Questionnaire 2014 New York State Assembly District 40

General Election Candidates

Distributed to both Candidates on Friday, October 3, 2014

Candidates’ responses received on Friday, October 17, 2014

PHIL GIM RON KIM

Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC)

Common Cause - New York

MinKwon Center for Community Action

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)

New Immigrant Community Empowerment (NICE)

South Asian Council for Social Services (SACSS)

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Candidates’ Information

Candidate’s Name

Phil Gim

Political Party

Republican

Office Address

133-31 39th Ave. Unit F-08

Flushing, NY 11354

Mailing Address

133-31 39th Ave. Unit F-08

Flushing, NY 11354

Candidate’s Name

Ron Kim

Political Party

Democrat

Office Address

Main Plaza

43-07 Main St, Flushing, NY 11354

Mailing Address

35-11B Farrington St, Suite 154

Flushing, NY 11354

Assembly District 40

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Each of the two Candidates’ responses are copied verbatim below each question.

Their responses are listed in alphabetical order by the Candidates’ last names.

1. Budget Allocation

According to a 2011 study by the New York State’s Comptroller, immigrants in New York City accounted for

$210 billion in economic activity that year, or about 31 percent of the gross city product. Flushing, Queens, is

one the best examples of our vibrant immigrant community. In light of this, what specific changes do you

recommend to the NYS budget to better reflect immigrants’ contributions to the state?

PHIL GIM:

I believe immigrants are the economic engine key to the economic growth and recovery of our State. That is

why I have worked so hard to assist immigrant-owned small businesses and future entrepreneurs to help them

access and navigate government and financial services.

In my years of work helping small business owners the one most important hurdle I have found immigrants

face is in understanding and navigating government hurdles and red tape. There is a language barrier, and a

very real cultural barrier.

When I am elected I will introduce legislation to mandate that government services, including enforcement,

work with local community organizations to provide business guidance to immigrant entrepreneurs. This

legislation will also mandate that fines and tickets be the last resort for corrective action, as opposed to the

current system that treats fines as a source of income for the State.

RON KIM:

I have worked hard in my first term to be a strong voice for the immigrant community by building bridges and

collaborating with a broad group of government officials. For example, in my first term, I hosted Republican

colleagues from upstate New York to spend time in Flushing to see first-hand the importance of legislations

like the Dream Act.

Through such collaborative efforts, I helped secure $1.6 million for the Flushing community for capital

projects and various programs. The majority of this funding went toward groups serving low-income

immigrants.

I’m committed to continuing such collaborations and helping to change the perceptions of those in the state

legislature who may not understand the experiences of recent immigrants and their tremendous contribution to

the state’s economy. I believe a more robust and comprehensive budgeting system that is based on both

performance and need.

In states like Minnesota, an Asian American commission was created more than ten years ago to keep the

budgeting process more accountable, transparent, and equitable. I’ve pushed for a similar commission and will

continue these efforts in my next term.

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2. Driver’s Licenses

Thousands of New York’s immigrants have lost their driver’s license since 2005 when the Real ID Act was

passed. Are you willing to either support legislation to make the New York State driver’s license or ID eligible

for everyone, or to push Governor Cuomo to pass an Executive Order mandating the same?

PHIL GIM:

Starting next year, New York City will issue a Municipal Identification that is accessible to all residents of the

City regardless of immigration status. As the first of its kind program of such a massive size, there will be

growing pains and necessary changes to the program before we find a workable solution.

We should use New York City’s Municipal ID as a pilot program to see what works and what doesn’t before

we proceed with any plans for a State-based solution to the identification crisis.

RON KIM:

Yes, I will continue to support legislation to make the New York State driver’s license or ID eligible for

everyone. Should it necessitate an Executive Order, I will ask the Governor to take action.

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3. Consumer Fraud

Currently, employment agencies abuse their power by routinely charging fees without providing a service to

low-wage workers and illegally referring workers to jobs that pay below the minimum wage. The solution we

envision is strengthening employment agency laws, such as Assembly Member Moya’s Justice for Job Seekers

bill A.9742. Will you support this bill, and what else will you do to protect job seekers and eliminate predatory

practices by agencies?

