2014 NYS Endorsees: First_Round | Second_Round 

Latest Endorsements - Second Round (Read the Press Release)

Tony Avella, Senate District 11: Northeast Queens (Incumbent)  2014 Primary Winner

Avella, first elected to the State Senate in 2010 after eight years in the City Council, is a member of the Senate’s Transportation Committee. He supports increasing bus service in his Queens district, and would like to see real Bus Rapid Transit implemented on Northern Boulevard and other main thoroughfares. He backs lifting time and day restrictions on speed cameras, and intends to introduce a bill that would allow home rule for deployment of speed and red-light cameras. He also plans to push to have secure bicycle storage installed at Long Island Railroad stations in his district.

Felix Ortiz, Assembly District 51: Brooklyn: Red Hook, Sunset Park (Incumbent)  2014 Primary Winner

Ortiz has represented his district in the Assembly for 20 years. His bill banning the use of handheld cell phones while driving became the first such state law in the entire country in 2000. Ortiz will continue his longstanding efforts to deter and punish distracted driving by introducing legislation to require disclosure of a driver’s cellphone records after a crash suspected to have resulted from distraction. He will also advocate for the creation of a protected bike “highway” along Third Avenue, connecting his district to Downtown Brooklyn.

Nily Rozic, Assembly District 25: Queens: Flushing, Fresh Meadows (Incumbent)  2014 General Election Candidate

Rozic, elected in 2012, is the youngest woman serving in the State Legislature. She has successfully pushed for expanded neighborhood bus service, and commutes to her district office by bicycle. Rozic is committed to extending and improving bike infrastructure in her district to make it easier for people to ride to nearby transit stations and to schools, advocating for real Bus Rapid Transit connecting Flushing and Jamaica, and ensuring that all police precincts in Queens are supplied with necessary enforcement equipment and trained in new traffic-safety laws.

Dell Smitherman, Senate District 19: Brooklyn: East New York (Challenger)  Livable Streets Hero

Smitherman, until recently Political Coordinator of 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, is challenging indicted State Senator John Sampson for the right to represent this reconfigured East New York district. Smitherman will work to give dangerous Linden Boulevard a complete-street treatment, and will advocate for the restoration of several bus routes in the district. He’s committed to working to lift time and day restrictions on speed cameras, and improving accessibility at elevated train stations.

Jason Zove, Assembly District 8: Long Island: Suffolk County (Challenger)  2014 General Election Candidate

Zove, a former aide in the Suffolk County Legislature, is challenging six-term incumbent Mike Fitzpatrick this November. Zove is committed to making Long Island’s towns and villages safer for pedestrians and cyclists, including widening sidewalks, implementing more crosswalks and expanding the bike-lane network. He believes Long Island needs to increase north-south transit connections, and supports creation of dedicated bus lanes. He’ll work to have secure bike storage installed at Long Island Railroad stations.

First Round Endorsements   (Read the Press Release, Back to top)

Adriano Espaillat, Senate District 31: Manhattan: Washington Heights, Marble Hill, Upper West Side (Incumbent)  2014 Primary Winner

Espaillat, who won his Senate seat in 2010 after serving in the Assembly, has consistently backed safe-streets initiatives. He sponsored legislation that led to the recent lowering of New York City’s default speed limit, co-sponsored the 2011 Complete Streets law, and has been a strong advocate for Select Bus Service along 125th Street, a clear distinction from his opponents. Espaillat will continue the fight for full SBS implementation in his district, and plans to push to increase the number of speed cameras and end time-and-day restrictions. He supports the MoveNY plan for fair tolling of New York City’s bridges and tunnels.

Edward Hennessey, Assembly District 3: Long Island: Suffolk County (Incumbent) 2014 General Election Candidate

Hennessey, who was elected to represent his central Suffolk County 3rd District in 2012, was the prime sponsor of a new state law that increases penalties for texting while driving. A member of the Assembly’s Transportation Committee, he is also the lead sponsor of legislation that will increase penalties for hit-and-run drivers. Hennessey is advocating for a Safe Routes to Transit program for Suffolk County, has requested $1 million for a safer-bike-lane pilot program, and is fighting to have a portion of red-light camera revenue dedicated to complete-streets projects.

James Kemmerer, Senate District 22: Brooklyn: Bay Ridge/Dyker Heights (Challenger)  2014 General Election Candidate

Kemmerer, a tech entrepreneur and executive-committee member of the Bay Ridge Democrats, is challenging 12-year incumbent Marty Golden, who’s been a frequent obstacle to safe-streets policies in the State Senate. Kemmerer wants to improve and expand transportation options in Bay Ridge, including upgrading elevator access to subways, modernizing train controls and building better bus infrastructure. He wants to reduce the use of residential streets and business corridors as highway shortcuts, and expand successful programs like the Third Avenue Summer Stroll in frequency and scope. Kemmerer would like to change the toll structure on the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, and has endorsed the MoveNY plan.

Tom Schiliro, Assembly District 2: Long Island: Suffolk County (Challenger)  2014 General Elction Candidate

Schiliro, an active two-decade veteran of the Suffolk County Park Police and a teacher, is challenging Anthony Palumbo, who won a special election last November, for the Assembly seat representing this North Fork district. Schiliro is a believer in lower speed limits in downtown and residential areas, and particularly in school zones. He supports implementation of complete-streets policies, as well as increased penalties for dangerous driving offenses. He’d like to see bike lockers installed at more Long Island Railroad stations, as has been done in Ronkonkoma.

Pete Sikora, Assembly District 52, Brownstone Brooklyn (Open Seat)   2014 Livable Streets Hero

Sikora, political and legislative director for the Communications Workers of America District 1, and a former NYPIRG organizer, is running for the open Assembly seat being vacated by the retiring Joan Millman, with the backing of 2013 StreetsPAC endorsees Brad Lander and Steve Levin. He supports lowering New York City’s default speed limit to 20 MPH, and backs the MoveNY plan to balance tolls for NYC bridges and tunnels and fund the MTA. If elected, he will advocate for restoration of the B71 bus route, and Bus Rapid Transit on key routes in the 52nd District.