NYC General Election 2020: Lou Puliafito Challenges For Assembly

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — Voters in New York's 76th State Assembly District, which includes parts of the Upper East Side and Roosevelt Island, will likely see two names on their ballots when they vote in this fall's general election.

One of them will be Louis Puliafito, who works as a doorman in the neighborhood and is running on the Republican and Liberal party lines. He is challenging incumbent Assemblymember Rebecca Seawright, a Democrat who was forced to run on the independent "Rise and Unite" party line after her campaign failed to file paperwork on time this spring.

Another independent challenge by Patrick Bobilin ended this month after a judge ruled him ineligible.

Patch reached out to all candidates in the election to create these profiles. Puliafito's responses are below, while Seawright's can be viewed here.

All New York voters were eligible to request a mail-in ballot due to the coronavirus pandemic. For those who want to head to the polls, click here to find your poll site. Early voting is available from Oct. 24 to Nov. 1.

Louis Puliafito

Age as of Election Day (Nov. 3)

63

NYC neighborhood of residence

Yorkville

Position Sought

State Assembly

Party Affiliation

Republican/Liberal

Family

Grandfather of four.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No.

Education

AAS in Computer Science from LaGuardia Community College with 3.95 GPA

Occupation

SEIU 32BJ Union Doorman 6 years and Shop Steward for one year
Producer and Host of public access TV Show called Decent Life 9 years
Previous

IT Professional and Manager for 20+ years for Fortune 100 Companies
2010 Census Field Operations Supervisor

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

None.

Campaign website

www.louforall.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

I am running because as a grandfather I worry about the future of my children and grandchildren. I realized to ensure a better future for them we must make it better for all. My generation has bankrupted the future of generations. You would think a democratically controlled town would have offer a bright future for our children, but it has not. The streets are unsafe, housing is unaffordable, wages are stagnant, homeless are left to their own devices, systemic racism has finally hit home, rampant corruption and mismanagement in our state and local governments, and then there is the post-pandemic personal debt. Politicians only worry about the next election and not for the ordinary people, the disenfranchised, and the less fortunate. We need common sense responsible empathetic leadership. I will bring this to Albany and the city. The cornerstone of my agenda is Love Your Neighbor. This is a tough road but hopefully I can create a path for others to pave.

The single most pressing issue facing our nation/state/community is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The most important issue is post-pandemic personal financial debt. We need to keep people in their homes and not be burdened with debt assumed during the pandemic. We must focus on Main Street and not Wall Street. Wall Street should let the market determine the winners and losers and not ask for bailouts. We need to keep people in their homes without the burden of back payments of rent and mortgage. We need a living wage. We need healthcare access for all. For our children to thrive we must address these issues.

What are your thoughts on the state and national response to the coronavirus pandemic? Do you favor such measures as limiting operation of non-essential businesses or restricting indoor/outdoor dining? And do you favor a nationwide mask mandate?

The national response is lacking leadership and disregards science. At the state level, government has kept the virus at bay but with an enormous cost to small businesses. I favor a common-sense approach that balances small business needs and coronavirus outbreaks. Technologies have been developed to limit the spread. Yes, I agree with a national mask mandate and social distancing.

How would you address the concerns of the Black Lives Matter movement, and what are your thoughts on the demonstrations held since the death of George Floyd and the shooting of Jacob Blake?

It has been a long time coming. There has been too much tragedy, sorrow, and death between now and 1968, when our country went into shock from the assassinations of MLK Jr. and Bobby Kennedy. We need to ask our career politicians, “What took you so long to stand up?” To me they did not have enough courage to bring it to the forefront sooner. They just worried about their jobs.

The demonstrations are great. There are extreme factions on both sides that want to rip apart the middle and we cannot allow that.

Now we must take legislative actions. I support law enforcement and people want law enforcement, but we need responsible reform. We must have state standards for law enforcement and psychological testing. We must have police training that puts officers in the “zone” which will allows them to make the correct choices. Law enforcement and the community must work together. In society, we need a diverse work force and neighborhoods. Only through interaction, do we truly empathize.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

The difference between myself and Rebecca Seawright (as of now Patrick Bobilin is in court) is she is an empty suit just following party orders. She has rubberstamped all democratic bills without argument. Seawright does not care for our community and puts her community at risk. Otherwise she would have voted against Bail Reform as it was presented. She would have sponsored real housing reform. The UES is undergoing another round of gentrification. The election reform that was passed has made it harder for individuals to get on the ballot. She is currently trying to kick off Patrick Bobilin from the ballot. The election reforms haven’t stopped her from amassing a huge war chest. She has currently spent $250K and has raised about $350K. She wants to buy the election. The Democratic party just wants to keep the power. She says what is convenient at the time as is the case at Roosevelt Island. She says that she supports the Roosevelt Island residents but covers for the underhanded dealings of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation which the governor controls.

I am a down to earth person and can talk to anyone. I can cross the aisle to facilitate responsible laws and I will call out wrongdoings of both parties. I think for myself and do not bend to party pressure. I will stand up for the ordinary people, less fortunate, and disenfranchised no matter the cost of the next election. I want to level the playing field so that our children can have a better life than ours.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

See above.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

Transform New York
---Save Our Small Business
---Invest in Underserved Neighborhoods
---Rethink Education
---Improve NYCHA
Keep Our City Safe
---Support Police and Responsible Reform
---Real Criminal Justice Reform
---Address Homelessness
Change Albany
---Root Out Waste and Corruption
---Enact Term Limits
---Fairer Taxes and Less Red Tape
Save Roosevelt Island
---Investigate Southpoint and Water Fountain Scandals
---Make RIOC Transparent and Accountable
---Return Democracy with Elected RIOC Board

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

As an IT Professional and Manager in large scale Fortune 100 companies, I handled corporate-wide projects which is like holding political office. There are numerous stakeholders and numerous opinions and facts that must be sorted out. Next, you have to get sign off from all parties and distribute the application. You also have to plan for support, training, and business backup and resumption.

As a doorman, I learned how to read people immediately and respond appropriately.

As a shop steward, I have to facilitate resolutions between management and staff. The staff wanted me to be the shop steward because I stand up for what is right no matter the retaliation from staff or management.