The Ithaca Voice’s Guide to New York State Assembly District 125

At the end of January, long-time Assemblymember Barbara Lifton announced that she would not be seeking a tenth term in Albany.

The announcement marked the end of a storied career for a well-regarded state representative that prioritized the environment and increasing taxes on the state’s most wealthy residents.

Lifton was instrumental in the moratorium on fracking, saying at her retirement announcement in January that she would make codifying that moratorium in law in her final session as a state lawmaker.

Despite a disjointed 2020 Legislative calendar due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s fiscal budget included that codification of the state’s ban on fracking — the delivery of Lifton’s final priority.

The announcement also triggered a scramble of candidates announcing their intention to seek the seat this November. Seven candidates emerged and began collecting petitions to appear on the primary ballot.

Then, the entire planet and all its plans were upended by a global public health crisis.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the lowering of the petition signature threshold to 30% of what is usually required. All seven candidates made the ballot, setting up a heavily contested primary election during an unprecedented statewide shutdown.

In-person election events were put on hold as candidates looked for ways to get their message out as an act so simple but integral to campaigning as door knocking became impossible.

In the interest of helping amplify the platforms and positions of the seven candidates, The Ithaca Voice has compiled a comprehensive guide New York State Assembly District 125.

We provided all candidates with the same questionnaire comprised of questions crafted by staff and the questions we most consistently receive from the public as reporters.

The District

The Questions

1. Of all elected offices that you could pursue, what about the New York State Assembly has drawn your attention?
2. What past experience has prepared you for the New York State Assembly?
3. What are the issues most in need of resolution right now? (Assuming you are elected, what are the highest priority issues for your first term?)
4. What long-term issues would you seek to address? (Assuming you enjoy the streak of re-elections that Assemblymember Lifton has, what would you hope that your legacy issues would be?)
5. The Assembly is a large, Democrat-dominated chamber, but skews heavily to the NYC-area, what previous experience has prepared you for the coalition-building that would be required to guarantee NY-125 gets a seat at the table?
6. What issues do you feel have not been adequately fought for in the past that you would advocate for?
7. What issue(s) has NY-125 lead on that you would continue to fight for?
8. What sets you apart from your six competitors?
9. What part, if any, of the state budget process works? What aspect of the state budget process would you change?
10. Do you support the NY SAFE Act?
11. Do you agree with New York’s 2019 bail reforms? Do you agree with the changes made in 2020?

Click on the candidate’s pictures below to jump to their responses.

The Candidates

Candidate Responses

Sujata Gibson – Local Attorney and Activist

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Of all elected offices that you could pursue, what about the New York State Assembly has drawn your attention?

I decided to run for State Assembly because we really are in a crisis. If we do not radically change the way we are doing things and start preparing ourselves seriously, we are not going to be able to survive the imminent impacts of the climate crisis – we know that food shortages, water shortages, climate refugees, intense weather, power outages and all manner of chaos is coming very soon. We are not prepared. To have a chance, we need our politicians to understand that the house is on fire, and maintaining the status quo is no longer an option. We’ve got to shift our focus away from propping up big corporations that pollute our planet and betray our trust and pour our resources into supporting small businesses and small farmers and creating green jobs focused on building sustainable, resilient, and just communities. I have a proven record of successfully standing up to corporations to make real change and as a mother of two little children, I have the drive to make sure we fix this house of cards so that our children can have a future.

What past experience has prepared you for the New York State Assembly?

I started my legal career at the premier government contracts firm in the country. I specialized in fraud investigations, worked closely with regulatory agencies, and handled procurement. Through that and my work as a member of the board of the Women’s Bar of the State of New York (WBASNY), and as a movement lawyer, I have gained valuable experience and developed good relationships in the legislature. I’ve interviewed candidates for the Court of Appeals and made appointment recommendations to Governor Cuomo, I’ve drafted, reviewed, and commented on legislation and worked with legislators on ways to get bills passed. But I like to say that my experience bucking the system is more important than my experience working in the system. The focus of my scholarship at Cornell Law School is how change is made in a democracy. What history shows is that major changes in favor of the people happen because people are out in the streets demanding it. I know how to work with movements, I know how to take that momentum and bring those pressure points to action on the legislative floor. I’ve done it from the outside. I’m ready to do it from the inside.

