Candidate Answers to CU: Hiram Monserrate for NY Assembly District 36 – 2020 Primary

Name:  Hiram  Monserrate
Office Sought: New York State Assembly District 35
Party Affiliation(s): Democrat
Age: 51
Education: BA Degree
Occupation/Employer: Consultant
Previous Offices, Campaigns and Community/Civic Involvement:
Democratic District Leader 2000-2010/2018-2020
NYC Councilmember 2002-2008
Prersidential Delegate 2008
NYS Senate 2009-2010
Website: Hiram2020.com
Twitter: @HiramMonserrate
Facebook: HiramMonserrate

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
      Oppose
    5. Mandating poll sites on college campuses
      Oppose
  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
    2. Set even lower contribution limits for registered lobbyists and those who do business with the state
      Support
      Move the campaign finance matching program to be administered by an independent, nonpartisan body outside of the NY Board of Election
      Support
      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.

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
  2. 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 websites.
  3. 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.
  4. 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?
    Legislature was too lax during this period in allowing all the directives and Execurive orders without legislative oversight.  Even during this pandemic our three branch system of government provides an inportant check on the potential abuse of power.

Serving the public under the COVID-19 outbreak

  1. What are the biggest challenges in your district in dealing with the coronavirus outbreak?
    Lack of resources.  Poor planning by State and City governent and the lack of medical services in general even during non pandemic times.
  1. What are the appropriate roles of city, state, and federal governments in a crisis such as this?
    Cooperation with each other and coordination.  We all deserve better than the finger pointing and partisanship which was on ful display during this pandemic.
  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?
    I have already assisted over a dozen small businesses access the PPP grants, coordinated food and masks distribution.  I only wish I could do more!We need an on-the-ground community assistance team visiting small businesses and residents alike to inform and assist.

 

CAMPAIGN PROMISES MADE TO VOTERS

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

Campaign Promise 1
Work on constructing affordable housing

Campaign Promise 2
Real Criminal Justice Reform

Campaign Promise 3
Clean-up and Beautify our community

Campaign Promise 4
Work on expanding MTA train service

Campaign Promise 5
Improve our make more safe our parks and playgrounds.

 

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.
As someone who has made mistakes and has paid his debt to society I have an even more keen awareness of how important integrity and ethical conduct is for our representatives.  Redemption is critical to full integration.  I work tirelessly to atone for past deeds and to promote policies that are inclusive and that will meet the needs of the community at large.  I also have experienced great remorse for letting my community down.  This is now in my distant past and I look forward to serving with dignity and tackling the many issues that are unresolved in my community.

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