Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Mariama James for NY Assembly District 65
Candidate Name: Mariama James
Office Seeking Election for: NY Assembly District 65
Campaign Website: https://www.mariamajames.com/
1. Based upon your life experiences and accomplishments, why do you believe you are best qualified to represent your district?
My background reflects decades of service and advocacy. I’ve spent 30+ years in accounting, bringing fiscal oversight to an IBEW Local 3 union shop, while serving as a community advocate. I’m a District Leader, sit on two WTC Healthcare Program related boards as a federal appointee, am a CB1 committee co-chair, Harlem Historical Society and Sophie Gerson Healthy Youth board member, and was a PTA leader while my three children attended NYC public schools. I know the issues because I’ve spent years working directly with residents to address them. I helped pass the Zadroga Act, securing healthcare for 140,000 9/11 responders and survivors; brought over 400 deeply affordable units to 5 WTCl; funded afterschool and summer programs through Sophie Gerson; helped create Pearl Street Playground and Millennium High School; and successfully advocated for investments in clean, quiet, electric eVTOL aircraft for our new Lower Manhattan heliport. Voters can trust I’ll continue to deliver even more in Albany.
2. What LGBTQ+ organizations have you been involved with, either on a volunteer basis or professionally?
I’ve supported the Stonewall Development Corporation and was the only AD-65 candidate to join them last month to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the NYS Gay Rights Law with the funds raised benefitting LGBTQ+ senior housing. All three of my children are members of the Stonewall Democratic Club, and I was honored to receive their endorsement last month. Additionally, during my time as a PTA leader at two art-focused high schools, a board member at Sophie Gerson Healthy Youth, and a volunteer at The Door, I’ve worked with and on behalf of, and advocated for, many LGBTQ+ children, teens and adolescents.
3. What press conferences, demonstrations, rallies and protests in support of LGBTQ+ issues, pro-choice legislation, racial justice, criminal justice have you attended, including rallies specifically against Donald Trump and his policies?
As a Black woman, a mother to two LGBTQ+ Black women, the daughter of a Harlemite mother who was a longtime member of NAN before her passing, and a DID executive board member, I’ve participated in countless events in support of these issues and in opposition to Trump. I couldn’t possibly name them all but they certainly include No Kings, the pro-abortion rights protests after the Jackson decision, and the protests after the murders of George Floyd, Michael Brown, Sean Bell, Trayvon Martin, Amadou Diallo, and Yusef Hawkins. I also brought then-Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal’s bill to repeal the “Walking White Trans Ban” law to the DID Policy Committee; DID ultimately resolved to support the bill and successfully pushed for its passage.
4. In light of the Trump Administration’s war on women, the LGBTQ+ community, minorities and immigrants, what are your plans to organize and combat the Trump agenda?
We must ensure that the members of our communities know their rights and know how to safely interact with federal agents. This is true both for members of the groups listed above as well as members of the general public, who must understand their role in protecting their more vulnerable neighbors. As a member of the LES Community Coalition, I’ve helped to organize events educating community members on how to protect themselves and others from the Trump Administration.
5. Will you seek or accept endorsements from individuals who oppose LGBTQ+ and reproductive rights?
No
6. Do you support the unrestricted right to reproductive care and abortion?
Yes - and I’m proud to have received the endorsement of Eleanor’s Legacy, an organization supporting pro-choice women for public office.
7. Have you hosted, funded or otherwise supported Drag Story Hours in your community?
I support Drag Story Hours. I haven’t attended any yet, though I have attended similar events such as Drag Brunches.
8. How will you work to enhance protections for immigrants and uphold New York’s role as a “Sanctuary City”?
First, we must pass a bill banning ICE from courtrooms, schools, and places of worship. Immigrants must feel safe attending hearings, classes, and services without the threat of deportation. Second, we must ensure that our current sanctuary laws are being enforced to the fullest extent possible. If any state or local law enforcement organization is cooperating with ICE in violation of New York’s sanctuary laws, we must expose their cooperation and demand that our public officials properly exercise their oversight authority. If any state or local law enforcement organization is cooperating with ICE within the law, we must tighten our sanctuary laws to eliminate the loophole being exploited.
9. Do you support New York becoming a Transgender Sanctuary State?
Yes
10. If elected, will you commit to supporting legislation that raises taxes on the richest New Yorkers and large corporations in order to fund the services and investments our communities need?
Yes
11. How will you represent the most vulnerable, including individuals experiencing homelessness and asylum seekers? Have you ever opposed any shelter in your district?
As co-chair of the CB1 Quality of Life Committee, I’ve made many requests for additional shelters in Lower Manhattan, particularly for women, children, and families. I’ve even recommended sites for new shelters. However, yes, I have opposed one shelter before: The “Pearl Street Shelter,” which is a low-barrier men’s shelter that shares a building with an elementary school. This poorly-conceived setup exposes children as young as three years old to adult males who struggle with alcohol or drug addiction or mental health issues. I support expanding our shelter network to fully accommodate those who need our support, but we must ensure they are located appropriately to avoid causing harm to children.
