Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Victor Pichardo for NY Assembly District 86

Candidate Name: Victor M. Pichardo

Office Seeking Election for: New York State Assembly, 86th District (Bronx)

700 Columbus Avenue, 16F New York NY 10025

(putting new website soon)

(setting up campaign google phone)

Facebook.com/victor86Ad @victor86AD

Eva Medellin, eva2medellin@gmail.com, 917-724-5243

1. I grew up in my district, my parents still live here and since my election to the Assembly I have fought to help the generation after me have the ability to go to afford college, fight to increase affordability in the West Bronx, local hire job opportunities and support seniors though housing initiatives and other programs that they need/deserve.

2. Yes, I have. Councilmember Torres and I ran together in 2013 and I supported his campaign for the Council at the time.

3. I cosponsored and voted for GENDA. I unfortunately was not in the legislature when marriage equality passed but if I had the opportunity, I would vote for it.

4. In my district, there is an organization called SAGE (website; sageusa.org) that helps LGBT seniors get access to resources and solve problems. I have done several events with SAGE and I donated some turkeys to them over the Thanksgiving Holiday for their Thanksgiving event.

5. None that I could think of off the top of my head. No orgs that service LGBT community have approached me specifically for funding.

6. No, but I consider myself an ally.

7. Yes, NYC Pride Parade and have marched in probably 8 of them 5 as an elected official 3 as staff for other elected

8. Honestly, I don’t know. I have and will never ask anyone on my staff their sexual orientation and no one on my staff has disclosed that information to me unprompted. I will say that I would welcome anyone to be a part of my staff. I think a diversity of opinions help me do my job as a legislator better. As an aside, I will say that I have worked with many individuals who identify as LGBT in different elected offices and political campaigns.

9. Yes

10. I supported A.00021 which is the Reproductive Health Act sponsored by MofA Glick in the assembly that codified the Roe v. Wade decision on a woman’s right to choose. I supported the entire suite of legislation dealing with criminal justice reform for example “raise the age” and I also supported the MofA Buchwald’s bill that allowed Congress access to certain elected officials tax records of requested.

11. Yes, in the Dominican Republic for using fire crackers but I was a minor at the time and discharged

12. Yes

13. Yes

14. I believe that regardless of feelings, the parole board of this state should be reflective of the communities that are impacted by mass incarceration. But I think that all factors, length of sentence, actions taken in custody, age and other factors should be used to determine a person’s ability for parole.

15. I have done official actions to support clemency for individuals such as write letters and participate in press conferences

16. Yes

17. I don’t support the current legislation that has been circulation in the legislature but I am open to having that conversation with my colleagues and relevant parties

18. Honestly, not sure what the “Nordic” model is, but I am committed to looking into ways of protecting victims of trafficking, violence (domestic or otherwise) and folks who use this to make a living.

19. I supported the Green Light bill. Asked that ICE should not be allowed in court buildings and houses of worship.

20. I don’t think I am unbiased enough to answer that question

21. Yes, I think Toronto and other jurisdictions who have used safe injections/needle exchanges have helped tremendously the situation on the ground when it comes to chemical dependency and addiction.

22. I endorsed former Sen. Alcantra and that’s it.

23. Absolutely

24. Yes

25. Mayor - 2013 Thompson in primary, DeBlasio in General
a. Public Advocate – Tish James in Primary 2013
b. President – Secretary Clinton
c. Cuomo (because no one else asked)
d. Tish James for AG

26. I support Puerto Rico to decide its own destiny, increase the federal minimum wage to $17.50, remove all confederate statues, monuments, flags from public spaces.

27. Increase TAP and reinstated Grad TAP. Make the Community Colleges free for all (see, Tennessee) Deal with the issue of CFE and increase the federal loan forgiveness program that includes most or all public sector work and get it down to 5 years instead of 10

28. Yes, its cheaper.

29. Should be accessible regardless of income, social economic status, color of your skin or sexual orientation

30. Yes and I have

31. Yes and I have to the best of my knowledge

32. Yes

33. I never understood the controversy around this issue. I think its pretty straight forward on the issue of surrogacy but I don’t feel well versed enough to have a definitive opinion

34. I am on MofA Hunter’s bill on Good Cause

35. Yes, but we need more to deal with the housing crisis in our state

36. Thank you and you are all awesome!