504 Democratic Club: Questionnaires (Candidate for State Assembly Sergio Villaverde's 2010 response)

Candidate Name: Sergio Villaverde

Candidate for Assembly District: 78 (Bronx)

Contact Person: AJ Montgomery

Campaign Address: 295 Madison Avenue, 23rd floor, New York, NY 10017

Phone: 718-404-3018

Fax: 212-370-0561

Email: Sergio@sergio2010.com

Website: www.sergio2010.com

Endorsements:

Stonewall Democratic Club
Carlos Sanchez (Local Clergy)
Manuel Felix (Former Alternate Representative to United Nation from Dominican Republic present neighbor)
Karen Steinberg (Board Member Bronx County Bar Association)
numerous neighbors, church members, and friends

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

Yes.
How have you incorporated people with disabilities into your campaign?

As active participants on all issues not just those of PWD.
If you are not an incumbent,
1. Is your present office/work place accessible to people with disabilities? If not, what have you done to rectify the inaccessibility?
  
  My space was fully accessible when I took the lease. For me it was a requirement.
What personal and professional experience have you had with people with disabilities in your personal life and in the workplace?

I have family members requiring access. My office staff also has family with disabilities. I have represented people with disabilities and will continue to advocate. I have obtained additional support by Court Order to assist with access issues. We need to not only provide support for PWDs but also for their support network.
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?

The job would depend upon education, qualifications and experience. A current staff member is parent of disabled child and receives flex time and schedule accommodation.
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 family members requiring access. My office staff also has family with disabilities. I have represented people with disabilities and will continue to advocate. I have obtained additional support by Court Order to assist with access issues. We need to not only provide support for PWDs but also for their support network.
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?

Certainly.
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?
  
  This will be an issue every staff member will be trained in.
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 rely upon working closely with affinity groups such as the 504 Democratic Club.
How will you work closely with the disability community to assure passage of vitally needed legislation? What will be your strategy?

Strict enforcement of the ADA. We must provide tax benefits to employers who provide opportunities to employees with disabilities.
How would you change the laws of New York State to protect the rights of its citizens with disabilities?

See above.
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?

Unsure.
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?

Unsure.
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?

I agree that it should match.
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?

The issues must be addressed. I am not sure if this is the best method for attaining this.
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?

Strict enforcement of the current law and fiscal accountability for non-compliance.
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?

This issue is more applicable to my future constituents than the yellow cab issues. I support requiring car services to provide accessible transportation by either having the vehicle per base or in a cooperative setting. Vehicles that are verified accessible should receive an additional benefit for maintaining such a vehicle.
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, given sufficient transition assistance and time.
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 have to study the issue more closely.

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