Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Mary Jobaida for NY Assembly District 37

Candidate Name: Mary Jobaida

Office Seeking Election for: New York State Assembly, 37th District

Candidate Name: Mary Jobaida

Campaign Address: 45-46, 21st Street, #4, Long Island City, New York, 11101

Campaign Website: www.maryforassembly.com

Campaign Telephone: 718-650-0682

Campaign Social Media Handles (Facebook/Twitter):
Mary (Meherunnisa) Jobaida (FB);
@maryforassembly (Twitter); @MaryJobaida (Instagram)

Campaign Contact (name/phone/email):
Christian Amez, 718-650-0682,
teamjobaida@gmail.com

1. Explain, based on life experiences and accomplishments, why you believe you are best qualified to represent your district.
Since I came to America, I have lived in and raised a family in Assembly District 37. It’s been over 18 years now, and this has been a period of time when the district underwent drastic changes due to overdevelopment and gentrification. I have witnessed helplessly as our low and middle income residents -- especially people of color -- quietly left the neighborhood because of sudden rent hikes. I have seen how the aggressive invasion of real estate development affected the quality of life for people who were living here. For each month that a new high rise was erected, schools and transportation became more overcrowded, and services didn’t improve.

The only public library and senior center that served families in Court Square and Queens Plaza lost their leases and no developers to date have offered spaces to host them. Our local parks have become commercial spaces rented by various clubs and organizations. The latest MTA bus redesign proposal plans to cut vital services that connects most of our neighborhoods like Long Island City, Sunnyside, Maspeth and Ridgewood, making public transportation even more difficult for families with young children, wheelchair-bound individuals and working class people who rely heavily on these routes. All the changes that the incumbent I'm challenging has overseen over the past 34 years, doesn't seem to appeal to the working class individuals that live here. I have lived here . As a mother of three public school students, I have the experience to know what our local schools and our children need. As a lifelong public transit commuter, I know how it feels to be on public transportation that gets more expensive without improving services. Because of my work at a community health center that helps underserved communities, I have first-hand experience with the struggles that our working families are facing.

My role in the External Affairs department at Urban Health Plan allowed me to work closely with community boards, police precincts, grassroots organizations, schools, places of worship, local businesses and with one-on-one engagement of people in the community. I also worked closely with political offices to organize events and to provide services to the neighborhoods they serve.

As a believer in the beautiful potential of our state, but as someone who is frustrated by what it actually delivers, and having those experiences as an immigrant, a commuter, an American college graduate, a mother of public school students, and a person who wants to see economic inequality ends, I felt it was my responsibility to fight for our people, to save our state from the aggressive grip of greedy developers, the fossil fuel industry and the people who would hand away our state's resources to corporate billionaires. That is why I felt I was the right candidate to run.

2. Do you now support or have you ever supported an openly LGBTQ candidate for public office?
Yes. I have always supported candidates who would create a more inclusive office that serves all the people in their district. Having a candidate that also comes from a marginalized community is almost just as important. One example of my past support for such a candidate is when I openly campaigned for Tiffany Caban, a dynamic LGBTQ Latina who ran to be the Queens District Attorney last year. At that time, I paused my own campaign for three months to rally for Caban and help her advocate for reforming the criminal justice system and
decriminalizing poverty.

3. If applicable, what legislation directly affecting the LGBT community have you introduced or co-sponsored? (indicate accordingly)
I have not held any office yet, but I look forward to this opportunity

4. What LGBT organizations have you been involved with, either on a volunteer basis or professionally?
I have not been directly involved in any LGBT organizations. However, I have advocated for the inclusion and empowerment of LGBT members in my community through my past mentorship of young Muslim women who were struggling with departing from socially conservative customs at home to enter the real world where they have friends and classmates who belonged to the LGBT community. Asking for this endorsement will also be another bold step to amplify what I have been asking for from the people in my community; to form an inclusive society where each member feels accepted, loved and respected for who they are without compromising their identity.

