Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Jessica Ramos for NY Senate District 13
Candidate Name: Jessica Ramos
Office Seeking Election for: New York State Senate, 13rd District (Queens)
Campaign Address: 37-15 79th Street Apt 52, Jackson Heights 11372
Campaign Website: RamosForStateSenate.com
Campaign Telephone: (347) 249-5404
Campaign Social Media Handles (Facebook/Twitter):
Facebook: State Senator Jessica Ramos
Twitter: @Jessicaramos
Campaign Contact (name/phone/email): Tarik Coles, (347) 249-5404
Explain, based on life experiences and accomplishments, why you believe you are best qualified to represent your district.
I’ve had the honor of representing the 13th State Senate District for more than a year and I love my job. Because I was born and raised in the district, I can speak to the historic struggles of so many marginalized groups in our community. And as the most diverse district in the country, I feel it is our distinct responsibility to show the world we fight for each other’s inclusion, dignity, and human rights.
In my first year, I passed 19 bills most of which expanded labor protections to various immigrant workers, fought for the decriminalization of sex work, as well as a handful of criminal justice reforms which include bail reform, elder parole, clemency, and more.
I’m a mother. I’m a renter. I’m a straphanger. I’m the daughter of immigrants. In this sense my story isn’t very different from many of my neighbors, but Albany has been so unresponsive to our housing and transportation issues, and so much more, that framing our issues through lived experiences is not only good strategy but a way to uplift my neighbors and their stories.
I’ve spent my life fighting for working families, advocating for labor, and organizing the local community, and today I am the Chair of the Senate Labor Committee. A strong union advocate, I worked with Build Up NYC to fight for construction, building and hotel, and maintenance workers in New York City from 2014 to 2015. I also worked with a local chapter of the Social Service Employees Union from 2008 to 2011 and a regional branch of the Service Employees International Union from 2011 to 2014, where I helped building maintenance workers, office cleaners and public schools cleaners win contracts that protected their rights, wages, and benefits.
As a community organizer and activist, I joined Community Board 3 and served as Democratic District Leader in the 39th Assembly District from 2010 to 2014. I sat on the boards of the Jackson Heights Beautification Group and Farmspot, Jackson Heights’ community-supported agriculture (CSA) program. Before being elected to office, I received awards for my work on behalf of the community from the New Visions Democratic Club, Powhatan Democratic Club, and the Lesbian and Gay Democratic Club of Queens—and I have been recognized by the Queens Women’s Chamber of Commerce for my advocacy on behalf of Women and Minority Owned Businesses.
Before being elected State Senator, I served as Director of Latino Media for the City of New York. As the city’s chief Latina spokesperson, I helped keep our city’s 1.87 million Spanish-speaking residents, and the community and ethnic media at large, informed about government services and initiatives.
I credit my love for activism and public service to my parents, Colombian immigrants who fought for and won the right to dual citizenship for Colombian-Americans and founded Siempre Colombia, a not-for-profit organization in Jackson Heights that sent aid to Colombians affected by the devastating earthquake in 1999. My mother crossed the Mexican border by herself at 24, and my father was arrested in a workplace immigration raid in the early 1980’s and spent days held in a detention center.
Do you now support or have you ever supported an openly LGBTQ candidate for public office?
YES
If applicable, what legislation directly affecting the LGBT community have you introduced or co-sponsored? (indicate accordingly)
- I co-sponsored and we passed GENDA and banned conversion therapy
- Sponsor of Senate Bill S4981B (2019-2020 Legislative Session) related to confidentiality of records in proceedings to vacate convictions for offenses resulting from sex trafficking, labor trafficking and compelling prostitution.
- Prime co-sponsor of Senate Bill S6419 (2019-2020 Legislative Session) related to the decriminalization of sex work
What LGBT organizations have you been involved with, either on a volunteer basis or professionally?
I have been a long time, strong ally to the Lesbian and Gay Democratic Club of Queens and the Jim Owles Democratic Club, in addition to countless local and statewide trans organizing.
If applicable, what LGBT organizations have you allocated funds to?
We have no access to discretionary funding individually but have allocated funding to LGBT groups as the Senate Majority.
Do you consider yourself a member of the LGBT community?
I consider myself an ally and therefore a member of the community by extension.
Have you marched in Pride? Which marches and for approximately how many years?
Yes, every year in the Queens Pride parade since I was a teenager.
Have you employed openly LGBT individuals previously? Do you employ any currently?
Yes, I previously have and currently employ openly LGBT individuals in my government office and I will continue to do so because beyond being the right thing to do, it is a true reflection of the community I represent.
If you receive the endorsement, do you agree to identify the club on all literature and electronic materials where you list endorsements?
Yes and proudly.
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 attended many press conferences that relate to the discussion of banning conversion therapy, marriage equality, access to healthcare, a women’s right to choose, and many criminal justice issues including but not limited to:
~ Rallies to end discrimination of transgender individuals by the NYPD
~ Rallies to limit school suspensions in public schools
~ Demonstrations in support of bail reform
~ Legislation to add body cameras on MTA Officers
~ Press Conferences in support of the “Justice Roadmap” (a slate of criminal justice reforms bills and priorities developed by a coalition of community groups)
~ Rallies to lift the cap on street vendors in NYC
~ Hearings in support of a full repeal of 50-a
~ Decrim press conferences and rallies
Have you ever been arrested? If so please explain why and outcome of arrest.
