Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Jason Salmon for NY Senate District 25
Candidate Name: Jason Salmon
Office Seeking Election for: New York’s 25th State Senate District
Campaign Address: 143 Hancock St., Apt 1, Brooklyn NY
Campaign Website: www.salmon4ny.com
Campaign Telephone: 516-962-4231
Campaign Social Media Handles (Facebook/Twitter):
Facebook: Jason Salmon for New York
Twitter: @JasonASalmon
Campaign Contact (name/phone/email):
Rachael Scheinman (516-458-8185, Scheinman@Salmon4NY.com)
1. Explain, based on life experiences and accomplishments, why you believe you are best qualified to represent your district.
I believe I am the most qualified candidate running to represent New York’s 25th district because I have the experience, values, and support to win. Without accepting a cent of corporate or real estate PAC money, I raised over $87k in the first filing, nearly double that of both of my competitors. With grassroots support, my campaign is building infrastructure to win.
I am a 25th district native, I was born to an African American father and a Jewish-American mother. Although my father’s family came from St. Lucia, St. Croix, and Mumbai, India, settling in Harlem and Bedford-Stuyvesant, and my Mother’s family came by way of Eastern Europe, to seek better lives for their children. In the summer of 2014, my life changed dramatically. While we all watched the death of Eric Garner with anger and frustration, that summer my childhood friend was killed by the police. He was a gentle and kind human being and a great friend.
The events of that summer inspired me to become a community organizer. I joined Jews for Racial and Economic Justice to fight for police reform. As JFREJ’s representative in Communities United for Police Reform, I advocated in favor of city and state legislation including the Right to Know Act and the Police Stat Act, to strengthen transparency and accountability for law enforcement. I learned up close the importance of building grassroots power to lead the fight for reform.
My time as a community organizer motivated me to deepen my commitment to a life of service. I subsequently had the privilege to serve as Community Liaison for our current State Senator Velmanette Montgomery for three years. My work for the Senator put me on the front lines of nearly every issue our district has faced in recent years — from the fight for affordable housing, to organizing tenants to demand repairs, to drafting legislation requiring civics education in our schools, and working in partnership with city and state agencies, organizations and community members to find practical solutions to the many everyday problems our district faces.
My professional experience as both a community organizer and staffer for Senator Montgomery has given a dual lense and experience that will empower the people of the 25th Senate District — I understand grassroots organizing as well as how to get bills passed and advocate for everyday New Yorkers in Albany.
2. Do you now support or have you ever supported an openly LGBTQ candidate for public office?
YES
3. If applicable, what legislation directly affecting the LGBT community have you introduced or co-sponsored? (indicate accordingly)
I have not yet served as an elected official but when I am elected I will be a strong advocate for legislation that protects the LBGTQ+ community. State protections are increasingly important in the “Age of Trump'' where our federal courts are compromised by appointments of unqualified judges who are openly hostile to the LBGTQ+ community. If elected, a priority legislation I will advocate for is the the decriminalization of sex work and the “Walking While Trans Bill.” I recognize the disproportionate impact the criminal justice system can have on LGBTQ+ people, and I will defend the recent bail reforms so that people like Layleen Polanco will not be unjustly incarcerated. Finally, I will vote in favor of legalizing surrogacy with protections for all participants.
4. What LGBT organizations have you been involved with, either on a volunteer basis or professionally?
I am a member of Lambda Independent Democrats and Stonewall Democrats and attend many of their events. I have attended Jim Owles events and would love to work with this club when elected. I support LGBTQ+ civil and social rights, and see the LBGTQ+ community as being an integral part of the American fabric and Senate District 25.
5. If applicable, what LGBT organizations have you allocated funds to?
I am not an elected official (yet!) so I have not had the opportunity, but as an elected official I will advocate for financially supporting programs that support the LBGTQ+ community. I will also advocate for funding to establish community centers that provide resources to LGBTQ+ individuals, and specifically LGBTQ+ youth who are in need of housing and support services.
