Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Tom Suozzi for Governor
Candidate Name: Tom Suozzi
Office Seeking Election for: New York Governor
Website: https://suozziforny.com/
1. Explain, based on life experiences and accomplishments, why you believe you are best qualified for the role you are seeking.
If you are a New Yorker with progressive views, the number one thing you should be worried about in this race is not the policy differences between the three Democratic candidates for Governor, it is the risk of New York electing a Republican Governor this fall.
Kathy Hochul has become a political liability for New York Democrats up and down the ballot be- cause of her lack of experience, lack of judgment, and pandering. Her lack of experience and judg- ment were on full display last week when her handpicked Lieutenant Governor, the first major choice she made as Governor, was indicted. Her pandering is evidenced by the fact that earlier in her career, she bragged about her endorsement from the NRA and threatened to report undocumented immigrants seeking drivers’ licenses to ICE. Now as Governor she has moved all the way to the left, appointing a Lieutenant Governor who had called for “defunding the police”. Unlike the other two Democratic candidates in this race, she has no vision or political philosophy of her own.
Jumaane Williams, who I have great respect for as a person, would likely lose the general election given the difficult political climate Democrats face this fall. His views are simply out of step with the vast majority of New York voters. Democrats would be foolish to risk handing the Governorship for the next four years to a radical Republican.
As for me, everything I’ve done in my career has prepared me for this particular job at this particular time.
New York is in trouble. When I was born, we had 45 Members of Congress. Today, we have 27 and we are about to go down to 26. We are losing influence because we are not growing as quickly as the rest of the country. From 2020 to 2021, we lost 300,000 residents, the largest outmigration of any state in the United States, and more than Illinois, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and New Jersey combined.
New York faces serious problems with crime, affordability, troubled schools, and government cor- ruption. I am the only Democratic primary candidate with 1) the proven executive experience, 2) the common sense approach to governing, and 3) the vision to make the New York State Government successful once again.
1) Proven Executive Experience:
I am the only candidate in the field with years of experience and a long track record of accomplish- ment as a chief executive. I served as Mayor of my hometown of Glen Cove for eight years and as County Executive of Nassau County, with a population and budget larger than 11 states, for eight years. When I took over as Nassau County Executive in 2002, we were on the brink of bankruptcy, our social services were a mess, and our physical infrastructure had deteriorated. During my eight years in office, I restored the fiscal health of the County, I brought a revolutionary “No Wrong Door” human services delivery system to those most in need, I championed a $150 million environ- mental restoration program, and I dramatically upgraded the County’s physical infrastructure and technology.
2) Common Sense Approach to Governing:
While I am a lifelong Democrat who will always advocate for my progressive values, I have learned throughout my career that in order to get things done that will make peoples’ lives better, you need to be willing to work with people who you disagree with. I will work with anyone, whether they are progressive or moderate, Democrat or Republican, to make New York the best that it can be.
3) A Clear Vision for New York:
I am the only candidate in the field who has laid out a comprehensive vision for New York:
- Fighting crime
- Lowering taxes and making New York more affordable
- Helping our troubled schools
- Ending the culture of corruption in Albany
2. Please identify any openly LGBTQ candidates for public office you have previously or presently endorsed?
Sean Patrick Maloney Mondaire Jones Ritchie Torres
3. If applicable, what legislation directly affecting the LGBTQ community have you introduced or co-sponsored?
I am an original co-sponsor and was proud to vote for the Equality Act (H.R. 5), which would feder- ally prohibit discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
I am also an original co-sponsor of the John Lewis Every Child Deserves a Family Act (H.R. 3488), which would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, or religion by child welfare programs receiving federal funding.
During the Trump Administration, I was proud to vote for H.Res. 124: “Expressing opposition to banning service in the Armed Forces by openly transgender individuals.”
4. What LGBTQ organizations have you been involved with, either on a volunteer or professional basis?
I am proud to have a 100% rating from the Human Rights Campaign. I also helped the Long Island LGBT Network throughout the COVID pandemic, including getting federal assistance through the Paycheck Protection Program.
5. If applicable, what LGBTQ organizations have you allocated funds to?
Long Island LGBT Network
6. Do you consider yourself a member of the LGBTQ community?
No.
7. Have you marched in any Pride parades? Which marches and for approximately how many years?
Yes. I have participated in Pride events on Long Island, both at Eisenhower Park and with the Long Island LGBT Network.
8. Have you employed openly LGBTQ individuals previously? Do you employ any currently?
Yes. I have employed many openly LGBTQ people including the first openly gay Deputy County Executive of Nassau County.
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 at- tended and/or participated in?
