Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Jessica Ramos for NY Senate District 13
Candidate Name: Jessica Ramos
Office Seeking Election for: New York State Senate District 13
Website: https://www.ramosforstatesenate.com
1. Explain, based on life experiences and accomplishments, why you believe you are best qualified to represent your district.
I am a single, working mother. I am a renter. I am a daughter of immigrants. I am born, raised, and raising my two kids in the district. I firmly believe we all do better, when we all do better.
During my time as the State Senator representing District 13, we have endured the unthinkable. We were the national epicenter of an unprecedented pandemic. Through it all, Queens remained resilient, and each of our neighbors stepped up to care for each other in a way that reminds me why I stepped up to run in 2018.
As the most diverse place in the world, our neighborhoods set a vision for the future - one that is rooted in a deep, mutual care for each other and the understanding that we are only as secure as the most vulnerable among us. 2022 presents a new opportunity - the world looks different than when I was first granted the honor of representing District 13. I want to take on the important work of raising the standard of living for all of us, to ensure that we are building a recovery that works for all of us, not just those who are waiting for a return to normal.
2. Please identify any openly LGBTQ candidates for public office you have previously or presently endorsed? I endorsed Cynthia Nixon for Governor in 2018 and endorsed Crystal Hudson and Amit Bagga for City Council in 2021.
3. If applicable what legislation directly affecting the LGBTQ community have you introduced or co-sponsored? In my first year in office, I co-sponsored GENDA and the ban on conversion therapy, which had been held up by the Republican majority. I’ve fought to decriminalize sex work as a prime co-sponsor of S6419, supported the repeal of the Walking While Trans ban, and I am the Senate Sponsor of the START Act, which enables survivors of sex trafficking to vacate prostitution-related convictions.
4. What LGBTQ organizations have you been involved with, either on a volunteer or professional basis? 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. I’m currently working with New Pride Agenda, Equality New York, and other advocates to secure a TGNC Wellness & Equity Fund in the budget.
5. If applicable, what LGBTQ organizations have you allocated funds to? While my office doesn’t have a discretionary budget to directly fund organizations, this budget cycle, I have fought to include a $1 million TGNC Wellness & Equity Fund in the Senate One House which just passed.
6. Do you consider yourself a member of the LGBTQ community? I strive to be an ally to the community.
7. Have you marched in any Pride parades? Which marches and for approximately how many years? I have marched in the Queens Pride Parade every year since I was a teenager. I also march in the St Pats for All Parade to make sure all New Yorkers are able to celebrate without checking their LGBTQ identities at the door. Last summer, I spoke at the Rally Against Transphobia in Jackson Heights. My district has one of the largest TGNC communities in New York, and it’s important to me that my neighbors know I stand with them and will fight alongside them.
8. Have you employed openly LGBTQ individuals previously? Do you employ any currently? Yes, since entering office I have employed openly LGBTQ workers as a way to ensure diverse perspectives and to represent the LGBTQ community within my district.
9. If you receive the Jim Owles endorsement, do you agree to identify the club on all literature and electronic materials where you list endorsements? Yes
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? Some actions I’ve attended which have been particularly meaningful include rallies to end discrimination of transgender individuals by the NYPD, demonstrations in support of bail reform, rallies to lift the cap on street vendors in NYC, press conferences in support of the Fund Excluded Workers Act, and actions in support of DecrimNY.
11. Have you ever been arrested in pursuit of legislation or for protesting an injustice? Please elaborate. I have not, but I am supportive of folks who risk arrest through direct action.
12. If you are an incumbent, what have you accomplished in your most recent term? These past two years have been unbelievably challenging in District 13, and I have focussed on fighting for concrete change in my district. I championed a $2.1 billion dollar pandemic relief fund for excluded workers in the NY Senate, I helped secure Taxi Medallion Relief, and I organized with my neighbors to stop the Astoria NRG power plant.
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 cosponsor.
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 cosponsor..
C. Will you commit to oppose NY State bill S1922/A659, which makes trafficking 20 or more firearms within 1 year a Class A-1 felony punishable with a minimum of 15-25 years imprisonment or maximum of life imprisonment, and which would expand mass incarceration without promoting public safety? I do not support S1922
14. If you will not co-sponsor any of the above legislation, why not? N/A
15. Do you oppose the efforts to weaken bail reform as written Yes
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 most recently went to Rikers Island mid-January. The conditions at Rikers and at state prisons and city jails are deplorable. These institutions strip people of their rights and humanity.
