Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Juan Ardila for NY Assembly District 37
Candidate Name: Juan Ardila
Office Seeking Election for: NY Assembly District 37
Website: https://www.juanforthepeople.com/
1. Explain, based on life experiences and accomplishments, why you believe you are best qualified to represent your district.
I am a first-generation American and New Yorker, son of a Honduran-Cuban mother and a Colombian father. I am running for this position because of the trials and tribulations my family and I faced during my upbringing. I grew up my entire life wanting to become a forensic scientist, but when I was 17, my mother was almost faced unjust deportation all the while our family was facing persecution from gang violence in Central America. After this experience, I committed my entire adult life into public service to ensure people were protected from the system that failed my family. I worked for Council Member Brad Lander, and learned about the importance of district services and public policy. In addition, I worked on the expansion of pre-K, pre-K Dual Language, and 3-K for All and currently I am still a Program Coordinator at The Legal Aid Society where I help low income New Yorkers obtain legal representation and accessibility to benefits. I worked to obtain my Master Degree in Public Policy at NYU, where I won the Howard Newman Award to support interns getting paid in government. I would describe myself as someone who is a fighter, honest, compassionate. The vision I have for my Assembly District is to provide representation that advocates for tenant protections as gentrification out paces affordability, climate, and worker protections. I will focus on the genuine issues that encompass our diverse neighborhoods, and ensure that the people are set up for success. I organized heavily in this district and have been here my entire life, and I would fight to continue that organizing work.
2. Please identify any openly LGBTQ candidates for public office you have previously or presently endorsed?
I have not been in a position to endorse candidates yet, but I have personally supported Tiffany Caban in her 2021 City Council and 2019 District Attorney races. I am humbled to have received her endorsement for my present campaign for State Assembly.
3. If applicable what legislation directly affecting the LGBTQ community have you introduced or co-sponsored?
I have not served in public office yet, but I look forward to introducing and passing legislation that protects and expands the rights of our state's LGBTQ community.
4. What LGBTQ organizations have you been involved with, either on a volunteer or professional basis?
I have not had the privilege of representing an LGBTQ organization in my career, but I have helped individuals who identify as such to maintain duly owed public benefits.
5. If applicable, what LGBTQ organizations have you allocated funds to?
I have not served in public office yet, but I will fight tooth and nail for increased funding to organizations that help LGBTQ elders and runaway youth obtain safe, supportive housing, counseling and gender affirming care.
6. Do you consider yourself a member of the LGBTQ community?
While I do not identify as LGBTQ, I consider myself a strong ally.
7. Have you marched in any Pride parades? Which marches and for approximately how many years?
Yes. I have long-boycotted the NYC Saint Patrick's Day Parade and instead marched exclusively in my district's LGBTQ-led "St. Pat's For All Parade" for nearly half a decade. Brendan Fay, Kathleen Walsh D’Arcy, the late Tarlach MacNiallais, and past & present board members have a special place in my heart for organizing NYC's first LGBTQ-inclusive Saint Patrick's Day Parade right here in Sunnyside, Queens.
8. Have you employed openly LGBTQ individuals previously? Do you employ any currently?
Absolutely. Among my first hires to my Communications team this year is an openly genderfluid, queer-identifying resident of the district that I am running in.
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?
Loudly and proudly.
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 have been to countless demonstrations, rallies and protests to combat discrimination, unjust arrests and the pro-Trump agenda. There are simply too many to mention, but I'm happy to provide links and supportive media upon request.
11. Have you ever been arrested in pursuit of legislation or for protesting an injustice? Please elaborate.
I have not had the privilege yet.
12. If you are an incumbent, what have you accomplished in your most recent term?
I am not an incumbent.
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 will co-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 will co-sponsor
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 will co-sponsor
14. If you will not co-sponsor any of the above legislation, why not?
I will co-sponsor all of the above.
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
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.
I have not entered a correctional facility in my line of work. In my career, I've predominately worked in public defense regarding access to benefits, such as SNAP, cash assistance, Medicaid, SSI, SSD and unemployment.
19. Do you believe sincere remorse and actions taken while incarcerated should be considered over the original crime in determinations of parole?
I believe inmates should be considered for parole, and that legislators need to understand that upticks in crime is a symptom of systemic failure in governance. People are often driven to commit crimes out of financial need or anger towards an uncaring or unjust environment. Arresting turnstile jumpers and moms selling churros does not make our city or state safer. Investing in public/social housing, social workers/therapists in every school and crisis stabilization centers will make us safer.
20. What do you believe should be done to ensure more clemencies are granted every year?
Clemencies should be granted to anyone who is presently incarcerated for marijuana possession and those who are facing unjust deportation.