In 2009, when I was Nassau County Executive, I wrote an op-ed in the New York Times entitled “Why I Now Support Gay Marriage”, in which I urged New York State lawmakers to support same- sex marriage at a time when many still did not.
As a Member of Congress, I have participated in many public events in support of LGBTQ rights, women’s rights, and criminal justice reform. I repeatedly opposed the policies of President Trump including the Muslim ban, caging children at the border, attacking on women, and standing in the way of gun violence prevention legislation.
11. Have you ever been arrested in pursuit of legislation or for protesting an injustice? Please elabo- rate.
No.
12. If you are an incumbent, what have you accomplished in your most recent term?
Last year, I played a key role in negotiating and passing the landmark $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infra- structure Bill. It will bring close to $30 billion into New York for infrastructure spending: almost
$15 billion for new roads and bridges, $100 million to upgrade broadband throughout the state, $10 billion to improve public transportation options, and $685 million for airport investments.
In spring 2020, when New York was the initial epicenter of the COVID pandemic in the US, I got every single Democrat and Republican in the New York’s Senate and Congressional Delegations to sign a letter to HHS urging them to create a special pot of money for hospitals in the most impacted states. Because of our efforts, HHS created a $10 billion “High Impact Relief Fund” that provided New York’s hospitals and health care heroes with a vital lifeline in their time of greatest need.
I was also one of the lead negotiators on the bill, signed into law in 2020, that banned “surprise med- ical billing” at the federal level. Because of the legislation I played a key role on, patients across the country will no longer need to fear being hit by an astronomical bill because they were taken by am- bulance to an out-of-network emergency room, or because they went to an in-network hospital but the anesthesiologist was out-of-network.
I also secured an increase of over $100 million for the federal program that supports the cleanup of the Navy Grumman Groundwater Plume in my district, which has polluted the groundwater for over 40 years. The Grumman Plume, located in Bethpage, has for decades been one of the biggest water quality disasters in our entire state. Dozens of contaminants have seeped into the aquifers that pro- vide drinking water for my constituents in the area. Last December, after years of my fighting for it, Congress passed legislation providing the increase of more than $100 million for the Federal pro- gram that supports cleanup of the Plume.
I also secured record funding for the Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults (HKNC), headquartered in Sands Point. This increase has allowed for expanded services to
individuals who are deaf-blind. It is an honor to have HKNC headquartered in my district and I am proud to have negotiated this increase in funding that will go a long way in helping this exceptional institution continue to do remarkable work.
13. For the following pieces of legislation, please answer if you support and how you have publicly indicated such support:
A. Fair and Timely Parole (S.7514A / A.4231A): A bill pending in Albany that would ensure access to a fair parole release process for incarcerated people in New York State. This bill ensures that decisions on parole are not solely based on the nature of the original crimes but centers incarcerated peoples’ record of rehabilitation and assessment of current risk to public safety.
I would support this bill if it were amended (See question 14).
B. Elder Parole (S.15A / A.8855): A bill pending in Albany that would allow elderly incarcer- ated people who have served at least 15 years in prison an opportunity to appear before the Parole Board for a chance at release.
I would support this bill if it were amended (See question 14).
14. If you do not support any of the above legislation, why not?
I would support Fair and Timely Parole if it were amended to allow the Parole Board to take into ac- count the severity of the underlying crime when determining the inmate’s public safety risk.
I would support Elder Parole if it were amended to exclude certain crimes. A person who has mur- dered someone should not have a chance at parole after 15 years.
15. Do you oppose life without parole sentences and other extreme prison sentences that don’t allow incarcerated peoples’ cases to be reassessed regardless of how much they change?
Yes.
16. What is your position on the recent revisions to bail reform?
I supported the goals of bail reform because people should not languish in jail awaiting trial for non- violent offenses simply because they cannot afford to pay bail. When I was Nassau County Execu- tive, we had a program where private sector donors paid bail for low level offenders so they could get out of jail while awaiting trial.
However, the 2019 bill made a major mistake by making New York the only state in the entire country to not allow judges to consider public safety when deciding whether to keep defendants be- hind bars. I support amending bail reform to give judges more discretion, which the recent revisions did not do. Doing so would make our state safer by keeping violent criminals off the streets, but would not roll back the positive aspects of bail reform.
17. The recent changes to bail reform will criminalize people for crimes of poverty. If someone is arrested for allegedly stealing diapers twice, judges are allowed to set bail and keep the person incarcerated pre-trial. Do you agree with this change to the bail law?
I support giving judges the power to remand people who pose a threat to public safety. I do not sup- port a system where the ability to pay bail determines one’s ability to get out of jail pending trial.