6. Do you consider yourself a member of the LGBT community?
I consider myself an ally of the LGBTQ+ community and am proud to advocate and fight for LGBTQ+ rights.
7. Have you marched in Pride? Which marches and for approximately how many years?
I have marched in a pride parade twice in the last 5 years, including the Stonewall Celebration!
8. Have you employed openly LGBT individuals previously? Do you employ any currently?
My Campaign Manager is a queer-identified woman who got her start in organizing founding a 1,400-member LGBTQ+ youth network in Manhattan, working at the Ali Forney Center, and the Long Island (then) GLBT (now LGBT) Services Network and Long Island Gay and Lesbian Youth, and advancing protections for LGBTQ+ youth and the fight for marriage equality. She has previously given talks to New York City Planners on how to organize NYC to better protect LGBTQ+ homeless youth. In my “Kitchen Cabinet '' I also have openly LGBTQ+ members as well as many volunteers who are openly LGBTQ+.
9. If you receive the endorsement, do you agree to identify the club on all literature and electronic materials where you list endorsements?
Of course!
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’ve participated in many marches and rallies that support LGBTQ+ issues. The most recent is a rally in midtown advocating for the “Walking While Trans” bill.
11. Have you ever been arrested? If so please explain why and outcome of arrest.
I’ve been arrested twice as part of civil disobedience actions advocating for police accountability bills, and the Black Lives Matter movement.
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?
I support the Elder Parole Bill (S2144) which considers parole release for all people aged 55 and older who have served at least 15 consecutive years in prison. I also will be partnering with campaigns like Release Aging People in Prison which is the organization behind the movement for elder parole. We must commit to re-examining the cases of incarcerated elders. If after thirty-five years, as in Judith Clarke’s case, our State cannot see that a person has done work to atone, our criminal justice system will never be restorative.
13. Do you commit to visit constituents who are incarcerated in state prisons such as Bedford Correctional Facility?
Absolutely. I have a strong commitment to ending mass incarceration in NYS. I have personally supported one of my childhood friends who was incarcerated upstate who served 6 years in prison. He has since been released and remains my dear friend and an important volunteer for my campaign. Re-entry for incarcerated individuals has been a part of my life for quite some time. While working in the State Legislature I started a working group comprised of women who have served time in Bedford Hills including Donna Hylton and Kathy Boudin. I will continue to do work regarding women who are incarcerated when elected. The fastest growing population in prison is Black women, and we need to ensure that resources and policy is geared towards solving this crisis.
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?
I believe sincere remorse should definitely be considered over the original crime in determinations of parole.
15. Have you participated in any demonstrations or protests in relation to the issues of clemency and parole?
Yes. Moreover I have advocated for parole bills in the State Legislature that have not seen the light of day including S807 which alters the composition of the state board of parole, which I believe is a necessary step in addressing the issues of clemency and parole.
16. Will you affirmatively seek to hire formerly incarcerated individuals?
Yes, and my campaign reflects my commitment to reentry. I have many formerly incarcerated individuals working on my campaign.
17. Do you believe in the decriminalization of sex work? Are you sponsoring the bill introduced by Jessica Ramos?
Yes, I strongly support the decrim bill and when elected I will be a sponsor.
18. Will you actively oppose legislation that would implement the dangerous Nordic model instead of decriminalization of prostitution?
Absolutely. It is impossible to decriminalize the seller without also decriminalizing the purchase of sex. I recognize sex work is work, and often the only viable means of survival for many marginalized people, including trans women of color. Police and state violence against sex workers is a huge issue, and the Stop Violence in the Sex Trades Act, introduces by Jessica Ramos and Julia Salazar, is the best way to fight it.
