NYC General Election 2020: Rebecca Seawright Seeks Re-Election

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 those names will be Rebecca Seawright, the incumbent Democrat who has represented the district since 2015. Seawright will be running on the "Rise and Unite" party line, however, after being booted from the Democratic line this spring for failing to file paperwork on time.

Seawright is being challenged by Louis Puliafito, who is running on the Republican and Liberal party lines. 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. Seawright's responses are below.

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.

Rebecca Seawright

Age as of Election Day (Nov. 3)

58

NYC neighborhood of residence

Yorkville

Position Sought

State Assembly

Party Affiliation

Life-long Democrat, running on the Rise and Unite line

Family

Husband - Jay Hershenson, Children - Bradley and Haley

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

N/A

Education

Bachelor’s Degree - Tarleton State University
Juris Doctorate - The City University of New York School of Law

Occupation

Member of the Assembly 2015- Present

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Former member: Community Board 8, appointment by Scott Stringer
Member of the Assembly 2015- Present

Campaign website

rebeccaseawright.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

These challenging times demand proven and strong leadership.I am running for re-election to build on my successful record of advocacy for our community. As the pandemic raged, I distributed thousands of medical supplies to health care workers and constituents, meals to senior citizens, and maintained a highly visible and active district office to help with unemployment and housing issues, small business loans, and assistance to disabled persons. Since the spring I have hosted over 27 virtual “Town Hall Tuesday”, which I created to connect agency heads and experts in all fields with our community to respond to concerns.

I wish to build on my strong legislative record in Albany. I was the lead sponsor of the law requiring insurance companies to pay for 3-D mammograms. Inspired by the late Associate Justice Ginsburg, I am the lead sponsor of the NYS Equal Rights Amendment to the State Constitution, which passed the Assembly.

I was the lead sponsor of environmental protection acts, to improve air quality and preserve our waterways. I have obtained millions of dollars in resources for our parks, libraries, schools, senior citizen centers and non-profit organizations and am consistently fighting for our community’s fair share.

Inspired by my work as a former Assistant District Attorney, I co-sponsored legislation to increase law enforcement transparency and accountability while working with our district police precinct to improve public safety, I co-sponsored the codification “Roe vs.Wade” into NYS law, a special honor for me since I interned and worked for the lead winning attorney Sarah Weddington.
Due to my membership on key Assembly Committees, like Education, advocating for full funding of our public schools and universities and against tuition increases. As a former Parents and Teachers Association (PTA) activist, I bring the informed perspective of a parent whose children have grown up in our community, educated in public schools and colleges.

I have been a leader in standing strongly against Anti-Semitism, bigotry and discrimination of all kinds and have introduced legislation to mandate new remedies and penalties for hate crimes.
As Secretary of the Assembly Majority Conference, I work for both the legislation we need and the resources our community deserves.

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

The ongoing COVID-19 public health crisis and its repercussions are the most important issues facing my district, our state, and our nation.

First, we must ensure that we have sufficient PPE proper protocols in place for our essential workers, which I strongly advocated for in Albany.

Second, the economic impact of the virus has also been immense. We must continue to support congressional efforts to pass federal relief to the states, which impacts so importantly on New York. Our office has helped numerous constituents and small businesses apply for loans so they can stay afloat.

Third, we need to make sure that our public schools and universities are able to provide the education that students deserve while protecting the health of students and teachers.

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?

President Trump said it when he spoke to Bob Woodward. He downplayed the severity of the pandemic to avoid panic. He admitted, therefore mismanaging the pandemic by his failure to talk candidly to the American people. Unlike my Republican opponent who refuses to denounce Trump, I was elected in June to be a Joe Biden for President delegate. We need new presidential leadership period.

To this day, Trump has not declared the kind of national emergency that would result in a national mask distribution and wearing program. I favor a national education program on a larger scale with celebrities promoting public health methods like masks, social distancing, sanitizers. On limiting operations, if it can be done safely, that is the key. I favor a statewide initiative now on flu shots. Let’s get ahead of the curve before we are faced with another public health challenge.