18. Do you commit to visiting constituents who are incarcerated in state prisons and city jails? If in- cumbent, when did you do so last?
Yes. I toured Rikers Island last fall with three of my Congressional colleagues: Reps. Carolyn Malo- ney, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Ritchie Torres. I was outraged by the conditions and misman- agement.
19. Do you support legislation outlawing solitary confinement in all prisons statewide including city jails? Will you work to ensure that the HALT Solitary Confinement Act, which went into effect on April 1, is fully and effectively implemented?
I will work to ensure that the HALT Solitary Confinement Act is fully and effectively implemented.
20. When was the last time you were inside a correctional facility?
I toured Rikers Island last fall with three of my Congressional colleagues: Reps. Carolyn Maloney, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Ritchie Torres. I was outraged by the conditions and mismanage- ment.
21. Do you believe sincere remorse and actions taken while incarcerated should be considered over the original crime in determinations of parole?
Yes.
22. Do you support the frequent, year-round use of executive clemency?
Yes.
23. Will you publicly support calls to release 200 incarcerated New Yorkers within 200 days of the Governor’s re-election?
Yes.
24. Will you affirmatively seek to hire formerly incarcerated individuals?
Yes.
25. Do you support Clean Slate legislation (S1553C / A.6399) that allow for the automatic sealing of certain convictions and protect against the discrimination of formerly incarcerated people in housing and employment?
I support the goals of Clean Slate, but it has several problems in its current form:
1. While sex offenses are excluded from eligibility, some very serious violent crimes are not.
2. The bill does not allow for access to sealed records to groups that should have them. Child care providers, for example, should be able to access these records before deciding whether to hire someone.
3. While the bill does not seal the records of those with pending cases in New York, it does seal the records of those who currently have pending cases in other states.
4. The bill lacks any sort of "lifetime limit", where if a person has committed a certain number of crimes in his or her life, he or she is no longer eligible for a Clean Slate.
26. Do you believe in the decriminalization of sex work? Do you support the bill introduced by Julia Salazar (S.6419 / A. 8230), which fully decriminalizes sex work?
I support the decriminalization of sex work but not decriminalizing the patronage or trafficking of sex workers.
27. Will you actively oppose legislation (S.6040 / A.7069) that would implement the dangerous Nor- dic model instead of the decriminalization of prostitution? Explain in detail your views on full decriminalization, the Nordic model, legalization, and the existing criminalization approach.
I am not fully familiar with the Nordic model.
28. Do you support ending qualified immunity for police and other law enforcement individuals?
While I am a co-sponsor of and voted for the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, I do not believe that it will ever become law because of the provision to end qualified immunity and I believe that there are problems associated with ending qualified immunity.
29. What proposals will you advocate for to protect immigrants and further New York as a “Sanctu- ary State”?
I have a long track record of supporting and protecting immigrant communities going back to my very first years in public office. I have been honored by the New York Immigration Coalition for “creating an environment of welcome and inclusion for immigrants”.
When I was the mayor of Glen Cove in 1994, there were undocumented dayworkers from Central and South America gathering on street corners seeking work. Many residents wanted me to get those men off the street. However, I understood that they were simply trying to live the American Dream, the same way my father did when he came to the United States from Italy. I set up the first day- worker gathering spot on the East Coast, where they could gather in the mornings. If they were not hired for the day, they could stay and learn English or a job skill. If they were hired, we had advo- cates on-site to make sure they were paid what they were promised. As Governor, I will support sim- ilar efforts to help immigrants live the American Dream.
When I was Nassau County Executive, I worked to prevent the Nassau County Police Department from cooperating with ICE. In 2007, when federal immigration agents conducted a reprehensible raid on my constituents, I demanded that the Bush Administration conduct a thorough investigation so that such malfeasance would never occur again. As Governor, I will prevent ICE and any other federal agencies from violating the civil liberties of New Yorkers.
My record on immigrant justice matters is very different from Governor Hochul’s. In 2007, while serving as the Erie County clerk, Hochul threatened to report undocumented immigrants to ICE if they applied for drivers’ licenses.
30. Do you support New York's Medical Aid in Dying Act (A.4321a/S.6471)?
No.
31. Do you support the establishment of supervised drug consumption spaces?
It is an interesting idea, but in practice, it has had a very negative impact on the two communities where they are currently located.
The two neighborhoods where New York City put its initial drug consumption spaces already had problems with drug dealing. Concentrating drug consumption spaces in these types of areas cements them as “drug-friendly” and prevents economic development there.
32. Have you ever endorsed any member of the IDC or any candidates who challenged IDC mem- bers? Please identify all candidates
I endorsed Richard Lee over Tony Avella in the 2021 City Council primary.
