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About Aravella
Aravella Simotas has always been a fighter for the working class. Coming from an immigrant family with limited means, Aravella grew up in rent-stabilized housing in Astoria. From an early age, she focused on working hard to achieve a better life and learned the value of giving back to her community.
Aravella attended local public schools P.S. 17, Junior H.S. 126, and William C. Bryant High School. She went on to graduate summa cum laude from Fordham University at the age of 20 and earned her law degree from Fordham University School of Law at 23. During law school, she was the managing editor at the Fordham Environmental Law Journal.
About Aravella
Aravella Simotas has always been a fighter for the working class. Coming from an immigrant family with limited means, Aravella grew up in rent-stabilized housing in Astoria. From an early age, she focused on working hard to achieve a better life and learned the value of giving back to her community.
Aravella attended local public schools P.S. 17, Junior H.S. 126, and William C. Bryant High School. She went on to graduate summa cum laude from Fordham University at the age of 20 and earned her law degree from Fordham University School of Law at 23. During law school, she was the managing editor at the Fordham Environmental Law Journal.
Causes
WOMEN’S RIGHTS
Aravella led the push to pass a landmark “Sexual Assault Survivors Bill of Rights” and laws requiring timely testing and preservation of rape kits. She proudly co-sponsored the Reproductive Health Act, to enshrine the fundamental right to choose in New York State law. Recently Last year, Aravella passed a series of comprehensive reforms to combat sexual harassment and discrimination in the workplace and a law to extend the statute of limitations for rape so that survivors have sufficient time to pursue justice.
IMMIGRATION
Aravella has fought to keep ICE agents out ofin New York courts and introduced legislation to ensure threats of deportation are not used to intimidate immigrant crime victims into silence and prevent themed from pursuing justice. She strongly opposed the proposed citizenship question on the 2020 Census and co-sponsored the NY DREAM Act to expand access to higher education for undocumented students.
HEALTHCARE
Aravella knows first-hand the difficulty of working with insurance companies once medical bills start stacking up. That’s why she supports the New York Health Act to establish a universal, single payer healthcare system so that nobody is underinsured or forced to seek benefits from companies that put profit before people. Aravella has authored laws to expand insurance coverage for infertility treatment, ensure all New Yorkers can access prenatal care, and reduce infant mortality rates.
LGBTQ Rights
Aravella has been a champion for LGBTQ rights since her first day in office. She proudly co-sponsored the Marriage Equality Act in 2012 and the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act and conversion therapy ban that were signed into law in 2019. Aravella has introduced legislation to establish a Bill of Rights for LGBTQ residents in long-term care facilities and prohibit discrimination against transgender parents in custody cases.
SCHOOLS AND CHILDREN
Aravella fights for local schools and has secured critical funds to improve our kids’ learning environments. She has held rallies to save local schools and provided grant money to schools in need. She is also working to improve child product safety and protect young children from toxic chemicals.
UNIONS
Throughout her time in office, Aravella has been a strong ally to organized labor and supported unions fighting to secure fair wages and better working conditions. She has stood beside striking workers and supported bills to protect public sector unions, expand collective bargaining rights and combat wage inequality.
ENVIRONMENT
Aravella has worked to promote green policies in Queens and earned a perfect score from the League of Conservation Voters in 2019. She has passed legislation to incentivize the use of clean energy and to reduce New York’s the carbon footprint through her support of congestion pricing and the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM
Aravella believes access to justice should never be dependent on socioeconomic status, which is why she has fought to eliminate cash bail and protect the constitutional right to a speedy trial. She has introduced legislation to expand criminal record relief so people convicted of crimes as teenagers can fully integrate into their communities without being continuously stigmatized for mistakes made in their youth. Aravella is working to increase transparency and accountability in law enforcement by co-sponsoring a full repeal of Section 50-a of the Civil Rights Law and the Police Statistics and Transparency Act to make information on police misconduct accessible to the public. She is also co-sponsoring legislation to legalize marijuana and end the cruel and inhumane practice of solitary confinement in New York prisons. Aravella is committed to ending the school to prison pipeline and supports measures to end the use of biased surveillance technology and harsh, ineffective disciplinary practices that disproportionately impact students of color.