17. Do you support legislation outlawing solitary confinement in all prisons statewide including city jails? Yes
18. When was the last time you were inside a correctional facility. My visit to Rikers Island in mid-January 2022 was my last time inside a correctional facility. As a child, my father would take me to visit members of our community who were incarcerated. As State Senator, I continue to visit with people in prisons and jails, but now I have a greater responsibility. State lawmakers have the legal authority to enter into any facility unannounced and inspect conditions, speak with incarcerated people and staff, and share what we learn with the public. I believe that having the ability to witness the conditions inside means we must use that power to fight for the humanity of people who are incarcerated.
19. Do you believe sincere remorse and actions taken while incarcerated should be considered over the original crime in determinations of parole? Yes
20. What do you believe should be done to ensure more clemencies are granted every year? I will continue to advocate that the Governor grant clemencies quickly. It should not have taken a pandemic for us to grant low-level offenders, folks near parole, and disabled and elderly New Yorkers clemency, and there are still many folks who are awaiting decisions. The system is not one of rehabilitation, but of cruel punishment.
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, I have publicly called on Governor Hochul to grant clemencies and am adamant that she needs to process the 3,682 applications for clemency on her desk in a timely manner: https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/in-the-news/jessica-ramos/opinion-let-hundreds-out-nys-jails-and-prisons-now
22. Have you participated in any demonstrations or protests concerning clemency and parole? Yes, I have spoken at press conferences in support of the “Justice Roadmap,” which includes the Fair and Timely Parole Act and the Elderly Parole Act. I also joined the Fortune Society and Immigrant Defense Project to call on the previous governor to grant clemency to immigrants who were at risk of deportation.
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 and employment? Yes
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 a co-sponsor.
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. When you’re policing the customers, you’re policing the workers, which is exactly what we’re trying to avoid. The Nordic model would truly hurt my community. I’ve heard of stories where police go undercover as sex workers in order to lure customers and then arrest them. The Nordic model doesn’t help us achieve a reduction in violence or recognize the dignity in sex work. Sex workers in my community are calling for full decriminalization to ensure their industry is safer.
27. Do you support ending qualified immunity for police and other law enforcement individuals? Yes
28. What proposals will you advocate for to protect immigrants and further New York as a “Sanctuary State”? New York State needs to provide better opportunities for immigrants. We cannot be a Sanctuary State by providing the bare minimum. We need to make sure everyone has access to good jobs, safety nets, affordable housing, and health care, regardless of citizenship status. I’m fighting for another $3 billion for excluded workers, many who are undocummented, and working to make sure street vending, nail salons, restaurants, and other immigrant-driven industries are able to thrive.
29. Are you a sponsor of New York's Medical Aid in Dying Act (A.4321a/S.6471)? If not will you add your name and sponsor? Yes, I am a cosponsor.
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 In 2018, I ran against José Peralta, a member of the IDC. I am thrilled to work with other Senators who defeated IDC members and bring progress to New York.
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 B) President in 2016 and 2020 C) Governor and Attorney General in 2018? I immediately withdrew my support of Scott Stringer following Jean Kim sharing her story and did not endorse another candidate. I supported Bernie Sanders for President, Cinthia Nixon for Governor, and Zephyr Teachout for Attorney General.
33. Have you made an endorsement in the current bid for Governor? If so, who? I have not made an endorsement in the Governor’s race.
34. Do you support term limits for statewide office holders? For State Legislators? Yes
35. Describe any legislation and policy changes that you support in order to address the ongoing effects of slavery, racism, colonialism, and discrimination. My work combating poverty serves to address the ongoing inequities in New York. I am fighting to support working families by building an economy of care and securing labor rights. We have passed the Farm Labor Fair Practices Act, secured Taxi Medallion Relief, and provided hundreds of thousands of excluded workers with pandemic aid. We still have a lot of work to do, which is why I’m fighting to tie the minimum wage to inflation, legalize street vendors, and establish labor standards for nail salon workers. I also strive to have a lens towards equity in all legislation, which is why I support the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. We must invest in communities that have suffered systemic harm.
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’m still paying back my own student loans! I support efforts to make CUNY and SUNY tuition free. Last session, I also introduced S6668 to provide relief for lawyers who work with underserved communities.
37. Do you support a single-payer universal health care system? Do you or will you co-sponsor the New York Health Act? Please elaborate. Yes, I am a co-sponsor of NYHA.
