Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Andrew Hevesi for NY Assembly District 28

Candidate Name: Andrew Hevesi

Office Seeking Election for: NY Assembly District 28

Website: http://hevesi4assembly.com/ (pending)

1. Explain, based on life experiences and accomplishments, why you believe you are best qualified to represent your district. 

I am proud to have a 17 year legislative record of fighting for LGBTQ rights. I also welcome and have encouraged collaboration with members of the LGBTQ community to present legislative solutions towards issues they face and offer support in any way I can to advance their priorities.

I grew up in Forest Hills and have lived here my entire life, it is where I have chosen to raise my family. The community within the 28th Assembly district is my home and it is my distinct honor to have the privilege to represent the area I love so deeply for the last 17 years and what I hope are many more to come.

2. Please identify any openly LGBTQ candidates for public office you have previously or presently endorsed?

Deborah Glick, Danny O’Donnell, and most recently Lynn Schulman to be my councilmember

3. If applicable what legislation directly affecting the LGBTQ community have you introduced or co-sponsored?  Proud sponsor and voted multiple times for marriage equality in New York State. I have and will continue to support gender confirming legislation, the option for non-binary or X gender markers on government documents, and strong anti-discrimination laws for the LGBTQ community.

4. What LGBTQ organizations have you been involved with, either on a volunteer or professional basis? None in an official capacity but I have worked with The Center and Generation Q, a youth focused LGBTQ Center in my district run by Queens Community House.

5. If applicable, what LGBTQ organizations have you allocated funds to? Capital money to The Center in Manhattan, even though it is not in my district, the work done at The Center is crucially important and goes beyond any district line.

6. Do you consider yourself a member of the LGBTQ community? No but I am proud to be an ally of the LGBTQ community.

7. Have you marched in any Pride parades? Which marches and for approximately how many years? Yes, I have been marching with my father since I was a child. I have continued to go to several parades both in Queens and city-wide and have celebrated Pride Night at Citifield a number of times.

8. Have you employed openly LGBTQ individuals previously? Do you employ any currently? I have never asked the sexual orientation of my staff. That said I recently had an intern that ran their high school’s trans-nonbinary alliance.

9. If you receive the Jim Owles endorsement, do you agree to identify the club on all literature and electronic materials where you list endorsements.

Absolutely

10. What press conferences, demonstrations, rallies and protests in support of LGBTQ issues, pro choice legislation, criminal justice reform issues and the Resist Trump Movement have you attended and/or participated in? Multiple on each topic over the last 17 years. I attended the Women’s March after the 2017 election and introduced legislation to get increased services to immigrant children in response to the family separation policy under the Trump administration. Most recently, legislation I sponsored to stop the arrest of any child under 12 years old, was signed into law.

11. Have you ever been arrested in pursuit of legislation or for protesting an injustice? Please elaborate. No

12. If you are an incumbent, what have you accomplished in your most recent term? I am most proud of the recently signed law that raises the lower age of juvenile delinquency from 7 to 12 years old, ending the prosecution for any child under the age of 12 years old for any crime, except homicides.

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):

A. Fair and Timely Parole (S.1415A / A.4231A): A bill pending in Albany that would ensure access to the parole release process for incarcerated people in New York State. This bill insures that decisions on parole are not solely based on the nature of the original crimes but includes incarcerated peoples’ record of rehabilitation and assessment of current risk to public safety. Co Sponsor

B. Elder Parole (S.15A / A.3475A): A bill pending in Albany that would allow elderly incarcerated people who have served at least 15 years in prison an opportunity to appear before the Parole Board for a chance at release.  Co Sponsor

14. If you will not co-sponsor any of the above legislation, why not? N/A

15. Do you oppose the efforts to weaken bail reform as written. Yes

16. Do you commit to visiting constituents who are incarcerated in state prisons and city jails? If incumbent, when did you do so last? Yes. I consistently visited my father in state prison during his time and have and will continue to visit others.

17. Do you support legislation outlawing solitary confinement in all prisons statewide including city jails? Yes

18. When was the last time you were inside a correctional facility. 4 Years ago

19. Do you believe sincere remorse and actions taken while incarcerated should be considered over the original crime in determinations of parole? Yes

20. What do you believe should be done to ensure more clemencies are granted every year? Pass the two bills referenced above.

21. Will you publicly call on the governor to use her clemency power for 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? Have you ever spoken out in such a way? Yes, several weeks ago, I attended at a rally in Manhattan outside the governor’s office to promote the Fair and Timely and Elderly Parole bills.