5. If applicable, what LGBT organizations have you allocated funds to?
I have not held office yet, but I intend to allocate funds to LGBT organizations that serve underprivileged members of the community, such as homeless LGBT youth, as well as those that provide critical life services such as health and mental support for those struggling to come out. I would also like to see increased funding for programs that promote and educate the public on non-binary, gender fluid culture.

6. Do you consider yourself a member of the LGBT community?
If it means whether I identify myself as an LGBT person, my answer is no, but I consider myself a member of the community as an ally who wants to fight to end injustices and social disparities faced by my LGBT brothers and sisters.

7. Have you marched in Pride? Which marches and for approximately how many
years?
I planned to march a couple of times, but I did show solidarity by marching in my district's St. Pat's For All Parade every year since I learned of its existence.

8. Have you employed openly LGBT individuals previously? Do you employ any currently?
I haven’t had an opportunity yet to hire staff, but I will be grateful to welcome a member of the LGBTQ community to join Team Jobaida! We are very committed to creating an inclusive campaign environment. Our supporters come from all orientations including LGBT communities from New York to California. I vow to represent a NY State that will value and appreciate everyone for who they are regardless of how they wish to live their lives. Once elected, I will staff my team to reflect the beauty and diversity of all our people so that our constituents feel represented and welcomed.

9. If you receive the endorsement, do you agree to identify the club on all literature and electronic materials where you list endorsements?
Absolutely. With pride!

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?
Many. Too many to remember exactly in this short time since I have always done that as a responsible human being who wanted to advocate for inclusivity and empowerment of disenfranchised communities. I went to protest Trump's victory celebration to challenge his hateful stances against our immigrant community. I did it on camera. I've participated in the Women's March since the first year it launched. I went to City Hall to oppose the building of new jails that had the potential to be filled with mis-incarcerated individuals. I have a facebook profile with over 30K followers that I use to protest against any divisive policies, and to promote peace and inclusion. When Bangladesh launched its first LGBT magazine, “Rupoban” and their conservative power roared with anger, I have actively stood against the wave, wrote pro-LGBT articles, and took part in advocacy to promote an inclusive environment and safe space for all. I intend to do the same here from Albany

11. Have you ever been arrested? If so please explain why and the outcome of arrest.
No. I have never been arrested

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 support it.

13. Do you commit to visit constituents who are incarcerated in state prisons such as Bedford Correctional Facility?
Yes, I would do it.

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?
I need to learn more about it, but I believe this needs to be weighed carefully against a full picture of what led to this crime, whether or not it falls under the category of a hate crime, and the
context of the case

15. Have you participated in any demonstrations or protests in relation to the issues of clemency and parole?
Not in particular, but I have participated in demonstrations to end cash bail, mass incarceration and to stop building new jails.

16. Will you affirmatively seek to hire formerly incarcerated individuals?
I would absolutely welcome to offer a life changing opportunity to a fellow human. Yes, I will.

17. Do you believe in the decriminalization of sex work? Are you sponsoring the bill introduced by Jessica Ramos?
Yes. I strongly support it.

18. Will you actively oppose legislation that would implement the dangerous Nordic model instead of decriminalization of prostitution?
I will. We need a model that protects all our people while giving them the liberty and right to work with dignity and safety.

19. What proposals will you advocate for to protect immigrants and the further New York as a Sanctuary City?
I have advocated for proposals that help new immigrants and their families receive equal footing from the city and state by obtaining rights and privileges afforded to citizens. I believe immigrants should be protected from having their records shared with ICE if they are not committing violent offenses, and I believe ICE has to stay away from courthouses, hospitals and
schools.

20. Will you advocate, including introducing legislation, to remove public funding from religious schools?
Although all three of my children are enrolled in NYC public schools, not in private school or religious school, I have to learn more about this proposal before taking a position on it.