33. Will you commit to ensuring diverse LGBTQ representation among your staff?
Yes.
34. 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?
2021 Mayoral Primary: Eric Adams 2020 Presidential Primary: Joe Biden
2016 Presidential Primary: Hillary Clinton 2018 Gubernatorial Primary: Andrew Cuomo 2018 Attorney General Primary: Letitia James
35. Do you support term limits for statewide office holders? For State Legislators?
No.
36. Describe any legislation and policy changes that you support in order to address the ongoing ef- fects of slavery, racism, colonialism, and discrimination.
As a Member of Congress, I am a co-sponsor of the Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act (H.R. 40).
37. 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 crush- ing loan debt that many students and alumni are facing?
As a Member of Congress, I strongly support legislation to make community college free nation- wide. As Governor, I will look to state legislation to make CUNY education free. I will also work to make education at the SUNY colleges more affordable, including through federal money.
38. Do you support a single-payer universal health care system? Do you support the New York Health Act? Please elaborate.
I strongly support expanding health care access for low-income New Yorkers, but I oppose the New York Health Act. While I support efforts to achieve universal coverage like a federal public option, the New York Health Act would basically ban private health insurance, which has never been tried anywhere in the world. The bill would put the entire $300 billion health system on the State’s bal- ance sheet, increasing the current $220 billion State budget by almost 150%. According to some esti- mates, New York’s top marginal tax rate would need to climb above 33% to pay for the bill. Such a gigantic tax increase would make New York even less competitive and would accelerate the exodus of residents from our State.
39. Do you oppose efforts to change laws that banned private contract labor for incarcerated people? Please elaborate.
I would support training of inmates so that they can obtain real life skills in a trade that would better prepare them for when they are released and would support opportunities for them to be paid fair wages as apprentices. However, it must come with rigorous oversight to prevent it from being taken advantage of by the employers.
40. Discuss your stance on reproductive rights, including access to contraceptives and abortion ser- vices.
I fully support reproductive rights and have a 100% rating from Planned Parenthood.
41. Will you refuse money from individuals or Political Action Committees representing the real es- tate industry or law enforcement unions/associations?
No. I have never let a campaign contribution from anyone affect my judgment and I never will.
42. Will you refuse and refund any contributions from executives at corporations complicit in the Trump agenda?
Need more specifics.
43. Will you commit to not hire any vendors or consultants who are complicit in union-busting?
Yes.
44. Do you support the legislation to prohibit evictions without good cause (S.3082 / A.5573)? Please explain.
While I strongly support efforts to protect tenants, I am concerned by the “Good Cause” proposal. While the negative reputation that landlords have is too often deserved, we must also remember that many landlords are responsible and a large majority are small business owners whose livelihoods
depend on the units they rent out. I have spoken with several small landlords who have told me that because of state policies, they have tenants who have refused to pay rent even though they are able to.
My governing philosophy revolves around balance. We need to balance the need to protect tenants with the need to support responsible landlords. The current “Good Cause” proposal in New York would hurt many responsible landlords. Therefore, I oppose the proposal, but would be open to other legislation to protect tenants from truly unfair evictions.
45. 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? Do you support S.856 / A.6032, which amends the Social Services Law to create a statewide rent supple- ment 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 condi- tions?
Yes.
46. What should happen to 421-a? Would you end it, mend it, continue it?
New York should amend 421-a. The amended program must be balanced, without providing exces- sive returns on investment to developers. Developers should be limited to a return of less than 10%. It must also ensure robust labor protections including project labor agreements, prevailing wages, and apprenticeship programs. Units must be subject to rent stabilization for the duration of the tax benefits.
485-w, which Governor Hochul has proposed to replace 421-a, lacks key worker protections. There- fore, I oppose her proposal in its current form.
47. Do you support legalizing accessory dwelling units?
I opposed Governor Hochul’s proposal, which would have given local zoning control to Albany bu- reaucrats and required amnesty for slumlords who have taken advantage of vulnerable New Yorkers for years.
I strongly support the building of more affordable housing by converting unused office space in downtowns and incentivizing more transit-oriented development in suburban areas.
48. Do you support more state funding for NYCHA? If so, how much?
I have been a strong advocate for including robust federal funding for NYCHA in the Build Back Better Act, which had $65 billion total for public housing.
NYCHA has suffered from years of underfunding and mismanagement. I am encouraged by Mayor Adams’ proposals to improve the troubled agency, including:
1. Selling NYCHA air rights to provide a capital infusion.
2. Allowing for some buildings to potentially be operated by private management companies provided that they still receive federal funding and that tenants are fully engaged in the deci- sion process and have access to free legal counsel.
