Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Robert Carroll for NY Assembly District 44
Candidate Name: Robert Carroll
Office Seeking Election for: NY Assembly District 44
Website: https://www.robertcarroll.nyc/
With the possibility of Donald J. Trump winning (stealing) the next Presidential election
and ending democracy and civil rights in the United States, it is more important than ever that we elect progressive, dynamic leaders to the New York State Senate and New York State Assembly.
1. Based upon your life experiences and accomplishments why should we believe you would be a dynamic, progressive leader who would stand up for Civil Rights and Democracy?
I am an attorney and four term elected representative of the 44th
Assembly District. I have introduced over 150 bills and had 21 bills passed and signed into law. I have been a leader on the environment, education, transportation, election reform and criminal justice reform during my time in the assembly. I’m proud to have always run with the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club’s stamp of approval and hope to do so again this year.
2. What is your involvement in the LGBTQ Civil Rights movement? What candidates have you or are you supporting who are openly LGBTQ? What legislation have you/do you support to further LGBTQ rights? Do you /will you have an LGBTQ liaison in your office? What LGBTQ organizations have you been involved with, either on a volunteer or professional basis?
I have supported a number of LGBTQ candidates over the years. I endorsed Jabari Brisport for State Senate in 2020, Alan Fleishman for District Leader 52 AD, Rich Monteleone for Civil Court Judge, Debra Silber for Civil Court and others. I have a long relationship with Lambda Independent Democrats of Brooklyn, Stonewall Dems and one of my proudest moments as an Assemblymember came when I worked with BILO (Brooklyn Irish LGBTQ Organization) to bring the inclusion of the first openly LGBTQ organization to the Brooklyn Irish American Day Parade, which takes place in my district.
3. What demonstrations, rallies, and protests have you participated in support of LGBTQ issues, African-American, Hispanic, Asian-American Civil Rights, pro-choice legislation, criminal justice issues, and Resist Trump?
I have attended countless LGBTQ rallies, pro-choice rallies, criminal justice rallies and resist Trump rallies while in office and prior to being elected. I have attended candles for clemency rallies with Jim Owles members and will do more.
4. Do you support reparations to compensate African Americans for the history of slavery, Jim Crow, and systemic racism in this country?
Yes. I was a cosponsor of the bill that was recently signed into law by the governor to establish a commission to do this work.
5. What are your concrete proposals to address current systemic racism in terms of employment, housing, voting rights, and the criminal justice system in the U.S.?
These are all incredibly important issues that I have spent my career as a legislator working on. From cosponsoring and advocating to raise the age for criminal responsibility and establishing the bail reform laws in 2019 to all of the electoral reforms I have sponsored and/or co-sponsored to the important tenant protection laws of 2019 we passed and my continued advocacy for Good Cause Eviction, these are fundamental issues that my work is devoted to. Additionally, I’m the leading literacy advocate in the legislature, most recently passing and having signed into a law the dyslexia task force act. The Dyslexia Task Force Act is the first of its kind in New York State and if proper interventions are implemented will contribute to vast improvement in literacy across New York, especially for underserved populations.
6. Will you advocate for elder parole where incarcerated individuals aged 55 and older who have serviced in excess of 15 years obtain parole hearings? Are you a sponsor of the Elder Parole Bill, Assembly 2035?
Yes. I have been a longtime co-sponsor of this and have attended many events in support of it.
7. Do you sponsor the Earned Time Act, Assembly 01128 which strengthens and expands “good time” and “earned time” to support rehabilitation efforts?
Yes. I am a co-sponsor and I support.
8. Do you sponsor Eliminate Mandatory Minimum Bill Act, which reduces excessive sentences and enables Judges to look at individual factors and mitigating circumstances?
Yes. I am a co-sponsor and I support.
9. Do you sponsor the Second Look Act, which allows for reconsideration of prison sentences based on changes in law and circumstances?
Yes. I am a co-sponsor and I support.
10. Have you participated, and will you participate in demonstrations and protests in relation to the issues of clemency and parole?
Yes I have and I will do more in the future.
11. Will you affirmatively seek to hire formerly incarcerated individuals?
Yes.
12. Have you and will you visit incarcerated constituents to learn of their conditions?
Yes I have and I will continue to.
13. What are your proposals to have prisons focus more on rehabilitation and less on punishment?
I generally do not believe in prison for most offenses, which is why I am the prime sponsor of legislation to end life without parole (lwop) sentences and to retroactively require a parole hearing for anyone, no matter the crime, who has served twenty-five years in prison. I also recently introduced a bill recently to vastly curtail the charge of Felony Murder in New York State. These measures if enacted, would help address the epidemic of mass incarceration in New York. Additionally, I am supportive of any program in prisons that fosters improvement and rehabilitation over punishment.
14. Do you support ending the cruel punishment of solitary confinement, such as was recently mandated by the New York City Council?
Yes. I was a longtime cosponsor of Halt Solitary in the Assembly.
15. What are your proposals to facilitate individuals who have recently entered the U.S. to be able to live decently with employment and housing?
