Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Aravella Simotas for NY Assembly District 36
Candidate Name: Aravella Simotas
Office Seeking Election for: New York State Assembly, 36th District (Queens)
Campaign Address: 24-07 31st Street, 1R, Astoria, NY 11105
Campaign Website: aravella.com
Campaign Telephone: 917-435-8799
Campaign Social Media Handles (Facebook/Twitter):
Twitter: @aravellasimotas
Campaign Contact (name/phone/email):
Megan Bowles, 917-935-5295, megan.a.bowles@gmail.com
1. Explain, based on life experiences and accomplishments, why you believe you are best qualified to represent your district.
I have been proud to represent the 36th District in the Assembly since 2011. As an immigrant that has resided in Astoria since infancy, and a product of our public school system, I have a unique understanding of the needs of our community. During my time in the Assembly, I have been a staunch advocate for gender equality and championed progressive policies to benefit working families. I have passed legislation to combat sexual violence, strengthen protections against harassment and discrimination, expand access to quality health care, and support small businesses. I believe the vibrant diversity of western Queens is our greatest strength and I am committed to defending our immigrant neighbors and fighting against hatred and discrimination in all its forms. I will continue to fight on behalf of my constituents to advance social and economic equality and enact laws that safeguard reproductive justice, protect the rights of workers, reform our criminal justice system, and make affordable housing, education and health care accessible to all.
2. Do you now support or have you ever supported an openly LGBTQ candidate for public office?
I supported Christine Quinn in her campaign for mayor.
3. If applicable, what legislation directly affecting the LGBT community have you introduced or co-sponsored? (indicate accordingly)
I have introduced legislation to establish an LGBT Long-Term Care Facility Residents’ Bill of Rights and prohibit discrimination against transgender parents in child custody cases. I am the author of legislation to update New York’s antiquated definition of rape to include forced oral and anal sexual contact, a change that would remove a major barrier to justice and validate the experiences of LGBT survivors by acknowledging the reality that people of all genders experience rape. I introduced and successfully passed a series of comprehensive reforms that strengthened protections against harassment and discrimination towards LGBT employees. I also authored legislation that banned discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in insurance coverage for infertility and required large group insurance policies to cover in-vitro fertilization. Expanding access to this safe and effective procedure will make it easier for same-sex couples to build families and ensure they are not forced to rely on higher risk medical options to conceive.
I have proudly co-sponsored the Marriage Equality Act, GENDA, the conversion therapy ban, legislation prohibiting the use of gay and trans panic defenses, the Gender Recognition Act, the Child Parent Security Act, and legislation to repeal the “Walking While Trans” ban.
4. What LGBT organizations have you been involved with, either on a volunteer basis or professionally?
I have worked with SAGE, Gay Men’s Health Crisis, the LGBT Center, the Lesbian and Gay Democratic Club of Queens, and Stonewall Democrats.
5. If applicable, what LGBT organizations have you allocated funds to?
I recently allocated $125,000 to Make the Road NY, an organization that provides services and advocacy through their Transgender, Gender Nonconforming, Intersex and Queer Justice Program.
6. Do you consider yourself a member of the LGBT community?
No, I consider myself an ally to the LGBT community.
7. Have you marched in Pride? Which marches and for approximately how many years?
Yes, I have marched in the Queens Pride Parade every year since 2010.
8. Have you employed openly LGBT individuals previously? Do you employ any currently?
Yes, two members of my current staff openly identify as members of the LGBT community.
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 LGBT issues, pro choice legislation, criminal justice issues and the Resist Trump Movement have you attended?
I have participated in many events related to these issues including press conferences and rallies in support of legislation to end solitary confinement, keep ICE out of our courts, and protect reproductive rights.
11. Have you ever been arrested? If so please explain why and outcome of arrest.
No.
12. 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 am currently co-sponsoring bill A4319B to provide a process for considering incarcerated individuals over the age of 55 who have served over 15 years for possible parole release.
13. Do you commit to visit constituents who are incarcerated in state prisons such as Bedford Correctional Facility?
Yes.
14. 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.
15. Have you participated in any demonstrations or protests in relation to the issues of clemency and parole?
No, but I would be open to participating in demonstrations related to these issues in the future.
16. Will you affirmatively seek to hire formerly incarcerated individuals?
Yes.
17. Do you believe in the decriminalization of sex work? Are you sponsoring the bill introduced by Jessica Ramos?
I support measures to protect sex workers from police harassment and incarceration, but I am not currently sponsoring this legislation because I want to ensure that New York does not unintentionally insulate traffickers or people who exploit sex workers from accountability under the law. I will be discussing this bill with the sponsors in the coming weeks and look forward to supporting its passage in its final form.
18. Will you actively oppose legislation that would implement the dangerous Nordic model instead of decriminalization of prostitution?
Yes, I have met with members of Decrim-NY and other advocates on this issue and I understand how the Nordic model can cause further harm to marginalized communities and force sex workers into more dangerous conditions. I will oppose legislation that would increase the risk of violence towards sex workers.
