Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Melanie D'Arrigo for US Congress NY-03
Candidate Name: Melanie D'Arrigo
Office Seeking Election for: US Congress NY-03
Website: https://darrigo2022.com/
1. Explain, based on life experiences and accomplishments, why you believe you are best qualified to represent your district.
Too many members of Congress lack the lived experience to advocate and legislate effectively for our most vulnerable. I grew up working poor, raised by my grandparents in a union household with 10 mouths to feed— and too often not everyone was fed. I know what it's like to go to bed hungry, rely on public school not just for an education but as a refuge. I've worked in a union, taken on thousands in student loans and have been taken advantage of by our for-profit healthcare industry. I'm fighting for policies that would have saved kids like me and helped families like mine. I am the best qualified to represent this district because I am from here and I have been organizing for my neighbors for years. I understand the issues working families go through because they are the same issues my family goes through. And when I get to Congress, I will fight to ensure that every child has opportunities and the safety nets in place to thrive.
2.
Do you now support or have you ever supported an openly LGBTQ candidate for public office? Yes
3.
If applicable, what legislation directly affecting the LGBTQ community have you introduced or co-sponsored? (indicate accordingly). N/A
4.
What LGBTQ organizations have you been involved with, either on a volunteer basis or professionally? Cheer NY and Be The Rainbow which I am a co-founder.
5.
If applicable, what LGBTQ organizations have you allocated funds to? Cheer NY, Be The Rainbow as well as various others over the years.
6.
Do you consider yourself a member of the LGBTQ community? I consider myself a proud ally.
7.
Have you marched in Pride? Which marches and for approximately how many years? Yes. I have marched in numerous Pride parades. When I was a member of Cheer NY, a mostly LGBTQ+ adult cheer team we would also perform at events including the Halloween Parade, Prides and marches. Additionally, I co-founded an LGBTQ+ non-profit organization and organized the very first Pride in the history of my town which attracted over 1500 participants (Port Washington)
8.
Have you employed openly LGBTQ individuals previously? Do you employ any currently? I have throughout my career and in both Congressional cycles. This cycle, we hired a senior level individual who recently had to step away from the campaign due to medical reasons.
9.
If you receive the endorsement, do you agree to identify the club on all literature and electronic materials where you list endorsements? Yes.
10.
What press conferences, demonstrations, rallies and protests in support of LGBTQ issues, pro choice legislation, criminal justice issues and the Resist Trump Movement have you attended? In 2019, I was at the Supreme Court standing in solidarity with LGBTQ+ members when they heard arguments as to whether or not the Civil Rights Act protects LGBTQ+ workers, I have been to numerous pro-choice rallies, marches and protests including protesting both Kavanaugh and Coney Barrett at SCOTUS and all the women’s marches, including one that I helped organize in Atlanta in 2018. I have attended BLM marches and demonstrations and have attended meetings on elder parole clean slate and bail reform. I have been to Washington DC, NYC and events all over Long Island devoted to resisting Trump and fighting for civil rights. Additionally, I organized the "#alltrumpslies" protest that garnered national attention while in Atlanta in 2018.
11.
Will you advocate for legislation to mandate the review of sentences of incarcerated individuals aged 55 and older who have served in excess of 15 years to determine if they warrant release? yes.
12.
Will you advocate for legislation that would ensure those appearing before the New York State Parole Board are considered for release from prison based on who they are today and not exclusively based on the nature of their crime? yes.
13.
Do you commit to visit constituents who are incarcerated in state prisons such as Bedford Correctional Facility? When was your last visit to visit incarcerated constituents? Yes. I visited a correctional institution that also served as a detention center for undocumented immigrants in NJ prior to the pandemic.
14.
Have you participated in any demonstrations or protests in relation to the issues of clemency and parole? I have supported the work of RAPP and New Hour by participating in advocacy/lobby days. I have also held fundraisers to help New Hour with their re-entry program, project dignity.
15.
Will you affirmatively seek to hire formerly incarcerated individuals? I’m happy to.
16.
Do you believe in the decriminalization of sex work? Yes.
17.
Will you oppose any legislation that promotes the Nordic model? Yes.
18.
What proposals will you advocate for the protection of immigrants and further New York as a Sanctuary City? I will advocate for a just path to citizenship, permanently reinstating and expanding DACA, a path to citizenship for TPS holders, farmworkers and essential workers. As a Long Island Regional representative for the Invest In Our NY Coalition, I did teach-ins and advocated for an excluded workers fund.
19.
Will you advocate, including introducing legislation, to remove public funding from religious schools? yes.
20.
