Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Tony Simone for NY Assembly District 75
Candidate Name: Tony Simone
Office Seeking Election for: NY Assembly District 75
Campaign Website: https://tonyfornewyork.com
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?
As a gay man and the son of an immigrant Peruvian mother who saw in her own country what happens when democracy erodes, I am well aware of the dangers of civil rights and freedom slowly slipping away. I know that my marriage is a right only recently won, and can be lost just the same. In my career in government and
activism, I have stood up and worked hard for civil rights and progress. Many of these actions are detailed in the next answer. In asking for your endorsement, I ask you to look at my record in my first term in office. I have never shied from standing with our states most powerless, because standing together is how we create power. I have passed legislation protecting people from discrimination and carry legislation to expand and safeguard our elections.
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?
Since I came out and even before, I have fought for LGBTQ equality. In college, I spoke out against the discriminatory Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy at public forums. In the time before running for office, I participated in numerous rallies and actions to fight for LGBTQ equality during my time working for State Senator Catherine Abate, for City Council Member Christine Quinn & during Hillary Clinton’s campaign for U.S. Senate. I was arrested and spent a night in jail for demonstrating against the exclusion of the LGBTQ community from the NYC St. Patrick’s Day parade. I also participated in protests and marches denouncing horrific hate crimes against the LGBTQ community, including the murder of a black gay man and attacks on the transgender community. We organized a hate crimes conference with clergy and LGBTQ leaders after an awful hate crime from gang members against Latino gay young men in the Bronx. During my time working in the City Council, we worked on marriage equality with LGBTQ organizations and the Governor's office. Additionally during my time working for the City Council, I worked with activists to push for the passage of SONDA in Albany, organizing students & LGBTQ individuals who faced discrimination. We developed an anti- bias, pro LGBTQ curriculum with the Department of Education, “Respect for All,” which is still being used today. I worked on the Equal Benefits Bill that required city contractors to provide benefit parity for domestic partnerships.
I strongly support other LGBTQ candidates for office, from my colleagues State Senators Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Jabari Brisport and Assemblymembers Harry Bronson, Deborah Glick and Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas to congressional candidates across the country such as Sarah McBride (Delaware) and Joe Vogel (Maryland).
During my first term in Albany I passed two pieces of LGBTQ legislation. A.7367, which removed outdated homophobic language from the State’s human rights law that connected homosexuality with criminality, and A.7355 which added “gender identity and expression” as a protected class to the anti-discrimination protections for interns under the Human Rights Law. I also sponsor legislation that would ban prior-
authorization for PrEP (A.6059a) and codify anti-discrimination protections for transgender students throughout New York.
My LGBTQ liaison is my Chief of Staff Matt Tighe, who is one of two LGBTQ staff in my office. I have been involved with many LGBTQ organizations both before and during my time in office such as the Stonewall Democrats, the Ali Forney Center, and Callen Lorde.
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?
In addition to the actions listed in the above question, I have consistently shown up in support of justice issues and defending our democracy. After Roe v Wade was overturned, I joined outraged New Yorkers in protest. Representing a city built by immigrants, I regularly rally with immigrant advocates in Albany and work to improve conditions for migrants living in my district. When we return home from Albany in June, I will have one political priority for the summer and fall, defeating Donald Trump.
4. Do you support reparations to compensate African Americans for the history of slavery, Jim Crow, and systemic racism in this country?
Yes and I proudly voted last year in support of the New York State Community Commission on Reparations Remedies last year, which was signed by the Governor.
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.?
I support A65 which would extend the statute of limitations for wrongful employment discrimination cases. Those who lose their job due to discrimination often have their lives disrupted and need time to restabilize, and must have that time before being expected to pursue legal action.
I strongly support A.7910a which would prohibit discrimination against affordable, subsidized, or Section 8 housing in underwriting or insurance policies. These profit driven moves by big insurance companies weaken the housing market for low income New Yorkers, and aid racist motives in keeping non-white residents out of neighborhoods.
