Jo Anne Simon

Jo Anne Simon

Office Sought:
State Assembly District 52

Campaign Site: https://simonforbrooklyn.com/

Endorsements so far: A growing list of progressive leaders and groups have endorsed my candidacy thus far, including: Working Families Party ● 1199 SEIU ● 32BJ ● Tenants PAC ● Independent Neighborhood Democrats (IND) ● Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats (CBID) ● 504 Democrats

Elected Leaders: ● NYS Attorney General Letitia James ● NYS Comptroller Tom Di Napoli ● US Rep. Nydia Velázquez ● Former NYC Comptroller Brad Lander ● NYS Sen. Andrew Gounardes ● NYS Sen. Jabari Brisport ● NYS Sen. Zellnor Myrie ● NYS Assemblymember Marcela Mitaynes ● NYS Assemblymember Phara Souffrant Forrest ● NYS Assemblymember Emily Gallagher ● NYS Assemblymember Robert Carroll ● Fmr. Assemblymember Joan Millman ● NYC Council Member Lincoln Restler ● NYC Council Member Crystal Hudson ● NYC Council Member Alexa Avilés

Why do you want to represent your neighbors and fellow Brooklynites in Albany? (100

words max)

I’ve spent my career fighting for historically marginalized communities, and I bring both

that drive and that expertise to my work in Albany and in the district.

I’ve been a teacher of deaf and deaf-blind children, a disability civil rights attorney, a

community activist, and a progressive Assemblymember passing major laws to improve

the lives of New Yorkers. Having been a community leader for years before I was in

office, I have a deep connection to my district and its people and issues.

I pride myself on being one of the most accessible elected officials in office today.

What difference will you make for your community? (100 words max)

I’ve won major legislative victories, including gun violence prevention laws, gender equity

laws, New York’s first dyslexia law and Path Forward NYS Action Plan for Literacy,

mental health reforms, campaign finance reform and environmental laws. In 2025, I

passed a repeal of the 100-foot rule, which reduces our reliance on expensive polluting

fossil fuels; this is a win for the climate and will save New Yorkers $600 million a year.

I’ve been actively engaged in the Gowanus Canal cleanup, ensuring the community is

represented in the redesigns of the Brooklyn Marine Terminal and BQE triple cantilever,

and ensuring Atlantic Yards’ affordable housing is delivered.

How will you support and empower the LGBTQ+ community, particularly at a time when

transgender people are under sustained attack from the Trump Administration? (100

words max)

I have long been an ally of the LGBTQ+ community. I’m a member of LID, Jim Owles,

and have been a member of Stonewall Democrats. In the early 1990s, I volunteered to

draft wills for GMHC clients and won the first succession rights case in DHCR for a man

whose partner died of AIDS, saving him from eviction.

I’ll continue to be supportive through legislation, funding including trans health care,

showing up, listening, amplifying your voices. As Mental Health Chair, I’m thrilled to have

just helped secure funding to run the LGBTQ+ youth hotline through 988, which had been

defunded.

How will you support and empower Brooklynites being targeted by I.C.E? (100 words

max)

I co-sponsor bills to ensure that state and local resources aren’t used to cooperate with

federal immigration enforcement to prevent the funneling of people into ICE custody,

banning ICE wearing masks, and the sharing of sensitive information with ICE.

I have attended events, rallies, strategy meetings and engaged in initiatives to push for

these bills and to keep community members safe. I‘ve expressed my support to the

Speaker and the Governor. I am also part of the legislative Hands Off NYC coalition to

share local information and respond. I‘ve co-hosted Know Your Rights trainings and

have another one pending.

Who did you endorse in the 2025 Mayoral Election, in both the primary and the general

election? (100 words max)

I did not endorse in the primary as I had too many buddies running. I was proud to

endorse Mayor Zohran Mamdani in the general election.

