Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Emily Gallagher for NY Assembly District 50
Candidate Name: Emily Gallagher
Office Seeking Election for: NY Assembly District 50
Website: https://www.emilyforassembly.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?
After a decade and a half as a neighborhood organizer for environmental justice and against displacement in Greenpoint, I was elected in a stunning grassroots victory for Assembly in 2020 and quickly got to work. I’ve been an outspoken progressive leader in Albany, unafraid to challenge the leadership of my own party when they betray bedrock principles and always speaking out for civil rights and deeper democracy. Last year, I passed two first-in-the-nation policies, overcoming massive opposition from the oil and gas industry to enact the All-Electric Buildings Act, and the LLC Transparency Act to expose corporate corruption and secrecy. Locally, I’ve secured major investments for street safety and open space projects in North Brooklyn, despite efforts by the Mayor to undermine them, while making sure state and city agencies are responding to constituent needs. I am eager to continue this work.
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?
In 1999 my first job was working at a food pantry for people living with HIV/AIDS, and I became very active in the LGBTQ civil rights movement, helping to found the first Gay-Straight Alliance in my high school and fundraising every year for AIDS walk, as an adult mentor of mine lived with AIDS for 20 years before passing away in 2003. I am an enormous fan of Chi Osse and Tiffany Caban and also love JGR, Tony Simone and many others. I would love to see Marti Cummings run for office again. I support all legislation that supports LGBTQ rights and I am especially concerned about protecting our trans/non-binary community. I do have members of my team who are LGTBQ. I am currently working on legislation that is focused on the reproductive rights of people with HIV/AIDS.
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?
I’ve been a supporter and participant in the Movement for Black Lives since the demonstrations against the NYPD killing of Eric Garner in 2014. I was arrested in Washington, D.C. protesting the nomination of Brett Kavanagh to the Supreme Court. And And after hearing from multiple sexual assault survivors who had terrible, retraumatizing experiences with the police who handled their cases, I I founded the Greenpoint Sexual Assault Task Force which organized for a trauma-centered approach to reforming the NYPD’s protocol. And this was all before I was elected! Since joining the Assembly, I’ve participated in nearly every single demonstration for choice, against racism, bigotry and hate, and for justice that I’ve been invited to, including getting arrested at civil disobedience actions for harm reduction policies and for a ceasefire in Gaza.
4. Do you support reparations to compensate African Americans for the history of slavery, Jim Crow, and systemic racism in this country?
Yes I do. And I proudly voted for the commission to study how to implement reparations in New York State that came from the legislature in 2023.
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.?
I have introduced or supported legislation to address various aspects of each of these issues, including legislation that clarifies prisons, jails and police precincts are subject to New York State’s human rights laws; completely overhauling the State Commission of Corrections so it actually carries out its mandates to ensure basic standards in prison and jail facilities; providing for the removal of commissioners of elections when they fail to do their job of protecting the right to vote; and a change to the New York State Constitution guaranteeing all workers the right to strike. I am also soon to introduce legislation creating a Social Housing Development Authority to build hundreds of thousands of new, permanently affordable housing.
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, Assembly 2035?
Yes, I proudly co-sponsor this legislation and have participated in many rallies at the Capitol and in New York City for it. I’ve also vociferously advocated for the bill in the Assembly Democratic conference. It is a top priority.
7. Do you sponsor the Earned Time Act, Assembly 01128 which strengthens and expands “good time” and “earned time” to support rehabilitation efforts?
Yes, I am a proud co-sponsor.
8. Do you sponsor Eliminate Mandatory Minimum Bill Act, which reduces excessive sentences and enables Judges to look at individual factors and mitigating circumstances?
Yes, I am a proud co-sponsor.
9. Do you sponsor the Second Look Act, which allows for reconsideration of prison sentences based on changes in law and circumstances?
Yes, I am a proud co-sponsor.
10. Have you participated, and will you participate in demonstrations and protests in relation to the issues of clemency and parole?
Yes, I have participated in many and plan to continue!
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, I have visited Rikers Island and Green Haven Correctional Facility, the latter specifically to check on an incarcerated constituent whose family reached out to me personally.
13. What are your proposals to have prisons focus more on rehabilitation and less on punishment?
I support the full suite of legislation in the Justice Roadmap, and I have introduced my own bills directly related to oversight of prisons and jails, and the protection of human rights in all correctional facilities.
14. Do you support ending the cruel punishment of solitary confinement, such as was recently mandated by the New York City Council?
Yes. I proudly voted for the HALT Solidarity Act in the Assembly, and have pushed for its implementation.
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?
The Social House Development Authority, legislation I’ve written and will soon introduce, would create the opportunity for significantly more affordable housing around the state that would not discriminate against prospective tenants or co-owners who were previously justice-involved. I also believe that my LLC Transparency Act will help pursue accountability against employers and contractors who violate non-discrimination law but hide beyond corporate anonymity.