What are the issues most in need of resolution right now? (Assuming you are elected, what are the highest priority issues for your first term?)

Our global economy has collapsed. Many of our small businesses and jobs are gone forever. The first priority is to rebuild the economy with a Roosevelt style guaranteed green jobs program that will also help us to prepare for the impacts of the climate crisis. Instead of spending $11.3 billion dollars a year propping up corporations in the name of job creation, we can put people directly to work on the infrastructure that will benefit us all. We can pay farmers to start growing enough food so we can have food security, create jobs weatherizing homes and putting in small grid resilient electrical systems and geothermal, solar, and hydropower systems, we can plant perennial food forests in state parks and improve systems for safeguarding our water and wetlands. We also need to heavily invest in our small businesses, small farmers, and daycares so that we do not emerge from this pandemic in the total control of a few large corporations big enough to have survived the shutdown. Simultaneously, we need universal healthcare. And we need universal childcare grants so that working families can choose to stay home or pay providers to watch their children.

What long-term issues would you seek to address? (Assuming you enjoy the streak of re-elections that Assemblymember Lifton has, what would you hope that your legacy issues would be?)

I’d like to restructure taxes in New York. It does not make sense to tie school funding to property taxes. Property taxes also unfairly burden lower-income homeowners and renters (whose rents go up as taxes do) and lead to gentrification and displacement. I’d like to see the property tax abolished for primary homes and for affordable housing rentals. Instead, we can move to a progressive income tax, close tax loopholes like the stock transfer tax, and consider initiatives like public banking, which would allow us to save on the interest we pay on bonds used for infrastructure and development, which is a significant portion of our budget. Safeguarding our environment, demilitarizing our police force, addressing structural racism and inequality, and working on building affordable housing in mixed-income resilient, sustainable, and regenerative “eco-village” type models are also all high on my long list.

The Assembly is a large, Democrat-dominated chamber, but skews heavily to the NYC-area, what previous experience has prepared you for the coalition-building that would be required to guarantee NY-125 gets a seat at the table?

Getting things done in Albany requires understanding the motivations and pressure points of different actors and crafting smart strategy. Leading union campaigns across the state gave me valuable experience in building coalitions and strategies. This kind of strategic work is also very much a part of the daily work I do as an attorney, particularly as a successful movement law attorney. One example of how I put these skills to use is my work on the WBASNY nominating committee. When I joined, we had never had a President of the state-level women’s bar come from a small chapter like the Finger Lakes. Most of our Presidents have come from downstate and a few from big chapters like Albany or Rochester. Our chapter is very small and has very few votes compared to the big chapters. The politics are fierce and there is a lot of “horse-trading” and strategy. I was able to navigate this and help get our very first Finger Lakes chapter member elected as President of WBASNY. Of course, it helped that our candidate was wonderful, but I am proud of the work that I did to help pull off what everyone said could not be done.

What issues do you feel have not been adequately fought for in the past that you would advocate for?

At this moment, we need radical and systemic change. Our system is crumbling around us. We should prioritize the people of New York, not the big corporations and special interests. It’s time to end the failed trickle-down economic strategy we’ve been following for decades. We spend more than any other state on corporate welfare. Changes to the IDA program will help, and laws requiring prevailing wages, local labor, and demonstrable community benefit, but we also need to stop the corporate giveaways. I have experience working with corruption and have a proven record of being willing to hold corporations accountable and stand strong despite the backlash. We also need to fully fund education and to put the power back into the hands of teachers. There are far too much bureaucracy and tracking and high stakes testing that is taking up a lot of our budget and energy. I believe the number one goal of education is to help children learn to love learning, gain confidence, knowledge, and skills, and become empowered participants in our democracy. Teachers know how to do this – we need to trust them, respect them, and fund them properly. More investment must be made in early childhood as well.