See my op-ed endorsing him here and expressing support for his plan to create a

Department of Community Safety. This is closely in line with my own legislative work to

pass Daniel’s Law and create a statewide mental health crisis response system instead

of relying on local police to respond to such cases.

Although you are running for a state legislative position, we recognize that our state

elected officials have an important voice in local political communities. With that in mind,

do you/will you support the Brooklyn Can’t Wait slate of District Leader candidates and

Brooklyn Can’t Wait’s reforms to make our local party more accountable, transparent,

inclusive, and effective? (100 words max)

Yes, I do. I have supported and encouraged Brooklyn Can’t Wait candidates and party

reforms. Before I was elected to the Assembly, I was the district leader for the district.

Along with LID co-founder Alan Fleishman and subsequent DLs, I was in the forefront of

fighting to make the County Democratic Party more accountable, transparent, inclusive,

and effective. It was not easy and it’s frustrating that we are still fighting for these things,

but I am optimistic that we will prevail.

Similarly, we recognize that our state elected officials have an important voice in national

political dialogue as well. How will you use your voice to speak out about ending US

support for the genocide in Gaza and putting a stop to the aggression being implemented

by the Trump Administration against Venezuela, Greenland, and other areas? (100 words

max)

While I am focused on my role as a state elected official, I have used my platform to

speak out about the genocide in Gaza, Trump’s authoritarian regime, and his reckless

and illegal acts of war. I have spoken out on social media, in rallies and press events,

and via sign-on letters.

Legislation:

[Please answer “yes” or “no” for each piece of legislation. Feel free to add additional

discussion of your perspective on the legislation.]

Do you support the Gender Identity, Respect, Dignity, and Safety Act (GIRDS)

(A5478/S1049A)? Yes, I am proud to be a co-sponsor of this bill.

Do you support Cecilia’s Act for Rights in the S*x Trades S2513/A3251 (formerly SVSTA)

(A3251/S2513)?

I support decriminalizing consensual commercial sex work. I have been a sponsor of the

predecessor bill in the past; there are now two bills seeking to accomplish this, albeit in

different ways. While neither model permits trafficking, it happens under our noses all the

time; people being trafficked most often deny they are being trafficked because they are

traumatized and they are in real physical danger. Accurately sorting between a person

being trafficked and someone engaging in consensual sex work is hard to codify so that

must be addressed.

Do you support the New York Health Act (A1466/S3425)?

Yes, I am a co-sponsor. We have passed this bill several times in the Assembly. With the

current federal healthcare cuts about to kick in after the upcoming primaries and several

hundred thousand New Yorkers set to lose their Essential Plan, it only underscores the

need for a new system that doesn’t cater to the health insurance industry.

Do you support the Repeal STI Discrimination Act (A733A/S4545A)?

Yes, I am a co-sponsor.

Do you support the Freedom to Read Act (A7777/S1099) and overriding the Governor’s

veto of this act?

Yes, I am a co-sponsor.

Do you support the New York for All Act (A3506/S2235A)? Yes. I am a co-sponsor and I’m

part of the legislative working group to pass NY for All. New York must stand united

against these unconstitutional tactics by ICE and the federal administration and pass the

MELT, RADAR, and NY for All Acts to protect our communities.

Do you support adding a constitutional right to privacy to New York’s State Constitution

(A9377/S8603)?

Yes. This bill was just introduced at the end of 2025. I have reviewed it and it is very

timely and I will be signing on and supporting AM Shimsky in her efforts.

Commitments:

If endorsed, do you commit to using LID’s full logo (will be provided) and full name on all

materials and other places where you list endorsees (with the exception of lists of

specific organizations (unions, etc) or elected officials)?

Yes, proudly. I am honored to have received your support in the past and I would

treasure your support again.

Do you commit to using inclusive and gender-neutral language in press releases and

other announcements (e.g., “the people of the..” instead of “the men and women of

the...”

Yes. And I always go by Assemblymember.