19. What proposals will you advocate for to protect immigrants and the further New York as a Sanctuary City?
I introduced legislation to ensure that immigrants can report crimes without fear of deportation by making it a felony to threaten or intimidate a crime victim or applicant for an order of protection by reporting their immigration status or that of their family members. I am co-sponsoring the Protect Our Courts Act and have repeatedly called on the Office of Court Administration to implement stronger policies to keep ICE agents out of our courthouses. I also support legislation to grant immigrants the right to legal representation in deportation proceedings.
20. Will you advocate, including introducing legislation, to remove public funding from religious schools?
Yes.
21. Do you support the establishment of supervised drug consumption spaces?
Yes, I am currently co-sponsoring the Safer Consumption Services Act to establish a program for medically supervised injection spaces.
22. Have you ever endorsed any member of the IDC or any candidates who challenged IDC members? Please identify all candidates
I proudly endorsed John Liu against Tony Avella in 2014. I knocked on doors, visited churches with John and circulated campaign literature in Greek about Avella’s opposition to the expansion of a Greek community center. I endorsed John, and knocked on doors again in 2018, and proudly endorsed my colleague, Jessica Ramos against Jose Peralta, as well.
23. Will you commit to hiring a member of the LGBT community to serve as a liaison to the community?
Yes.
24. Will you commit to ensuring diverse LGBT representation among your staff?
Yes, I will continue to ensure that my staff reflects the diversity of my community and includes LGBT representation.
25. Who did you support for office in the following races A) mayor and Public Advocate in 2014 B) President in 2016 C) Governor and Attorney General 2018
Mayor 2014: Christine Quinn
Public Advocate 2014: Daniel Squadron
President 2016: Hillary Clinton
Governor 2018: I did not endorse in this race.
Attorney General 2018: I did not endorse in this race.
26. Describe any legislation and policy changes that you support in order to address the ongoing effects of slavery, racism, colonialism, and discrimination.
27. 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?
It is critical that we enact comprehensive reforms to our criminal justice system to address racial and economic disparities in our communities. I have introduced legislation to expand criminal record relief so that people convicted of crimes in their youth have the opportunity to move forward and fully integrate into society without carrying the burden of a criminal record for the rest of their lives. I am co-sponsoring the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act to legalize adult use cannabis and establish a Community Grants Reinvestment Fund to give back to communities that have been disproportionately affected by criminalization. I support full elimination of cash bail, efforts to re-enfranchise all formerly incarcerated people, and the repeal of 50-a to create greater accountability for police misconduct. We must remedy the legacy of racism in our educational system and end the school to prison pipeline, which is why I am fighting to provide just, equitable funding to public schools in underserved areas and to pass the Solutions Not Suspensions bill to end harsh and ineffective disciplinary practices that disproportionately impact students of color. I will also continue working to strengthen protections against discrimination in employment and housing.
28. Do you support a single-payer universal health care system? Please elaborate.
All New Yorkers deserve access to quality, affordable health care, which is why I have been a long-time supporter of the New York Health Act to establish a single-payer universal health care system in New York.
29. Discuss your stance on reproductive rights, including access to contraceptives and abortion services.
Access to reproductive health care is crucial to the physical, economic, and social well-being of our communities. All patients should be able to make informed choices about their reproductive health without facing prohibitive costs and unnecessary delays. I was proud to co-sponsor the Comprehensive Contraceptive Coverage Act to guarantee access to the full range of safe, effective family planning options and the Reproductive Health Act to codify Roe v. Wade and enshrine the fundamental right to choose in our laws. I will continue to fight to ensure every New Yorker can access safe, legal abortion care and make decisions about their reproductive health
free from outside restrictions.
30. Will you refuse money from individuals or Political Action Committees representing the real estate industry?
Yes.
31. Will you refuse and refund any contributions from executives at corporations complicit in the Trump agenda?
Yes.
32. Are you against the opening of casinos in New York owned and controlled by Trump mega-donor Sheldon Adelson?
Yes.
33. Do you support the surrogacy bill introduced by Senator Brad Hoylman allowing women to decide control of her body in regard to surrogacy?
Yes, I am co-sponsoring the Child-Parent Security Act because I believe all New Yorkers should have access to family-building options including surrogacy.
34. Will you cosponsor the legislation to prohibit evictions without good cause (previously S2892A)?
Yes, I am a co-sponsor of this legislation. Preserving affordable housing is a top priority for me and I will continue to fight to pass good cause eviction and other measures to strengthen protections for tenants.
35. 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?
It is vital that we combat the epidemic of homelessness in our state and support families at risk of losing their housing. I am an early co-sponsor of legislation to create the Home Stability Support Program and recently signed on to a letter urging the governor to pass this important initiative in this year’s budget. (A/M Hevesi and I sit next to each other in our democratic conference, and we have had many conversations on this topic).
36. What additional information would you like Jim Owles to consider when we are making our endorsements decisions?
As the mom of a young daughter, I try to set an example that my daughter can emulate and be proud of. Growing up, my own mother stressed the importance of treating everyone the way I want to be treated, which motivates me every day to work hard in Albany to create positive change for everyone. Earning your endorsement is important to me because you follow the same basic ideal, and I respect the work that you do to ensure that we can all live in a state where there is true equality.