What issue(s) has NY-125 lead on that you would continue to fight for?

Assemblywoman Lifton championed many important environmental policies. I plan to continue that legacy and continue the fight to save our planet. I am also committed to getting the New York Health Act passed next term.

What sets you apart from your six competitors?

The Ithaca Times called me the “most controversial candidate”. It’s true. With me, you know that I will stand up for what is right, regardless of politics or backlash. I was fighting fracking before it was popular, back when the “science was settled” on safety. It cost me professional opportunities and subjected me to ridicule. Later, against all advice, I took on the pro bono representation of the budding We Are Seneca Lake movement despite threats and financial hardship. I didn’t back down. I kept fighting when the courts showed the decks were stacked. I represented over 650 cases in those three years, and even after we won and stopped the plan to make the Finger Lakes the “fracked gas capital of the northeast”, I continued to appeal until all the “trespassers” were exonerated. My opponents don’t have this grit. Like at the state level, we give most of our resources and incentives in this district to high-end developers who do not provide the affordable housing, environmental sustainability, or local jobs my opponents say they support. Many of them are in a position to do something about this but refuse to even comment, leave aside make a change.

What part, if any, of the state budget process works? What aspect of the state budget process would you change?

We have what is called an “executive budget” system in New York. It gives the Governor a lot of power. It is supposed to lead to less overspending and more accountability. The way that the Governor’s powers have been expanded through case law, though, has allowed Governor Cuomo, in particular, to continue trying to make substantive laws through the budget process, taking away important powers from the legislature. Some suggest the solution lies in a Constitutional amendment. However, there are other solutions we could try first that I think would yield better results. These are: (1) move the fiscal year back to where it used to be – July 1st. Most other states and New York City have this as the start of the fiscal year. This would give time for review (the proposal needs to be in January) and time for the legislature to consider the substantive laws that they are interested in before they are forced to adopt a budget that has them written in; (2) Establish an independent legislative budget office to have the support they need to thoroughly understand and examine the budget proposals; (3) the legislature should be exercising their veto powers to address problems more as they did with Governor Pataki and ought to do with Governor Cuomo.

Do you support the NY SAFE Act?

I think the SAFE act has important provisions but was rushed through and needs to be carefully revisited with all stakeholders. The bottom line is that until we demilitarize the police and adopt universal healthcare so that everyone has access to mental health treatment, we won’t see meaningful protection from any legislation.

Do you agree with New York’s 2019 bail reforms? Do you agree with the changes made in 2020?

Bail reform was necessary. I represent indigent defendants through the assigned counsel program in criminal prosecutions. I have seen gross inequity in terms of who goes to jail while awaiting trial and who doesn’t. The amount of money you have should not change our commitment to the principle of innocent until proven guilty. The 2020 changes are acceptable for the most part. There is an important provision that allows bail to be imposed when someone is convicted of a crime against the same victim while a charge is pending for a previous charge involving that same victim. This is very important in domestic violence cases.

Beau Harbin – Cortland County Legislator

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Anna Kelles – Tompkins County Legislator

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Of all elected offices that you could pursue, what about the New York State Assembly has drawn your attention?

I have loved serving on the Tompkins County legislature. I am proud of the work that I have accomplished authoring, championing, and passing legislation to improve public health and environmental protections as well as to protect the rights of immigrants. However, over the course of my five years of public service, I have increasingly run into the same issue – that the progress I am trying to make for our community requires comprehensive action not at the county level, but at the state. I have spent years urging state action as a member of standing committees with the New York State Association of Counties and advancing a racial and economic justice agenda as a state co-chair of Local Progress, a network of progressive elected officials. In Albany, I can directly fight for universal healthcare and childcare, sufficient state aid for schools, social justice reforms, and affordable housing for all. I can fight for a green economy as our road to economic recovery. I have built relationships with state lawmakers and members of Governor Cuomo’s staff. I have seen the impact that I could make if I took my experience and drive directly to Albany on behalf of the people of the 125th district.