12. Will you sponsor and support legislation which will ensure that state and local resources are not used to facilitate or cooperate with federal immigration enforcement (New York for All Act) to prevent the funneling of people into ICE custody, and the sharing of sensitive information with ICE?
Yes
13. To advance safety and justice, New York must address our archaic sentencing and parole laws. Do you support the following key legislation: 1) Second Look Act (S.158/A.1283), which would allow judges to review and reconsider excessive sentences by considering if incarcerated people have transformed while incarcerated or based on changes in law and norms; 2) Earned Time Act (S.342/A.1085), which would strengthen and expand “good time” and “merit time” programs in prison that encourage personal transformation and reunite families?; 3) Marvin Mayfield Act (S.1209/A.1297), which would eliminate mandatory minimum sentences, thereby allowing judges to consider individual factors in a case?; 4) Elder Parole (S.454/A.514), which would allow incarcerated people over age 55 who have served 15 years the opportunity to go before the parole board?
I support all of these bills.
14. Do you oppose the death penalty?
Yes
15. Do you support outlawing solitary confinement?
Yes
16. Do you commit to visit constituents who are incarcerated? Will you work to secure the release of individuals who have demonstrated sincere remorse, worked toward rehabilitation and are not deemed a threat to society?
Yes
17. Do you commit to make applications for clemencies available to your constituency including a link to an application in a constituent newsletter? Will you submit it to our club?
Yes
18. Did you rank Andrew Cuomo on your Democratic primary ballot in 2025? Who did you support for mayor in the 2025 Democratic primary and general election?
I did not rank Andrew Cuomo on my primary ballot in 2025. (I ranked Scott Stringer, Adrienne Adams, and Michael Blake.) Immediately following the primary, I voted in favor of New York County Democrats to endorse Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani and encouraged others to do the same. I made sure to express my disappointment at the time that many DSA members nationwide, including Mamdani, did not support Kamala Harris in 2024 (or Hillary Clinton in 2016), which helped Trump win both elections. I strongly believe that as Democrats we should support our Democratic nominees, even if we do not agree with them on every issue.
19. In view of the fact that Ed Koch has been documented to have caused the deaths of scores of people with AIDS, excused city council members who voted against the gay rights bill and was blatantly racist, would you support and sponsor a bill to rename the former Queensboro Bridge?
Yes
20. Do you support naming the soon to be reconstructed 42nd Street bus terminal the Bella Abzug Port Authority?
Yes
21. What is your legislative remedy to secure the building of low and moderate-income housing around the state?
The state must treat affordable housing as essential infrastructure and develop policy to protect residents from displacement. My legislative approach would prioritize the development of deeply affordable housing on publicly owned land instead of luxury projects, strengthen protections for rent-stabilized, Mitchell-Lama, and NYCHA housing, and expand opportunities for residents to age in place within their communities. Through my work co-founding the coalition for 100% Affordable 5 World Trade Center, I have fought for meaningful affordability standards that serve middle- and low-income New Yorkers, including 9/11 survivors and responders and their families. I also support increased state investment in affordable housing construction and preservation so families across New York can continue to live, work, and raise children in the neighborhoods they helped build.
22. Will you refuse donations from AIPAC, SolidarityPAC, police and corrections associations, the fossil fuel industry, and the charter school industry?
Accountability to my community is my priority. My campaign is funded by the people, not special interests. I will refuse donations from AIPAC, SolidarityPAC, the fossil fuel industry, and the charter school industry. Regarding police, though I have spent years advocating with and for the health and wellness of individuals in these fields through my 9/11 work, and will continue to work with them as the push for data moves forward, I have not sought and will not seek their organizational endorsements or financial support.
23. Do you support removing criminal penalties for consensual commercial sex work between adults? Also known as Cecilia's Act for Rights in the Sex Trades (S2513 Salazar / A3251 Forrest).
Yes
24. There is an effort to have mandatory inclusion of the New York State proposal that would require public schools to teach about the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, commonly described in the bill text as an “insurrection.” Do you support this proposal?
Yes, I support a proposal to teach students a historically correct account of the January 6th insurrection.
25. What additional information would you like the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club to consider when we are making our endorsement decision?
I’m the proud mother of three wonderful adult humans, two of which identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community. Additionally, my late Aunt Carla was a trans woman who, in 1960s Chicago, received one of the first-ever gender reaffirming surgeries performed in the U.S. and was married to my Uncle Drew, a cis-het man. My family has always normalized being LGBTQ+ and I will never stop working towards a day when that is true of all families.
26. If you receive our endorsement, do you agree to identify the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club on all appropriate literature and electronic materials?
Yes