Candidate Name: Miosotis Munoz
Candidate for Senate District: 31 (Manhattan)
Contact Person: Michael Olmeda
Campaign Address: 3650 Broadway, New York, NY 10031
Phone: 917-975-4222
Fax: 212-671-1527
Email: Munoz@munozforsenate.com
Website: www.munozforsenate.com
Endorsements:
If there is a Campaign office(s), is it wheelchair accessible?
No, our campaign office is not wheelchair accessible yet. Our office is working to change this. Individuals with disabilities must be included in the democratic process also and any political entity must make reasonable efforts to allow their voices to be heard in a fair, respectable manner without any discrimination. We are working on obtaining an appropriate site as soon as we raise the necessary funds.
How have you incorporated people with disabilities into your campaign?
I have incorporated people with disabilities into my campaign. For instance, senior citizen Charity Cooper (who depends on a walker) is a volunteer that has helped with our fundraising efforts and also by communicating with community members about our candidacy; I advocated for a ramp which has been built at 153rd Street (between Broadway and Riverside Drive) to facilitate access for the physically disabled.
If you are not an incumbent,
Is your present office/work place accessible to people with disabilities? If not, what have you done to rectify the inaccessibility?
Although my present work place is not currently accessible to people with disabilities, our office is attempting to rectify this inaccessibility by searching for a plausible location that is convenient and accessible for individuals with physical disabilities. We are currently working to have a location on 153rd Street where we will have meetings (and will be accessible for the disabled).
What personal and professional experience have you had with people with disabilities in your personal life and in the workplace?
I've worked closely with Ms. Willie Mae Goodman from the Gouverneur Parents Association to advocate for people that are disabled, an association affiliated with the Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disability. I have also advocated along with Emily Ellis when she worked with Jobs Paths, an organization that currently helps those with disabilities obtain employment.
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?
We consider individuals based on their potential and desire to make a difference. We are firm believers of merit-based hiring. If an individual is a hard-worker, a characteristic substantiated relevant past experiences that he has potential, we would not hesitate to incorporate him or her and will be happy to provide reasonable accommodations.
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 worked alongside Emily Ellis during her tenure at Jobs Paths, an organization that currently helps those with disabilities obtain employment.
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 will be willing to commit to attend and sponsor events where a genuine effort has been made to include people with disabilities so that the voice of this valuable group is heard and considered with just the same amount of respect as the voice of the non-disabled.
Do you pledge to use your office to affirm or strengthen, rather than weaken, civil rights protections to persons with disabilities?
Not only do I pledge, but I also promise to advocate for and help strengthen civil rights protections for persons with disabilities. It would be undemocratic for such persons to be marginalized in the electoral process as it is a mechanism meant to achieve fair, equal opportunity.
How do you propose your active involvement/availability to the disability community?
Will there be a specific person in your office responsible to this community?
There will be a specific person in my office responsible for ensuring that the concerns of this community are addressed. The representative will act on my behalf accordingly to cultivate and preserve a healthy relationship between our office and the community of persons with disabilities so as to help ensure they have just as much of a say in government as those who have no disability.
Will have regular office agenda meetings on these issues?
Our office will make issues relevant to persons with disabilities a key concern and will prioritize them so as to work in conjunction with other representatives and community leaders to solve these issues in the quickest, most effective and fair manner.
What would you do to have direct contact with our community?
Along with the aforementioned representative, my office will work to maintain a relationship with this community and interact directly with its leaders and members. If I cannot personally attend a relevant event or meeting, be assured that a representative of my office will be present.
How will you work closely with the disability community to assure passage of vitally needed legislation? What will be your strategy?
I would organize regular forums and community meetings with advocates so that together we can produce sound legislation.
How would you change the laws of New York State to protect the rights of its citizens with disabilities?
Several years ago, the office that handled wheelchair repair was located in downtown, Manhattan. It has been relocated to Albany, causing many problems for individuals with technical issues as they would now have to travel much further. I hope to shed light on this issue and introduce it to the realm of public discourse to see how we can solve the problems this inconvenience creates.
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 would most certainly oppose proposals which would negatively influence eligibility, benefits, coverage, and/or access to services for Medicaid beneficiaries and work in conjunction to other leaders and community members to eliminate the systemic bias that leads to unwanted placement in nursing homes and other institutions. It is my intention to protect Medicaid as well as many other social programs that are crucial to our constituents-both disabled and non-disabled.
Would you seek to promote comprehensive long term care reform that will not reduce coverage or access to services?
I will strive to promote comprehensive long-term care reform that will not reduce coverage or restrict access to services. Reducing coverage and imposing limits on access to crucial services are both burdens that our constituents cannot afford to have.
Would you increase rental/housing subsidies to participants in the new Nursing Facility Transition and Diversion Medicaid waiver program?
Yes, I would work to increase rental/housing subsidies to participants in the new Nursing Facility Transition and Diversion Medical waiver program.
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?
I will attempt to expand Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage program (EPIC) to provide the same level of eligibility and coverage to persons with disabilities under age 65 as well as advocate for the Pharmaceutical Assistance Program (PAP).
Will you support moving funds from nursing homes to moving patients out of nursing homes and back into the community?
I will support the reallocation of funds to move patients out of nursing homes and back into the community. Affording these individuals the opportunity to move back into the community is giving them a chance to live again alongside their family and friends, increasing their quality of living.
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?
I support any reasonable and fair effort that will help ensure housing for persons with disabilities.
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?
I do believe that these provisions should be incorporated carefully into State law so that the Department of Housing and Community Renewal can be empowered to enforce these provisions. It is important that we have as many accessible units set aside for persons with disabilities when developers are receiving funds that come from the pocket of your ordinary tax payer.
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?
It is crucial that we consider incorporating such concepts as "visitability"
in the New York State Building Code. Although a family may not have one disabled member now, the future does not guarantee that status. Tragedies and accidents occur and consequently cause people to become disabled. I support the incorporation of this concept into the New York State Building Code.
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?
I feel that the cap should apply equally to both SCRIE and DRIE.
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?
I favor a policy that would allow for an increase in polling places in New York that are to be accessible to persons with disabilities.
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?
I will support a fully funded office of disability services on each SUNY and CUNY campus to assist students with disabilities in securing accommodations and advocate that private institutions follow this same path also. In this competitive market, a post-secondary education is crucial to help improve one's socioeconomic standing. As such, we must exhaust every effort possible and consider every possible road to achieve a higher retention and graduation rate of individuals with disabilities in post-secondary institutions.
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?
Such issues will be considered on a case-by-case basis. It is imperative that public institutions afford the disabled the civil rights affirmed to them. No federal or state funds ought to be granted to any institution that does not comply with all of the standards it is legally bound to adhere to.
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?
I fully 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. It would be irrational for any business entity, especially one of transportation, to limit its customer base despite having the fiscal ability to invest and be able to provide the same service to people with disabilities.
Will you or do you support Assembly Member Kellner's proposed bill requiring New York City to transition to a 100% accessible taxi fleet?
I support any policy that will provide an increase of accessible services to the state's people with disabilities.
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 would gladly support a campaign to set a goal where the New York State Delegation to the 2010 Democratic National Convention is to have representation on behalf of underrepresented groups such as that of persons with disabilities.