21. Do you support the establishment of supervised drug consumption spaces?
I am still learning more about it, but based on what I have learned recently, I believe we need to explore ways to help people who are not healthy enough to end drug addiction through
traditional practices.

22. Have you ever endorsed any member of the IDC or any candidates who challenged IDC members? Please identify all candidates
Absolutely not. I strongly and publicly supported the NO-IDC candidates instead.

23. Will you commit to hiring a member of the LGBT community to serve as a liaison to the community?
Absolutely. I am waiting to welcome some LGBT members to my campaign team as well.

24. Will you commit to ensuring diverse LGBT representation among your staff?
Yes. I will, wholeheartedly.

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
A: Bill de Blasio and Tish James (2013)
B. Bernie Sanders (2016)
C. Cynthia Nixon and Tish James (2018)

26. Describe any legislation and policy changes that you support in order to address the ongoing effects of slavery, racism, colonialism, and discrimination.
I have supported movements to end mass incarceration, end cash bail, to legalize recreational marijuana, abolish ICE and stopping the Trump agenda. I also support reparations to help communities that have been adversely affected by slavery and economic injustice

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 funded, tuition-free CUNY and SUNY

28. Do you support a single-payer universal health care system? Please elaborate.
Yes I do. I believe healthcare is a human right and we must not discriminate when providing care for patients based on their financial abilities. Only a single payer health care can guarantee that.

29. Discuss your stance on reproductive rights, including access to contraceptives and abortion services.
I strongly support it. I believe we should have more funding for planned parenthood centers and services, and also believe that New York should partner with more community health centers so that New Yorkers have more access to these services throughout the state.

30. Will you refuse money from individuals or Political Action Committees representing the real estate industry?
Yes. I am not accepting or keeping contributions from real estate developers, the fossil fuel industry, corporate PACs or registered lobbyists.

31. Will you refuse and refund any contributions from executives at corporations complicit in the Trump agenda?
Yes. Of course.

32. Are you against the opening of casinos in New York owned and controlled by Trump mega-donor Sheldon Adelson?
Yes, I am against this.

33. Do you support the surrogacy bill introduced by Senator Brad Hoylman allowing women to decide control of her body in regard to surrogacy?
I do.

34. Will you cosponsor the legislation to prohibit evictions without good cause (previously S2892A)?
Yes! I am a strong supporter of this bill. I would feel honored to add my name as a cosponsor!

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?
Yes, I will.

36. Do you support, and did you vote for (if incumbent) legislation to mandate vaccinations to protect the lives of children?
I do.

37. What additional information would you like Jim Owles to consider when we are making our endorsements decisions?
I have always been an advocate for an inclusive society; a society that does not require assimilation as a condition to being welcoming. I want our city and state to be a pluralistic society where everyone feels confident, loved and respected for who they are; a society where people will not try to learn of each other’s identity with intent to harm one another, but to show the right respect and recognition of another fellow human being. Our society is not fully there yet. It needs more time, as well as an active effort to create that inclusive society. It needs us, people from different races, faiths and orientations coming together to support it. In our society, we are still struggling with segregation and fear of one another. The status quo that has controlled our society for ages has successfully embedded this fear because it relies on division in order to remain in power. New York needs our active involvement to undo that system and break people away from these fears. Since I declared my candidacy, I had a gay brother in my community who joined me with strong support for my race. His support made it to a conservative Bengali newspaper which created some noise in our circles which I was not unhappy with. I wanted to bring this conversation into our conservative, Bengali discourse. And so since then, I have publicly told those who ask me, "Yes, my race is supported by all including my LGBTQ brothers and sisters!" I believe that Jim Owles' endorsement for a progressive, Muslim Hijabi candidate such as myself will help inspire and open the eyes of those in my community who are trapped by these fears, and I look forward to working closely with our LGBT brothers and sisters to create a pluralistic society where we all can live with respect and love for one another.