Candidate Name: Paul Newell
Candidate for Assembly District: 64
Campaign Name: Friends of Paul Newell
Campaign Address: 39 Bowery, Suite 1000, New York, NY 10002
Do you have a campaign office? No.
If you are an incumbent, is your district office wheelchair accessible? Not Applicable.
Campaign Manager: Evan Hutchison
Phone: 646 - 415 - 8273
Email: info @ NewellNYC.org
Website: NewellNYC.org
Previous elected offices held: District Delegate - 2008 Democratic National Convention (New York Congressional District 12)
Key endorsements to date: BlogPAC
Local community leaders:
ACTION SHOWS COMMITMENT!
While in public office/prior to this campaign, what have you accomplished in regard to advancing disability rights? This can include work towards accessible housing, transportation, employment, health care, education, and including people with disabilities in the political process?
As an HIV activist, I have worked to make services accessible for people with disabilities.
Will you commit to only attend and/or sponsor events that are accessible to people with disabilities including providing written materials in alternate formats, providing assistive listening systems, and sign language interpreters as well as ensuring that locations are physically accessible?
As a Member of the Assembly I will only sponsor official events in fully accessible locations.
GENERAL QUESTIONS:
What personal and professional experience have you had with people with disabilities in your personal life and in the workplace?
I have worked for many years as an advocate for people living with HIV and AIDS, both in New York, and abroad in South Africa. Many of our clients and staff were disabled. Accommodating people with disabilities - and ensuring their skills are not overlooked - is an essential part of that effort. In South Africa I helped build an organization that works with over 40,000 vulnerable children and their families. The community center we are currently building will be the first completely accessible HIV, TB and pregnancy testing site in the region.
Are you willing to hire and to provide reasonable accommodation (e.g. flex or part time) for staff members with disabilities?
Yes.
How will you work closely with the disability community to assure passage of vitally needed legislation through the State Legislature? What will be your strategy?
As with all New Yorkers, I will work with my constituents and their community representatives to best serve their needs. Disabled New Yorkers have particular needs, and I will work closely with the disability community to meet them.
CIVIL RIGHTS
What will you do at the State level to reverse the negative impact of recent decisions in Federal Courts which are undercutting the powers of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 to protect the civil rights of people with disabilities in New York State?
I will work to ensure that no state or municipal funds are used to support any projects not accessible to all New Yorkers. I will further work to ensure that the original spirit of the ADA is enforced throughout New York State.
How would you change the laws of New York State to protect the rights of its citizens with disabilities?
I will work to ensure that all of New York's projects and policies are inclusive. This includes enforcement of existing laws, as well as expanding coverage to people with mental disabilities that are currently ignored.
MEDICAID
While the State is focused on reducing the costs of Medicaid and other programs, persons with disabilities need to continue to have access to the services and supports they need and choose.
Would you oppose proposals which would negatively affect eligibility, benefits, coverage, and/or access to services for Medicaid beneficiaries and eliminate the systemic bias that leads to unwanted placement in nursing homes and other institutions?
I will oppose any and all legislation that limits access to healthcare for New Yorkers.
Would you seek to promote comprehensive long term care reform that will not reduce coverage or access to services?
Yes.
Would you increase rental/housing subsidies to participants in the new Nursing Facility Transition and Diversion Medicaid waiver program?
Yes.
HEALTH INSURANCE
Timothy's Law was designed to end health insurance discrimination by enacting parity in coverage for people with biologically-based psychiatric disabilities. However, returning veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are not covered. Do you favor amending Timothy's Law to provide coverage for PTSD?
Yes. As with Timothy's Law more generally, it is important that the State help smaller employers with compliance through tax-breaks and other assistance.
Under Kendra's Law, a state-funded Medicaid grants program was established to provide medications for eligible individuals with psychiatric disabilities upon release or discharge from institutions to eliminate some of the problems associated with the Medicaid coverage gap. Do you support Medicaid Presumptive Eligibility legislation which would eliminate the standard 45 days coverage gap that blocks access to treatment?
Yes.
Would you expand Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage program (EPIC) to provide the same level of eligibility and coverage to persons with disabilities under age 65?
Yes.
HOUSING
We are in the midst of a housing crisis. Accessible, affordable housing is in short supply. People with disabilities are being priced out of the market. Do you support the creation of a housing trust fund for persons with disabilities?
Yes.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 requires housing developers to set aside a certain percentage of accessible units for persons with disabilities when federal funds are used for construction. Do you favor incorporating these provisions into State law so that the Dept. of Housing and Community Renewal can be empowered to enforce these provisions?
Yes. I believe that all housing set asides should include accessible units.
Visitability sets guidelines to ensure newly constructed multi-family dwellings have basic accessible/adaptable features to permit people with disabilities can visit, and for residents to "age in place,"
without having to move out when age and/or disability set in. Do you support incorporating the concept of "visitability"
in the New York State Building Code?
Yes.
What is your position on expanding DRIE (Disabled Rent Increase Exemption) to have the same income eligibility limits as SCRIE (Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption)? Currently SCRIE's income cap is $27,000, while DRIE's is $18,600.
Yes.
VOTING ACCESS & HAVA
With the recent decision to acquire voting machines that attempt to meet the accessibility standards of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), many poling places in New York State remain inaccessible to persons with disabilities. Do you favor the elimination of provisions in Section 4-104 (1-a) of the NYS Election Law allowing waiver of polling place accessibility standards?
Yes. Accessible voting machines are essential to democracy. We have moved in the right direction with the abandonment of "single-face machines"
and DREs. I will support a review of voting machine accessibility after this fall's elections.
EDUCATION
Despite Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act, students with disabilities face problems when pursuing higher education. These statutes do not specify how students should request accommodations or assistance in asserting their rights under the law. Will you support a fully funded office of disability services on each SUNY and CUNY campus to assist students with disabilities in securing accommodations?
Yes.
How do you propose dealing with a school district that deny civil rights to disabled students even after the State Division of Civil Rights affirms the student's rights such as to use an assist animal?
The state has a compelling interest in enforcing its laws. Administrative options should be looked at first. If these fail to bring districts into compliance, litigation should be initiated.
TRANSPORTATION
Do you favor an expansion of accessible transportation options for people with disabilities in NYS?
Yes. In particular, I support expanded use of bus lines throughout the city, and the implementation of Bus Rapid Transit - to make buses a more efficient transport system. Access-A-Ride should be expanded, and permitted to cross county lines.
Will you support Assembly Member Kellner's proposed bill requiring NYC to transition to a 100% accessible taxi fleet?
Yes.
Do you support legislation requiring car services, and all shuttle services to purchase wheelchair accessible vehicles or otherwise ensure that they have the capacity to serve persons with disabilities?
Yes.
Date: July 30, 2008