Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Brad Hoylman-Sigal for NY Senate District 47
Candidate Name: Brad Hoylman-Sigal
Office Seeking Election for: New York State Senate District 47
Website: https://www.bradhoylman.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 think my decade-long record in the NYS Senate speaks for itself. I’ve stood up to Trump in the State Legislature on a range of issues, including passing legislation (the TRUST Act), to require Trump’s state taxes to be shared with congressional investigating committees; the Adult Survivors Act, which has allowed the lawsuit of E. Jean Carroll to proceed against Trump; stripping Trump’s name from a NYS park; and prohibiting Trump from using lawsuits (called “SLAPP” lawsuits) to intimidate his opponents. Currently, I’m helping lead efforts to prevent insurrectionists from being elected to state and local offices and have written to the NYS Board of Elections to urge them to deny Trump a place on the Republican primary ballot.
Generally speaking, I’ve been part of the Senate majority that has passed far-reaching election reforms and as Chair of the Judiciary Committee I led the Senate in rebuffing a nominee to New York’s highest court that had been responsible for decisions that permitted racial profiling and anti-labor provisions.
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?
I’ve had a long history in the movement, thanks to generations of leaders who preceded me, beginning with my time in G.L.I.D. For eight years, I was the only openly-LGBTQ member of the NYS Senate and, among other things, sponsored legislation extending human rights protections to transgender New Yorkers, banned so-called ‘conversion’ therapy, ended the gay/trans panic defense, permitted “x” gender markers, extended insurance coverage for PrEP and PEP, ended the ban on “walking while trans,” and established New York as a safe haven for transgender children, parents and their physicians seeking gender-affirming care.
I am the LGBTQ liaison in my office!
I continue to be involved as a proud board member of the Jim Owles Democratic Club and am active in the Victory Fund and work closely in Albany with the New Pride Agenda and Equality Now.
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?
Just this week, I attended the protest of Moms for Liberty, as well as appeared before the Community Education Council 2 the previous evening to speak out against the CEC members who are advancing an anti-trans agenda. I have appeared at Rev. Sharpton’s House of Justice to speak about the need for reform of New York’s 175-year old wrongful death statute, which disproportionately disadvantages people of color. I am the author of a Hate Crimes Analysis and Review Act and the Police Stat Act, which require demographic data to be collected to protect vulnerable communities subject to bias from the public and police.
4. Do you support reparations to compensate African Americans for the history of slavery, Jim Crow, and systemic racism in this country?
Yes. I was a co-sponsor of legislation signed last year to create a state commission on reparations.
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.?
In the Senate, I have co-sponsored legislation to end redlining and eliminate predatory equity in housing, as well as extend protections for rent-stablized and market rate tenants. I was supported the John L. Lewis Voting Rights Act that established rights of action for denying or abridging of the right of any member of a protected class to vote, established and maintained a statewide database of voting and election data, and provided assistance to language-minority groups. I will continue to advance criminal justice reforms and will not retrench on bail reforms and other measures that I have supported in my career.
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?
Yes and yes – I am the sponsor.
7. Do you sponsor the Earned Time Act, Senate S774, which strengthens and expands “good time” and “earned time” to support rehabilitation efforts?
Yes, I am a co-sponsor.
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?
Yes, I am a co-sponsor.
9. Do you sponsor the Second Look Act, S7872, which allows for reconsideration of prison sentences based on changes in law and circumstances?
Yes, I am a co-sponsor.
10. Have you participated, and will you participate in demonstrations and protests in relation to the issues of clemency and parole?
Yes
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?
Yes
13. What are your proposals to have prisons focus more on rehabilitation and less on punishment?
I am a co-sponsor of Senator Ramos’s Treatment Not Jail Act to ensure that New Yorkers with substance use disorders, mental health concerns, and other disabilities have an off-ramp from the criminal legal system to obtain treatment and support in their communities. Also, I have strongly supported full-funding for the Bard Prison Initiative which provides high school and college classes to incarcerated individuals.
14. Do you support ending the cruel punishment of solitary confinement, such as was recently mandated by the New York City Council?
Yes
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?
