Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Russell Squire for NY Assembly District 73

Candidate Name: Russell Squire

Office Seeking Election for: NY Assembly District 73

1. Explain, based on life experiences and accomplishments, why you believe you are best qualified to represent your district.

I have lived in this district my whole life and have been active in local politics and the community for years. This includes my involvement with the local Democratic club in the district, the Lexington Democratic Club, where I am a Democratic District Leader and of which I am the former President. It also includes my service on Community Board 8 Manhattan, of which I have been Chair since the beginning of 2021.

I have the ability to bridge divides and bring people together to get results, while also fighting strongly and persuasively for progressive principles. That is the combination our district needs in Albany.

2. Please identify any openly LGBTQ candidates for public office you have previously or presently endorsed?

I have not previously held elective office, so I generally have not endorsed candidates for office. This year, I have endorsed Terry McCormick for Civil Court judge in the 4th Municipal Court District.

3. If applicable what legislation directly affecting the LGBTQ community have you introduced or co-sponsored?

N/A

4. What LGBTQ organizations have you been involved with, either on a volunteer or professional basis?

I have worked with the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund (TLDEF) on pro bono representations of transgender people seeking to change their names to align with their gender identities.

5. If applicable, what LGBTQ organizations have you allocated funds to?

N/A

6. Do you consider yourself a member of the LGBTQ community?

I consider myself an ally, but I do not identify as LGBTQ.

7. Have you marched in any Pride parades? Which marches and for approximately how many years?

I have marched in the NYC Pride Parade several times. I also marched in the Queens Pride Parade once.

8. Have you employed openly LGBTQ individuals previously? Do you employ any currently?

I am not an employer and do not employ anyone directly. However, the District Manager of Community Board 8 Manhattan, whom I work very closely with, identifies as LGBTQ.

9. If you receive the Jim Owles 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 reform issues and the Resist Trump Movement have you attended and/or participated in?

I attended the Feb. 24 protest of the appointment of three homophobic individuals to high-level positions in the Adams administration. I attended the rally and march in support of reproductive rights held in Foley Square on October 2, 2021. I attended Women’s March protests in New York City after the election of Trump. I have also attended numerous other rallies and protests over the years; I think the first one I attended was the protest over the New York Court of Appeals decision against marriage equality in 2006.

11. Have you ever been arrested in pursuit of legislation or for protesting an injustice? Please elaborate.

12. If you are an incumbent, what have you accomplished in your most recent term?

N/A

13. For the following pieces of legislation, please answer if you are currently a sponsor or co-sponsor (if you are an incumbent), or if you will co-sponsor (if you are not an incumbent):

A. Fair and Timely Parole (S.1415A / A.4231A): A bill pending in Albany that would ensure access to the parole release process for incarcerated people in New York State. This bill insures that decisions on parole are not solely based on the nature of the original crimes but includes incarcerated peoples’ record of rehabilitation and assessment of current risk to public safety.

I will co-sponsor.

B. Elder Parole (S.15A / A.3475A): A bill pending in Albany that would allow elderly incarcerated people who have served at least 15 years in prison an opportunity to appear before the Parole Board for a chance at release.

I believe that life without parole can be an appropriate sentence for actual adults convicted of murder.

14. If you will not co-sponsor any of the above legislation, why not?

See above.

15. Do you oppose the efforts to weaken bail reform as written

I agree with Governor Hochul that the onus is on opponents of bail reform to provide statistics to back up their claims, and that those critics have not done so.

16. Do you commit to visiting constituents who are incarcerated in state prisons and city jails? If incumbent, when did you do so last?

A constituent is a constituent, no matter what. If any of my constituents are incarcerated and being mistreated, or are living in fear, or generally need my office’s intervention, I commit to doing my part to help.

17. Do you support legislation outlawing solitary confinement in all prisons statewide including city jails?

Yes

18. When was the last time you were inside a correctional facility.

I have never been inside a correctional facility.

19. Do you believe sincere remorse and actions taken while incarcerated should be considered over the original crime in determinations of parole?

I believe that sincere remorse and actions taken while incarcerated should be considered along with the original crime as part of parole determinations.

20. What do you believe should be done to ensure more clemencies are granted every year?

I worked on the federal Clemency Project at the end of the Obama administration, and I was disappointed that many of the applications that were submitted as part of that project were simply never reviewed before President Obama left office. In New York State, I think more resources should be allocated for staff to engage in reviews of potential clemency cases so that more cases can be elevated to the governor for action. In addition, as an elected official, I would use my platform to advocate for clemency for deserving individuals whose cases have been identified by advocates but who are not getting timely action from the governor.

