504 Democratic Club: Questionnaires (Candidate for State Senate Mike DiSanto's 2010 response)

Candidate Name: Mike DiSanto

Candidate for Senate District: 22 (Brooklyn)

Contact Person: Mike DiSanto

Campaign Address: 1919 West 8th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11223

Phone: 718-354-9611

Email: mike@disantoforsenate.com

Website: DISANTO2010.COM

Endorsements:

American Heritage Democratic Organization
Brooklyn Democrats for Change
Lambda Independent Democrats
Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club
New York Uprising
Stonewall Democratic Club of NYC

If there is a Campaign office(s), is it wheelchair accessible?

We do not currently have an official campaign office. When choosing an office, I would only select a location that is fully accessible.
How have you incorporated people with disabilities into your campaign?

Our freelance public relations manager, Michael Harris, is a wheelchair user. We welcome volunteers to join our campaign reguardless of race, gender, sexuality or disability.
If you are not an incumbent,
1. Is your present office/work place accessible to people with disabilities? If not, what have you done to rectify the inaccessibility?
  
  Volunteer meetings are currently held at wheelchair accessible facilities.
2. If the present district office is inaccessible, do you intend to find an accessible office?
  
  When we move into an actual office, it will be fully accessible.
What personal and professional experience have you had with people with disabilities in your personal life and in the workplace?

I have many friends with disabilities.
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?

All jobs will be open to people with disabilities and we will provide the appropriate accommodations. I am committed to the inclusion of people with disabilities on my staff.
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?

Disabled Iraq veteran, Luis Carlos Montalván, was denied equal treatment and assaulted by employees of the McDonald's Corporation in Brooklyn because his service dog accompanied him into the restaurant. After attending a rally for Captain Montalván, I have worked to raise awareness of the incident and educate local businesses that it is against the law not to allow people with disabilities to enter with their service animal.
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?

Yes.
Do you pledge to use your office to affirm or strengthen, rather than weaken, civil rights protections to persons with disabilities?

I pledge to use my office to affirm and strengthen civil rights protections to persons with disabilities.
How do you propose your active involvement/availability to the disability community?
1. Will there be a specific person in your office responsible to this community?
  
  Yes.
2. Will have regular office agenda meetings on these issues?
  
  Yes.
3. What would you do to have direct contact with our community?
  
  I plan on being active in the disability community by attending meetings, events, and rallies. I will also host an annual forum in Brooklyn that focuses on disability rights.
How will you work closely with the disability community to assure passage of vitally needed legislation? What will be your strategy?

My strategy includes working closely with disability organizations in order to propose legislation that meets the needs of the disability community while keeping members of the community updated on a regular basis.
How would you change the laws of New York State to protect the rights of its citizens with disabilities?

I pledge to be an advocate for the protection of the rights of citizens with disabilities and will work to pass legislation that ensures these rights.
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?
  
  Yes.
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?

I support the expansion of EPIC to include low-income persons with disabilities regardless of age.
Will you support moving funds from nursing homes to moving patients out of nursing homes and back into the community?

Yes.
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, I support the creation of a housing trust fund. Also, it should be mandatory that affordable housing units be set-aside specifically for people with disabilities in newly constructed buildings.
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 Department of Housing and Community Renewal can be empowered to enforce these provisions?

Yes.
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.
At present: SCRIE (Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption) Household income cap is $29,000. DRIE (Disabled Rent Increase Exemption) is $19,284/single and $27,780/2 or more. What is your position on increasing DRIE income eligibility to match SCRIE?

I support raising the DRIE limit to match SCRIE.
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 New York State Election Law allowing waiver of polling place accessibility standards?

Yes, all polling places should be fully accessible. It is unacceptable to deny any American citizen of their ability to vote.
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?

Yes, and additional funding should be allocated to improve accessibility at all CUNY and SUNY campuses.
How do you propose dealing with school districts that deny civil rights to disabled students even after the Sate Division of Civil Rights affirms the student's rights such as to use a service animal?

There should be a reduction in state funding to school districts that continue to deny civil rights to disabled students.
Do you support legislation requiring car services, and shuttle services to purchase wheelchair accessible vehicles or otherwise ensure that they have the capacity to serve persons with disabilities?

Yes.
Will you or do you support Assembly Member Kellner's proposed bill requiring New York City to transition to a 100% accessible taxi fleet?

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 2010 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.

Yes.

Printer-friendly version of this questionnaire
(Link opens in a new browser window)

For other candidates running for State Senator and State Assembly positions, go to the Questionnaires section