I sponsor A.7243 which would authorize absentee ballot drop boxes for elections. Many voters distrusted the postal service during the 2020 election due to the actions from his Postmaster General. Enabling a new way for voters to return an absentee ballot direct to the Board of Elections will cut off efforts from a future administration in Washington interfering in the democratic process, which is often targeted at minority neighborhoods.
I support my colleague Harvey Epstein’s efforts to ban forced priosn labor, a lasting vestige of slavery.
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, Senate 2423?
Yes, I a strong supporter and cosponsor of elder parole.
7. Do you sponsor the Earned Time Act, Senate S774, which strengthens and expands “good time” and “earned time” to support rehabilitation efforts?
Yes, furthering and encouraging rehabilitation efforts is the best way to improve outcomes for incarcerated people after release.
8. Do you sponsor Eliminate Mandatory Minimum Bill Act, S6471 which reduces excessive sentences and enables judges to look at individual factors and mitigating circumstances?
Yes, mandatory minimums are a part of the system where many in the criminal justice system opt to take a plea deal rather than exercise their constitutional rights.
9. Do you sponsor the Second Look Act, S7872, which allows for reconsideration of prison sentences based on changes in law and circumstances?
Yes, unfair trials and mistaken sentences are far too often. Any wrongfully imprisoned person is a great tragedy and loss.
10. Have you participated, and will you participate in demonstrations and protests in relation to the issues of clemency and parole?
Yes, I have joined rallies in support of legislation that would bring fairness to our parole system, such as the Elder Parole legislation.
11. Will you affirmatively seek to hire formerly incarcerated individuals?
Yes, I am regularly inspired by the presence of my colleague Assemblymemnber Eddie Gibbs, who was formerly incarcerated. These voices better our government.
12. Have you and will you visit incarcerated constituents to learn of their conditions?
Yes, last summer I joined a surprise inspection of Rikers, an experience which affected me deeply and strengthened my commitment to reduce incarceration and end the inhumane conditions incarcerated people face.
13. What are your proposals to have prisons focus more on rehabilitation and less on punishment?
The strongest proposal we have right now in Albany to shift the focus to rehabilitation is the Earned Time Act which awards rehabilitative efforts made by those imprisoned with shorter sentences.
14. Do you support ending the cruel punishment of solitary confinement, such as was recently mandated by the New York City Council?
Yes, solitary confinement is equivalent to torture and has no place in modern society.
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?
We must increase the supply of available affordable housing to stop the skyrocketing rents as demand increases. We must take what we just learned from COVID to organizing every aspect of our government to handle newcomers with full dignity and care, from housing and employment, to education and health care. Reacting to racist anti-immigrant voices only does real harm to future Americans and our country as a whole.
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?
In New York State, we must pass A710, the Access to Representation Act to ensure a right to legal counsel in immigration court; A3020, the Coverage for Act to ensure health coverage regardless of immigration status; and A5685, New York for All, to prohibit the use of state and local funds to aid immigration enforcement. These bills will help immigrants thrive in New York, safe from those who would wield government to harm them for political points.
17. Do you believe in the decriminalization of sex work?
Yes, I recently met with sex workers and advocates to discuss the future path to bring this bill to reality.
18. Do you oppose legislation that promotes the Nordic model?
Yes, we know from the data and the experience of sex workers that the Nordic model does not keep them safe.
19. What concrete proposals do you support to lift up women after four years of Trump being President?
New York has been a leader in defending women against the Trump forces that mean to take us back decades. Codifying Roe v Wade and ensuring we are a sanctuary for those seeking and providing abortions were critical moves. Further, we must continue to build a state that always keeps the needs of women a priority. Legislation I cosponsor such as A3113A that expand the scope of health equity impacts to include reproductive and maternal health, and A2870B to expand maternal depression screenings which is a seriously under-examined issue. Defeating Trump will come from the votes of women, all states across the country must put these issues front and center as New York has to prove we are the pro-women party.
20. Do you support a single-payer universal health care system? Please elaborate.
Yes, I am a proud cosponsor of the New York Health Act. So many problems in our health care system which we spend billions of dollars and pass hundreds of bills for would be solved by a universal health care system.