22. Have you participated in any demonstrations or protests concerning clemency and parole? Yes

23. Will you affirmatively seek to hire formerly incarcerated individuals? Yes

24. Do you support legislation to prohibit discrimination against formerly incarcerated people in housing and employment? Yes

26. 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 sex work?  Undecided

27. Will you actively oppose legislation (S.6040 / A.7069) that would implement the dangerous Nordic model instead of the decriminalization of prostitution? Explain in detail your views on full decriminalization, the Nordic model, legalization, and the existing criminalization approach. I have been supportive of the Hunter/Krueger bill in light of concerns raised to me by groups that work with survivors of human trafficking including Covenant House and Safe Horizon. I believe that sex work is work but I worry about the ability for exploitation and coercion.

28. Do you support ending qualified immunity for police and other law enforcement individuals? yes

28. What proposals will you advocate for to protect immigrants and further New York as a “Sanctuary State”? I will continue to work to protect immigrants from abuses of federal authority.

29. Are you a sponsor of New York's Medical Aid in Dying Act (A.4321a/S.6471)? If not will you add your name and sponsor? Yes, I am a cosponsor

29. Do you support the establishment of supervised drug consumption spaces? Yes

30. Have you ever endorsed any member of the IDC or any candidates who challenged IDC members? Please identify all candidates No

31. Will you commit to ensuring diverse LGBTQ representation among your staff? Yes

32. 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?

a) Maya Wiley

b) Clinton and Biden

c) Cynthia Nixon and Tisch James

33. Have you made an endorsement in the current bid for Governor? If so, who? Not yet

34. Do you support term limits for statewide office holders? For State Legislators? No

35. Describe any legislation and policy changes that you support in order to address the ongoing effects of slavery, racism, colonialism, and discrimination.

 I wrote the law requiring implicit bias training for all mandated reporters this year. Also, the raising of the lower age of juvenile delinquency ends the school to prison pipeline which disproportionately impact black and brown children under 12 which had been sending children of color into the family court and juvenile justice systems since 1909.

36. 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? Consistently votes with the Assembly Democratic Majority to increase TAP, CSTEP and other educational advancement programs and debt relief for 17 years.

37. Do you support a single-payer universal health care system? Do you or will you co-sponsor the New York Health Act? Please elaborate. I have voted for it several times but I am not a cosponsor

38. Discuss your stance on reproductive rights, including access to contraceptives and abortion services. I support and believe that a woman should have full autonomy over her own body. I believe in and will continue to fight for a woman’s right to choose.

39. Will you refuse money from individuals or Political Action Committees representing the real estate industry or law enforcement unions/associations? No

40. Will you refuse and refund any contributions from executives at corporations complicit in the Trump agenda? What does this mean? Yes

41. Will you cosponsor the legislation to prohibit evictions without good cause (S.3082 / A.5573)? I am already a cosponsor

42. 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 amends 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? Absolutely. I wrote and sponsored the home stability support for years before switching from Social Services Chair to Children and Families. HSS is still close to my heart and I firmly believe that one of the best ways to solve the homeless crisis is to increase voucher levels to reflect the realities of rent.

43. What should happen to 421-a? Would you end it, mend it, continue it? Mend it

44. Do you support legalizing accessory dwelling units? I would be open to learning more about this before taking a position.

45. Do you support more state funding for NYCHA? If so, how much? Some, but not taking over the financial responsibility for a federally funded city run program.

46. 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? I am already a cosponsor

47. 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? I am already a sponsor

48. 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? I am already a sponsor

49. 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 we should re-name it.

50. What is your position on removing the Christopher Columbus statue in Columbus Circle and if so, what should replace it? No position

51. Do you support reducing the budget of law enforcement throughout the state, and if so, by how much? I support law enforcement having adequate funding to do their jobs but  I believe there are areas where cops should not be the responders and in those areas, costs should shift to more appropriate groups.

52. 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

53. Should law enforcements "Vice Squads" be eliminated? Yes

54. 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? I believe they should lose pay, vacation, or sick time.

55. What reforms would you make to the Civilian Complaint Review Board? Would you support state legislation to make CCRB disciplinary determinations binding? More transparency and accountability. I would support those efforts and reforms.

56. What will you do to support nightlife in New York State? I am happy to support these efforts but it is not currently a priority within my policy portfolio as Children and Families Chair.

57. Do you commit to speak with restaurant and nightlife industry representatives before taking a position on any policies that affect their businesses? Yes

58. 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

59. What are the top 3 issues you aim to address locally and legislatively? Investing state resources in families, children and the child care, foster care, kinship care, afterschool, preventative service workforces and all programs that we know work, and prevent and mitigate the effects of trauma for our children.

60. How much money do you presently have in your campaign account? Under $20K

61. What additional information would you like members The Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club to consider when we are making our endorsement decision concerning your candidacy? I am proud to have served the people of New York State, particularly those in the 28th Assembly District for 17 years. I hope my record will prove worthy of your endorsement, it would be an honor to have the endorsement of the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club.