Candidate Answers to CU: Danielle Brecker for NY Assembly District 37 – 2020 Primary

Name:  Danielle Nicole Brecker
Office Sought: New York State Assembly District 37
Party Affiliation(s): Democratic
Age: 50
Education: Drexel University 1993
Occupation/Employer: N/A
Previous Offices, Campaigns and Community/Civic Involvement:

  • Co-Leader Empire State Indivisible

Website:  DanielleForAssembly.com
Twitter:  @DanielleBrecker
Facebook:   @DanielleForAssembly

 

CANDIDATE QUESTIONS

Please state whether you support or oppose the following reform measures. If you wish to elaborate on your answers, you may do so in the provided space at the bottom of this page.

 

Ethics

  1. Replace the Joint Commission on Public Ethics and the Legislative Ethics Commission with an effective and independent enforcement body (S594A/A1282A).
    Support
  1. Limit outside compensation earned by state legislators and statewide officials to 25% of their salaries and eliminate stipends.
    Support

 

Elections and Voting

  1. Do you support or oppose the following changes to the state’s current registration and voting system?
    1. No-excuse absentee voting (second passage of constitutional amendment)
      Support
    2. Election Day voter registration (second passage of constitutional amendment)
      Support
    3. Re-enfranchisement of people on parole automatically through legislation, without requiring a Certificate of Good Conduct or Relief
      Support
    4. Automatic voter registration, unless the potential voter opts out
      Support
    5. Mandating poll sites on college campuses
      Support
  1. Reform the special election process, utilizing a nonpartisan special election for state legislative seats and eliminate delays in filling vacancies.
    Support
  1. Reduce the vote threshold to become a registered party back to 50,000 votes and keep the gubernatorial election as the qualifying election, and reduce the petition requirement for independent candidates back to 15,000 signatures.
    Support

 

Campaign Finance

  1. Amend the state’s public campaign financing system, approved in the 2021 budget, by
    1. Drastically reduce campaign contribution limits
      Support
  1. Set even lower contribution limits for registered lobbyists and those who do business with the state
    Support
  1. Move the campaign finance matching program to be administered by an independent, nonpartisan body outside of the NY Board of Election
    Support
  1. Simplify the matching system by making both in- and out-of-district donations eligible and by eliminating the three different tiers for matching
    Support

 

Budget Process

  1. Require full disclosure of grants and contracts issued by the state, including the budget lines from which the spending is made and reporting on the results of each grant or contract over a certain amount.
    Support
  1. Provide for effective online disclosure and itemization of spending from elected officials’ lump sum appropriations, including reporting on potential conflicts of interest and how the funds are spent.
    Support

 

Police Accountability

  1. Repeal Civil Rights Law, Sec. 50-a, which shields from public view the disciplinary records of police officers, correction officers, and firefighters.
    Support

 

Election Administration

  1. Restructure the state Board of Elections to abolish the strict two-party division of governance and operation and put in place professional, nonpartisan administration.
    Support
  1. Empower the attorney general to investigate and prosecute election law malfeasance and cases of public corruption.
    Support

 

Home Rule

  1. Make mayoral control of city schools permanent, with a governance system that provides for accountability, transparency, parent engagement, and democratic participation.
    Support

 

Court Reform

  1. Simplify and consolidate New York State’s court system by passing the Chief Judge’s proposed constitutional amendment to modernize the courts.
    Support

If needed, you may elaborate below on your positions on the previous questions. You may also provide additional information on any actions that you have taken or plan to take to advance your positions on these issues.

I spent most of 2019 advocating for a public financed matching system for state elections.  I am happy that it passed via the budget this year but now we need to fix it to be truly as intended – a way to engage more everyday New Yorkers and keep special interest money out of democracy.

In the wake of the pandemic we also need to look at ways to modernize voting including extruding early voting, moving to vote by mail and eventual online voting. We also need to reconsider the petitioning process and finally we should enact Rank Choice Voting at the state level.

