Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Rajiv S. Gowda for NY Senate District 23
Candidate Name: Rajiv S. Gowda
Office Seeking Election for: New York State Senate, District 23
Campaign Address: P.O. Box 30104, Staten Island, NY10303
Campaign Website: www.gowdaforsenate.com
Campaign Telephone: (718)554-0206
Campaign Social Media Handles (Facebook/Twitter):
Facebook: @gowdaforsenate
Twitter: @GowdaRajiv
Campaign Contact (name/phone/email):
1. Explain, based on life experiences and accomplishments, why you believe you are best qualified to represent your district.
"I'm a father. I'm a former 1st Vice President of Local 375, DC 37 and Central Labor Council delegate, former President Community Education Council (School Board), District 31. I'm a first-generation immigrant, I'm a minority business owner. I'm a real Democrat, and I will vote with my party."
Community Board Membership:
2001- 2009 Member, Community Board #1, and Staten Island
2003 -2004 Chair, Waterfront Committee, Community Board #1
2005- 2007 Chair, Transportation Committee, Community Board #1
Union Office Elected:
1998 – 2000 1st Vice President, Civil Service Technical Guild, Local 375, DC 37
1991 - 2014 Delegate to Civil Service Technical Guild, Local 375
1999 - 2000 Founding Member & Chairperson, West-Indian American Parade Committee, DC 37
1998 – 2006 Delegate to District Council 37, AFSCME
1998 – 2009 Delegate to Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO
Public Offices Elected:
2004-2005 Council Member, Community Education Council District 31, Staten Island
2005-2006 1st Vice President, Community Education Council, District 31, Staten Island
2006- 2007 President, Community Education Council, District 31, Staten Island
2005- 2014 County Committee Member, Assembly District 61, Democratic Committee of Richmond County, Staten Island
I am an immigrant who embodies the American dream and an example of the saying "Anything is possible when one strives hard in America." I have worked for the City of New York as an engineer for the last 30 years and now wish to continue serving the citizens of our great state. I believe in public service and have dedicated my time for the betterment of our hard-working men and women.
For the last 30 years of my life, I have fought for working families and new immigrants. I lived for a short period in Brooklyn and rest of my life on the North Shore of Staten Island. This is my home, where I have raised two children Rajiv Jr. and Sanjiv who attended public schools, graduated college and now are in the process of growing our family.
I am a strong union advocate, a former 1st Vice President of Civil Service Technical Guild, Local 375 and Delegate to DC 37 and Central Labor Council. As 1st VP working with the City Council, I was instrumental in getting the City Council to pass legislation requiring all New York City public buildings be inspected by a Licensed Professional Engineer after a 500-pound support beam fell in the 75-year-old Yankee Stadium in 1998. I also worked with DC 37 to fight for pension reform and COLA, for union members in New York City from 1997 to 2006.
As a Community Board #1 member and chairman of Transportation and Waterfront Committee, I made twenty recommendations to the Mayor Bloomberg's Transportation Task Force and many of them were implemented in the last 10 years. Staten Island Advance News Paper (Monday, June 12, 2006) called Rajiv's recommendations as "Some realistic suggestions for the task force on how to reduce traffic congestion." Some of these ideas included the redesign of the Staten Island Expressway to help the growing Island population and to remove the Ghost Toll Booths at eastbound Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge. As chairman of the Waterfront Committee, I tackled many issues facing the North Shore, and today the North Shore is getting a face lift because of the hard work done decades ago.
2. Do you now support, or have you ever supported an openly LGBTQ candidate for public office?
Yes. I was a candidate for NYS Assembly in 2007, withdrew my nomination and supported Matthew Titone who then became the first LGBTQ candidate elected to public office in Staten Island.
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?
5. If applicable, what LGBT organizations have you allocated funds to?
6. Do you consider yourself a member of the LGBT community?
No.
7. Have you marched in Pride? Which marches and for approximately how many years?
Yes.
8. Have you employed openly LGBT individuals previously? Do you employ any currently?
No.
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 LGBT issues, pro-choice legislation, criminal justice issues and the Resist Trump Movement have you attended?
11. Have you ever been arrested? If so, please explain why and outcome of arrest.
Yes. Amadou Diallo – Arrested for Civil disobedience against police brutality.
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.
13. Do you commit to visit constituents who are incarcerated in state prisons such as Bedford Correctional Facility?
Yes.
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.
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? Yes.
17. Do you believe in the decriminalization of sex work? Are you sponsoring the bill introduced by Jessica Ramos?
Yes.
18. Will you actively oppose legislation that would implement the dangerous Nordic model instead of decriminalization of prostitution?
I will.
19. What proposals will you advocate for to protect immigrants and the further New York as a Sanctuary City?
20. Will you advocate, including introducing legislation, to remove public funding from religious schools?
21. Do you support the establishment of supervised drug consumption spaces?
22. Have you ever endorsed any member of the IDC or any candidates who challenged IDC members? Please identify all candidates
Supported Jessica Ramos, Jasmine Robinson, John Liu.
23. Will you commit to hiring a member of the LGBT community to serve as a liaison to the community?
Yes.
24. Will you commit to ensuring diverse LGBT representation among your staff?
Yes.
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?
Bill De Blasio and Letitia James
Hillary Clinton
Cynthia Nixon and Letitia James
26. Describe any legislation and policy changes that you support in order to address the ongoing effects of slavery, racism, colonialism, and discrimination.
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 will fight for free tuition or low interest loans for all students.
28. Do you support a single-payer universal health care system? Please elaborate.
Yes. I will support A.05389A, Gottfried/S02078, Rivera.
29. Discuss your stance on reproductive rights, including access to contraceptives and abortion services.
I will support every woman to access abortion care when she needs it by providing public funding of abortion care for low income women and legislatively mandating that insurance companies that operate in the state cover abortion care.
30. Will you refuse money from individuals or Political Action Committees representing the real estate industry?
Yes.
31. Will you refuse and refund any contributions from executives at corporations complicit in the Trump agenda?
32. Are you against the opening of casinos in New York owned and controlled by Trump mega-donor Sheldon Adelson?
Yes.
33. Do you support the surrogacy bill introduced by Senator Brad Hoylman allowing women to decide control of her body in regard to surrogacy?
Yes.
34. Will you cosponsor the legislation to prohibit evictions without good cause (previously S2892A)?
I will.
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.
36. What additional information would you like Jim Owles to consider when we are making our endorsements decisions?
I want the club to look at my record, accomplishments and my fight to level the playing field for all the working men and women, not just the selected few over the last 25 years.
I am running for office because our schools are overcrowded, our roads are congested, and our hospitals overburdened. There are too many of our youth who lack a direction in life and too many parents who are struggling to put food on the table and to pay for their children's college. It is time to strengthen our families, to keep the American Dream alive by being creative and helping our families make ends meet.
I am a true democrat, not a turncoat like my opponent IDC Legislator Diane Savino, who sided with republicans to block a number of legislations important to New Yorkers. She has been in the Senate for more than 15 years and lost her loyalty; it has been too long, and it is time for a new face and new ideas. Voters are fed up with status quo and elected officials who have no principles.