504 Democratic Club: Questionnaires (Candidate for Congress Carolyn B. Maloney's 2010 response)

Candidate Name: Carolyn B. Maloney

Candidate for Congressional District: 14

Contact Person: Matt Tepper, Campaign Manager

Campaign Address: 24 East 93rd Street, New York, NY 10128

Phone: 212-987-5516

Fax: 212-987-5058

Email: matt@carolynmaloney.com

Website: carolynmaloney.com

Endorsements:

President Barack Obama
Senators Schumer and Gillibrand
Former Democratic Vice Presidential nominee and former Congresswoman Geraldine Ferraro
Former New York City Mayor Ed Koch
United States Representatives:

Yvette Clarke
Joseph Crowley (Queens County Democratic Chair)
Steve Israel
Jerrold Nadler
Charles Rangel
Louise Slaughter
Ed Towns
Nydia Velazquez
Anthony Weiner

Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer
Queens Borough President Helen Marshall
New York State Senators Liz Krueger, Dan Squadron, and Toby Stavisky
New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver
New York State Assembly Members:

Jonathan Bing
Michael Gianaris
Deborah Glick
Micah Kellner
Vito Lopez (Kings County Democratic Chair)
Margaret Markey
Cathy Nolan
Keith Wright (New York County Democratic Chair)

New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn
New York City Council Members:

Margaret Chin
Daniel Dromm
Dan Garodnick
Helen Foster
Jessica Lappin
Rosie Mendez
Peter Vallone Jr.
Jimmy Van Bramer

Public Advocate Bill de Blasio
Working Families Party (WFP)
Women's Campaign Fund
Feminist Majority Foundation
Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund (PPAF)
National Organization of Women (NOW)
Emily's List
Lesbian & Gay Democratic Club of Queens
Samuel Tilden Democratic Club
Taminent Democratic Club
Powhatan Democratic Club
CODA Democrats of the Lower East Side
Eleanor Roosevelt Democratic Club
Gramercy Stuyvesant Independent Dems
Village Independent Dems
Stonewall Democratic Club
Lexington Democratic Club
Downtown Independent Democratic Club
East Side Democratic Club
Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club
C. Virginia Fields
Elizabeth Holtzman
Heschy Jacob
Maria Luna
Zanaida Mendez
Eleanor Smeal
Gloria Steinem
David Weprin
AFL-CIO
1199 SEIU
Working Families Part

How have you incorporated people with disabilities into your campaign?

We have dozens of volunteers, ranging in age and ability. We would welcome volunteers from the 504 Dems.
If there is a Campaign office(s) is it wheelchair accessible?

Our field office in Queens and our fundraiser's office in Manhattan are wheelchair accessible. Our small local office is not, but it isn't a public building and we are currently looking for a field office in Manhattan. Accessibility will be a significant criterion in choosing that space.
What personal and professional experience have you had with people with disabilities in your personal life and in the workplace?

My government and campaign offices both in the City Council and in Congress have hired, retained, promoted and aided staff and interns with disabilities. For example, before he ran for office, I hired now-Assemblyman Micah Kellner in my district office. I subsequently asked him to be my campaign manager. After the campaign was over, I strongly supported him in his run for Assembly and was the first elected official to endorse him for Assembly. I supported and campaigned for former Assemblywoman Sylvia Friedman, and have supported her for State Committeewoman, and I have supported a wide variety of other candidates with disabilities. For the last several school terms, I have had an intern in my New York office who is deaf, and have worked with her family to ask the FCC to take a look at placement of closed-captioning -- when it covers characters faces, lip-reading is impossible.
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 be willing to hire a staff member with disabilities at any level. I have many seniors on my staff who work part time, and have made accommodations for staff with a variety of permanent and temporary disabilities.
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?

I have consistently supported a disability-friendly agenda and am proud to have received the endorsement of the 504 Democratic Club in the past. I cosponsored the ADA Restoration Act, the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act, and the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act which were supported by the 504 Democratic Club. I am the author of the James Zadroga 9/11 health and compensation act to provide health care to individuals whose health was impaired as a result of the toxins released on 9/11.
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?

I have always tried to assure that, when reasonably possible my events are held at venues that are accessible to people with disabilities. At my own expense, I produced a large type visual DVD to supplement my book signing events.
Do you pledge to use your office to affirm or strengthen, rather than weaken, civil rights protections to persons with disabilities?

Since taking public office, I have consistently worked to strengthen civil rights protections for persons with disabilities and I will continue to do so.
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?
2. Will have regular office agenda meetings on these issues?
3. What would you do to have direct contact with our community?
I have always been actively involved and available to all my constituents. All members of my staff are available to the community and frequently participate in forums and panel discussions related to disability.
How will you work closely with the disability community to assure passage of vitally needed legislation? What will be your strategy?

I will work directly with the disability community to advocate for important bills like the IDEA Fairness Restoration Act, which I cosponsored. In addition, my door will always be open to meet with representatives from the 504 Democratic Club and the broader disability community to discuss your needs.
If you are an incumbent,
1. Is your office accessible to persons with disabilities?
  
  Both my Washington D.C. office and my Manhattan District office are wheelchair accessible.
The IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) Fairness Restoration Act would permit parents and guardians who successfully bring an action or proceeding which enforces IDEA to be awarded expert witness fees and certain other expenses. Will you sponsor this legislation?

I have already signed up as a cosponsor of this crucial bill that will reduce the obstacles to bringing a lawsuit under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
The proposed Community Choice Act would allow persons with disabilities and older Americans equal access to community-based attendant supports rather than nursing home placement. Will you sponsor this legislation?

I am also a cosponsor of this great legislation that will help some of older and disabled Americans remain in their homes.
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.

I believe we have an obligation to ensure that the delegates to the Convention are as diverse as we are, but as a general matter, I am not comfortable with quotas.

Printer-friendly version of this questionnaire
(Link opens in a new browser window)

For other candidates running for Congress positions, go to the Questionnaires section