When New York City was the epicenter of the COVID-19 public health crisis, we had to adapt quickly to the reality of the world we live in, including shutting down all non-essential businesses, implementing a rigorous contact tracing program and mandating masks. Because of these efforts, New York was able to flatten the curve while other areas saw a spike in new infections.Unfortunately, recent spikes in key neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Queens are cause for concern.

We must ensure that our small businesses are able to stay afloat and thrive while taking every precaution to make sure that we limit the spread of the virus. This includes opening up slowly, monitoring the spread of the virus, and responding to data and new scientific evidence as it becomes available. Currently, wearing a mask is the best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19. A mass distribution and education program should be instituted.

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?

We are at a point of national reckoning over many cases of police brutality that have shaken our nation. We must be vigilant and continue to stand for genuine criminal justice reform and against bigotry and discrimination at all levels.

The New York State Assembly passed a comprehensive package of criminal justice reforms riding on the wave of outrage following the deaths of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd at the hands of police. I am proud to have co sponsored these reforms, which were signed into law earlier this year. We repealed a state law known as 50-a, which sealed the disciplinary records of police officers. We banned police chokeholds. We criminalized false race-based calls to 911, and we enshrined into law the designation of the New York State Attorney as the special prosecutor in cases where police are accused of crime.

Going forward, I am strongly advocating the expansion of the CUNY Black Male initiative to high schools and other colleges. The combination of mentoring, tutoring, life-skills and anti-bias training, and internships is a recipe for success. We must expand the John Jay model of the Police Cadet Program to help diversify law enforcement and create a more educated police force.

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

I have a proven record of fighting for and obtaining resources for the Upper East Side, Yorkville, and Roosevelt Island. In the years since I was elected I have worked tirelessly to provide essential constituent services to the people of my district. I have been a leader in Albany in the quest for equal rights regardless of gender, race, sexuality, or nation of origin.

My longstanding ties and assistance to the community and my strong and proven legislative record make me uniquely qualified to represent the people of the Upper East Side, Yorkville, and Roosevelt Island.

My Republican opponent refuses to denounce Donald Trump, whose mismanagement of the pandemic crisis and anti-urban policies has severely hurt our city and state immensely. Trump’s attacks on the election process, our Post Office, and blocking of federal relief all impact our local challenges. His response to the public health crisis has been riddled with reckless failure. I am proud to be on the Biden/Harris team having been elected by the voters in June. My Republican opponent and I stand worlds apart.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

COVID-19 Response

Recovering from the horrible COVID-19 virus is at the forefront of my platform for the upcoming legislative session. Over the course of the pandemic, my team and I worked tirelessly, hand-delivered meals to homebound seniors delivering PPE to hospitals, nursing homes, and constituents, as well as helping our constituents apply for unemployment issuance and small businesses loans.

I initiated a weekly virtual town hall known as “Town Hall Tuesday” to keep my constituents informed and up-to-date on issues. On over 27 occasions, we connected agency heads and issue experts with constituents to hear frustration hand concerns and needs. In Albany, I am continuing to fight for the health and economic security of my district.

Criminal Justice Reform

Over the past several months our country has been rocked by protests against police brutality and discrimination in our criminal justice system. We need to fundamentally address our laws to uproot structural racism and bigotry, and address the events that brought these issues to light.

In Albany, I co-sponsored legislation to repeal section 50-a of the Civil Rights Law to make police disciplinary records detailing misconduct public, fought for the Police STAT (Transparency Statistics) Act which provides greater transparency by collecting and publicly reporting police data from across the state, and passed legislation to establish an Office of Special Investigation regarding police-related deaths. I also co-sponsored legislation to raise the age of adult criminal responsibility to 18 (from 16) to prevent juvenile defendants from being held in an adult facility. We have much work left to do to address structural racism and bigotry in our laws.

