Good morning! Today is Election Day! The polls are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., and anyone registered to vote in New York State may cast a ballot. So long as you are in line to vote by 9 p.m., you cannot be turned away from the polls.
In the culmination of a process that began in the spring, and included a detailed questionnaire and in-depth, personal candidate interviews, StreetsPAC has endorsed 10 candidates in this general election, five running for the State Senate, and five for the Assembly. You can learn more below about each of the candidates whom we've endorsed, and the projects and issues they've committed to advancing as members of the Legislature, as well as why we support New York City Ballot Proposals 1 and 3 (remember to #FlipYourBallot!).
Your vote for safe, complete and livable streets, and reliable, efficient and affordable mass transit, may very well make the difference in deciding the outcome of your local Senate or Assembly race – and in helping to shape the future of progressive transportation policies in New York.
To check your voter-registration status, confirm your polling location, and to see a sample ballot, please visit voting.nyc. Your trip to the polls should take only a few minutes, and there is so much riding on this crucial mid-term election. Please vote. And if you have the opportunity, please vote for one of the outstanding candidates endorsed by StreetsPAC.
Meet the Candidates: State Senate | State Assembly | Ballot Proposals
Alessandra Biaggi, 34th Senate District, Bronx (Democratic Primary Winner) – Biaggi, a Bronx native who was Deputy National Operations Director for Hillary Clinton's 2016 Presidential run, upset Independent Democratic Conference Leader Jeff Klein in September's primary. She's pledged support for a comprehensive congestion-pricing plan consistent with the Move NY and FixNYC proposals, and wants to see Albany pass legislation that would increase penalties for hit-and-run drivers. She will also advocate for reinstatement and an increase in the number of speed cameras authorized for New York City, as well as the elimination of restrictions governing their operation.
Andrew Gounardes, 22nd Senate District, Brooklyn (Democratic Primary Winner) – Gounardes, a native of Bay Ridge and Counsel to Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, is facing Republican State Senator Marty Golden in the general election. Gounardes has made street safety a core element of his campaign – he supports placing speed cameras in all of New York City's school zones, wants the city to accelerate street redesigns to prioritize safety, and backs requiring defensive-driving courses or driving refreshers with every license renewal. He also supports congestion pricing, and is adamant that every subway station should be accessible.
Julia Salazar, 18th Senate District, Brooklyn (Democratic Primary Winner) – Salazar, a community organizer, won the September primary against incumbent Senator Martin Malavé Dilan in North Brooklyn's 18th District. She's committed to improving the transit system, including upgrading bus service in the district, accelerating the MTA's station-accessibility efforts, and ensuring that every resident of North Brooklyn has ready access to public transit during the L train shutdown. She'll also vote to reinstate and expand the city's speed camera program, and will support a congestion-pricing plan that funds a better transit system while protecting low-income drivers who have no other means of getting to work.
Robert Jackson, 31st Senate District, Manhattan (Democratic Primary Winner) – Jackson, who served for 12 years in the City Council, defeated first-term State Senator Marisol Alcantera in the September primary. Jackson is a backer of congestion pricing, and supports residential parking permits as a means of combatting the influx of park-and-ride drivers who routinely flood upper Manhattan. He also wants to see the city's lapsed speed camera program renewed and expanded, and is committed to pursuing improvements to the Hudson River Greenway.
Zellnor Myrie, 20th Senate District, Brooklyn (Democratic Primary Winner) – Myrie, a lawyer and activist, won his September primary race against incumbent Jesse Hamilton. Myrie supports congestion pricing, and plans to advocate for implementation of Select Bus Service in East Flatbush and Brownsville. He will also back legislation that would limit the ability of consistently dangerous drivers to remain behind the wheel, with an emphasis on restorative justice. He wants to see Linden Boulevard redesigned with pedestrian safety upgrades and protected bike lanes, and supports a Vision Zero makeover for the irregular triangles at the confluence of Howard, Pitkin and East New York Avenues in Brownsville.
Brian Barnwell, 30th Assembly District, Queens (Incumbent/Democratic Primary Winner) – Barnwell, one of the younger members of the Assembly, won his central Queens seat in 2016 by upsetting a long-term incumbent, and handily won a competitive primary in September. He supports implementation of Select Bus Service on major avenues in Maspeth and Middle Village, and wants to see the city's school speed safety camera program renewed and expanded. He's also been working with the MTA to implement transit improvements in his district using state multi-modal transportation funds.