PHIL GIM:

Consumer Fraud is a crime epidemic that targets the most vulnerable members of our population: senior

citizens and new immigrants. It comes in all forms, but the worst of these are the so-called employment

agencies that steal money from hard-working job seekers. New York State should be aggressively seeking out

these con-artists, but instead they have been largely allowed to continue without interference.

Prosecuting businesses guilty of consumer fraud is the job of the Attorney General, a job that Eric

Schniederman has failed at. The Attorney General needs to partner with community organizations to identify

and prosecute employment agencies that cheat their customers, just like any other business that defrauds their

clients.

One reason immigrants are so vulnerable to consumer fraud is that they are fearful of retribution or

deportation. Therefore, when I am elected I will introduce a “shield” law so that victims of consumer fraud do

not have their immigration status recorded by State agencies when they ask for help.

RON KIM:

I support my colleague’s legislation that can help eliminate predatory practices by agencies. As someone who

still has family members being exploited and making under minimum wage, I feel deeply passionate about

this issue. In addition to enforcement, we also need to focus on long-term solutions like educating the public,

specifically workers. There are a number of community-based organizations already focused on the outreach

and we continue to support their efforts by allocating more resources toward their efforts.

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4. Wage Theft

Despite the Wage Theft Act of 2010 and recent amendments, low-wage workers continue to face non-payment

of wages by unscrupulous employers. Meanwhile the NYS Department of Labor has admitted to having a

sizeable backlog of cases and the lack of resources to enforce judgments. What are your plans for ending wage

theft in New York State?

PHIL GIM:

In relation to Wage Theft and many other areas, New York State has an excess of laws and a shortage of

enforcement. We don’t need new laws to protect workers when we already have some of the strongest laws in

the Nation. What we need is to ensure that the laws are obeyed and enforced. That is why we need to ensure

that enforcement units at the Department of Labor are properly funded and staffed, and that these units are a

priority in the State budget.

RON KIM:

We need an accurate and up-to-date report on the backlog and determine what resources are needed to

eliminate the backlog and prevent it in the future. This may require a third party auditor to help review how

and where the agency can improve efficacy in enforcing judgments. I’m committed to working with my

colleagues – especially the Chair and members of the Assembly Committee on Labor – toward an optimal

solution.

5. Proposition 1 & Re-Districting Reform

On November 4th voters will decide on whether to change the way Assembly, Senate, and Congressional

district lines are drawn. Under Proposition 1, a commission in which 8 out of 10 members are hand-picked by

New York’s political party leaders would draw the district lines, and the state legislature would have final

approval of these maps. Legislators drawing their own district boundaries is a serious conflict of interest. Does

Proposition 1 create a truly impartial and non-partisan process for redistricting for New York? Do you support

or oppose Proposition 1?

PHIL GIM:

I oppose Proposition 1 and any other re-districting process that allows the political parties to draw the districts.

I especially oppose any system that allows legislators to draw their own district lines, as our current system

does.

New York needs a non-partisan re-districting process, and settling for anything less will be a failure.

RON KIM:

I believe in an independent body overseeing the redistricting process which politics will not play a part in the

outcome.

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6. Campaign Finance Reform

Where do you stand on getting public financing for elections included in the State budget this year? Will you

support comprehensive campaign finance reform in New York State even if your party leadership does not

support this?

PHIL GIM:

Public Financing for elections in New York State will be a mistake as long as there is no enforcement at the

New York State Board of Elections. With the State Board of Elections unable to keep up with the numerous

campaign finance violations already happening, how will they be able to protect taxpayer money from being

abused?

A better use for the millions of dollars required to pay for public campaign matching funds would be to put

the money into enforcement and crack down on the corrupt legislators already in office.

RON KIM:

I believe in campaign finance reform and have stood with advocacy groups in the past to support a statewide

overhaul. Campaign finance reform is one key way to help address the dangerous influence of big money in

our democratic process.

