“Growing up, my family didn’t have much. I saw many talented friends who didn’t make it and lost a brother to street violence. As a Councilman and State Senator, I’ve gotten too many calls alerting me to yet another child lost to senseless gun violence. And now the whole country sees that this violence can happen any place at any time. This gun violence has to stop.”
GUN CONTROL & PUBLIC SAFETY
Robert is responsive to the concerns of his constituents and believes everyone should have a right to feel safe in their neighborhoods. That’s why he supports solutions that address the true roots of crime, funding mental health services, drug treatment, and housing programs, as well as anti-violence and youth outreach initiatives. He also sponsored a bill intended to stop the flow of guns into our state by allowing individuals to sue manufacturers and traffickers.
Police also need to build back trust with the communities they serve in, which is why Robert voted to end the Qualified Immunity policy that allowed bad officers to stay unaccountable. Mass incarceration of black and brown people has also failed to make anyone safer, which is why he supports the Fair & Timely Parole and Elder Parole bills. He also sponsored a bill restricting ICE from detaining innocent undocumented people who contribute so much to our community.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Fought to make New York a leader in the fight against gun violence, including passing first in the nation laws strengthening background checks, banning untraceable ghost guns, expanding red flag laws, and keeping schools and public places gun-free.
Initiated Community Gun Prevention Task force.
Worked with community groups fighting to get guns off the street.
Co-sponsored criminal justice reforms include removing cash bail for most misdemeanors and non-violent felonies, reforming the speedy trial provisions, and making the exchange of discovery in criminal cases mandatory and quicker. We also decriminalized marijuana possession and expunged records for those with only marijuana-related charges.
Sponsored Buy Back Programs.
Worked to fund trained violence interrupters in every neighborhood.
Advocated for stronger state and federal legislation.