19. What proposals will you advocate for to protect immigrants and the further New York as a Sanctuary City?
There are laws we can enact in NYS to protect undoucmented New Yorkers such as the Protect Our Courts Act which would stop ICE officers from entering courtrooms without judicial warrant. I would also support state laws similar to those passed in California which would prohibit employers from using threats related to immigration status to retaliate against employees who have exercised their labor rights, make it easier for immigrant workers to sue employers for damages when they are retaliated against for exercising their workplace rights, and expand NYS’s criminal extortion laws to include threats related to immigration status. I also support decriminalizing border crossings by repealing Section 1325 in the U.S Immigration code.
20. Will you advocate, including introducing legislation, to remove public funding from religious schools?
Yes. I am a strong advocate of well-funded public schools and do not believe tax revenue should be diverted to support religious education. I was also in support of S2994 which removed the religious exemptions from vaccines as I do not believe there should be special privileges provided that implicate the health and safety of the public.
21. Do you support the establishment of supervised drug consumption spaces?
Yes. Making it safer for individuals who consume drugs is a moral imperative. It is also a way to intervene to be a resource to individuals who are addicted to drugs.
22. Have you ever endorsed any member of the IDC or any candidates who challenged IDC members? Please identify all candidates.
Never.
23. Will you commit to hiring a member of the LGBT community to serve as a liaison to the community?
Absolutely.
24. Will you commit to ensuring diverse LGBT representation among your staff?
Absolutely. My kitchen cabinet has LBGTQ+ members and many of my volunteers are members of the LBGTQ+ community.
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
I only vote for Democrats! I was a big supporter of Jumaane Williams and Cynthia Nixon.
26. Describe any legislation and policy changes that you support in order to address the ongoing effects of slavery, racism, colonialism, and discrimination?
Mass incarceration is a vestige of slavery and dehumanization and is one of the means by which this Country’s legacy of white supremacy and the dehumanization of other marginalized groups continues. Even the names of agencies such as Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) or NYS State Senate Committee Crime Victims, Crime and Correction are misleading and imply that individuals can be helped through a system that is inherently punitive. As a community organizer working on the frontlines of this issue, I am conscientious to only use the language “person who is incarcerated” when referring to individuals who are being held in our criminal legal system. I understand the racialized and dehumanizing language that has been used that needs to be retired to encourage rehabilitation and restoration, not punishment.
We need to start thinking about criminal justice reform in a more holistic state wide manner. We have 52 prisons in the State of New York, all of which are in Upstate New York. In order to close those prisons and divest from the prison industrial complex we need to replace those jobs. Upstate New York is filled with underutilized land and an agricultural market that has seen better days. Through legalizing, regulating and taxing the adult use of cannabis we can rebuild communities that have been ravaged by the “War on Drugs,” stimulate New York State's economy and transition the prison industries workforce into a burgeoning industry. Yes, we must legalize marijuana, expunge convictions, and use the new funding streams for restorative justice to aid communities most harmed by the disastrous war on drugs. I’ve worked on this issue during my tenure in the NYS State Legislature, including organizing and moderating a workshop featuring Montel Williams (talk show host, Cannabis Advocate) sponsored by Senator Montgomery and Assembly Member Crystal People-Stokes during Caucus Weekend in Albany.
Specifically, I would work to repeal 50a of the New York State civil rights law, which prevents the public from accessing records of law enforcement misconduct and discipline, pass the Police Statistics & Transparency (STAT ACT), which would increase transparency and accountability by making statistical information regarding interactions with police, including arrests and the death of individuals while in the custody of the police available to the public, and passing the special prosecutor bill.
The bottom line is, reforming and becoming less dependent on policing involves a lot more than enacting laws — it’s about education and implementing community based models to protect our communities; it’s about transforming the police into peacekeepers, not upholders of racism and oppression.
Last, to rid ourselves of these corrosive vestiges we must bolster our public education curricula through civics and comprehensive American History. The calamity of the Trump years has taught us that we must raise civically minded Americans who understand that the only way to maintain a democracy and a government that is responsive to the needs of everyday Americans is to teach our children their civic obligations in school as well as to emphasize an American curriculum that demonstrates that our communal history is that march to that “more perfect union” and that we are not there yet but that with an engaged and active citizenry we can walk that path together.
