504 Democratic Club: Questionnaires (Candidate for Attorney General Richard Brodsky's response)

Candidate Name: Richard Brodsky

Contact Person: Jon Lipshutz

Campaign Address: 2121 Saw Mill River Road, White Plains, N.Y. 10607

Phone: (914) 332-4940

Email: campaign@richardbrodsky.com

Website: www.richardbrodsky.com

How have you incorporated people with disabilities into your campaign?

Yes, I'm working with a number of people across the state who are both advising and taking active roles in the campaign.
If there is a Campaign office(s) is it wheelchair accessible?

Yes.
What personal and professional experience have you had with people with disabilities in your personal life and in the workplace?

I have been a strong supporter of legislation for the people with disabilities and have had them present in my office on numerous occasions.
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?

That cannot be addressed beyond a case-by-case basis but rest assured individuals with disabilities will not be mistreated by my campaign.
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 been a champion of rights of the disabled throughout my entire public career. Most notably I have worked to ensure that the MTA provide services to disabled people on a non-discriminatory basis. This is includes but is not limited to the access a ride program, wheelchair accessible buses and other matters. These programs are not sufficient but I've worked hard to get them to the best possibly.
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?

This has always been our priority with the notable exception of not controlling the venues for events held by other organizations.
Do you pledge to use your office to affirm or strengthen, rather than weaken, civil rights protections to persons with disabilities?

I have and will continue to do so.
How do you propose your active involvement/availability to the disability community? Will there be a specific person in your office responsible to this community? Will have regular office agenda meetings on these issues? What would you do to have direct contact with our community?

The direct contact on issues of policy will be with me. The regular contact with community leaders will be through staff people whereof and committed to making reforms on behalf of the disabled community.
How will you work closely with the disability community to assure passage of vitally needed legislation? What will be your strategy?

During my tenure in the Assembly, I worked closely with the heads of the taskforce and both sponsored and voted for the agenda that emerged from the taskforce after close consultation with the community. My work as chairman of the Committee on Oversight, Analysis and Investigation, the Committee on Environmental Conservation, and the Committee on Corporations, Authorities, and Commissions has been highlighted by repeated and successful oversight.
Do you support a waiver of the state's sovereign immunity claims under the ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973?

I generally favor access to justice through the courts. Waiver provisions have to be very specifically crafted and I will work with the community to make sure that happens.
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 NYS Election Law allowing waiver of polling place accessibility standards?

Within the realm of practicality, yes.
How do you propose dealing with school districts that deny civil rights to disabled students even after the State Division of Civil Rights affirms the student's rights such as to use a service animal?

The civil rights laws should be vigorously enforced for all communities, including the disabled community.
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?

Yes.
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 2008 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?

As long as the definition of disabled was not constrained by existing the 504 or other definitions, yes.

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