7. Education

Equal and excellent education for all children across New York State is of primary importance. Since the

Education Budget and Reform Act of 2007 was enacted, budget cuts and funding gaps for public schools have

been undermining the Education Act’s mandate for fiscal equity so that all children can receive quality

education. Will you play an active role to secure the full funding and implementation of the Education Act?

PHIL GIM:

Equal access to a quality education should be available to all students regardless of race, religion, economic

status, immigration status, or background. Equal access to a quality education is a central platform of my

campaign, because a good education is the best way for an entire generation to succeed in the future.

Equal access to a quality education is why I have worked so hard to protect New York City’s Specialized High

Schools from political interference that unfairly targets Asian and South Asian immigrants.

And equal access to a quality education is why I am fighting to improve funding for public schools, so that

students in our State will be able to attend quality schools no matter where they live.

RON KIM:

Yes. It was an honor to have an active role in the recent legislative session in securing hundreds of millions

of dollars for Universal Pre-K, after school programs, and teacher training centers. More does need to be

done to fully secure Campaign for Fiscal Equity monies and bring the state up to compliance with the

Education Act, and I am committed to that effort.

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8. Economic Development

Economic development in the neighborhoods under Assembly District 40 is growing. How will you bring

dollars into this community, and work to create a plan with the community, to boost future development that

includes more affordable housing, jobs, and diversity of businesses?

PHIL GIM:

The 40th Assembly District is undergoing an economic renaissance with businesses opening every day and new

apartment complexes springing up overnight. However, this economic growth is quickly outpacing the ability

of the community to absorb it. The only way we can achieve sustained growth is to develop a long-term plan in

partnership with community leaders, developers, and government agencies to manage how our resources will

be allocated.

For example, chief among our growing pains is the lack of affordable housing in the district and especially the

lack of affordable housing for seniors.

That is why I will push the New York State Department of Homes and Community Renewal to target the

Flushing area for State grants and tax breaks in partnership with community developers to increase the number

of affordable housing units available to residents of the 40th Assembly District.

RON KIM:

There is tremendous economic development but there is a lack of “smart growth” where the city and state

lack the necessary allocation of funding toward long-term and sustainable infrastructure. For example, the

extreme congestion in our transit hub stifles our growth, not to mention economic and quality of life costs. I

am committed to working with my colleagues toward infrastructure improvements, relief for small businesses

and community benefit agreements to help ensure sustainable growth.

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9. Health Care

With the advent of the Affordable Care Act many individuals and families are able to obtain health insurance

which they could not previously obtain. It is very important that they be proactive and utilize their health

insurance for preventive services once they are enrolled. What would you do to ensure increased funding for

community based organizations to provide these services and post enrollment support?

PHIL GIM:

For many New Yorkers the Affordable Care Act is extremely hard to understand and navigate. There are many

rules, restrictions and hurdles that must be overcome in order to properly receive coverage.

Unfortunately, it seems like most State resources have been dedicated to signing people up for coverage and

not enough has been done to actually help people understand and use the system properly.

This has led to a large amount of New Yorkers who are left with improper health plans, improper

understanding of their plans, and who are consequently vulnerable to fraud.

State agencies need to direct more resources to our non-profit community based organizations to help educate

the masses of New Yorkers who have suddenly found themselves signed up for health plans they don’t

understand.

RON KIM:

According to one of our navigators, one of the main problems is that many doctors in immigrant communities

-- especially those with a high proportion of clientele of Asian descent -- are rejecting clients who are enrolled

in the Affordable Care Act. I have brought this to the attention of the Department of Health. I am committed

to working with my colleagues on bringing more resources to our CBOs and raising public awareness about

peoples’ rights to health care.

10. Public Benefits

Undocumented immigrants make up a significant percentage of the workforce in New York, however they do

not receive the same basic public benefits as their documented counterparts. What steps would you take to

support these immigrants with public benefits such as low income housing, energy savings or food stamps?

PHIL GIM:

Public entitlements should be reserved for residents of New York who also have the civic responsibilities

associated with them.

RON KIM:

Comprehensive immigration reform is critical to a path to citizenship and ensuring that families and

individuals have access to necessary services and programs; I will continue to be such an advocate for the

community.