Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Marcela Mitaynes for NY Assembly District 51
Candidate Name: Marcela Mitaynes
Office Seeking Election for: NY State Assembly, District 51
Campaign Address: Marcela for New York, PO Box 320601, Brooklyn, NY 11232
Campaign Website: marcelaforny.org
Campaign Telephone: (917) 929-2376 - Alex
Campaign Social Media Handles (Facebook/Twitter): all: MarcelaforNY
Campaign Contact (name/phone/email): Alex Pellitteri, alex@marcelaforny.org
1. Explain, based on life experiences and accomplishments, why you believe you are best qualified to represent your district.
I’ve lived in this district since I was a child-- I grew up here, an undocumented kid in an undocumented family, went to public schools here, raised my daughter here, and have been working as a tenant and community organizer in this community for over a decade. Through all of that, I have built deep roots throughout the community. I’ve worked with folks of all levels of power and visibility in our community-- from elected officials, to trans undocumented tenants facing eviction from their illegal basement units. My life has taught me how to work with everyone, and how to organize and build the power of those most impacted. My relationships throughout the diverse communities of our district and my experience in building community power through organizing-- combined with the aggressive field campaign we have built-- set me apart as the best candidate to represent our district. Also, I believe I will add a much needed voice and perspective in Albany as an indigenous, immigrant, working class mother and woman of color.
2. Do you now support or have you ever supported an openly LGBTQ candidate for public office?
My current City Councilmember Carlos Menchaca is openly gay. I campaigned for him. After he was elected, I organized and facilitated his first housing town hall. I have worked in close collaboration with him on housing issues in our community, as I am both the main tenant organizer in his district and also the chair of the Community Board 7 housing committee.
3. If applicable, what legislation directly affecting the LGBT community have you introduced or co-sponsored? (indicate accordingly)
n/a
4. What LGBT organizations have you been involved with, either on a volunteer basis or professionally?
My collaborations have mostly been within the housing justice movement, within which I have worked with VOCAL and Make the Road NY, two organizations that play a leadership role in addressing issues that affect LGBTQ communities.
5. If applicable, what LGBT organizations have you allocated funds to?
n/a
6. Do you consider yourself a member of the LGBT community?
I don’t identify as a member of the LGBTQ community-- but I have family members who are members of the community, and I am proud to be an ally.
7. Have you marched in Pride? Which marches and for approximately how many years?
I marched in the Manhattan Pride parade in 2016, to show solidarity after the Orlando Pulse nightclub shooting.
8. Have you employed openly LGBT individuals previously? Do you employ any currently?
I have never been an employer, but I have frequently worked together with LGBTQ folks both on staff in my workplace, and on coalitions/campaigns.
9. If you receive the endorsement, do you agree to identify the club on all literature and electronic materials where you list endorsements?
Yes, I’d be proud to list your club in my list endorsements.
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?
My attendance at such events has generally been in the context of housing, often in collaboration with the individuals and organizations leading those allied movements-- as most of those issues have significant overlap with housing, such as LGBT homelessness, housing for domestic violence survivors, policing in NYCHA, and the Trump changes to NYCHA and Section 8.
11. Have you ever been arrested? If so please explain why and outcome of arrest.
I have been arrested 4 times, in civil disobedience actions as part of the housing justice movement. I was arrested and was issued desk appearances for all 4.
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?
Yes. I am committed to reforming our carceral system, to move away from punishment and toward restorative justice. Nobody who is not a threat to the public should be in jail.
13. Do you commit to visit constituents who are incarcerated in state prisons such as Bedford Correctional Facility?
Yes. As an organizer, I am committed to following the leadership of those most impacted by decision makers, and hearing directly from incarcerated and formerly incarcerated constituents will be a part of my decision-making process on issues of criminal justice reform. I would extend that reasoning also to those detained in immigration facilities.
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?
Yes. I believe that individuals who have shown through their actions that they are no longer a risk to the public should not be left in jail simply to serve out the remainder of their punishment. We must radically reduce the number of incarcerated individuals in our jails, and move toward a restorative justice system.
15. Have you participated in any demonstrations or protests in relation to the issues of clemency and parole?
No.
16. Will you affirmatively seek to hire formerly incarcerated individuals?
I cannot make affirmative staffing commitments at this time. I am however firmly committed to not discriminating against formerly incarcerated individuals in hiring, and hiring staff that reflects the diversity of our district.
17. Do you believe in the decriminalization of sex work? Are you sponsoring the bill introduced by Jessica Ramos?
Yes, I believe that we have to decriminalize sex work in NY. Criminalization disproportionately penalizes our most marginalized communities-- especially LGBT and undocumented folks-- and does nothing to address safety in the industry. I will cosponsor the Assembly equivalent of the Ramos bill, sponsored by Assemblymembers Niou and Gottfried.
18. Will you actively oppose legislation that would implement the dangerous Nordic model instead of decriminalization of prostitution?
Yes, I will oppose legislation based on the Nordic model. While I understand why some communities may wish to criminalize prostitution, but shift the “blame” to the customer, and view the sex worker as a victim, I believe that is a fundamentally flawed resolution as it takes away any agency from sex workers and continues to stigmatize the industry. I believe the correct approach is to legalize sex work, and assure that, as with any other industry, there are adequate regulations in place to protect the interests of all parties.
