504 Democratic Club: Questionnaires (Candidate for State Assembly H.R. Clarke's 2008 response)

Candidate Name: H.R. Clarke

Candidate for Assembly District: 59

Campaign Name: Friends of H.R. Clarke 08

Campaign Address: 1001 East 59th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11234

If you have a campaign office, is it wheelchair accessible? No

If you are an incumbent, is your district office wheelchair accessible? Not Applicable

Campaign Manager: Josephine Romillie

Phone: 347 - 885 - 2131

Fax: 718 - 228 - 8560

Email: morhagany @ optonline.net

Website: HRClarke08.com

ACTION SHOWS COMMITMENT!
1. While in public office/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?
  
  Not Applicable
2. 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 physically accessible?
  
  The current incumbent has not scheduled any community meetings which are physically accessible to the disabled community members. I will insure that will be reorganized.
GENERAL QUESTIONS:
1. What personal and professional experience have you had with people with disabilities in your personal life and in the workplace?
  
  I have worked with Mr. Mark Fertig in CEC 18 and 22 to have more schools-handicapped accessible. I have also worked with the CEC's and PTA's to have move of their refreshments for diabetics and to have more meetings accessible to people with disabilities.
2. Are you willing to hire and to provide reasonable accommodation (e.g. flex or part time) for staff members with disabilities?
  
  I will hire a staff member based upon recommendation from the 504 Democratic Club to be a liaison for disabled issues and constituents.
3. How will you work closely with the disability community to assure passage of vitally needed legislation through the State Legislature? What will be your strategy?
  
  To hire stuff members who are expert in the issues and challenges facing the disable which will help plan and propose legislation.
CIVIL RIGHTS
1. What will you do at the State level to reverse the negative impact of recent decisions in Federal Courts which are undercutting the powers of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 to protect the civil rights of people with disabilities in New York State?
  
  I intent to put pressure on local federal legislators to strengthen federal laws, but also to make sure that New York laws are working at its full potential.
2. How would you change the laws of New York State to protect the rights of its citizens with disabilities?
  
  We hope that the laws of New York State serve the interests of all people. However, if it does not, we will fight to make sure that all people are recognized and represented equally.
MEDICAID

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?
  
  If such action is warranted, than I will support it.
HEALTH INSURANCE
1. Timothy's Law was designed to end health insurance discrimination by enacting parity in coverage for people with biologically-based psychiatric disabilities. However, returning veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are not covered. Do you favor amending Timothy's Law to provide coverage for PTSD?
  
  Yes, our Veterans have paid their dues.
2. Under Kendra's Law, a state-funded Medicaid grants program was established to provide medications for eligible individuals with psychiatric disabilities upon release or discharge from institutions to eliminate some of the problems associated with the Medicaid coverage gap. Do you support Medicaid Presumptive Eligibility legislation which would eliminate the standard 45 days coverage gap that blocks access to treatment?
  
  Yes.
3. 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, people with disability must get all the protection they deserved.
HOUSING
1. 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?
  
  Yes, secure housing must be at the forefront of all legislation to help the disable.
2. 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 Dept. of Housing and Community Renewal can be empowered to enforce these provisions?
  
  In principal, I support any action in that will increase the quality of life of the disable.
3. 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.
4. What is your position on expanding DRIE (Disabled Rent Increase Exemption) to have the same income eligibility limits as SCRIE (Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption)? Currently SCRIE's income cap is $27,000, while DRIE's is $18,600.
  
  To adequately answer this question one must first determine the level of the disability for each individual.
VOTING ACCESS & HAVA

With the recent decision to acquire 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 NYS Election Law allowing waiver of polling place accessibility standards?

Yes.
EDUCATION
1. 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 have always supported such programs and will continue to do so.
2. How do you propose dealing with a school district that deny civil rights to disabled students even after the State Division of Civil Rights affirms the student's rights such as to use an assist animal?
  
  The protection of civil rights must be paramount in any political discourse.
TRANSPORTATION
1. Do you favor an expansion of accessible transportation options for people with disabilities in NYS?
  
  Yes, and I am also in favor of taking further action to speed up the completion of accessibility to the disable in all form of public transportation.
2. Will you support Assembly Member Kellner's proposed bill requiring NYC to transition to a 100% accessible taxi fleet?
  
  Yes.
3. Do you support legislation requiring car services, and all shuttle services to purchase wheelchair accessible vehicles or otherwise ensure that they have the capacity to serve persons with disabilities?
  
  Yes.

Date: July 28, 2008

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