Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Catalina Cruz for NY Assembly District 39
Candidate Name: Catalina Cruz
Office Seeking Election for: NY Assembly District 39
Website: https://www.cruzfornewyork.com/
1. Explain, based on life experiences and accomplishments, why you believe you are best qualified to represent your district. I have dedicated my career to fighting for the rights of underserved communities. I spent 10 years as a lawyer and have represented the 39th Assembly district for the last 3 years. We are a high needs community, where more than 60% of my neighbors are foreing born and about 40 % cannot vote. My life experience growing up as a DREAMer and later working as a lawyer, have allowed me to serve our neighbors by advocating for resources and legislation to improve their lives and protect their rights. Since being elected, I have supported or led legislation and budgetaryinvestment to support immigrant neighbors, the LGBTQ community, low wage workers, seniors, and small businesses.
Since coming into office, I passed almost 20 new laws and helped invest close to $1.5 million for community group services and our local hospital. I also voted to support the 2021 budget because it provided unprecedented investment in much needed support for our community during thepandemic. Notably, the year before, I voted no on the budget because it included roll backs to bail reform and I was not willing to send more people to die in jail during a pandemic.
2. Please identify any openly LGBTQ candidates for public office you have previously or presently endorsed? I proudly supported Lynn Schulman and Marti Cummings in their city council races.
3. If applicable what legislation directly affecting the LGBTQ community have you introduced or co-sponsored? During my time in the Assembly, I proudly co-sponsored and voted in favor of bills that arenow laws: the ban on conversion therapy, GENDA, Ban on Walking While Trans, Vacating Convictions for Offenses Committed Due to Being a Victim of Sex Trafficking, Utility Companies to Allow Customers to Use Their Preferred Name and Pronouns.
I am also the sponsor of the Rape is Rape bill, which will redefine rape to include anal and oral penetration. An agregious exclusion that has re-victimized many rape survivors from the LGBTQ commuity.
4. What LGBTQ organizations have you been involved with, either on a volunteer or professional basis? I work with and currently provide funding to the Colectivo Intercultural Transgrediendo, an organzation located in Jackson Heights which focuses on providing legal, health, and other social safety net services to the trans latina community, including current and former sex workers. I also work with the ACQC, the LGBT Network and Make the Road. I hosted Pride Prom and plan to do it again (assuming the health crisis allows us). Additionally, over the last 3 years, I worked with thefollowing groups:
● Queens Center for Gay Seniors
● Lesbian and Gay Democratic Club of Queens
● Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club
● Stonewall Democrats of NYC
● DecrimNY
● Queens Pride
● ACQC
● New York Transgender Advocacy Group
● Make the Road
5. If applicable, what LGBTQ organizations have you allocated funds to? Colectivo InterculturalTransgrediendo and ACQC.
6. Do you consider yourself a member of the LGBTQ community? No, I am an ally.
7. Have you marched in any Pride parades? Which marches and for approximately how many years? Yes, I havemarched in the Queens and Manhattan parades several times (I believe 4 times). Additionally, I am anadvisory board member for the New Pride Parade (Queens).
8. Have you employed openly LGBTQ individuals previously? Do you employ any currently? Yes, I have had several staffers that identify as gay, bisexual, or Queer. One staffer left recently and I welcome theopportunity to hire more members of our LGBTQ community.
9. If you receive the Jim Owles endorsement, do you agree to identify the club on all literature and electronicmaterials where you list endorsements? Yes, 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? I worked very closely with the coalition that pushed forward the Ban on Walking WhileTrans as well as DecrimNY (participated in rallies, got members to sign on and vote in favor, and advocated with the Speaker). I have also worked closely with criminal justice advocates to push back against bail reform roll backs, and in support of repealing 50A. Most recently we are working togetheron passing my bill, Clean Slate.
11. Have you ever been arrested in pursuit of legislation or for protesting an injustice? Please elaborate. No, butI am willing to do it in order to drive the message on an important issue.
12. If you are an incumbent, what have you accomplished in your most recent term? This past term I did the following:
○ More than a dozen new laws including Nourish NY and protections for seniors and childrenwith special needs.
○ Provided constituent services for more than 1,500 people, including help withunemployment, excluded worker applications, rental assistance, small business support, immigration and other services.
○ Hosted 60 community events, including back to school backpack giveaways, citizenshipclinics, community cleanups and so much more.
○ Distributed more than 1,300 vaccinations and hosted close to 30 Covid test sites.
○ Secured more than $600K for services by community groups and support to institutions like Elmhurst Hospital.
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. I am a 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. I am a sponsor
14. If you will not co-sponsor any of the above legislation, why not?
15. Do you oppose the efforts to weaken bail reform as written. Absolutely, I voted against the 2020 budget because of the rollbacks.
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 visited Orange County Detention Center at the beginning of last summer.
17. Do you support legislation outlawing solitary confinement in all prisons statewide including city jails? Absolutely
18. When was the last time you were inside a correctional facility. Early summer 2021 (see above).
19. Do you believe sincere remorse and actions taken while incarcerated should be considered over the originalcrime in determinations of parole? This question is redundant. I would eliminate it. I believe this was left by mistake here, but just in case - yes, I think the life someone has led since being incarcerated and their sincere remorse should be taken into account to determine parole.
20. What do you believe should be done to ensure more clemencies are granted every year? Advocacy in front of the Governor and getting more elected officials at every level of government to speak up on this issue. But more importantly, when you have the families of affected folks speak, lead, and advocate, itcan be more impactful than when politicians are putting pressure. We can support, but we shouldn’t lead.
