Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Julien Segura for NY Assembly District 71
Candidate Name: Julien Segura
Office Seeking Election for: NY Assembly District 71
Website: https://www.seguraforny.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?
Segura: I have spent my political career fighting in competitive districts across New York State to ensure we have strong representation in our City & State. I am committed to bringing all of those skills home to the district that shaped me, and fight for the future of our democracy. I grew up in Sugar Hill in low income housing, went to an alternative high school, and had a different path to politically enfranchising myself as a first generation American. I am committed to the welfare of the many communities that call our city home, and I'm confident I have the knowledge and skillset to properly and wholeheartedly represent their interests in Albany and beyond!
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?
Segura: I had previously worked for a non-binary candidate running for City Council and have helped many LGBTQ candidates in other counties in their political journeys, in both paid and volunteer capacities. The welfare and rights of the LGBTQ community are of the utmost importance to me.
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?
Segura: I have worked on ballot access, campaign management & organization, and many other aspects of political work for Black, AAPI, & LGBTQ candidates. I am a fierce advocate for breaking glass ceilings for communities that are traditionally underrepresented in our communities.
4. Do you support reparations to compensate African Americans for the history of slavery, Jim Crow, and systemic racism in this country?
Segura: I believe there should be a federal chattel slavery reparations program. I support state-level efforts in achieving those goals.
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.?
Segura: We must ensure that new housing developments prioritize low-income community members and Seniors to assure we are treating our communities equitably. We must fight to ensure we have representation for all communities to assure we have enough perspectives in government to take holistic and informed directions in our legislature.
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, Senate 2423?
Segura: Yes
7. Do you sponsor the Earned Time Act, Senate S774, which strengthens and expands “good time” and “earned time” to support rehabilitation efforts?
Segura: Yes
8. Do you sponsor Eliminate Mandatory Minimum Bill Act, S6471 which reduces excessive sentences and enables judges to look at individual factors and mitigating circumstances?
Segura: Yes
9. Do you sponsor the Second Look Act, S7872, which allows for reconsideration of prison sentences based on changes in law and circumstances?
Segura: Yes
10. Have you participated, and will you participate in demonstrations and protests in relation to the issues of clemency and parole?
Segura: Yes and yes.
11. Will you affirmatively seek to hire formerly incarcerated individuals?
Segura: I am very invested in working with people involved in the justice system. I have volunteers and staffers who are or were involved in the justice system or at-risk youth. It is core to my philosophy for me to enfranchise and help those who have made mistakes and want to be productive, engaged members of society.
12. Have you and will you visit incarcerated constituents to learn of their conditions?
Segura: I have spoken to many formerly justice-involved constituents. I am committed to the reintegration of those who have paid their debts to society, and intend on visiting our incarceration facilities throughout New York City & State.
13. What are your proposals to have prisons focus more on rehabilitation and less on punishment?
Segura: I am a major proponent of restoring funding for educational programs in our jails and prisons.
14. Do you support ending the cruel punishment of solitary confinement, such as was recently mandated by the New York City Council?
Segura: I am a proponent of reducing the use of solitary confinement for punitive reasons within correctional facilities.
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?
Segura: I am the child of immigrants and
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?
Segura: Many of these policies sadly precede Trump and while I can only
17. Do you believe in the decriminalization of sex work?
Segura: Yes. I want there to be a degree of government regulation that allow
18. Do you oppose legislation that promotes the Nordic model?
Segura: Depends on the legislation, but I am a proponent of many aspects of the Nordic model.
19. What concrete proposals do you support to lift up women after four years of Trump being President?
Segura: I have spent a large amount of my career engaging communities of color and other unrepresented voting blocs for the Democratic party. We cannot allow right-wing rhetoric to take over communities as they become enfranchised to civically engage in our City & State.
20. Do you support a single-payer universal health care system? Please elaborate
Segura: I would co-sponsor the NY Health Act, but I am a strong proponent of Universal Healthcare on the Federal level. We must catch up to rest of the developed world.