Catalina Cruz, 39th Assembly District, Queens (Democratic Primary Winner) – Cruz, the first DREAMer to run for office in New York State, is an attorney who served as Chief of Staff to former City Council Finance Chair Julissa Ferraras-Copeland. She bested incumbent Assemblymember Ari Espinal in September. Cruz supports congestion pricing, and reinstatement and expansion of the city's speed camera program. She wants to see Select Bus Service implemented along Junction Boulevard, and supports passage of legislation that would increase penalties for drivers who flee crashes. She also believes that New York City should have control of the subways and city buses.
Harvey Epstein, 74th Assembly District, Manhattan (Incumbent/Democratic Primary Winner) – Epstein, who won a special election in April to succeed Brian Kavanagh in this east side district, is now running for a full term. Prior to winning office, he built a distinguished career as a public-interest lawyer and community organizer. Epstein has already made his mark in Albany by introducing a bill that would remove caps on the number of bus-lane and red-light cameras in New York City, and he supports congestion pricing and the renewal and expansion of the city's speed-camera program. He's also an advocate for a robust plan for dealing with the impending L train shutdown.
Jo Anne Simon, 52nd Assembly District, Brooklyn (Incumbent) – Simon is running for election to a third term in the Assembly, where she serves on the Transportation Committee, and she's been an advocate for safe streets and better transit for decades. She's an original co-sponsor of the bill supporting the Move New York congestion-pricing plan, and is adamant about the need to reinstate and expand New York City's speed-camera program. In addition, Simon is the lead sponsor of a bill that would authorize the city of New York to establish a residential parking-permit system.
Robert Carroll, 44th Assembly District, Brooklyn (Incumbent) – Carroll, who won his Assembly seat in 2016 with StreetsPAC's backing, has quickly established himself as a transit and safe-streets champion. He's pledged to continue to lead the fight for passage of a comprehensive congestion-pricing plan, and is committed to working to bring runaway MTA capital costs in line with those of other major transit systems. He supports reinstatement and expansion of the city's speed camera effort, and will continue to advocate for legislation aimed at getting dangerous drivers off the road.
#FlipYourBallot! We Encourage You to Vote Yes on Ballot Proposals 1 and 3
Please remember to flip over your ballot when you're voting, as there are three ballot proposals on the reverse side. We encourage you to vote yes on Ballot Proposals 1 and 3.
Ballot Prop 1 – Campaign Finance Reform
Our friends at NYPIRG provided the following statement to the New York City Campaign Finance Board summarizing the benefits of a yes vote on Proposal 1:
This ballot question would dramatically lower the campaign contribution limits for those running in New York City elections. NYPIRG supports that change since it helps limit the influence that wealthy and powerful interests have over policymaking in the City.
These changes will further strengthen the City's landmark law, already a model for the nation. The current program matches small private donations with additional public resources, matching every $1 in private donation raised with $6 of clean public resources. The proposed change bumps that up to $8 of public resources for every $1 privately raised, further helping candidates without access to wealth to credibly run for office.
Relying on a large number of small contributors helps those who successfully run for office to act in the public’s best interest, not worry about the concerns of the wealthy few.
The proposed changes could also help strengthen the diversity of the City’s public officials and incentivize participating candidates to focus on the needs of the public at large and rely less on the well-organized economic interests that too often dominate governmental decision-making.
Ballot Prop 3 – Community Board Term Limits
Our friends at Reinvent Albany provided the following statement to the New York City Campaign Finance Board summarizing the benefits of a yes vote on Proposal 3:
A yes vote on Question 3 generally establishes term limits for community board members of four consecutive two-year terms. It will require borough presidents, who appoint community board members, to create a standardized application for appointment and to document their marketing of vacant community board positions.
A yes vote on this question will result in community boards that are more diverse and representative of the communities they serve. This will help ensure a robust discussion of land use matters before the board, and that voices in the community are heard. All residents will experience a fairer application process and have a better opportunity to serve the community on the board.
We have not taken a position on Ballot Proposal 2, which would create a Civic Engagement Commission and establish citywide Participatory Budgeting.
Thank you for voting today, and for your continued, and very much appreciated, support of StreetsPAC.
