504 Democratic Club: Questionnaires (Candidate for State Assembly Anthony Miranda's 2010 response)

Candidate Name: Anthony Miranda

Candidate for Assembly District: 35 (Queens)

Contact Person: P. Wayne Mahlke

Campaign Address: P.O. Box 737730

Phone: 917-705-6396

Email: MIRANDAFORUS@GMAIL.COM

Website: MIRANDAFORUS.COM

Endorsements:

Fred Alston, TNBC
Ronald Berrington, Minorities in Criminal Justice, President
Charles Billups, Grand Council of Guardians
Pedro A. Cardi, Jr., Teamsters Hispanic Caucus
John Coombs, Vulcan Society, Inc.
Santos Crespo, DC37, Executive V.P.
James R. Davis, III, Deputy Sheriff's Association, N.Y.C.
Carmen Flores, DC37, Officer-At-Large
Oscar Gonzalez, Teamsters Hispanic Caucus
Robert Gonzalez, Latino Officers Association NYPD
Damien Green, Nassau County Sheriff Guardians, Inc.
Pete Gutierrez, Teamsters Hispanic Caucus
Robert Herrera, American Federation of Government Employees
Sonia Ivany, Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, President N.Y.C. Chapter
Damon Jones, National Black Police Association
Manuel Lantigua, New York Dominican Officers Organization, President
Noel Leader, 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care
Melvin Marrero, National Latino Officers Association
Mickey Melendez, Community Activist, Retired
Joseph Puleo, DC37, Vice-President
Gloria Rodríguez, 1199 SEIU
Manny Rodriguez, Teamsters Hispanic Caucus, IBT Human Rights Commissioner
Wendell Shepherd, TNBC, Political Chairman
Victor Swinton, Guardian Association NYPD
Ruben Torres, Teamsters Hispanic Caucus, IBT Human Rights Commission

If there is a Campaign office(s), is it wheelchair accessible?

Presently, we have using a Law Office which is not accessible, but we are in negations for a Store Front Office which will be accessible.
How have you incorporated people with disabilities into your campaign?

We have made every effort to incorporate people with disabilities and will continue to seek to do so to the best of ability.
If you are not an incumbent,
1. If the present district office is inaccessible, do you intent to find an accessible office?
  
  I am a retired NYPD officer and founded the Latino Officers Association and the National Latino Officers Associations and have been a champion for civil rights and equal protection for all.
What personal and professional experience have you had with people with disabilities in your personal life and in the workplace?

As a police officer, I had special training deal with people with disabilities and have had first hand contact with people with disabilities for professionally and personally.
What type of jobs would you be willing to hire and to provide reasonable accommodation (e.g. flex or part time) for staff members with disabilities?

I would all necessary accommodations for peoples with disabilities for my staff members.
While in public office and/or 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 activist, I have been a vocal advocate for employment, health care, education and transportation for people with disabilities and when elected will continue to be a vocal voice for all.
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 accessible to people who use mobility aids, like wheelchairs and walkers?

Yes.
Do you pledge to use your office to affirm or strengthen, rather than weaken, civil rights protections to persons with disabilities?

Yes, I pledge.
How do you propose your active involvement/availability to the disability community?
1. Will there be a specific person in your office responsible to this community?
  
  Hold community meetings, informational forms, and if necessary visit people in their homes.
2. Will have regular office agenda meetings on these issues?
  
  Yes.
3. What would you do to have direct contact with our community?
  
  I would plan regular meets with leaders of the community to hear and address your concerns on issues important to people with disabilities.
How will you work closely with the disability community to assure passage of vitally needed legislation? What will be your strategy?

Yes, I will and will propose legislation to mandate services, housing and transportation for people for disabilities.
How would you change the laws of New York State to protect the rights of its citizens with disabilities?

Propose open access laws for all.
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.
1. 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?
  
  Yes.
2. Would you seek to promote comprehensive long term care reform that will not reduce coverage or access to services?
  
  Yes.
3. Would you increase rental/housing subsidies to participants in the new Nursing Facility Transition and Diversion Medicaid waiver program?
  
  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.
Will you support moving funds from nursing homes to moving patients out of nursing homes and back into the community?

Yes.
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 Department of Housing and Community Renewal can be empowered to enforce these provisions?

Yes.
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.
At present: SCRIE (Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption) Household income cap is $29,000. DRIE (Disabled Rent Increase Exemption) is $19,284/single and $27,780/2 or more. What is your position on increasing DRIE income eligibility to match SCRIE?

YES.
While localities have acquired 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 New York State Election Law allowing waiver of polling place accessibility standards?

YES.
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 school districts that deny civil rights to disabled students even after the Sate Division of Civil Rights affirms the student's rights such as to use a service animal?

Propose legislation to that district which deny civil rights to disabled students would lose State Funding.
Do you support legislation requiring car services, and shuttle services to purchase wheelchair accessible vehicles or otherwise ensure that they have the capacity to serve persons with disabilities?

Yes.
Will you or do you support Assembly Member Kellner's proposed bill requiring New York City to transition to a 100% accessible taxi fleet?

Yes.
Persons with disabilities have historically been under-represented within the Democratic Party leadership. According to the 2000 census, persons with disabilities comprised 20.6% of New York State residents and 23.1% of those 18 years and older. Previously, we were told that only those groups included in the Voting Rights Act were included in the goals and timetables for delegate selection. Yet the lesbian and gay communities were included for the first time at the 2000 convention and again at the 2004 and 2010 conventions. Would you support a campaign to set a goal that 10% of the total New York State Delegation to the 2012 Democratic National Convention be comprised of persons with disabilities.

YES.

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