In this year’s state budget, I support the additional $2.5 billion in funding at the NYS level as proposed by the Hochul administration. I also am the sponsor of the Access to Representation Act to provide immigration attorneys to asylum seekers.
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?
I was the sponsor of the the Protect Our Courts Act, which enshrines into law the ban on warrantless civil arrests for individuals going to, attending, or returning from court proceedings, a tactic commonly employed by ICE officers which had increased dramatically throughout the course of the Trump Administration.
17. Do you believe in the decriminalization of sex work?
Yes
18. Do you oppose legislation that promotes the Nordic model?
Yes
19. What concrete proposals do you support to lift up women after four years of Trump being President?
I will continue to support efforts to make New York a safe haven for abortion services, pass abortion protections in our state constitution, strengthen Title IX, and support passage of the Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
20. Do you support a single-payer universal health care system? Please elaborate.
Yes, I am a co-sponsor.
21. What have you done to facilitate reproductive rights, including access to contraceptives and abortion services?
See above. In addition, I sponsored legislation to investigate so-called crisis pregnancy centers, which are in fact anti-choice facilities that falsely present themselves as genuine, licensed healthcare facilities, such as women’s health centers and abortion clinics.
22. Will you refuse contributions from individuals or Political Action Committees representing the Real Estate industry, from police or correction communities?
I am participating in the NYS campaign finance program, which maximizes small donations.
23. Will you refuse and refund any contributions from executives or corporations complicit in the Trump anti-American agenda?
Yes.
24. How do you propose that we address the current surge of Islamophobia and anti-Semitism?
One way is to pass my Stop Hiding Hate Act, which would require social media companies to report instances of hate to the NYS Attorney General and steps they are taking to address these instances.
25. Did you or would you have voted for the censure of U.S. Representative Rashida Tlaib?
No
26. Do you support an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East?
If it’s possible, I would support a negotiated, bilateral ceasefire wherein both the Israeli government and Hamas commit to ending the escalation of violence that started on October 7, and going back to the negotiating table for a lasting peace. This negotiated end to the war must include the release of the remaining Israeli hostages held in Gaza. Under no circumstances should Hamas be allowed to regroup.
27. Should we condition further aid to Israel? What conditions should we stress that Israel abides by?
I would urge the US government to continue to use its influence to end the war as soon as possible and urge the Israeli government to commit to a lasting peace process. I stand with Israelis trying to replace the current government with one committed to democracy within Israel and lasting peace with its neighbors. The Israeli government must act immediately to curb expanding settler violence. This
is not only a major violation of the rights of Palestinians in the West Bank, but it undermines the possibility of a future Palestinian state.
28. Will you refuse funds from Trump-supporting AIPAC?
Yes (AIPAC doesn’t donate to state candidates).
29. What are your concrete proposals to prevent Trump and his cult from taking over this country and ending democracy?
Keeping him off the ballot through Section 3 of the 14th Amendment.
30. How can we combat the movement in this country to ban books, prevent colleges from discussing issues and demonizing intelligence as “woke”?
Support DEI and civics education. I support "freedom to read act", legislation in Albany that requires the commissioner of education and school library systems to develop policies to ensure that school libraries and library staff are empowered to curate and develop collections that provide students with access to the widest array of developmentally appropriate materials available.
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?
I support the findings of the 2017 mayoral commission that recommended the Columbus statue stay, but suggested the City add other nearby monuments putting Columbus' actions in context. A monument should be created as was intended to recognize indigenous people. I support efforts announced this month by Governor Hochul to remove offensive artwork in the state capitol building.
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
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?
Yes
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?
I oppose the mayor’s attacks on asylum seekers and threats to cut school funding and libraries in the wake of a manufactured budget crisis, as well as his vetoing of two police reform bills this week. I am concerned that these actions have jeopardized the City’s Albany agenda.
35. How can we mandate that every community do its share to have affordable housing and care for the recently arrived people?
Lead by example, as my colleagues have been doing on the West Side by supporting emergency shelters in their local districts.
36. Are you a sponsor of Good Cause Eviction S305 legislation?
Yes
37. Do you support allowing legal Immigrants to vote in local elections?
Yes