38. Discuss your stance on reproductive rights, including access to contraceptives and abortion services. All people should enjoy equal and affordable access to reproductive health — including access to contraceptives, abortion, gestational surrogacy, and gender reassignment surgeries.
39. Will you refuse money from individuals or Political Action Committees representing the real estate industry or law enforcement unions/associations? Yes
40. Will you refuse and refund any contributions from executives at corporations complicit in the Trump agenda? Yes
41. Will you cosponsor the legislation to prohibit evictions without good cause (S.3082 / A.5573)? Yes
42. 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? 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, and I am a co-sponsor of S.856.
43. What should happen to 421-a? Would you end it, mend it, continue it? I support ending 421-a and other wasteful tax breaks that go to corporate developers. Ultimately, I don’t believe New Yorkers benefit when our strategy for affordable housing is to continue bending over backwards to convince real estate developers that building affordable housing is economically worth it for them. We need stronger regulations that increase the amount of affordable housing stock–and the housing needs to be truly affordable for the folks who live in the neighborhood of a new development.
44. Do you support legalizing accessory dwelling units? Yes
45. Do you support more state funding for NYCHA? If so, how much[1]? Yes. A major issue with NYCHA is that we don’t know enough about how repairs are being made, other than hearing from tenants that clearly many complaints are ignored or take way too long. I introduced S7859 to require NYCHA have a searchable database of ticket numbers detailing complaints and what actions have been taken to fix the issues. It is completely unacceptable that my constituents in the Woodside Houses have had to go months without heat and hot water during the winter, but we need to make sure that NYCHA is accountable to residents and to the state with any increase in funding. I also support a public audit of our state’s economic development programs, to make sure that funding is going towards affordable housing and not towards kickbacks for developers.
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 co-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 a co-sponsor.
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? I am a co-sponsor.
49. In view of the fact that Ed Koch has been documented to have caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people with AIDS, and was blatantly racist, would you support a city bill to rename the former Queensboro Bridge? 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, what should replace it? Absolutely, and any other Christopher Columbus statue in New York. I also introduced a bill to rename Columbus Day Indigenous People’s Day. While I believe there should be community input to determine a replacement, as the daughter of a proud indegenous woman, I would love to see a statue honoring the people whose land has been stolen.
51. Do you support reducing the budget of law enforcement throughout the state, and if so, by how much[2]? Yes. There are many programs that police should not play a part in. We need to increase support and funding for social services programming, so folks who are trained and skilled can respond to mental health crises and provide more services for vulnerable communities. I am also the lead sponsor of the Treatment Not Jails Bill, which would make sure folks are able to access treatments they need for substance use disorders, mental health conditions, disabilities, and other health issues. People are not going to get these services while incarcerated, and funding intervention programs will decrease the jail and prison population. We need to reduce our reliance on law enforcement as our default solution to all our society’s problems.
52. Are you in favor of removing police from any of the following? a) Schools; b) Mental health response calls; c) Homeless outreach and social services; or d) Traffic enforcement. I am in favor of removing police from all four situations.
53. Should law enforcements "Vice Squads" be eliminated? Yes
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? Law enforcement officers should not be adding to the spread of Covid-19, by refusing to wear masks or by refusing to be vaccinated. They are a public health risk and should not be interacting with the public.
55. What reforms would you make to the Civilian Complaint Review Board? Would you support state legislation to make CCRB disciplinary determinations binding? We need to empower the CCRB to prosecute officers who have broken their own oaths. That’s why I supported the 2019 Police Accountability and the Civilian Complaint Review Board Ballot Initiative.
56. What will you do to support nightlife in New York State? I worked hard to introduce and pass S.7784 and S.2743 to provide businesses with temporary liquor licenses and retail permits, allowing them to get up and running quickly without the hindrance of bureaucratic red-tape. These bills were the first steps in reviving our local economy and supporting the small businesses, like restaurants, bars, and nightclubs that we love so much.
57. Do you commit to speak with restaurant and nightlife industry representatives before taking a position on any policies that affect their businesses? Yes
58. Do you commit to speak personally with liquor license applicants and license holders before opposing any bid for a liquor license? Likewise for an applicant seeking your support? Yes
59. What are the top 3 issues you aim to address locally and legislatively? My top three priorities are delivering universal child care across New York, securing increased funding for excluded workers while developing structural solutions for workers who currently can’t access safety nets, and tying the minimum wage to inflation.
60. How much money do you presently have in your campaign account? My campaign has a budget of $250,000 with about $25,000 cash on hand.
61. 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?
Need number
need number
1 | Page