49. Do you support the Climate and Community Investment Act? (S.4264A / A.6967)? Please ex- plain.
I have a long environmental track record as a public official. I was the 2008 New York State League of Conservation Voters’ “Environmentalist of the Year”. As Mayor of Glen Cove, I got the city des- ignated as a national Brownfields Showcase Community that was recognized twice by Vice Presi- dent Al Gore for its environmental cleanup efforts. As a Member of Congress, I have supported ro- bust federal environmental legislation like the Green New Deal.
As a passionate environmentalist, I strongly support charging polluters for their greenhouse gas emissions. However, New York cannot go it alone on climate change, which this bill attempts to do. This bill would simply drive polluters to other states. Thus, it would not make a substantial differ- ence on climate change, but it would substantially accelerate the exodus of businesses and residents from New York. We need federal legislation charging polluters for their emissions.
50. Do you support the New York Public Banking Act (S.1762A / A. 8290)? Please elaborate.
I support the efforts of Senator James Sanders to enable public banking in New York State, which would create more economic development in low income communities and communities of color. I would be open to this bill that would allow local governments to create public banks. However, I would prefer for a public bank to be at the state level, as I have some concerns about transparency and anti-corruption monitoring should public banks be at a more local level.
51. Do you support the New Deal for CUNY (S.4461 / A.5843)? Please elaborate.
Yes. As a Member of Congress, I have strongly supported legislation to make community college free nationwide. As Governor, I will support this bill and will also work to make education at the SUNY colleges more affordable, including through federal money.
52. 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?
No.
53. What is your position on removing the Christopher Columbus statue in Columbus Circle and if so, what should replace it?
I oppose removing the Christopher Columbus statue.
54. Do you support reducing the budget of law enforcement throughout the state, and if so, by how much?
I oppose reducing the budget of law enforcement.
55. Are you in favor of removing police from any of the following? a) Schools; b) Mental health re- sponse calls; c) Homeless outreach and social services; or d) Traffic enforcement.
No.
56. Do you support New York City’s current initiatives to remove homeless New Yorkers from the subways and dismantle homeless encampments?
I support more proactive efforts to get homeless people with mental health, drug and alcohol, and other issues the help they need. Earlier this year, Mayor Adams and Governor Hochul held a press conference to lay out a plan in which the City would put more cops in subways stations and the State would put more social workers in subways stations. The cops were deployed immediately but the State failed to even release the RFP for social workers for weeks, a demonstration of Governor Hochul’s lack of experience running a big organization like New York State.
57. Should law enforcements "Vice Squads" be eliminated?
There are reports of major systemic issues in the NYPD’s Vice Squad. I would support a citywide review of how to make the Vice Squad more effective and accountable.
58. 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 am open to suggestions but the issue appears moot at this point given the end of the mask mandate likely to come soon.
59. Would you support state legislation to make CCRB disciplinary determinations binding?
No.
60. What will you do to support nightlife in New York State?
If people can barely afford necessities, they certainly won’t be able to enjoy a night out very often. I am the only Democratic candidate focused on making New York more affordable, which will put
more money in peoples’ pockets so that they support restaurants, bars, and clubs.
61. State Democratic Chair Jay Jacobs is promoting the idea of creating a third party so that if a progressive candidate wins the primary race there would be a chance to defeat them in the gen- eral election. Do you oppose this effort?
Yes.
62. State Democratic Chair Jay Jacobs uses his title and organization to bash and demagogue against progressive Democrats to the point that he is now supporting a candidate who claims commemo- rating a Klan leader “has nothing to do with race.” If elected, do you commit to removing him as chair of our state party?
Yes.
63. What are the top 3 issues you aim to address legislatively?
1. Reducing crime
2. Lowering taxes and making New York more affordable
3. Finally helping the children in our troubled schools
64. How much money do you presently have in your campaign account?
As of my last filing, I had $5.3 million in my account.
65. 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?
While we all hope that things turn around in the coming months, right now, it looks like the political climate this fall will be very difficult for Democrats. It was similarly difficult last fall, when Repub- licans in my home county of Nassau County won seats we thought they had no chance at.
While New York is a solidly blue state, we cannot take the gubernatorial race for granted in an envi- ronment like this. Our party must nominate someone who will not only win easily, but who will carry other Democrats to victory in difficult State Legislature seats.
Kathy Hochul is a political liability for Democrats because of her inexperience, lack of judgment, and history of pandering. Jumaane Williams has views that are out of step with the vast majority of New York voters. I am the candidate who will win big for New York Democrats this fall. I hope to have your support.