What past experience has prepared you for the New York State Assembly?

For the last 5 years, I have been an effective county legislator, coalition building and successfully championing legislation promoting public health, creating protections for our immigrant community, promoting social justice, and investing in environmental stewardship. I am keenly aware that all of the decisions I make affect not only city residents but our municipalities and our rural population as well and I act to best serve this diverse population. Community social services such as Medicaid, mental health, aging services, environmental health, veteran, and aging services are administered by the county government. I understand the program nuances and how the myriad of unfunded mandates from the state affect property taxes, program delivery, and the quality of life of our county. As a 5-year member of multiple standing committees for the New York State Association of Counties and the co-chair of Local Progress, I have built coalitions with elected officials across the state to advocate in Albany throughout the year on issues directly affecting residents of the 125th. I am guided by a deep, core commitment to serving the people I have been elected to represent with honesty and integrity.

What are the issues most in need of resolution right now? (Assuming you are elected, what are the highest priority issues for your first term?)

We need to get the state and local economies back on their feet without austerity measures that would sacrifice our essential programs. First, efforts to green our economy with investments in both green infrastructures and building a robust green workforce should be key focus areas to both meet our environmental goals and help us recover economically from this crisis. I’ll fight for the Lansing community to receive compensation for the closing of the Cayuga coal-fired power plant, in accordance with the “just transition” specified in New York’s 2019 climate action law. I will work to expand NYSERDA funds for clean energy workforce development. Second, I’ll help businesses, municipalities, nonprofits, and farmers in the 125th have access to the information and support they need to apply for economic development grants through the Regional Council system and be competitive. Third, our state’s community colleges are economic engines – training the next generation and providing opportunities for learners of all ages. Investment in our great high school and college institutions like TST BOCES and Tompkins Cortland Community College is absolutely key to equity in our economic recovery process. Finally, policies that keep people in their homes and expand affordable housing will be critical to stabilizing our economy.

What long-term issues would you seek to address? (Assuming you enjoy the streak of re-elections that Assemblymember Lifton has, what would you hope that your legacy issues would be?)

Our economic recovery will be center stage for the next few years and the foundation we build will determine our economic strengths for many years to come. We need to minimize austerity measures that would cripple our economy long-term, and preserve and invest in education, green infrastructure, and health care. I would fight for the NY Health Act because it would provide quality care for all New Yorkers and save the state money, reduce local property taxes, and establish a system where individuals and businesses pay based on ability. Universal childcare would ensure that all children receive a quality education and socialization during the most critical period of brain development, and would lead to 80,000 new jobs and $6.7 billion in new spending when parents are freed up to join the workforce. We need equity in K through 12 school aid and investments in our community colleges. We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to address the existential threat of climate change while creating thousands of good-paying, local jobs building green buildings, transportation, grid, and energy production infrastructure. Not only are addressing universal healthcare and childcare and protecting the environment the right things to do, they will be the engine that drives our economy forward.

The Assembly is a large, Democrat-dominated chamber, but skews heavily to the NYC-area, what previous experience has prepared you for the coalition-building that would be required to guarantee NY-125 gets a seat at the table?

I have been building coalitions and strong relationships since I became a public servant in 2015. Through my work on the New York State Association of Counties standing committees, and as the state co-Chair of Local Progress I have been advocating at the state level for a racial and economic justice agenda for years and fought for funding to counter growing lists of unfunded mandates. I have worked with state legislators doing outreach and successfully garnering support across the state. During this campaign, I have been endorsed by Eleanor’s Legacy, an organization that supports and advocates for pro-choice democratic women running for office. I am part of a cohort of over 20 amazing women running for state offices both upstate and downstate who meet weekly with each other and with State Assembly and Senate representatives whose careers were supported by the organization. The relationships I am building are invaluable and will provide a strong network in Albany. There is a caucus of progressive elected officials within the state assembly that I have connected with as well and would be honored to work within Albany to continue to push an agenda of equity and environmental justice.