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 to all. There are thousands of immigrant mothers, fathers, aunts and uncles who are set to face unjust deportation, and it shouldn't make headlines when our Governor releases 8 or 9 of them. This issue is also very personal to me as my mother almost faced unjust deportation when I was a teenager, and it's that experience which made me want to pursue a life in public policy.
22. Have you participated in any demonstrations or protests concerning clemency and parole?
Yes, and as I referenced in the answer before, this issue has effected me personally.
23. Will you affirmatively seek to hire formerly incarcerated individuals?
I work in public defense and one of the spaces we focus on is employment opportunities and job discrimination against those with rap sheets. Personally I would not make a person's rap sheet the determining factor of employment.
24. Do you support legislation to prohibit discrimination against formerly incarcerated people in housing and employment?
100%. Incarceration should not be a death knell for rehabilitating inmates. The formerly incarcerated who are making good-faith efforts to re-enter society will be doing so in vain if they are discriminated against for housing and employment. Without these two basic foundations for productive living, the chances of recidivism are extremely high and the cycle that leads them back to committing crimes of poverty might continue in perpetuity.
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, and I will 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.
Sex work is work, and as long as it is criminalized, sex workers will continue to operate in the shadows where there is rampant risk of physical, sexual and financial abuse.
27. Do you support ending qualified immunity for police and other law enforcement individuals?
Absolutely. No one should be above the law, but especially not those who are tasked to enforce them.
28. What proposals will you advocate for to protect immigrants and further New York as a “Sanctuary State”?
I would work to enact legislation that provides greater access to public benefits and helps abolish ICE. I also plan to co-sponsor legislation that ends the practice of incarcerating non-violent immigrants facing deportation, something that almost separated me from my family at a younger age.
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 will co-sponsor.
30. Do you support the establishment of supervised drug consumption spaces?
As governors of even conservative states have learned, supervised consumption spaces do not lead to increased drug use in their cities, and instead led to double digit increases in drug counseling enrollment, decreased risk of infections and overdoses, which has saved countless lives. I support these spaces as part of public policy, which looks at drug addiction through the lens of a public health crisis instead of a criminal one.
31. Have you ever endorsed any member of the IDC or any candidates who challenged IDC members? Please identify all candidates
Absolutely not.
32. Will you commit to ensuring diverse LGBTQ representation among your staff?
100%. Among the first hires to my campaign team this year is an openly queer, genderfluid member of my district, and I hope to add more LGBTQ members to my team once in office.
33. Who did you support for office in the following primaries or special elections:
A) Mayor in 2021
Maya Wiley
B) President in 2016 and 2020
Bernie Sanders and Julian Castro
C) Governor and Attorney General in 2018?
Jumaane Williams and Zephyr Teachout
34. Have you made an endorsement in the current bid for Governor? If so, who?
I have not made an endorsement yet.
35. Do you support term limits for statewide office holders? For State Legislators?
Absolutely. Term limits help keep elected officials accountable to their constituents, and help maintain adequate representation.
36. Describe any legislation and policy changes that you support in order to address the ongoing effects of slavery, racism, colonialism, and discrimination.
I believe one of the most blatant forms of modern day slavery is prison labor, a practice which some inmates are indentured into as soon as they're incarcerated because of court fees and costs to tele-communicate with loved ones. Inmates are sometimes paid pennies an hour for labor, a practice that the state sees as justified because they are incarcerated. This is inhumane and I would work to ban prison labor and restore voting rights for formerly incarcerated persons who make good faith efforts to re-enter society.
37. 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 vocal advocate of a New Deal for CUNY, and I will co-sponsor all legislation that helps to make public universities tuition-free and alleviates student debt.
38. 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, but I believe that in order for the New York Health Act to work effectively, we need a national single-payer healthcare system in place so that no one gets dropped from insurance coverage because they commute to New York for work.
39. Discuss your stance on reproductive rights, including access to contraceptives and abortion services.
I strongly support reproductive rights, including access to contracapetives and abortion services. We can not let what's happening across the country to creep its way into New York, so we must fight adamantly to maintain reproductive rights throughout the entire state.
40. Will you refuse money from individuals or Political Action Committees representing the real estate industry or law enforcement unions/associations?
Absolutely
41. Will you refuse and refund any contributions from executives at corporations complicit in the Trump agenda?
100%
42. Will you cosponsor the legislation to prohibit evictions without good cause (S.3082 / A.5573)?
Absolutely. Good Cause / Right to Remain needs to be passed and applied statewide immediately. It is unconscionable that landlords can arbitrarily raise rent by 150% overnight and evict tenants without good cause. I am grateful for organizers who fought and were able to get regionalized versions of the bill passed in Albany, Newburgh, Poughkeepsie, Kingston and Beacon, but we have to repeal the Urstadt Law and get statewide Right to Remain passed before summer recess.