Do you support the establishment of safe consumption spaces? Admittedly, I am not an expert on safe consumption spaces, but I do support evidenced based harm reduction practices that lead to treatment. From what I know, safe consumption spaces do seem to be effective in reducing overdose, preventing drug related diseases and can create safer communities.
21.
Have you ever endorsed any member of the IDC or any candidates who challenged IDC members? Please identify all candidates. I am not currently an elected official, however I have never supported a member of the IDC. Additionally, I challenged Tom Suozzi who is the Vice Chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus (very similar to the IDC in Washington DC) .
22.
Will you commit to hiring a member of the LGBT community to serve as a liaison to the community? yes.
23.
Will you commit to ensuring diverse LGBT representation among your staff? yes.
24.
Who did or do you support for office in the Democratic primary in the following races A) mayor and comptroller in 2021 B) President in 2016 and 2020 C) Governor and Lt. Governor 2022A)- I was not able to vote, as I reside in Nassau. B.) Hillary & Bernie. C.) Ana Maria Archila
25.
Describe any federal legislation and policy changes that you support in order to address the ongoing effects of slavery, racism, colonialism, and discrimination.
I support Cory Booker’s Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act and I am hopeful we can pass meaningful reparations from this study.
Additionally, I support increasing exposure to ethnic studies through educational funding, the histories of all communities and education to understand the sources of racism and promote racial empathy, equality and equity.
Resources dedicated to local communities such as crisis intervention resources, community safety programs, in-language support for those in need of mental health, legal, employment and immigration services.
Building a strong and responsive civil rights infrastructure at the local level by funding community based groups, who most often are first responders to incidents of hate.
Stronger federal civil rights laws that protectAmericans and address discrimination in public businesses.
26.
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 expanding public education to include pre-K, public college and trade schools. I also support canceling student debt.
27.
Do you support a single-payer universal health care system? Please elaborate. I support Medicare for All, served as a NNU M4A district rep and have been advocating for single payer healthcare at both the state and federal level for years.
28.
Discuss your stance on reproductive rights, including access to contraceptives and abortion services. I support codifying Roe, repealing Hyde and ensuring contraceptives are available as part of preventive health.
29.
Will you refuse money from individuals or Political Action Committees representing the real estate? yes.
30.
Will you refuse money from police and corrections unions? yes.
31.
Will you refuse and refund any contributions from executives at corporations complicit in the Trump agenda? yes.
32.
What additional information would you like Jim Owles to consider when we are making our endorsements decisions? I’ve been organizing in what amounts to nearly 80 percent of this district for years since before my first Congressional run in 2020.. I’ve worked to build support for Medicare for All and stronger climate protections, and I’ve built a strong grassroots network of support. And since the new district lines have come out, I have been bringing the same level of commitment and passion for working families to the Bronx and Westchester as I have to Long Island and Queens. People know me, they know what I believe in, and they know I’ll fight for them. That’s why I’m proud to be endorsed by 15 grassroots organizations including Our Revolution, NYPAN, Indivisible and more—and we’re just getting started.
33.
If you resign in the middle of your term, will you let the voters decide? Do you plan to serve your term and not send a vacancy to the county committee? I plan on serving my entire term.
34.
Who are you supporting for Speaker/Democratic leader in 2023? I do not know who is running.
35.
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? It wouldn’t be under my jurisdiction, but I am happy to support the name change.
36.
What is your position on removing the Christopher Columbus statue in Columbus Circle and if so, what should replace it? I would definitely support removing it. I think we should seek the recommendations of the communities most harmed by Columbus in order to decide what should go in the statue’s place.
37.
What is your position on FOSTA/SESTA, passed in 2018? Do you or will you sponsor the Safe Workers Study Act which has been introduced by Elizabeth Warren and co.sponsored by Reps. Barbara Lee and Ron Wyden and a host of other sponsors including Bernie Sanders. I support repealing SESTA/FOSTA. While the law was intended to combat human trafficking, in reality, it has driven sex work further into the shadows and has made combatting human trafficking more difficult. Any policy created should include the voices of sex workers– who can adequately inform policy makers on needs and barriers in shifting toward decriminalizing sex work.
38.
Do you support the class-wide scheduling of Fentanyl-related substances, which groups like Human Rights Watch have argued would worsen pretrial detention, mass incarceration, and racial disparities? No.
39.
Do you support the Green New Deal? yes.
40.
President Biden has not granted a single pardon or commutation. When have you publicly demanded that Biden do more on this issue? Will you pledge to publicly speak out about this in 2022?
41.
Do you commit to not supporting Joe Manchin or Kyrsten Sinema? Will you consider supporting a primary opponent? yes.
42.
Some members of congress indicate they will only support incumbents regardless of their politics and regardless of who is presenting them a primary. Are you one of them? No.