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?
We must make post-secondary education accessible to all our students. I would support at least $1 billion more in additional state funding to CUNY and SUNY to hire more faculty and counselors, restore facilities and expand student services. According to SUNY "1.4 million students, including approximately 550,000 in credit bearing courses and programs and over 850,000 through continuing education and community outreach programs." The defunding of SUNY and CUNY over the past decade poses a significant threat to maintaining the historic quality of these institutions. While SUNY and CUNY provides students of every background with a high quality education, they in turn are providing our low-income, minority, and first-generation students in particular, a path to economic equity. We must not let our great public institutions of higher education go downhill just as we are seeing high school graduation rates and college enrollment rates increase for historically under-represented communities. One thing that can be done immediately is to uphold the promise of CUNY and add the $160 million to the State budget to cover the TAP Gap. Considering that 54% of CUNY undergraduates have family incomes of less than $30,000/year, 75% are people of color, 38% are immigrants, and 42% are first generation college students’ disinvestment has lead to greater costs for students, as schools become increasingly tuition-dependent, and more courses are taught by undercompensated adjunct faculty the crisis in public higher education must be addressed. I also think NYS needs to consider educational loan forgiveness so that everyday New Yorkers are not saddled with life-crushing debt.
28. Do you support a single-payer universal health care system? Please elaborate.
I will fight to pass the New York Health Act which will ensure that all New Yorkers have access to comprehensive, quality and affordable health care and protect Medicaid from proposed $270 million in federal cuts to the Basic Health Program which funds New York’s Essential Plan. This plan provides low-cost insurance to economically disadvantaged New Yorkers at a cost of $20 per person per month, increasing premiums. I will also work to codify the protections of the ACA to ensure nobody is denied healthcare due to pre-existing conditions, a lifetime or annual cap, or denied coverage of essential health benefits including preventative services.
29. Discuss your stance on reproductive rights, including access to contraceptives and abortion services.
I do not believe there should be any restrictions — I believe the right to choose should be accessible to any person of any income bracket and will work to add funding to the state budget to fill in the gap in Title X funds created by Trump’s politically motivated cuts to family planning service providers like Planned Parenthood.
It is a priority to provide Reproductive health equality in NYS. I will fight for public funding for abortion and reproductive health services (including contraceptives). The mortality rates for women from of color and women from all under-resourced communities relating to women’s reproductive health issues is much higher than their wealthier and for the most part, whiter, counter-parts. To close that gap I support legislation which would reduce the barriers to comprehensive reproductive and maternal health services for women who traditionally have not had the resources to access these vital services. I will also continue to advocate for the establishment of more community health centers in neighborhoods where access to culturally competent reproductive healthcare is lacking or sorely needed. Furthermore, School Based Health clinics provide no to low-cost reproductive health services directly to New York’s youth in their schools. During my tenure with Senator Montgomery I worked on initiatives to expand School Based Health Clinics (SBHC) throughout New York City’s public schools, and I plan to continue to support SBHC’s if elected. The bottom line is we need to ensure that all New Yorkers have access to safe and affordable family planning, reproductive, sexual health services - a right that is being chipped away at every day on the federal level.
30. Will you refuse money from individuals or Political Action Committees representing the real estate industry?
I have publicly announced that I will not take and have not taken any such contributions, which I believe separates me from other candidates running for this seat. I’ve seen firsthand how campaign contributions from corporate interests strongly influence policy and how we collectively legislate as a state. In order for us to create a level playing field for everyday New Yorkers, I will also advocate for true campaign finance reform that will eliminate corporate interest and private real-estate money from our political process. New York State should pursue a system similar to New York City’s system and match at a 6-to-1 ratio to bring greater equality to state elections — this gives candidates an incentive to reach out to their own constituents rather than focusing on wealthy, and often out of district, donors. A small donor matching system would bring about more racial and socio-economic diversity in donorship in our political process. At the end of the day true campaign finance reform must eliminate the influence of corporate interest and private real estate money in our political process. Supporting public financing of elections is one major step towards creating a political system that works for the people, not corporations and the real estate industry.