Yes, I was arrested as a teenager and it is sealed.
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
Do you commit to visit constituents who are incarcerated in state prisons such as Bedford Correctional Facility?
YES
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
Have you participated in any demonstrations or protests in relation to the issues of clemency and parole?
Yes, I support The Fair and Timely Parole Act, emphasizing current risk over prior conviction.
Will you affirmatively seek to hire formerly incarcerated individuals?
YES, we are currently working with the Fortune Society to hire interns and hopefully put them on a path to full employment in our office or government in general.
Do you believe in the decriminalization of sex work? Are you sponsoring the bill introduced by Jessica Ramos?
Yes, except the bill is Julia Salazar’s.
Will you actively oppose legislation that would implement the dangerous Nordic model instead of decriminalization of prostitution?
YES.
What proposals will you advocate for to protect immigrants and the further New York as a Sanctuary City?
We are working closely with Brad Hoylman on Protect Our Courts and Right to Counsel legislation, as well as introducing our own measures to help immigrant workers like getting rid of the state mandate for employers to use E-verify.
Will you advocate, including introducing legislation, to remove public funding from religious schools?
Yes.
Do you support the establishment of supervised drug consumption spaces?
Yes.
Have you ever endorsed any member of the IDC or any candidates who challenged IDC members? Please identify all candidates
No
Will you commit to hiring a member of the LGBT community to serve as a liaison to the community?
Yes, currently my chief of staff, director of constituent services, and scheduler identify as queer people.
Will you commit to ensuring diverse LGBT representation among your staff?
Yes.
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
A) John Liu in the primary and Bill de Blasio in the general; Tish James as PA
B) Bernie Sanders in the primary and Hillary Clinton in the general
C) Cynthia Nixon and Zephyr Teachout, who I supported for governor in 2014
Describe any legislation and policy changes that you support in order to address the ongoing effects of slavery, racism, colonialism, and discrimination.
I am a sponsor of the following bills:
Senate Bill S6020, Signed by Governor: Extending provisions relating to self-employment assittance programs and others matters
Senate Bill S6578, Signed by Governor: Enacts the farm laborers fair labor practices act, granting collective bargaining rights, workers compensation and unemployment benefits to farm laborers
Senate Bill S5791, Signed by Governor: Provides for penalities for discrimination or retailiation against immigrant employees
Senate Bill S7086, In Senate Social Services Committee: Requires inspection of homeless shelters
Senate Bill S1720, Vetoed By Governor: Relates to developing and implementing programs to prevent workplace violence in public schools
Senate Bill S1721, In Labor Committee: Related to providing language access services
Senate Bill S3341, Finance Committee: Prohibits law enforcement agencies or officers from inquiring about immigration status
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 am a supporter of making public college affordable for all New Yorkers through advocating for the needs of CUNY and SUNY students in the governor's budget and am against tuition hikes for students who attend these institutions. We can tax the rich and educate the poor.
Do you support a single-payer universal health care system? Please elaborate.
YES. I am the prime co-sponsor for the New York Health Act. The number one reason Queens residents are currently behind on rent is because of medical bills. Healthcare should never be for profit.
Discuss your stance on reproductive rights, including access to contraceptives and abortion services.
I firmly believe that all people should enjoy equal access and resources related to their reproductive health — including access to contraceptives, abortion, gestational surrogacy, and gender reassignment surgeries.
Will you refuse money from individuals or Political Action Committees representing the real estate industry?
Yes.
Will you refuse and refund any contributions from executives at corporations complicit in the Trump agenda?
Yes
Are you against the opening of casinos in New York owned and controlled by Trump mega-donor Sheldon Adelson?
Yes
Do you support the surrogacy bill introduced by Senator Brad Hoylman allowing women to decide control of her body in regard to surrogacy?
Yes
Will you cosponsor the legislation to prohibit evictions without good cause (previously S2892A)?
Yes
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?
Yes
What additional information would you like Jim Owles to consider when we are making our endorsements decisions?
New Yorkers deserve to live in a society that allows them to thrive regardless of race, class, ethnicity, socio-economic background, religion, or creed. For too long, these factors have been barriers to success for too many. We must reshape the conversation around inequality in a productive manner, taking the experiences of diverse, largely immigrant communities like mine into account. Accessible transportation, affordable housing, fair working labor conditions, a reformed criminal justice system, and protections for immigrant communities are just among some of the key pillars we must advocate for in hopes of a better, more progressive future for New York. That’s why I proudly stood with the New York State Senate Democratic Majority in passing legislation relating to providing language access services, requiring the workers' compensation board to provide for translation of documents and interpretation services and to publish a language access plan. We advocated for establishing penalties for employers who discriminate or retaliate against employees based on immigration status, including calling ICE. And we proudly passed the Farmworkers Fair Labor Practices Act, which guaranteed 1 day of rest per week and established collective bargaining rights for laborers. However, despite these achievements, our work for a better, fairer New York continues. That’s why I will continue championing inclusivity and transparency in our government through policies like campaign finance reform so that more people have an opportunity to participate in our shared democracy.