What issues do you feel have not been adequately fought for in the past that you would advocate for?

Lack of access to affordable childcare and early childhood education is holding many New York families back from entering the workforce and has not received adequate attention in Albany. COVID-19 has merely highlighted a problem families have long been struggling to solve. The prohibitive cost of care is a large part of why only 1/3 of young children in Tompkins and Cortland counties have childcare. Childcare costs eat up, on average, 24% of a middle-income family’s earnings. About 40% of able-bodied adults who could be working are not even looking for work, and in many cases, this is due to not being able to afford childcare. Not surprisingly, the vast majority of those affected by this are women. Due to high costs and inaccessibility of child care New York women are forgoing advancing their careers, starting businesses, seeking higher education, paying off debt, and becoming homeowners. Creating access to universal child care in New York state–not the broken, insufficient system of subsidies we have now–will provide individuals and families with the footing they need to pursue careers, start businesses and build wealth. Universal child care will foster the conditions for economic growth and prosperity, conditions we need to recover from the current recession.

What issue(s) has NY-125 lead on that you would continue to fight for?

The NY-125 has been privileged to have the leadership of Barbara Lifton since 2002. Assemblywoman Lifton worked early in her career to secure safe voting machines with a paper ballot for NYS when much of the country was moving to fully electronic machines. Barbara also helped lead the fight against fracking in NYS, a years-long battle that nobody expected environmentalists could win. Other signature issues have been her advocacy for education funding, and her work to establish licensing for midwives.

I will continue to fight for all of these areas; they’re important for Cortland and Tompkins Counties, and for all of New York State. Safe, secure voting – and the counting of the votes – is fundamental to our country’s existence as a democracy. Mail-in voting is essential during this pandemic, and I hope it will become the law for our elections even after the health threat has passed. Representing NY-125, where education is a core industry, I will continue Barbara’s strong support of education – from child care through higher education. From day one, I will work hard for a green new workforce, push to meet the goals of the Community Leadership and Climate Protection Act and to pass the New York Health Act.

What sets you apart from your six competitors?

I believe I am the most well-rounded candidate and therefore uniquely qualified for these times. Over the next year, the state will need a laser focus on policies and guidelines to protect our public health as we move to unpause our economy during this global pandemic. I would be the only public health scientist in the entire NYS legislature, and the only one with doctoral training in Epidemiology. In addition to my skills as a public health scientist, I have extensive grassroots experience both as an environmental and human rights activist in the community, as well as years in government as a legislator. I am a coalition builder and have successfully passed every piece of legislation I have championed through a bipartisan legislative body. As a legislator, I have had to make decisions that affect both a highly urban and very rural community, a unique challenge that has prepared me to effectively advocate for the 125th in Albany. Since I joined the legislature I have sat on both health and climate resiliency committees of the NYS Association of Counties, and I am the state co-chair of Local Progress, a national network of progressive elected officials. I have the local and state experience and connections necessary to hit the ground running as our Assembly representative.

What part, if any, of the state budget process works? What aspect of the state budget process would you change?

Crafting and passing the state budget is one of the most powerful tools to affect change at the state level. Currently, there is a tremendous imbalance of power and the governor has the greatest ability to craft and control the budget process. The governor has the power to introduce appropriations legislation (historically only the legislature drafted appropriations bills), and the legislature’s ability to alter these bills is tightly limited. The legislature cannot consider other appropriation bills until the governor’s bills have been addressed and the governor has line-item veto power. The budget process, thus, is completely controlled by the governor’s office. These powers have been upheld in court since 1927, with the most recent court decision in 2004. This year’s budget gives Governor Cuomo extraordinary additional authority to withhold or reduce payments to schools, Medicaid, and local governments to close a significant deficit. The governor is already eyeing cuts to Medicaid, education, and funding to local municipalities. We need a balance of power among the three branches of state government and I would work to strengthen coalitions fighting for the legislature to gain back more power over budgeting.