About Aravella
Aravella was first elected to the Assembly in 2010, winning the Democratic primary and becoming the first woman to ever hold the seat. Aravella has been a leader on a host of issues. She is naturally drawn to focus on issues that improve the lives of women and children. As Assemblywoman, Aravella has passed landmark legislation to strengthen protections for New Yorkers who experience sexual harassment or discrimination in the workplace. She was also successful in extending the time to bring civil and criminal cases for rape to give survivors sufficient time to process their trauma.
Aravella passed legislation making New York the first state in the nation to allow pregnant women to enroll in health insurance at any time so they can access vital prenatal care. She took on the powerful insurance industry so that New Yorkers experiencing infertility can access IVF, which has long been considered the gold standard of care for this heartbreaking condition.
About Aravella
Aravella was first elected to the Assembly in 2010, winning the Democratic primary and becoming the first woman to ever hold the seat. Aravella has been a leader on a host of issues. She is naturally drawn to focus on issues that improve the lives of women and children. As Assemblywoman, Aravella has passed landmark legislation to strengthen protections for New Yorkers who experience sexual harassment or discrimination in the workplace. She was also successful in extending the time to bring civil and criminal cases for rape to give survivors sufficient time to process their trauma.
Aravella passed legislation making New York the first state in the nation to allow pregnant women to enroll in health insurance at any time so they can access vital prenatal care. She took on the powerful insurance industry so that New Yorkers experiencing infertility can access IVF, which has long been considered the gold standard of care for this heartbreaking condition.
News
August 12, 2019
New workplace sexual harassment protections become law
ALBANY — A set of sweeping new efforts to crack down on workplace sexual harassment problems while also giving new legal ....
October 30, 2019
Electeds Demand Answers After Muslim Families Banned From NYC Ferry
In a letter to New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, NYS Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas, NYC Councilman Justin Brannan and NYS ....
October 25, 2019
Publicly Owned Utilities Could Help Fight the Climate Crisis
Over 100 people, including assemblyperson Aravella Simotas and public advocate Jumaane Williams, traveled in the pouring rain....
October 16, 2019
Simotas Allocates $500K In Funding For PS 85
Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas joined faculty and students in celebration of her securing $500,000 in funding on behalf of PS....
September 19, 2019
Cuomo signs Simotas’ bill allowing rape victims more time to bring their attackers to justice
For far too long rapists got away with their crimes in New York State due to an extremely short statute of limitations, accor....
September 11, 2019
Simotas Secures $125K For HANAC JVL Senior Center
Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas visited the HANAC Harmony JVL Innovative Senior Center and met with its leadership and residen....
September 10, 2019
New York Must Pass the 'Rape is Rape' Bill
At the end of August, NBC New York ran a story about a young woman who was raped after going out to a Manhattan bar. Despite ....
September 4, 2019
Home Care Workers Rally at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory
“We need to measure our humanity, as a state, by how we treat our most vulnerable,” State Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas — a ....
August 12, 2019
Cuomo Signs Legislation Strengthening Sexual Harassment Protections
Just two or three years ago, it was obvious how little New York State's legislative leaders seemingly cared about sexual hara....
November 18, 2019
Queens assemblywoman secures $125,000 for Make the Road New York’s new community center in Corona
Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas joined Make the Road New York’s (MRNY) staff in Jackson Heights recently to present a check fo....
August 12, 2019
Sweeping Reform of NY Sexual Harassment Law Is Signed by Gov. Cuomo
Legislation to bolster protections for victims of sexual harassment in the workplace in New York and lower hurdles for those ....