21. Will you publicly call on the governor to use her clemency power for the many incarcerated New Yorkers who can safely return home? Will you tweet out your support for this or issue a public statement? Would you be willing to be critical of a governor who does not exercise their power to grant clemencies and commutations to those worthy of release? Have you ever spoken out in such a way?

As described above, I would call publicly for clemency for deserving individuals and for the governor to use the clemency power at her disposal. I represented individuals incarcerated in federal prison in applications for clemency as part of the Clemency Project.

22. Have you participated in any demonstrations or protests concerning clemency and parole?

23. Will you affirmatively seek to hire formerly incarcerated individuals?

I would gladly hire formerly incarcerated individuals and would not consider their status as a detriment in hiring.

24. Do you support legislation to prohibit discrimination against formerly incarcerated people in housing and employment?

Yes

25. Do you believe in the decriminalization of sex work? Are you or will you co-sponsor the bill introduced by Julia Salazar (S.6419 / A. 8230), which fully decriminalizes sex work?

Yes

26. Will you actively oppose legislation (S.6040 / A.7069) that would implement the dangerous Nordic model instead of the decriminalization of prostitution? Explain in detail your views on full decriminalization, the Nordic model, legalization, and the existing criminalization approach.

As explained above, I believe that sex work should be decriminalized. However, I do not object to provisions of S.6040 / A.7069 that add protections and defenses for minors and others who have been trafficked.

27. Do you support ending qualified immunity for police and other law enforcement individuals?

Yes

28. What proposals will you advocate for to protect immigrants and further New York as a “Sanctuary State”?

New York State must ensure that federal immigration enforcement agents are kept out of hospitals, state and city courts, and other facilities where immigrants are accessing essential services. New York should also ensure that state and local law enforcement is not used to enforce federal immigration laws.

29. Are you a sponsor of New York's Medical Aid in Dying Act (A.4321a/S.6471)? If not will you add your name and sponsor?

I will sponsor/co-sponsor if elected.

29. Do you support the establishment of supervised drug consumption spaces?

Yes

30. Have you ever endorsed any member of the IDC or any candidates who challenged IDC members? Please identify all candidates

Neither; as mentioned above, as someone who has not previously held elective office, I have not often endorsed candidates.

31. Will you commit to ensuring diverse LGBTQ representation among your staff?

Yes

32. Who did you support for office in the following primaries or special elections: A) Mayor in 2021 B) President in 2016 and 2020 C) Governor and Attorney General in 2018?

A) I did not make a public endorsement.

B) I applied to be a Sanders delegate in 2016 and a Warren delegate in 2020.

C) I did not make a public endorsement.

33. Have you made an endorsement in the current bid for Governor? If so, who?

I have not made a public endorsement, but I support Kathy Hochul.

34. Do you support term limits for statewide office holders? For State Legislators?

35. Describe any legislation and policy changes that you support in order to address the ongoing effects of slavery, racism, colonialism, and discrimination.

I support implicit bias training throughout state government to ensure that we stamp out discrimination based on race.

36. 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 federal student loan forgiveness and increased funding for SUNY and CUNY to reduce or eliminate tuition costs.

37. Do you support a single-payer universal health care system? Do you or will you co-sponsor the New York Health Act? Please elaborate.

Yes. Americans spend the most per capita on healthcare in the developed world and yet we receive less care than those in other countries who spend less. Medicare has shown that a single payer model can be efficient and effective at providing care.

38. Discuss your stance on reproductive rights, including access to contraceptives and abortion services.

I support full and unfettered access to reproductive healthcare, including abortion, for anyone who wants it, period. I believe contraception should be covered by insurance. I oppose parental and paternal consent requirements. I also support legislation to crack

down on phony “crisis pregnancy centers” that mislead pregnant people into thinking that they provide abortion care when they really exist to try to talk people out of getting abortions through the use of misinformation. With the U.S. Supreme Court in extremist Republican control with a 6-3 majority, it is more important than ever for New York State to protect reproductive rights a the state level.

39. Will you refuse money from individuals or Political Action Committees representing the real estate industry or law enforcement unions/associations?

40. Will you refuse and refund any contributions from executives at corporations complicit in the Trump agenda?

Yes

41. Will you cosponsor the legislation to prohibit evictions without good cause (S.3082 / A.5573)?

Yes

42. 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? Will you co-sponsor S.856 / A.6032, which amends the Social Services Law to create a statewide rent supplement for families and individuals who are eligible for public assistance benefits and who face eviction, homelessness, or loss of housing due to domestic violence or hazardous living conditions?