Do you support the NY SAFE Act?

I support the NY SAFE Act. New York currently has one of the lowest rates of gun violence in the country. There is absolutely no place in the public for assault weapons of any kind and I applaud that the legislation expanded the definition of assault weapons. The provision requiring mental health counselors to report if someone is at risk of harming themselves or others is a critically important part of the law. There are also areas where the act could be strengthened. For example, assault weapons can be designed so that they do not meet the definition as laid out in the law and thus do not need to be registered. Background checks on ammunition purchases in the state have never been implemented or enforced, and reporting of stolen weapons is based solely on owner compliance. The Red Flag Law of 2019 strengthened our state’s gun laws by allowing for court orders to seize firearms from people found to be a threat to themselves or others. I would like to see additional updates such as a recertification process for pistol permits, the sale or transfer of certain firearms between unlicensed persons to be conducted through a licensed firearms dealer, and mandatory revoking of licenses in domestic violence cases.

Do you agree with New York’s 2019 bail reforms? Do you agree with the changes made in 2020?

There is little controversy that those convicted of crimes should be held accountable for their actions. Even more important, however, is the tremendous need to create a system that ensures the due process is just and equitable for all. In the 2019 legislative session, the state approved the largest overhaul of the criminal justice system in many decades. The bail reforms eliminated cash bail for a majority of misdemeanors and low-level non-violent felonies. Changes were also implemented in the arrest and trial process. My greatest issue with the 2020 amendments to the 2019 bail reform is that they removed any chance of observing and measuring the impacts. I believe the extensive amendments were a setback in overall reform and will need to be revisited so our laws emphasize rehabilitation. There is one provision that I support which gives discretion for courts to require a defendant to obey conditions requested by complainants in a domestic violence case. Now that the law is set, it is critical that sufficient resources are allocated for the reform measures and for necessary community-based supportive programs or it will simply be another unfunded mandate, disproportionately impacting lower-income households. Bail reform was long overdue, but it is now up to the state to make sure that funding this reform is just.

Jason Leifer – Dryden Town Supervisor

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Of all elected offices that you could pursue, what about the New York State Assembly has drawn your attention?

Jordan Lesser – Former Counsel to Assemblymember Barbara Lifton

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Of all elected offices that you could pursue, what about the New York State Assembly has drawn your attention?

Beginning my career as a National Park Ranger after college, I have been inherently drawn to public service. While working in Louisiana as a Park Ranger, I had the opportunity to help evacuate people during Hurricane Katrina and witnessed how certain communities are more impacted than others. I left the National Park Ranger position for law school with an ambition to become an expert in environmental law and learn how to effectively fight for environmental justice. After law school, my passion led me to reach out to Assemblymember Barbara Lifton with a greater vision to advocate for our community.

While working closely on both district and state issues, I witnessed how structural inequalities are prevalent in our society at every turn from the school funding gap to the gender gap to racial disparities in the health system. As I am deeply concerned about these structural inequalities, I decided to run for the Assembly in order to bring the reforms we need to see in our community and greater society. I believe that I am the candidate best positioned to advocate for our community, given my extensive experience and knowledge about the inner workings of the state legislature as well as my passion to bring change to our community.

What past experience has prepared you for the New York State Assembly?

I have an extensive record of experience and leadership in policy-making for New York State and the 125th Assembly District, with my background working as Barbara Lifton’s key policy person in Albany and Ithaca from 2010 to 2020. I have been at the table to draft and negotiate legislation and the state budget every year, as well as meet with thousands of constituents and learn about their concerns to effectively deliver real solutions for our district. I have had success after success working for the Assemblymember and am the best-prepared candidate to immediately make a difference for us if I return to Albany in January.