I was proud to support the excluded workers in the budget in past years and support the creating of the unemployment bridge program so that all workers have the benefits of Unemployment Insurance, regardless of their immigration status. This is a critical piece of the social safety net that is lacking for our newest immigrants and can lead to homelessness and other major problems.
16. What proposals do you advocate to combat the cruel and inhumane immigration policies that the Trump Administration commenced and which, to some degree, are still in effect?
I went to the first Muslim ban protest at JFK airport back in 2017 and we must ensure that ICE and other federal agents are not used to terrorize undocumented New Yorkers. I support not allowing ICE into our courts, schools, and other government buildings. Further, I support state and local government not providing any records to federal authorities that could lead to deportation.
17. Do you believe in the decriminalization of sex work? Yes.
18. Do you oppose legislation that promotes the Nordic model? I do not support the Nordic model and will oppose legislation that promotes it.
19. What concrete proposals do you support to lift up women after four years of Trump being President?
I work closely with Planned Parenthood, who has likewise endorsed me every time I’ve run and have a wonderful grassroots organization in my district called BK Forge (formerly WHARR) that focuses on these issues.
20. Do you support a single-payer universal health care system? Please elaborate. Yes. I have been a co-sponsor of The New York Health Act for many years.
21. What have you done to facilitate reproductive rights, including access to contraceptives and abortion services?
I was a co-sponsor of the women’s reproductive rights act enshrining a woman’s right to an abortion in our state laws. Abortion and contraceptives need to be free and readily accessible. This is a health issue and the government should not intervene. I also supported legislation to provide a “shield” for doctors who prescribe medication to patients in states who have restricted abortion.
22. Will you refuse contributions from individuals or Political Action Committees representing the Real Estate industry, from police or correctional communities?
Yes.
23. Will you refuse and refund any contributions from executives or corporations complicit in the Trump anti-American agenda?
Yes.
24. How do you propose that we address the current surge of Islamophobia and anti-Semitism?
As someone who represents large Jewish and Muslim communities, I have deep relationships with both communities. Hate is unacceptable in all its forms. We must stamp it out wherever we find it. We also must do more to continue to promote diversity and inclusion in our state policy. It’s a lot harder to hate someone if you have a relationship.
25. Did you or would you have voted for the censure of U.S. Representative Rashida Tlaib? I would not have voted to censure Rep. Tlaib.
26. Do you support an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East? I support an immediate ceasefire once all the hostages are released.
27. Should we condition further aid to Israel? What conditions should we stress that Israel abides by?
As a State Assemblymember I don’t have any role on these foreign policy matters, but my sense is there should be conditions to aid.
28. Will you refuse funds from Trump-supporting AIPAC? Yes. I have never taken money from AIPAC.
29. What are your concrete proposals to prevent Trump and his cult from taking over this country and ending democracy? We need to win the 2024 Presidential election. I am a Biden delegate and intend to spend my time campaigning and organizing to effectuate that outcome.
30. How can we combat the movement in this country to ban books, prevent colleges from discussing issues and demonizing intelligence as “woke”? I am in favor of teaching all children to learn to read and to not ban any books.
31. As Christopher Columbus caused the death/slavery of thousands, should we replace the Christopher Columbus statue in Columbus Circle, and if so, what should replace it? Do you authorize the use of your name for such a purpose?
I haven’t given this issue enough thought to offer an opinion. Happy to learn more.
32. As Edward I Koch caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people with AIDS and was blatantly racist, should we rename the former Queensboro Bridge? Do you authorize the use of your name for such a purpose? Yes.
33. What will you do to support nightlife in New York State? Do you commit to speaking with liquor license applicants and restaurant/nightlife industry representatives before taking a position on policies affecting their businesses? Yes. My district isn’t necessarily known for its nightlife, but I am very sensitive to the needs of small business and restaurants/nightlife industry needs. It’s an important part of what makes our City and State so special. I support liquor to-go as well as a number of bills to liberalize the SLA laws to make it easier to open bars and restaurants and sell alcohol in movie theaters.
34. What is your opinion of Eric Adams as New York City Mayor? Are you involved in finding someone to run for Mayor of New York City?
The Mayor and Chancellor Banks have done great work in the realm of literacy in schools and I have consistently worked with them and applauded them for that work. I have not agreed with much of the Mayor’s rhetoric and/or policy related to city budget cuts and the city’s migrant crisis. I am not involved in searching for mayoral candidates or candidates for any other office.
35. How can we mandate that every community do its share to have affordable housing and care for the recently arrived people?
We first need to protect tenants and work to get our unhoused into safe homes. This is why we must pass Good Cause Eviction and the Housing Access Voucher Program. I do not favor developer handouts to create faux affordable housing and I think it’s critical for the State to develop a real affordable housing program to truly meet the needs of working class and immigrant New Yorkers.
36. Are you a sponsor of Good Cause Eviction legislation? Yes.
37. Do you support allowing legal Immigrants to vote in local elections? Yes.