Currently holds the office of New York State Assembly - District 136 until January 6, 2027.
Candidate for New York State Assembly - District 136 in 2026 New York Primary Election.
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Get StartedRochester has struggled with violence for the past year. While this spike in crime aligns with nationwide trends, it’s clear that we need solutions. Our city can, and should serve as an example of the need for an innovative approach to addressing the root causes of crime. Without a holistic response, we are destined to see little change. I am committed to continue investing in violence prevention services, and efforts to rid our streets of illegal guns. Learn more
However, we must recognize that policing alone can not, and must not be the solution to all of our community’s struggles. For far too long, we’ve addressed mental health crises and issues of poverty with a law enforcement response. This is simply not fair to our community members, or the officers entrusted to serve our cities and towns. Officers are being stretched thin, and asked to provide support at a level that is beyond reasonable for their role. Community members in need of social or mental health services shouldn’t be met with an armed response. We must remove these types of calls from the purview of law enforcement, and shift response to our Forensic Intervention (FIT) and Person in Crisis (PIC) teams to address issues within Monroe County and the City of Rochester, respectively. Learn more
I’ve spent years fighting for our veterans at the federal level, and continued over the past year as your Assemblymember. In the state budget, I’ve fought to deliver funding for the Veterans Outreach Center, which provides incredible services to Rochester-area veterans. The needs of our veterans simply aren’t being met like they should, and I support the creation of a new, executive-level agency like the New York State Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure they receive proper care and attention. As a proud daughter of a Vietnam veteran, the strength of those that choose to serve is not lost on me. Learn more
I’ll continue fighting to ensure that all New York families have access to affordable, quality child care. Learn more
I’m a proud product of the SUNY system, and recognize that for many families across the region that this option is the most affordable and attractive option to send children to college. Yet, over the past 20 years we’ve seen college costs skyrocket at public and private institutions alike. Learn more
Over 50% of the housing stock in Rochester is rapidly approaching 100 years old. I’ll work to support policies that make more renewable energy options available, and that the costs associated with transitioning to these sources are manageable for homeowners. Particular care and attention should be given to low-income and disadvantaged communities to help facilitate these upgrades and retrofits. I want to ensure my children inherit an environment worth fighting for. Learn more
Extreme weather and natural disasters have become all too common in our state. In the end, it is our community’s most disadvantaged populations that have to deal with the consequences. A 15 billion investment in line with the goals of the Climate & Community Investment Act would help counteract the effects of climate change, and bad-faith corporate actors. This funding would go a long way towards addressing resiliency projects, and allowing grassroots organizations to work towards environmental projects that meet the needs of their communities. If we are to ever meet our Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act-mandated environmental goals, we must be aggressive in our efforts to set the state on track. Learn more
Ethics enforcement is in need of a serious overhaul. I support the Governor’s goal of Joint Commission On Public Ethics (JCOPE) reform; however, we must go further. We must replace JCOPE and the Legislative Ethics Commission (LEC) with a single enforcement agency, and ensure this new iteration is built with true independence from those it is designed to oversee, and free from the influence of lawmakers. Learn more
I’ll continue to be supportive of ways we can continue to expand healthcare access and coverage, as we push towards this system, and work to eliminate the burdens of our current system. In the meantime, I’ll work to close the coverage gap that allows our lowest-income and undocumented New Yorkers to live without any measure of protection in a health crisis. Learn more
From prescription drugs, to housing, I’ll always fight to ensure our seniors and other vulnerable populations are well-protected. I’ve long heard stories of seniors traveling to Canada to receive affordable prescription drugs. In one of the wealthiest states in the nation, this is a travesty. New York’s Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage (EPIC) program eligibility should be expanded to serve those under age 65, and cover drugs not covered by Medicare Part D. Moreover, our seniors should have the community supports they need to age in place with dignity, and safety. Neighborhood Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities and Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (N/NORCs) are incredible models for how we can achieve this goal at scale, to meet the demand for housing, and help avoid costly placement in care facilities. Learn more
Meanwhile, rents continue to rise. We need Good Cause eviction protections to provide stability and security to our market. This serves as a protection for tenants and landlords alike, codifying important criteria as part of the eviction process, shielding tenants from dramatic price hikes and maintaining a landlords ability to evict for lease violations, nuisance behavior, or illicit activity. While I support this change at the state level, I will work to ensure that Rochester has the legal ability to enact these protections at the local level. Learn more
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