19. What proposals will you advocate for to protect immigrants and the further New York as a Sanctuary City?
I will advocate to make NY a Sanctuary State, to eliminate cooperation with ICE, and to implement sufficient legal and social services to allow our diverse immigrant communities to live in dignity and without fear. I will also use my pulpit as a state legislator to lobby for comprehensive immigration reform on the federal level, including the abolition of ICE and the end of separation of families.
20. Will you advocate, including introducing legislation, to remove public funding from religious schools?
I firmly believe in the separation of church and state, and I am a big supporter of our public schools. I also recognize that a lot of NY families rely on religious schools for their children’s education, and that many religious schools are deeply ingrained in and work in service of some of our most underserved students and communities. Because of that, I’m not ready to fully defund religious schools-- but I will support efforts to assure that the funding is used for secular curricula that comply with state-wide education standards.
21. Do you support the establishment of supervised drug consumption spaces?
Yes. There is consensus in the medical community that substance abuse must be treated as a public health issue rather than as a criminal one. Safe consumption spaces allow trained professionals to provide supervision and minimize harm. However, I feel strongly that we must also implement other measures to more comprehensively address the mental health issues that frequently go hand in hand with substance abuse-- including guaranteeing affordable public health insurance for all, and increasing and improving supportive housing programs.
22. Have you ever endorsed any member of the IDC or any candidates who challenged IDC members? Please identify all candidates
No. To the contrary, as a board member of Tenants PAC, I have worked to endorse and support candidates who challenged, and defeated, IDC members to regain Democratic control of the NYS Senate.
23. Will you commit to hiring a member of the LGBT community to serve as a liaison to the community?
I cannot make affirmative staffing commitments at this time. I am however firmly committed to making sure that all of my staff will treat our LGBTQ constituents with respect and dignity, regardless of their own identity.
24. Will you commit to ensuring diverse LGBT representation among your staff?
Yes. Our district is diverse, and I am committed to having staff be representative of the diversity of our district.
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
2014 Mayor: John Liu
2014 Public Advocate: Tish James
2016 President: Hillary Clinton
2018 Governor: Cynthia Nixon
2018 Attorney General: Zephyr Teachout
26. Describe any legislation and policy changes that you support in order to address the ongoing effects of slavery, racism, colonialism, and discrimination.
I support the movement for reparations. I support ending mass incarceration. I support desegregating our schools. I support comprehensive immigration reform.
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?
I support fully funding CUNY and SUNY, so that we can provide a free (publicly funded) college education for all NY residents, regardless of immigration status.
28. Do you support a single-payer universal health care system? Please elaborate.
Absolutely. Health care is a human right. New York must take action immediately to create a publicly funded system that will provide affordable, comprehensive health care for all, regardless of immigration status.
29. Discuss your stance on reproductive rights, including access to contraceptives and abortion services.
The ability to make decisions about our own bodies and healthcare is a fundamental human right. I believe that it is not the place of government to tell people whether/how to use contraceptive or abortion services. I will fight to defend this right, and to make sure that contraception and abortion are covered by insurance companies operating in NY.
30. Will you refuse money from individuals or Political Action Committees representing the real estate industry?
I have already pledged not to accept donations from the real estate industry and corporate PACs.
31. Will you refuse and refund any contributions from executives at corporations complicit in the Trump agenda?
Yes, though I do not imagine they will donate to my campaign.
32. Are you against the opening of casinos in New York owned and controlled by Trump mega-donor Sheldon Adelson?
I am against mega-developments, unless they are developed in true collaboration and in the interest of local communities.
33. Do you support the surrogacy bill introduced by Senator Brad Hoylman allowing women to decide control of her body in regard to surrogacy?
While I understand the challenges facing families unable to conceive without the assistance of a surrogate, I am also aware of a number of concerns with the current legislation-- which aims to provide needed protections to the intended parents, but seems to fall short in providing necessary protections for surrogates. I understand the legislation will be reintroduced this year with amendments to address some of these concerns, and I look forward to seeing those amendments and deciding whether to support the bill at that time.
34. Will you cosponsor the legislation to prohibit evictions without good cause (previously S2892A)?
Absolutely. The failure of the state legislature to pass this essential legislation in the 2019 session-- due in large part due to obstructionism from real estate funded Democratic members of the Assembly, including my incumbent opponent Felix Ortiz-- is a huge part of why I’m running.
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?
Absolutely. Public assistance shelter allowances, which have not been adjusted for decades, fall far short of current rents across NY state. In addition, the current system that prioritizes providing temporary shelter to the homeless, rather than providing subsidies for permanent homes for NY’s families-- is unsustainable and inhumane. HHS would not only shift the focus to maintaining affordability of current homes, but would also ultimately pay for itself from savings from reduced costs associated with evictions, shelters, and related social services.
36. What additional information would you like Jim Owles to consider when we are making our endorsements decisions?
Our incumbent has done very little for the communities in our district, and the lack of support he has is palpable throughout the district. I am a proven fighter for our community, and am committed to a grassroots organizing approach to governance. I hope I will have your support in this fight-- it’s time Assembly District 51 finally gets someone to truly fight for our interests, and not just for the interests of corporate donors.