21. What have you done to facilitate reproductive rights, including access to contraceptives and abortion services
Segura: I have engaged in many acts of protest in the fight against the regression of our reproductive freedoms, particularly following the fall of Roe v. Wade, and have helped distribute plan B and other contraceptive resources in the form of mutual aid and distributions.
22. Will you refuse contributions from individuals or Political Action Committees representing the Real Estate industry, from police or correction communities?
Segura: Yes
23. Will you refuse and refund any contributions from executives or corporations complicit in the Trump anti-American agenda?
Segura: Yes
24. How do you propose that we address the current surge of Islamophobia and anti-Semitism?
Segura: As an interfaith political organizer, I am incredibly disappointed to see this rhetoric climb in intensity across the board in New York. We must work on culturally relevant education programs and programming to educate people on these cultures. Education is the purest counter to beliefs based in ignorance. We must ensure that everyone can be themselves and practice their religion freely without persecution or consequence in New York.
25. Did you or would you have voted for the censure of U.S. Representative Rashida Tlaib?
Segura: No
26. Do you support an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East?
Segura: I condemn the terrorist attack by Hamas on October 7th and hope for a ceasefire resolution by both parties that involves bringing the hostages home, ensuring medical care and aid for Palestineans. I hope for a shift away from the current right-wing government
27. Should we condition further aid to Israel? What conditions should we stress that Israel abides by?
Segura: I am running for a State level position and wouldn’t have control over the budget funding foreign aid if elected, but we must ensure that when we give countries foreign aid, we avoid funding actions that lead to civilian casualties, and instead fund efforts towards democratic principles, stability and peace in the region.
28. Will you refuse funds from Trump-supporting AIPAC?
Segura: Yes
29. What are your concrete proposals to prevent Trump and his cult from taking over this country and ending democracy?
Segura: We must fight to ensure we can defend our democracy. That means working to have a strong Democratic majority in the House & Senate, as well as secure a truly democratic supermajority in our State Legislature.
30. How can we combat the movement in this country to ban books, prevent colleges from discussing issues and demonizing intelligence as “woke”?
Segura: I am an opponent of book bans. I believe that education countering propaganda is the solution to these issues.
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?
Segura: I do not take the desecration of historical places lightly, and feel that statue removals should be as limited as possible. Instead of erasing the dark parts of American history, we should be transparent about the truth of this history which shaped our country - I am a proponent of adding plaques with additional historical context to the site of the statue. Ignorance of history is an impediment to progress. We must assure that our current and future generations have a stronger understanding of the events that shaped our country.
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?
Segura: Yes, and yes.
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?
Segura: I grew up involved in the hospitality and nightlife industry. I am committed to ensuring we have a healthy nightlife industry, especially post-COVID. We must allow responsible, licensed businesses to thrive to maintain our communities. Liquor licenses and their distribution is a very important issue to me and the lives of many New Yorkers.
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?
Segura: I am not a fan of many aspects of Eric’s administration and have many strong criticisms. If someone officially files to primary Adams in 2025, I would consider lending my support.
35. How can we mandate that every community do its share to have affordable housing and care for the recently arrived people?
Segura: We need to allow migrants equitible access to work permits and center programs on absorption of these individuals into the various diasporas of our diverse city, as immigrants have in New York City for hundreds of years. Our current process is not only a burden on taxpayers but leaves many of these new arrivals in inhumane conditions. We must fight for humane and economic solutions, and equitable distribution of these services across our state.
36. Are you a sponsor of Good Cause Eviction S305 legislation?
Segura: Yes
37. Do you support allowing legal Immigrants to vote in local elections?
Segura: Multiple courts have struck this down as unconstitutional in New York. I accept the interpretation of these rulings despite being a proponent of allowing green card holders to vote in municipal elections in order to be consistent with our campaign finance laws which allow green card holders to donate to our local elections.