4264A / A.6967) If you are an incumbent and do not currently co-sponsor this bill, why not? Yes
45. Do you support the New York Public Banking Act (S.1762A / A. 8290? If you are an incumbent and do not currently co-sponsor this bill, why not? Yes
46. Do you support the New Deal for CUNY (S.4461 / A.5843)? If you are an incumbent and do not currently co-sponsor this bill, why not? Yes
47. 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? Yes Do you authorize the use of your name for such a purpose?
48. What is your position on removing the Christopher Columbus statue in Columbus Circle and if so, what should replace it? Replace
49. Do you support reducing the budget of the law enforcement throughout the state, and if so, by how much? Use the money to communities most impacted by
50. Are you in favor of removing police from any of the following? a) Schools; b) Mental health response calls; c) Homeless outreach and social services; or d) Traffic enforcement. Yes!
51. Should law enforcements "Vice Squads" be eliminated? Yes
52. How would you recommend law enforcement officers be penalized for refusing to wear masks in public while on duty, in defiance of city and state rules? Employees should not be on duty if they are unsafe.
53. What reforms would you make to the Civilian Complaint Review Board? Would you support state legislation to make CCRB disciplinary determinations binding?
54. What will you do to support nightlife in New York State? Several of our tenants are family run restaurants that provide employment, safety and vitality to the community. They should be included in the conversation.
55. Do you commit to speak with restaurant and nightlife industry representatives before taking a position on any policies that affect their businesses? Yes
56. Do you commit to speak personally with liquor license applicants and license holders before opposing any bid for a liquor license? Likewise for an applicant seeking your support? Yes
57. What are the top 3 issues you aim to address locally and legislatively? Affordable housing, education and healthcare
58. What additional information would you like Jim Owles to consider when we are making our endorsements decisions? Supporting people in our community who have a long history of progressive values!