21. What have you done to facilitate reproductive rights, including access to contraceptives and abortion services?
I have supported my colleague Assemblymember Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas’s bill, A361B, to establish the reproductive freedom and equity fund to provide funding to abortion providers and those who help facilitate their work.
22. Will you refuse contributions from individuals or Political Action Committees representing the Real Estate industry, from police or correction communities?
While I have accepted contributions from those who work within the real estate industry, I have not taken funds from REBNY. I do not take funds from police or corrections PACS.
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?
Hate is spread in now in new and insidious ways. Extreme voices that once only existed in dark corners are now front and center on social media. I support the SAFE for Kids Act to restrict addictive features on social media platforms that often funnel viewers into a swarm of extreme and hateful videos. We need to be sure that history and cultural diversity are well taught in schools, what happens when hate takes root in a country, and how to recognize and combat disinformation.
25. Did you or would you have voted for the censure of U.S. Representative Rashida Tlaib?
No
26. Do you support an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East?
Yes, I hope each day for a ceasefire that fully ends the violence. I support a ceasefire deal that returns Israeli hostages home and ends the suffering of Palestinians that can lead to a lasting two state solution. While I am not in a foreign policy role, I support those who share these goals.
27. Should we condition further aid to Israel? What conditions should we stress that Israel abides by?
I agree with President Biden’s recent moves to limit the supply of offensive weapons that would be used in a Rafah operation that would undoubtedly result in massive civilian casualties.
28. Will you refuse funds from Trump-supporting AIPAC?
Yes
29. What are your concrete proposals to prevent Trump and his cult from taking over this country and ending democracy?
We need to strengthen legislation and codify existing regulations in any way we can, while we can to defend our democracy. Even here in New York, we came far too close to Lee Zeldin becoming Governor which would result in horrible consequences for New Yorkers and extinguish a beacon of hope for Americans living under extreme conservative governments. We must organize this year and work hard to pass the New York Equality Act to enshrine wide protections in our state constitution, not just to protect ourselves, but to show all Americans that Democrats are the ones here to protect them and help them thrive. Pioneering new election protections that can be replicated in other states is one way to change the debate about how elections are run in America. For example, I cosponsor A8581, which would require additional voting time be provided at a polling site that experiences disruptions.
30. How can we combat the movement in this country to ban books, prevent colleges from discussing issues and demonizing intelligence as “woke”?
Last summer, when right wing extremists to extend their fascism into banning books from libraries and schools, I proudly walked with Attorney General Tish James to a library to read to kids. No elected official can cower or triangulate their actions based on fear of right wing culture warriors. Leaders must be proud of diversity and intelligence in our society.
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?
Yes, cities such as Pittsburgh, Newark, New Haven, and even Columbus, Ohio have removed their statues. His record of violence and oppression, extreme even for his own time, do not reflect New York values or history to be celebrated.
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 I am also generally in favor of not re-naming infrastructure without a very good reason the former name is not appropriate.
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, nightlife is an irreplaceable aspect of New York culture and I strongly support our restaurant/nightlife businesses. I am soon introducing legislation that will boost nightlife in a new way for New York.
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?
I have found ways to partner with the Adams administration to help my district when needed and have been angered and frustrated by many of his public
actions, particularly those regarding the LGBTQ community at the start of his term. I have not been involved in finding someone to run for Mayor of New York City.
35. How can we mandate that every community do its share to have affordable housing and care for the recently arrived people?
I strongly believe we need new housing in every community, particularly those who have historically resisted any form of growth or affordability. My full views on housing can be read in my recent op-ed on the matter: https://www.cityandstateny.com/opinion/2024/03/opinion-new-york-needs-all- above-approach-affordable-housing-development/395221/
We must also ensure all communities are caring for our newest neighbors. My district houses many migrants, I have visited the shelters, organized drives for baby clothes and winter coats and pressured the city to end its 60 day limits on housing.
36. Are you a sponsor of Good Cause Eviction S305 legislation?
Yes, I am a cosponsor and have rarely missed a rally to support good cause in Albany. A priority next year must be to keep fighting and building on the protections passed this year.
37. Do you support allowing legal Immigrants to vote in local elections?
Yes, local elections affect local residents, citizen or not, the same way.