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 also believe that this bill gives a broader swath of New Yorkers options as to family creation. We need to both support women's rights to control their bodies and support options for family creation.
34. Will you cosponsor the legislation to prohibit evictions without good cause (previously S2892A)?
Yes, absolutely. Last year, the state passed some of the strongest housing reforms in a generation, protecting millions of rent stabilized tenants in New York City and the suburbs, while giving localities the opportunity pass stronger tenant protections around the state. However, I would strengthen those provisions within NYC. Additionally, most tenants outside of New York City still are without even the most basic protections and can be evicted for no reason at all. Meanwhile, support for homeless New Yorkers continues to be stonewalled in Albany, and public housing residents are treated as a political football while they live in horrendous conditions. New Yorkers need Albany to build on what was accomplished last year and finally deliver for the 92,000 homeless people in the state, the millions of unregulated renters facing arbitrary evictions, and the public housing tenants whose needs have not been met by Albany.
I would also advocate setting aside 15% of all new state subsidized affordable housing projects for homeless families and individuals, we need to develop permanent housing for the homeless with onsite wrap around services and eliminate the use of cluster sites and hotels as shelters that only exacerbate our housing and homeless crisis.
I also support Senator Gianaris’ Bill S3693 to end rent increases for major capital improvements (MCI). According to the NYC For All: The Housing We Need report, between 2000-2012, New York City lost 400,000 apartments renting for $1,000 or less. Williamsburg, Greenpoint, Bushwick and Fort Greene were among the neighborhoods most impacted. MCI’s were just one of the predatory practices used to contribute to this loss of affordable units.
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?
Yes, the Home Stability Support act would replace the existing patchwork of optional rent subsidies. It would permit a higher maximum rent than currently permitted and assist in eliminating many existing barriers encountered in the search for an affordable apartment. As importantly, it would assist to decrease homelessness by families and individuals in receipt of public assistance – particularly those individuals and families who are facing eviction or loss of housing due to domestic violence or hazardous conditions.
36. What additional information would you like Jim Owles to consider when we are endorsing
My work for JFREJ and the Senator put me on the front lines of nearly every issue our district has faced in recent years and I know how to get things done in Albany. Yet my grassroots experience and ties to District 25 will keep me grounded to serving this community. In summation the following issues will be:
Affordable Housing: The fight for affordable housing is paramount for the 25th District. For us to be a district where everyday New Yorkers can settle, call home, put down roots and maintain and create livable communities in which we can all thrive we must address the issue of truly affordable and permanent housing.
Criminal Justice Reform: We must put an end to mass incarceration in the State of New York, we must advocate for police accountability and reform. We must begin to remedy past injustices by, for example, passing the Elder Parole Bill. Remedying generations of racial, social and economic injustice demands we accomplish this.
Public Education: We must bolster our public education curricula through civics and comprehensive American History. The calamity of the Trump years has taught us that we must raise civically minded Americans who understand that the only way to maintain a democracy and a government that is responsive to the needs of everyday Americans is to teach our children their civic obligations in school as well as to emphasize an American curriculum that demonstrates that our communal history is that march to that “more perfect union” and that we are not there yet but that with an engaged and active citizenry we can walk that path together.
Green New York: We must ensure our children are raised in a toxin free, green environment. It is our duty to ensure that our future generations can live in healthy, wholesome environment.
Rolling Back Trump’s Assault on our Civil Liberties: Last, (but not least) we must seek to defend all our marginalized communities in New York State from the GOP’s and Trump administration’s daily assault on our rights and liberties. This will be of the utmost importance if the 2020 election does not turn both the Senate and presidency Blue.