What are the issues most in need of resolution right now? (Assuming you are elected, what are the highest priority issues for your first term?)

The horrifying and unnecessary killing of George Floyd has revealed the deep, long-standing flaws in our society and in our justice system. I will fight to address long-term structural inequalities, eliminate police bias, and work to provide good jobs, affordable housing, and access to healthcare for all. Only by providing equal opportunities and basic human rights to all can we rise out of these entrenched inequalities.

Secondly, I know that we are all hurting from the coronavirus pandemic. Our lives have changed overnight, and we are all reeling with an uncertain future. What we cannot do, is undermine our critical public institutions and still expect progress as we emerge from this disaster. I will make sure that education, at both the K-12 and college levels, can continue to provide our children with the critical thinking skills and ability to create a prosperous life for themselves. I very much believe that a strong education system creates a prosperous state and future for us all. This includes standing up for teachers, the backbone of our education system, and making schools affordable through state subsidies from progressive taxation. Education is also one of the keys to undoing inequality. I will advocate every day, as your Assemblymember, for properly-funded public schools with Universal Pre-K, so every child has a strong shot at success in school, and for more funding for New York’s very successful Opportunity Programs in higher education which provides mentoring to students.

Lastly, I will continue my fight for climate change. We are facing a severe impact on our lives and our economy from COVID-19, but this hardship is a fraction of the crisis we know is looming from climate change. There is no more important battle to wage, and I have the skills, the focus, the determination, and the relationships to advance this absolutely essential cause for our future. And in doing so, we can create an economy that creates many jobs at home, for energy efficiency projects in buildings, renewable infrastructure, manufacturing, and robust research and development while reducing historic environmental injustices for communities that face the greatest impact of pollution.

What long-term issues would you seek to address? (Assuming you enjoy the streak of re-elections that Assemblymember Lifton has, what would you hope that your legacy issues would be?)

For too long the state has starved our local governments of funding, leading to real struggles to provide critical services and high property taxes for homeowners to make up the shortfall. I will fight to restore Aid and Incentives to Municipalities (AIM) so that every locality has a reliable, dedicated funding stream. And as a part of restoring AIM funding, I will establish a dedicated fund to create a childcare facility in every community. I will create a low-cost public taxi service in rural areas of the state, to truly have an effective rural transit system. This model has worked in other states and will work in New York.

The Assembly is a large, Democrat-dominated chamber, but skews heavily to the NYC-area, what previous experience has prepared you for the coalition-building that would be required to guarantee NY-125 gets a seat at the table?

My work as Assemblymember Lifton’s legal counsel requires building strong working relationships in both Ithaca and Albany. Using my institutional knowledge of how things can get done in Albany as a springboard to advance local issues is the key to success for the district. I understand that it is critical to engage all relevant stakeholders at the negotiation table and develop a viable solution in the legislative and budget process. Because I believe that good policy is good politics, I try to build relationships by offering solid ideas and an in-depth understanding of each issue.

I know exactly how to advocate for the 125th District, immediately, including working with Upstate Assemblymembers to write joint budget letters to advocate for the needs of our District and region to secure critical budget money. If I return to Albany in January there will be zero learning curve for my effective advocacy within the complex political landscape of the state legislature. In these uncertain times, we need someone who has the most knowledge and information about how to get things done efficiently and effectively.

What issues do you feel have not been adequately fought for in the past that you would advocate for?

I believe it is a hallmark of society to stand up for those who may not be given a voice of their own. Every year the governor’s budget zeroes out most funding for social service agencies. These groups provide critical services for the elderly, the disabled, and those with medical conditions. It is wrong to play games with this funding year after year, which is not a large amount within the context of the budget, and force cuts upon the neediest New Yorkers. We also see that childcare is a critical need for families, and is either unavailable or unaffordable to many. I will work to expand high-quality childcare throughout the district at state with a dedicated funding stream to each community.