Gun Reform

The greatest correlation with gun violence is access to guns. We need to limit and control who has access to firearms to fight rampant gun violence in our streets and in our schools. That is while I helped pass the Safe Homes and Families Act which allows the seizure of firearms in domestic violence situations. I also helped pass legislation to revoke firearm rights of convicted domestic violence offenders, because a third of women killed by men, where by their domestic partners with guns. I also cosponsored legislation on banning “bump stocks” among other gun accessories in NYS, because those are weapons of murder, not hunting.

Housing and Homelessness

I am a leading advocate on maintaining affordable housing for the Upper East Side, Yorkville, and Roosevelt Island. I co-sponsored legislation to expand the Emergency Tenant Protection Act as well as legislation to diminish rent hikes after renovations.

As a member of the Eastside Task Force on Homeless Outreach Services, I support the proposed comprehensive $450 million Statewide Homelessness Reduction Plan which secures permanent housing instead of costly emergency shelter alternatives such as hotels.

Education

I am committed to fully funding public schools and universities in this state. As a member of the education committee, I helped increase public school funding by over one billion dollars. I also fought for higher teacher and counselor salaries and obtained funding for capital projects at district public schools. I have consistently fought against proposed tuition increases at both SUNY and CUNY. I cosponsored the DREAM ACT which provides for academically eligible undocumented immigrant students to receive tuition assistance as well as “Maintenance of Effort” legislation to require the state to adequately support public higher education.

Women and LGBTQ Rights

I am the lead sponsor of the Equal Rights Amendment in the Assembly which prohibits discrimination based on sex, and which passed the Assembly. It is vitally important that we codify gender equality in the New York State Constitution.
I am also committed to protecting LGBTQ rights. I introduced legislation to require LGBTQ+ awareness curriculum in schools, sponsored legislation to ensure equity in responsibility regarding minor children, and co-sponsored legislation to ban gay panic defense by police officers.

Environment

We need to protect the environment for future generations. I will continue my commitment to monitor air quality surrounding the waste transfer station. In Albany, I passed the clean waterways fund and co-sponsored legislation for renewable energy and protection of our sources of local food.

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

I am proud of the constituent services my office provides, which has assisted thousands of constituents get access to resources and navigate bureaucracy. Since the beginning of the COVID crisis, I helped distribute thousands of medical supplies, meals to seniors and the homebound as well as hosted weekly virtual town halls so constituents can stay up-to-date on the issues facing our community.

In Albany, I have led progressive legislation such as the Equal Rights Amendment and the bill requiring insurance companies to cover 3D mammograms, which is now state law. I have obtained laws providing for election reforms and a statewide inventory of women in public policy positions.

I take my responsibility as a representative of my community very seriously and have worked as a full-time legislator since my first election. I plan to continue to help my constituents in every way possible.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

My very close friend and former employer, Sarah Weddington, was the youngest attorney to appear before the United States Supreme Court. She won the Roe vs Wade case and is a national leader for women’s rights everywhere. She always advised me that women must work harder, be more prepared and bring enduring determination to the fight for equality. She taught me to never underestimate the power of persistence. And to never look down on anyone unless you are giving them a helping hand.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I am proud to represent the 76th Assembly District where I raised my family. When I was first elected, I was the first woman to represent this district since it was created. I have consistently used my position to advocate for equality for all people.

I am honored to have the endorsement of our local community leaders including the 79th st. Block Association President Betty Cooper Wallerstein, and our civic-minded local Democratic clubs that I have had the pleasure of working with during my time in office.

I am supported by the associations that represent the nurses, and by the labor organizations of teachers, principals, hospital workers, airport workers, doormen, security officers, transit workers, and other working women and men.

I am a lifelong Democrat, running on the Rise and Unite party line. I respectfully ask for your vote. Thank you.