July 31, 2019
New York Lawmakers Blast ‘Oppressive’ Ernst & Young Over Sex-Abuse Case
Assemblymember Simotas, in a separate statement, swiped at Ernst & Young’s policy, describing it as “an oppressive relic used....
July 3, 2019
SIMOTAS BILL FIGHTS HARASSMENT IN WORKPLACE
A major bill sponsored by Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas (D-36) passed both the NYS Assembly and Senate extending the rights ....
June 22, 2019
Molestie alle donne, varata la legge più severa d'America: si allargano le responsabilità dei datori di lavoro
Lo Stato di New York è diventato da giovedì sera il più severo degli Usa per quanto riguarda la lotta contro le molestie ....
June 20, 2019
Simotas Bill Extending Statute of Limitations for Rape Passes Senate, Assembly
The Assembly passed a bill Wednesday introduced by Aravella Simotas that would increase the statute of limitations for both ....
June 20, 2019
Saved! Astoria Houses Senior Center will remain open as de Blasio administration scraps closure plan
The de Blasio administration backed off an ill-conceived, cost-cutting proposal to close down the Astoria Houses Senior ....
June 19, 2019
State Legislature honors 50th anniversary of the 1969 ‘Miracle Mets’
Queens lawmakers took a break from the frantic last days of the legislative session in Albany Tuesday to honor the “Miracle ....
January 29, 2020
Lawmakers want to shake up MTA board by granting appointments to borough presidents
The boroughs could soon have a bigger say when it comes to major MTA decisions. A new bill being introduced Wednesday by ....
July 17, 2020
Op-Ed: A fast worth a thousand lives
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the public health emergency in our most vulnerable communities. New York City has been ....
March 13, 2020
Assembly Member Aravella Simotas ’04 Speaks at Women’s History Month Event
To celebrate Women’s History Month, Fordham Law Women sponsored an event at the Law School on March 5 honoring women’s contri....
March 13, 2020
Hyndman, Liu, Simotas Urge Approval of Healthy Terminals Act
“This crisis has highlighted why we need to pass this important bill now,” said Simotas. “Our airport workers are on the fro....
March 11, 2020
1199SEIU Endorses Assembly Member Aravella Simotas for New York State Assembly
The largest healthcare workers’ union in the nation announced on March 9 that it has chosen to endorse one of New York’s lead....
March 2, 2020
Queens Assemblywoman teams up with state's Sexual Harassment Working Group to continue fight for targets of sexual harassment
Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas and the Sexual Harassment Working Group are continuing their fight to make comprehensive chang....
February 9, 2020
Opinion: Why survivors need Aravella Simotas in Albany
During the first hearing on sexual harassment in New York State in more than 25 years, survivors of harassment....
February 5, 2020
Simotas Hosts Bus Redesign Feedback Session
Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas, along with NYS Senator Jessica Ramos and Community Board 1, hosted a feedback session with....
February 1, 2020
Simotas and Gounardes Call for Borough Representation on MTA Board
NEW YORK – New York State Assembly Member Aravella Simotas and State Senator Andrew Gounardes introduced legislation on....
June 19, 2019
New York takes progressive steps to combat workplace harassment, bolster LGBT rights and extend statute of limitations for rape
ALBANY — New York is expanding protections for members of the LGBT community, toughening laws to combat sexual harassment ....
January 16, 2020
Assemblymember Simotas: Striving to Better the Lives of Women and Children
Meet Aravella Simotas, the NYS Assemblywoman representing Astoria and Northwest Queens. She is an inspiration and role model ....
January 13, 2020
QNS Podcast Interview with Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas
We speak with Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas about her legislative wins from last year, her plans for 2020 and her bid for re....
January 6, 2020
101 lawmakers sign Hevesi letter demanding homelessness prevention tool
More than 100 state and local lawmakers have signed a letter to Gov. Andrew Cuomo demanding that New York establish a housing....