Yes

43. What should happen to 421-a? Would you end it, mend it, continue it?

I believe that we should have a program that provides incentives for developers to include affordable housing in their projects, and that the current 421-a is not getting us the affordable housing we need; that is my view regardless of whether that means revising 421-a or replacing it with a different program with a different name. Among the changes we need are a broader spectrum of AMI multipliers to include lower median incomes in higher-income areas; too often, we have seen rare affordable units go unused because the income level to qualify is so high that those who are eligible are choosing to get market-rate housing, when there are thousands of low-income people who would gladly take the apartment. My preference would also be for permanent affordability in the affordable units the program creates.

44. Do you support legalizing accessory dwelling units?

I support legalizing ADU’s as long as they are safe to reside in.

45. Do you support more state funding for NYCHA? If so, how much?

Yes. NYCHA needs millions of dollars more per year to bring their buildings up to code with regard to mold, lead paint, broken boilers, out of service elevators, and broken doors, among many other issues.

46. Do you, or will you, co-sponsor the Climate and Community Investment Act? (S.4264A / A.6967) If you are an incumbent and do not currently co- sponsor this bill, why not?

I will co-sponsor.

47. Do you support the New York Public Banking Act (S.1762A / A. 8290? If you are an incumbent and do not currently co-sponsor this bill, why not?

Yes

48. Do you support the New Deal for CUNY (S.4461 / A.5843)? If you are an incumbent and do not currently co-sponsor this bill, why not?

Yes

49. 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?

Yes

50. What is your position on removing the Christopher Columbus statue in Columbus Circle and if so, what should replace it?‘

I oppose removal.

51. Do you support reducing the budget of law enforcement throughout the state, and if so, by how much?

I think local law enforcement budgets should be set by localities.

52. Are you in favor of removing police from any of the following? a) Schools;

b) Mental health response calls; c) Homeless outreach and social services; or d) Traffic enforcement.

a) I do not support a categorical ban on school safety agents.

b) I do not support a categorical ban on police involvement in mental health response calls. If there is potential danger to the community or to responding mental health professionals, I believe it can be appropriate to include police in the response. I believe that all mental health response calls should include mental health professionals; there should not be police-only responses to such calls.

c) I do not think that police should be involved in 311 or similar calls requesting assistance for a homeless person unless the person is behaving dangerously.

d) I do not support a categorical ban on police involvement in traffic enforcement. I do not think it should be what they are going out to do, but if, for example, someone is driving dangerously fast on the street, I do not think police should be prohibited from responding.

53. Should law enforcements "Vice Squads" be eliminated?

I support decriminalization of sex work, so to the extent that Vice Squads would not have crimes to investigate at that point, then they would not be necessary.

54. How would you recommend law enforcement officers be penalized for refusing to wear masks in public while on duty, in defiance of city and state rules?

I think demerits, duty changes, and loss of time off are potential options; other administrative penalties may be appropriate as well.

55. What reforms would you make to the Civilian Complaint Review Board? Would you support state legislation to make CCRB disciplinary determinations binding?

I think the Civilian Complaint Review Board needs to be strengthened so that it can provide more meaningful oversight and accountability, and making its determinations binding is a good way to do that.

56. What will you do to support nightlife in New York State?

We need to ensure that the state is providing support to bars and restaurants that have been hurt by the pandemic, and that includes creative solutions like the emergency Outdoor Dining program that was implemented. We should also make it easier for bars and restaurants (and other small businesses) to comply with state licensing and other requirements by reducing the points of contact that those businesses need to deal with.

57. Do you commit to speak with restaurant and nightlife industry representatives before taking a position on any policies that affect their businesses?

Yes

58. Do you commit to speak personally with liquor license applicants and license holders before opposing any bid for a liquor license? Likewise for an applicant seeking your support?

As an Assemblymember, I do not think it would be necessary for me to weigh in on every liquor license application in my district. To the extent that I would get personally involved in support of or opposition to a particular application, I would speak to the applicant.

59. What are the top 3 issues you aim to address locally and legislatively?

(It’s difficult to pick 3 because there are a number of important issues.)

I want to reduce crime by focusing in particular on keeping guns off the street, without compromising on the need for equitable and non-discriminatory law enforcement practices. I want to improve education by increasing funding to our schools so that we can reduce class sizes and ensure that all students are getting the resources and support they need, particularly as we recover from the pandemic. I want to increase affordable housing through direct investment by the state and through fixing the incentives we have for affordable units to be included in private development projects.

60. How much money do you presently have in your campaign account?

Approximately $215,000.

61. What additional information would you like members The Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club to consider when we are making our endorsement decision concerning your candidacy?

I believe that compromise is often an important part of the legislative process, but that there can be no compromise when it comes to upholding the equality and civil and human rights of all New Yorkers and fighting discrimination on the basis of race, gender identity, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, and disability status. I am proud to have the endorsement of another citywide club, the 504 Democratic Club.

questionnaireJim Owles Liberal Democratic ClubFebruary 26, 2022nys assembly 2022