Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Vittoria Fariello for NY Senate District 29

Candidate Name: Vittoria Fariello

Office Seeking Election for: New York State Senate District 29

Website: https://www.vittorianyc.com/

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

I am an attorney at a public-service oriented law firm I have been a District Leader in Lower Manhattan since 2017. I have lived in our district for 24 years and have raised four children here. My work both as an attorney and a District Leader have given me the skills and experience that make me the most qualified to represent our district as our State Senator.

After law school, I worked at the NYC Department of Investigation where we investigated the Department of Buildings and those who do business through the DOB. Our primary

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

I have proudly endorsed Brad Hoylman for State Senate and in his race for Borough President. I have also endorsed Eric Botcher for City Council.

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?

In college, I was on the board of the Rainbow Bookstore, a cooperative book store initially opened by and for openly gay students at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. The bookstore grew to become the center for left-wing intellectuals on campus.

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. My sibling recently came out as bisexual and non gender conforming and I couldn’t be prouder of them.

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

I have marched/attended with friends and family in the NYC Gay Pride Parade for 3-4 years.

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

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 was at the Women’s March in DC in 2017 and the Pro Choice March this past fall in Foley Square.

11. Have you ever been arrested in pursuit of legislation or for protesting an injustice? Please elaborate. No.

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

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 ensures 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.

YES, I would 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.

YES, I would co-sponsor.

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

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

YES. There is no reason to revoke or weaken the bail reform laws.

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

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? 2017

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

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

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?

Yes, I will. I do believe I have tweeted out support (though need to verify) and I have worked to connect people who wish to work on increasing clemency with the organizations that promote this as well.

22. Have you participated in any demonstrations or protests concerning clemency and parole? Not yet.

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

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.

I am not familiar with the Nordic model to decriminalize prostitution but I believe that any law needs to consider first and foremost the safety of sex workers. At the same time, we must respect a person’s right to choose how they use their own bodies. Any law must balance these two interests.

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”? I would seek to implement a release, not transfer policy for any immigrants held in facilities that close in NY State or that become overcrowded.

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?

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.

I have never supported any IDC candidates. While I have not formally endorsed any IDC challengers, I have proudly donated time and money to the No IDC movement.

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 - Dianne Morales. B) President in 2016 and 2020 - Bernie Sanders

C) Governor and Attorney General in 2018 - Cynthia Nixon and Letisha James?

33. Have you made an endorsement in the current bid for Governor? If so, who? No.

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

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

I fully support the legislative initiatives put forth in the Justice Roadmap. I also believe in reparations for decendents of slavery, fully funding our public schools and the programs that have proven to make a difference for children in lower income areas. I also believe in lifting economic barriers to education by providing free, high quality post high school education.

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 believe in canceling existing student loan debts. I also believe in lifting economic barriers to education by providing free, high quality post high school education.

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. This is one of my main priorities - it is unconscionable that a civilized society does not provide medical care for everyone without imposing huge economic burdens.

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

I believe ever person has a right to safe and accessible abortion as well as contraception.

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

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?

We need to end 421-a. We have lost far too much in tax revenue to developers for little to no return. It has proven to not work and any affordable housing created through it is temporary. We desperately need true affordable housing policies as well as taxing vacant apartments.

44. Do you support legalizing accessory dwelling units? Yes.

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

Yes. NYCHA residents have called for approximately $6B in funding for both capital and operating costs. We need to show a real commitment to public housing.

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?

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?

We need to replace the Christopher Columbus statue at Columbus Circle and elsewhere. Good alternatives could be Amerigo Veranzano, Fiorello La Guarida and Mother Cabrini.

51. Do you support reducing the budget of law enforcement throughout the state, and if so, by how much? Yes. By however much is necessary to help fund social services that are lacking in funding.

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. Yes.

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

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? The commissioner should impose any disciplinary actions that apply to violating any city, state or department rules and regulations..

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

Yes, as an independent body investigating misconduct by police officers, it is vital that the CCRB is given greater authority and their determinations, which includes

fair procedures, be binding on the PD and that the appropriate disciplinary action be implemented.

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

Streamline bureaucratic procedures to obtain liquor licenses where appropriate.

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? Yes.

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

Affordable housing - including making 5WTC 100% Affordable

Promoting and Passing the NY Health Act.

Good Governance: Passing stronger transparency laws, strengthening democratic access to our government and reforming our County Committees through State laws.

60. How much money do you presently have in your campaign account? Over $30K

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 have the professional and community experience needed to make me an effective Senator for everyone in our communities. I am committed to bringing justice, equity and democracy to all our constituents and care deeply about all our neighbors. I have the support of many local community leaders because they have seen me make a difference where it has been needed.