December 18, 2019
We Applaud The New Law Helping Small Businesses
We congratulate Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas for the enactment of her bill to provide relief to small businesses contendin....
December 11, 2019
Simotas’ Bill to Assist Small Businesses With Regulatory Changes Signed Into Law
A bill to reform the way the state enforces new regulatory measures was signed into law by Governor Andrew Cuomo on Friday. ....
December 10, 2019
Cuomo signs Queens assemblywoman’s law protecting small businesses from immediate enforcement of new regulations
Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into law on Dec. 6 a bill sponsored by Astoria Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas that will reform ....
November 21, 2019
Two years on, state record sealing law has underwhelming impact in NYC
Assemblymember Aravella Simotas took up the cause, sponsoring a bill that would amend New York State Criminal Procedure Law ....
May 2, 2019
Learning annex in, trailers out at PS 85
Councilman Costa Constantinides (D-Astoria) announced last Thursday that a state-of-the-art learning annex will replace ....
May 27, 2019
Proposed New York Bill Widens Definition of Workplace Harassment
New York lawmakers are considering a stricter standard for workplace-harassment claims that they say would better protect ....
May 24, 2019
Queens lawmakers push legislation protecting workers from hostile work environment
With less than a month remaining in the legislative session in Albany, the push is on to pass a handful of bills that ....
May 24, 2019
Survivors, lawmakers speak out before second hearing on sexual harassment
The second hearing on sexual harassment in New York state government will be held Friday in New York City. Ahead of the ....
May 24, 2019
NY Lawmakers Seek Changes to Strengthen Sexual Harassment Laws
State lawmakers in New York held their second hearing in nearly three decades on the topic of workplace sexual harassment ....
May 12, 2019
Simotas for Inclusion of In-Vitro in Ind. & Small Group Market Health Insurance Plans
NEW YORK – In a letter to the Department of Financial Services’ Superintendent Linda Lacewell and Governor Andrew Cuomo, ....
May 9, 2019
Albany must pass sex harassment bills
After the #MeToo movement exploded into the national consciousness in 2017 and 2018, New York state lawmakers recently ....
May 9, 2019
Simotas floats doctor abuse bill in Albany after City Council struggled to pass it
A new bill in Albany this week would allow some survivors of doctor abuse across the state — not just in....
May 6, 2019
Outrage over city’s plan to close senior center at Astoria Houses NYCHA complex
Astoria’s elected officials were astonished to learn that the city plans on closing the only senior center at the Astoria ....
May 28, 2019
Astoria assemblywoman unveils measures to crackdown on sexual abuse by medical professionals
In an effort to combat sexual abuse by medical professionals, Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas is introducing three pieces ....
May 1, 2019
New Annex For PS 85 In Astoria
Councilman Costa Constantinides, the Department of Education, and the School Construction Authority joined with community ....
April 26, 2019
New Building Will Replace Astoria School's Classroom Trailers
A new 476-seat annex building will replace the classroom trailers at an Astoria public school....
February 19, 2019
The Tragic Side of Tide Pods
The colorful laundry packets have become one of P&G’s biggest blockbusters. There’s only one problem—too many kids are....
January 31, 2019
Put borough representatives on the MTA board
We’ve seen the worst of the MTA here in Queens: broken switches that turn commutes into epic sagas, station renovations that ....
January 31, 2019
Lawmaker Proposes Bill to Expand Protections in NY's 'Raise the Age' Law
As New York phases in a new law to raise the age at which someone is....
January 10, 2019
New law creates ‘Bill of Rights’ for sexual assault victims
A new law signed by the governor in late December is aimed at keeping sexual assault victims informed....
December 20, 2018
New York Democratic Lawmakers Call for Tougher Sexual Harassment Laws
New York state should do more to prevent sexual harassment, including making bystander intervention....
December 19, 2018
Legislation proposed to strengthen sexual harassment laws
ALBANY — A Queens assemblywoman who has led efforts to overhaul the Assembly’s....