 

RESPONDING TO THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK

Government under the COVID-19 outbreak

  1. Adopt technological solutions and provisions that will allow the New York State legislature to convene and vote remotely if needed.
    Support
  1. Provide public access to observe and participate in government proceedings, in meetings that would be public under the New York Open Meetings Law, via live and recorded video available on government Website:
    Support
  1. Implement immediate programs to facilitate absentee voting for all New York voters as long as the widespread contagion risk of COVID-19 continues, under current state constitutional limitations. This includes electronic submission of absentee ballot applications without a wet signature and a public information campaign.
    Support
  1. What are your concerns regarding the use of emergency powers during this crisis, and how do you think NY government can maintain public accountability standards at this time?
    The legislature need to go back immediately to the work of legislating.  The governor has too much power and the legislature job is to balance that power by working.  They should not be worried about angering the governor by doing their job. New Yorkers need to demand this.

 

Serving the public under the COVID-19 outbreak

  1. What are the biggest challenges in your district in dealing with the coronavirus outbreak?
    There are three public housing communities in AD-37 including Queensbridge Houses which is the largest public housing community in the state.I deliver and help organize delivery of food every week to these communities and there is not enough food to meet the need.  Also, the majority of people living in AD-37 are renters and need rent relief/suspension. And finally our small businesses need assistance – many will not re-open in an area that is already suffering from rapid gentrification.
  1. What are the appropriate roles of city, state, and federal governments in a crisis such as this?
    Their role is to take care of people in every way possible. They should be working together in coalition to find the best solution. And they should be working with advocates who understand the specifics and help guide solutions.
  1. How will you help your future constituents, residents and businesses, access potential funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, or any other future government relief funds?
    Town halls, clinics, outreach – this is activism we need to get the word out, educate and assist as many people as possible.

 

CAMPAIGN PROMISES MADE TO VOTERS

What are the top five promises you are making to the voters during the campaign?

Campaign Promise 1
To be a fighter for my constituents in Albany and at home in district. To not be beholden to the Democratic Party establishment or big moneyed special interests like real estate or charter schools.

Campaign Promise 2
To focus on fixing and therefore engaging more participation in our democracy. Starts with getting bigger money out of our politics.

Campaign Promise 3
Budget Justice – taxing the ultra wealthy – both income and wealth + big corporations via a re-imagining of our tax policy + reforming our state budget process so both branches of government have equal power. So education, housing, healthcare, the social safety, etc is rebuilt and well funded.

Campaign Promise 4
Working a different way -joining forces with other progressive Assembly leaders to pass laws that make significant meaningful change and deliver justice and equality to all but especially those who are vulnerable and marginalized. And to work in coalition at granular level with federal and state leaders as well as advocates and activists.

Campaign Promise 5
Ending economic development as we know it – making it economic equity development focused on building s strong economy for all of us not rewarding the wealthy few. Giving all New Yorkers a solid foundation to prosper.  And dismissing tired old trickle down economic practices that have long failed.

 

ETHICAL REPRESENTATION OF CONSTITUENTS

Citizens Union believes that all New Yorkers deserve to be represented by officials who work for the public interest and honor the public trust. With the corruption conviction of recent legislative leaders, we seek to endorse a candidate who will demonstrate that she/he will honor the full commitment of the oath of office, and always represent the public interest above all else.

Please tell us how you have and would continue to conduct the political affairs of this office in an upright manner, and maintain the public trust.
I want to make the in district office and the office in Albany, the office of the people of AD-37. Anyone can come by anytime and we will have open houses, movie night, potluck dinners, etc.  And I want to engage all of the constituents of our community by holding frequent town halls, meet and greets, etc.

I also want to be as transparent as possible.  One of my frustrations with many of my elected leaders is that they only show interest in me when they are running for re-election or I am pressuring them and they do as I want.  When something goes badly they don’t vote as I want they don’t explain. 

The job is to serve the people and that is my number one concern.

Back To Top