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
22. Have you participated in any demonstrations or protests concerning clemency and parole? Yes, last yearmost were virtual, but I participated in several asking for the passage of elder and timely parole.
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 andemployment? Yes, I am the sponsor of Clean Slate for that exact reason.
25. 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? Yes, I am currently a sponsor of the bill.
26. 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. Yes.
27. Do you support ending qualified immunity for police officers? Yes.
28. What proposals will you advocate for to protect immigrants and further New York as a “SanctuaryState”? Currently New York for All is a bill that seeks to do just this. I am a co-sponsor and actively work on pushing this bill. As the Chair of the Task Force on New Americans for the Assembly, I will also be seeking funding to support much needed legal and social safety-net services to ensure we are also supporting the needs of immigrant families (safety without resources isn’t real safety).
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 Scott Stringer B) President in 2016 (I was not in politics) and 2020 (Elizabeth Warren and then Joe Biden) C) Governor and Attorney General in 2018 No one?
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? Yes, long overdue forboth.
35. Describe any legislation and policy changes that you support in order to address the ongoing effects of slavery, racism, colonialism, and discrimination. I support reparations, ending qualified immunity,increasing funding to combat labor and sex trafficking (modern day slavery), among others.
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? I would love nothing more than for the federal government to forgive existing student loans, but that still leaves us with the prospect of younger New Yorkers notbeing able to afford college. That is why I support the New Deal for CUNY.
37. Do you support a single-payer universal health care system? Do you or will you co-sponsor the New YorkHealth Act? Please elaborate. Yes, I am a current sponsor
38. Discuss your stance on reproductive rights, including access to contraceptives and abortion services. I believe they should be free and have supported legislation and investment to ensure this right continuesto be a right. I will continue to fight for this, especially given the current Supreme Court and possiblegutting/overturning of Roe v. Wade.
39. Will you refuse money from individuals or Political Action Committees representing the real estate industry or law enforcement unions/associations? I do not accept checks from any of those entities. Infull disclosure, at one point I accepted a check from a law enforcement union that I then donated to the Kalief Browder foundation.
40. Will you refuse and refund any contributions from executives at corporations complicit in the Trumpagenda? I would never take them and given who I am. I doubt they would want to give me any money anyway.
41. Will you cosponsor the legislation to prohibit evictions without good cause (S.3082 / A.5573)?
Yes, I am a current sponsor.
42. Will you push for the passage of Home Stability Support (HSS) to bridge the difference between the publicassistance 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? Yes.
43. What should happen to 421-a? Would you end it, mend it, continue it? I am currently meeting with unionsand housing advocates to better understand where we need to be on this issue.
44. Do you support legalizing accessory dwelling units? Yes, absolutely.
45. Do you support more state funding for NYCHA? If so, how much? Yes. I do not have any NYCHAdevelopments and will be leaning on my colleagues who do to support their ask.
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 a sponsor.
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 not, but I will be signing on.
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? Yes, as a double CUNY grad, I make it a point to support and fight forCUNY.
49. In view of the fact that Ed Koch has been documented to have caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands ofpeople with AIDS, and was blatantly racist, would you support a city bill to rename the former QueensboroBridge? Do you authorize the use of your name for such a purpose? Yes
50. What is your position on removing the Christopher Columbus statue in Columbus Circle and if so, whatshould replace it?‘ Yes, perhaps something more fitting would be to replace it with a monumentrecognizing the displaced NY tribes.
51. Do you support reducing the budget of law enforcement throughout the state, and if so, by how much? Yes, we need to take into account not just NYPD but the overall state budget that goes into state police,corrections, etc. I don’t have a specific number and would be happy to hear ideas.
52. Are you in favor of removing police from any of the following? a) Schools Yes; b) Mental health responsecalls Yes; c) Homeless outreach and social services Yes; or d) Traffic enforcement Yes.
53. Should law enforcements "Vice Squads" be eliminated? Yes, I have worked with Make the Road and other organizations to advocate for this.
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? This is more severe than say a uniform violation, this needs to be treated seriously. Begin by docking vacation days and move up through suspension and even assignment of desk duty, all the way to firing. They are endangering the lives of New Yorkers by refusing to wear a mask.
55. What reforms would you make to the Civilian Complaint Review Board? Would you support state legislationto make CCRB disciplinary determinations binding? My bill A06012 makes the CCRB the final arbitratorof discipline over complaints received by them.
56. What will you do to support nightlife in New York State? I have worked closely with our local bars to ensure they understand the COVID pandemic regulations, and supported them to ensure they do not lose their license (or get it back when it has been suspended).
57. Do you commit to speak with restaurant and nightlife industry representatives before taking a position onany policies that affect their businesses? Yes, I already do that. Not just with them but also with other small businesses. I routinely reach out to actual owners as well as the Queens Chamber of commercebefore taking a position or proposing legislation.
58. Do you commit to speak personally with liquor license applicants and license holders before opposingany bid for a liquor license? Likewise for an applicant seeking your support? Yes, I already do this.
59. What are the top 3 issues you aim to address locally and legislatively? Currently our top 3 issues areCOVID recovery (for workers, small businesses and health care), protecting the rights of immigrants, the LGBTQ community and women in the face of failed federal action and the Supreme Court’s decisions, and investment in infrastructure (more specifically, the MTA).
60. 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 thankful for the supportI have received from the Jim Owles club so far. I look forward to your support in ensuring I cancontinue to fight for New Yorkers.