May 29, 2019
Simotas and Advocates Demand Better Protections vs. Harassment & Discrimination
ALBANY, NY – New York State Assemblymember Aravella Simotas and advocates from across the state gathered at the capitol ....
May 29, 2019
Newsy Finds NYPD Undercounting Rape By 38% Compared To FBI Statistics
On May 31st, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the city will update its CompStat system by the end of the ....
May 29, 2019
“We need better protections” “Necesitamos mejores protecciones”
When the state legislature held a hearing in February in Albany on workplace sexual harassment — New York’s first in 27 ....
May 29, 2019
New York legislation inspired by sex assault survivor would combat abuse by doctors
A New York State legislator is proposing a trio of bills inspired by a woman whose story shed light on a Columbia ....
May 30, 2019
Anti-harassment bills intro’d
Inspired by advocate Marissa Hoechstetter’s testimony in Albany about sexual assault by her gynecologist, Assemblywoman ....
May 30, 2019
Report: NYPD Has Systematically Undercounted Rapes In NYC For Years
A new analysis of city crime stats has found that the NYPD systematically undercounted rape statistics for the last seven ....
May 31, 2019
Three bills would protect patients 'uniquely vulnerable to sexual violence'
Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas, a New York City Democrat who represents the 36th District, which includes Astoria, has ....
May 31, 2019
Former Bronx teacher raped by city cop returns to Albany to fight for ‘rape is rape’ bill
ALBANY — A former Bronx schoolteacher sexually assaulted at gunpoint by an off-duty NYPD cop nearly a decade ago returned ....
May 31, 2019
Officials: Tougher sex harassment law could be passed next week
ALBANY — The State Legislature and Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo have reached an agreement to significantly strengthen the state’s sex....
June 2, 2019
Queens assemblywoman urges legislation to prevent repeat of notorious case involving disgraced Columbia gynecologist
A Queens assemblywoman is pushing a series of bills to increase transparency of doctors facing allegations of misconduct ....
June 3, 2019
Highlights From The Queens Pride Parade In Jackson Heights
JACKSON HEIGHTS, QUEENS — Tens of thousands of people flocked to Jackson Heights this Sunday to kick off Pride month with ....
June 5, 2019
Allow Trucks on Grand Central to Ease 'Paralyzing' Astoria Traffic: Pols
ASTORIA — Elected officials are calling on the Department of Transportation to allow large trucks to drive on a portion ....
June 12, 2019
Actress Mira Sorvino reveals she was a victim of date rape as she pushes for stronger New York laws
ALBANY - Award-winning actress Mira Sorvino said Wednesday she was once the victim of date rape, revealing it publicly ....
June 14, 2019
Hellenic Professional Women Host #MeToo Movement Panel
NEW YORK – On June 10 Hellenic Professional Women (HPW) presented a panel on the #MeToo movement, sexual harassment ....
About Aravella
Aravella led reforms that established equal pay protections for public employees and assisted small business owners with understanding and complying with new regulatory requirements.
Aravella fought to pass the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act to give renters the strongest protections in the state’s history and hosted informative sessions to help tenants in Queens know their rights. She is committed to improving public education and secured $5 million in funding for improvements to local schools in 2019.
As Chair of the Assembly’s Task Force on Women’s Issues, Aravella is focused on expanding gender equality, protecting reproductive rights and supporting survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence.
About Aravella
Aravella led reforms that established equal pay protections for public employees and assisted small business owners with understanding and complying with new regulatory requirements.
Aravella fought to pass the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act to give renters the strongest protections in the state’s history and hosted informative sessions to help tenants in Queens know their rights. She is committed to improving public education and secured $5 million in funding for improvements to local schools in 2019.
As Chair of the Assembly’s Task Force on Women’s Issues, Aravella is focused on expanding gender equality, protecting reproductive rights and supporting survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence.
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Astoria, NY 11102
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