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 proudly support the full legislative package endorsed by Make the Road and the New York Immigration Coalition to ensure humane immigration policy in New York and stop any collaboration with cruel federal policies.
17. Do you believe in the decriminalization of sex work?
Yes.
18. Do you oppose legislation that promotes the Nordic model?
Yes. I support the model of decriminalization embodied by Senator Julia Salazar’s legislation.
19. What concrete proposals do you support to lift up women after four years of Trump being President?
I am a member of the bi-partisan pro-choice caucus in Albany, and I look forward to protecting access to the abortion pill and its ability to be mailed or carried out of state, allowing afab people from other states protection in seeking abortions in New York, and any policy that keeps abortion accessible and safe. I am also fighting for free childcare for all, gender affirming surgery and the protection of trans people, a raised minimum wage, and the New York Health Act, and protecting the art of drag. Giving women and AFAB people access to appropriate medical attention, safety at work, in public and at home, and more freedom with their paycheck by taking care of their fundamental needs is important to me as a legislator and as a woman. Most importantly, I believe we need to elect more democratic socialist women to office.
20. Do you support a single-payer universal health care system? Please elaborate.
Yes. I proudly co-sponsor the New York Health Act and am actively organizing an upcoming town hall to motivate my constituents to join the right.
21. What have you done to facilitate reproductive rights, including access to contraceptives and abortion services?
I co-sponsor and advocate for all legislation that protects reproductive freedom and ensures New York State is a safe harbor all who need to access an abortion.
22. Will you refuse contributions from individuals or Political Action Committees representing the Real Estate industry, from police or correctional communities?
Yes. I refused these contributions in 2020, 2022 and will continue to refuse them in 2024.
23. Will you refuse and refund any contributions from executives or corporations complicit in the Trump anti-American agenda?
Yes, absolutely.
24. How do you propose that we address the current surge of Islamophobia and anti-Semitism?
We need to be unequivocal and consistent: Islamophobia and anti-Semitism is completely unacceptable. There is simply no excuse or legitimate rationale for either. I believe it is imperative to protect and create spaces where real dialogue can occur, and I am disturbed at the silencing of solidarity movements on college campuses. I am following the lead of peace activists from the Jewish and Muslim community and standing proudly and publicly as an ally in the anti-war movement.
25. Did you or would you have voted for the censure of U.S. Representative Rashida Tlaib?
I would not have voted for the censure of Rashida Tlaib, the only Palestinian in the U.S. Congress.
26. Do you support an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East?
Yes I do. I was one of the first elected officials in New York State to call for one, and have participated in several rallies and actions for peace.
27. Should we condition further aid to Israel? What conditions should we stress that Israel abides by?
The U.S. government should not provide military aid to countries actively carrying out human rights abuses and violations of international law. This includes Saudi Arabia in its brutal war on Yemen, the Egyptian military dictatorship which has been propped up by both Democratic and Republican administrations, and Israel, who should be held to the very same standard.
28. Will you refuse funds from Trump-supporting AIPAC?
Yes.
29. What are your concrete proposals to prevent Trump and his cult from taking over this country and ending democracy?
We need a courageous Democratic Party that speaks to the material needs and aspirations for justice of the multiracial working class–that’s my fight and the most important thing we can do to combat Trumpism.
30. How can we combat the movement in this country to ban books, prevent colleges from discussing issues and demonizing intelligence as “woke”?
We can’t be afraid to call this out for what it is: fascism. New York State should explore every possible way to support civil rights movem
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?
Yes, I would love to see a statue of Sacco and Vanzetti, two individuals who were victims racism, prejudice and witch hunt mentality. Alternative idea would be asking members of the Iroquois Confederacy if they would like one of their leaders to be honored there, but I would never choose for them. Yes, you can use my name for such a purpose.
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 we should rename it – and you can use my name for such a purpose.
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, I already do! I have also advocated for local nightlife businesses in my district. We also do regular Narcan and drug testing trainings for local businesses.
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?
Eric Adams and I do not see eye to eye on most policy. Mostly, I am disturbed by his prioritization of wealthy donors and right-wing talking points that harm our Democratic party. I am very interested in speaking to potential progressive candidates for a Mayoral primary.
35. How can we mandate that every community do its share to have affordable housing and care for the recently arrived people?
This month I will be introducing a Social Housing Development Authority bill that would use public money to create housing as a public good. I believe we need to create significant amounts of -truly- affordable housing that reflects the needs of each unique region of the state, and that with enough housing stock we should move away from the shelter system entirely and offer anyone who wants to live here the opportunity to work and find permanent housing. Bringing back SRO housing is an important part of that as well.
36. Are you a sponsor of Good Cause Eviction legislation?
Yes, I am a proud co-sponsor and champion of Good Cause.
37. Do you support allowing legal Immigrants to vote in local elections?
Yes.