43. 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. HSS is one of the the best tools we have to keep people in their homes instead of adding them to the shelter/houseless system. I will also co-sponsor A.6032
44. What should happen to 421-a? Would you end it, mend it, continue it?
It should end and I am happy to have seen that it expired.
45. Do you support legalizing accessory dwelling units?
Absolutely. This is an issue I believe strongly in, as it protects the lives of residents who already live in these types of units by bringing their homes up to code, but also because it would add over 100,000 units of affordable, energy efficient housing to our housing stock.
46. Do you support more state funding for NYCHA? If so, how much?
We need to fully fund NYCHA without privatizing it. The money is there, but instead billions of dollars are going to building sports stadiums and subsidizing luxury housing across the state. We can not wait on a federal government that uses RAD as a carrot and stick to release funding, we need to fully fund NYCHA ourselves.
47. 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?
Yes, I even made the focus of my first press conference in this race to passing/funding the CCIA/CLCPA and creating a 100% renewable energy economy in New York.
48. Do you support the New York Public Banking Act (S.1762A / ? If you are an incumbent and do not currently co-sponsor this bill, why not?
I am optimistic about the future of Public Banking. By placing power onto municipalities to invest public funds into our communities, we will be able to wane off our state's dependance on predatory financial conglomerates.
49. 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?
100%
50. 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, I have no interest in naming our bridges after those who have inflicted harm to the LGBTQ community and BIPOC.
51. What is your position on removing the Christopher Columbus statue in Columbus Circle and if so, what should replace it?‘
We should not have statues of genocidal figures in our city, and I believe our indigenous population should determine what goes in Columbus' place.
52. Do you support reducing the budget of law enforcement throughout the state, and if so, by how much?
I think we need to take funds that are being spent on militarizing our police and reallocate it to agencies and programs that truly keep our community safe, such as public/social housing, healthcare for all, adding beds to hospitals across the state, adding seats to after school programs, subsidized childcare, and violence interruption programs.
53. 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.
All bodies of government need to recognize that adding police presence to a situation doesn't always de-escalate violence, especially not in all mental health and housing emergencies. I believe we need to invest in more violence interruption programs, provide public housing for the homeless and add therapists and social workers in every public school.
54. Should law enforcements "Vice Squads" be eliminated?
Yes. Vice Squads are an expensive, bureaucratic layer of the NYPD that has developed over the years into a haven for corruption that allows officers to avoid accountability for egregious crimes.
55. 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?
No one is above the law, especially not those that enforce it. Police officers should face the same penalties that any civilian would for not complying with local, state and federal public health mandates.
56. What reforms would you make to the Civilian Complaint Review Board? Would you support state legislation to make CCRB disciplinary determinations binding?
Absolutely. Right now the CCRB is toothless without binding determinations, and until then, we will continue to have officers on regular patrol who carry numerous complaints lodged against them without consequence.
57. What will you do to support nightlife in New York State?
I would like to work in coordination with the NYC Office of Nightlife & Small Business Services and the NY State Division of Small Business to compile a list of all small businesses that are struggling to stay afloat post-pandemic, then provide subsidies to help those that are about to shutter their doors or face bankruptcy. We have to stop the bleeding from our small business sectors.
58. Do you commit to speak with restaurant and nightlife industry representatives before taking a position on any policies that affect their businesses?
Of course. These industries have suffered enough during the pandemic, and those that have somehow managed to stay afloat need all of our attention and support or we can lose countless more jobs and revenue from their closures.
59. 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?
Absolutely.
60. What are the top 3 issues you aim to address locally and legislatively?
Housing, Climate and Early Childhood Education
61. How much money do you presently have in your campaign account?
About $50,000
62. 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 the lone progressive and most viable candidate in my race, in terms of positive ID's and current endorsements. In District 37, which covers Long Island City, Sunnyside, Ridgewood and Maspeth, my campaign is starting off with nearly 2,000 votes from the previous, overlapping race I ran in (City Council in 2021). As someone running against 3 open moderates this year, I have the entire progressive base in Sunnyside and Long Island City to carry us to victory. As of this writing, I carry more than 5 times the number of endorsements than any of my opponents, which include:
Working Families Party
State Senator Jessica Ramos
State Assemblymember Catalina Cruz
NYC Councilmember Tiffany Caban
NYC Councilmember Jennifer Guitierrez
Former NYC Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito
DC37
CWA
Make the Road NY Action
New York Immigration Coalition Action
Community Voices Heard Power
Churches United for Fair Housing
Open New York For All