What issue(s) has NY-125 lead on that you would continue to fight for?

Much of my professional life has been focused on environmental work. I was a key insider in the seven-year battle to ban hydrofracking, and have many environmental successes for the district, the state, and as a model for the nation over the years. I will continue to lead the fight against Harmful Algal Blooms that harm our lakes and waterways. I will lead the fight against fossil fuel infrastructure that locks us into increased greenhouse gas emissions. I will also lead the fight for land and water protections. I have been able to lead on environmental legislation for NY-125 already and if you care about environmental protection, I will never let you down as your Assemblymember.

What sets you apart from your six competitors?

My strong economic development platform sets me apart from all other candidates. As we enter a severe recession due to COVID-19, making sure our region can rebound and that you can find a good job for a livable wage is hugely important to me. First, I call for wage subsidies to businesses, up to 80% of salary, to keep workers on the payroll. This means workers aren’t “better off” to go on unemployment, can retain their employer-based healthcare, and it makes a transition to businesses re-opening much smoother without having to rehire staff. Secondly, to best take advantage of skilled workers, there needs to be a coordinated worker training and apprenticeship program. Once laid off, a worker needs a short-term compensation program during a retraining period. These programs can be implemented through, yes, existing high-quality training at our local community colleges such as TC3 and at BOCES, or nursing training at SUNY Cortland. It would also help retain health insurance and allow for a swifter post-pandemic recovery. NYS also needs to ingrain a placement program to pair skilled workers undergoing training for the job market as it comes back online.

Also, I will make sure that future economic development aid is a benefit to the community and not just a handout to business. I will do this by requiring that any economic development award require a specific job target. If that threshold is not met, the state can claw back the money. Enough is enough with subsidizing business and having the jobs not come through. Additionally, any economic development award MUST require a review of its impact on our new, aggressive climate law, and make a reduction in climate impact if it is not compatible.

I know what I am doing in Albany, in this complex political, legislative, and policy environment. These skills are not transferrable to whoever is elected. Many in Albany never achieve the expertise and leadership that I have shown working for you and the district. I was recognized as a Top 40 Under 40 Rising Star in NYS policy and politics by City and State magazine in 2018 for my work as Counsel with Assemblymember Lifton and was one of 48 officials from across the country in the Council of State Governments 2019 Henry Toll National Fellowship — one of the nation’s premier leadership development programs for state government officials.

What part, if any, of the state budget process works? What aspect of the state budget process would you change?

The part of the state budget process that is highly effective involves YOU. The public advocacy for your priorities is a critical element of a legislator’s push to add funding, make critical reforms, and show support for a new proposal (or not). We truly cannot do it without significant public input to advocate for the needs of our community. However, I would like to change the tilted balance of power toward the Governor in our budget process. A court ruling has allowed the Governor to implement his budget after the March 31 deadline, with only a yes or no vote from the legislature. As the legislature is the voice of the people in the budget process, this lack of bargaining power has, I believe, negatively concentrated deal-making power in the hand of the NYS Governor.

Do you support the NY SAFE Act?

Yes, I do. I believe that it has helped NY have a strong record with few mass shootings across the state. After a few tweaks to the legislation to remove some arbitrary provisions, the law seems to have not gravely impacted any lawful gun owners in the state.

Do you agree with New York’s 2019 bail reforms? Do you agree with the changes made in 2020?

I agreed with the 2019 bail reforms to remove all cash bail, except for certain violent offenses. And I would have preferred to see those reforms in place for longer, before making a quick change to expand the list of bailable offenses, so we could truly know the impacts of the law on recidivism and crime rates. The fundamental crux of our justice system is to not hold a suspect in jail, indefinitely, simply because he or she cannot afford bail. Wealth should not guarantee freedom and poverty should not guarantee incarceration, especially before proven guilty. However, the expanded list in the 2020 reforms offers more crimes for judges to implement bail but stopped short of the often discriminatory “dangerousness” standard which disproportionately impacts minority offenders.