504 Democratic Club: Questionnaires (Candidate for State Assembly Richard N. Gottfried's 2008 response)

Candidate Name: Richard N. Gottfried

Candidate for Assembly District: 75

Campaign Name: Friends of Dick Gottfried

Campaign Address: c/o Wendi Paster, 80 LaSalle Street (18F), New York, NY 10027

If you have a campaign office, is it wheelchair accessible? No campaign office

If you are an incumbent, is your district office wheelchair accessible? Yes

Campaign Manager: Wendi Paster

Phone: 917 - 723 - 5646

Fax: 212 - 662 - 8641 (Call first)

Email: FriendsofDickGottfried @ gmail.com

Website: DickGottfried.org

Previous elected offices held: Incumbent NYS Assembly

Key endorsements to date:

I have just begun to seek endorsements, but typically receive the endorsement of the Democratic Party
Chelsea Reform Democratic Club
The League of Conservation Voters
numerous unions
Planned Parenthood
NARAL
Empire State Pride Agenda
NOW
NASW
among many others

ACTION SHOWS COMMITMENT!
1. 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?
  
  I wrote and am a co-sponsor of the bill to extend full Mental Health Parity to Family Health Plus and Child Health Plus. I wrote the legislation that created the Disabled Advocacy Program (DAP) and have worked to keep it funded. I am a sponsor of A.10734 (to establish the MTA Riders Council for People with Disabilities). Along with Assembly Members Kellner and Koon, I have written to Speaker Silver and Governor Paterson to advocate for the passage of the EPIC for People with Disabilities bill, of which I am a sponsor. Was a sponsor of DRIE. I have given discretionary funding to several organizations that provide services to people with disabilities including VISIONS, League of the Hard of Hearing, New Alternatives for Children (NAC), CIDNY.
2. 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?
  
  I try to do so as much as possible.
GENERAL QUESTIONS:
1. What personal and professional experience have you had with people with disabilities in your personal life and in the workplace?
  
  Personal: My corrected vision is about 20/50 and I do not have binocular vision./ professional: Have employed people and had volunteers with disabilities
2. Are you willing to hire and to provide reasonable accommodation (e.g. flex or part time) for staff members with disabilities?
  
  Yes.
3. 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?
  
  To meet with advocates and leaders, write to the Speaker and the Governor on important bills. I have always believed that strategy should be developed in consultation with the affected community, and with legislators from the affected community, such as Micah Kellner.
CIVIL RIGHTS
1. 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?
  
  Support state legislation to enact higher standards and stronger protections.
2. How would you change the laws of New York State to protect the rights of its citizens with disabilities?
  
  I would support legislation like that referred to in other answers.
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.
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. I have supported A. 7109, a bill passed by the Assembly which would create a housing rental subsidy from savings from this program who are diverted from entering or are leaving nursing homes.
HEALTH INSURANCE
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
  
  Currently SCRIE's income cap is $27,000, while DRIE's is $18,600. They should both be raised and equal.
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, except where the change would create hardship for elderly voters with impaired mobility.
EDUCATION
1. 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.
2. 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?
  
  I would work with the student and family, advocacy groups, and others to advocate to the school authorities and, as necessary, build community support, take the issue to the press, lobby the Mayor, etc. As necessary, and in consultation with the affected individuals, I would consider legislation, lawsuits, etc.
TRANSPORTATION
1. Do you favor an expansion of accessible transportation options for people with disabilities in NYS?
  
  Yes.
2. Will you support Assembly Member Kellner's proposed bill requiring NYC to transition to a 100% accessible taxi fleet?
  
  Yes.
3. 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: June 16, 2008

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