Tocci Assailed for “Shameful” Record on Civil Rights

( August 20, 2002 ) Assemblyman Ron Tocci came under fire today from human rights activists for his consistent opposition to civil rights and anti-discrimination laws.

“Ron Tocci’s record on civil rights and human rights is shameful,” said Christopher DiGiorgio, the Co-President of the Stonewall Democrats of Westchester. “In fact, it may be the worst in the entire State Assembly. Mr. Tocci has voted repeatedly to deny hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers their basic civil rights, voted against New York’s Hate Crimes Law, and even voted to permit discrimination against hospital patients. It is unconscionable that, in this day and age, an Assemblyman thinks it’s okay to fire someone from a job or deny them health care simply because they are gay.”

An analysis of Tocci’s voting record supports DiGiorgio’s conclusions. Tocci has voted at least six times against Bias Crime legislation and at least nine times against the Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act. He was the only Democrat in the entire State Assembly to vote against New York’s Hate Crimes Law in 2000, and was one of just three Assembly Members, of either party, to vote against the Hospital Non-Discrimination Act.

Tocci faces a Democratic primary against New Rochelle City Councilman and former Nita Lowey aide Noam Bramson. Tocci has also received the nominations of the Republican and Conservative Parties.

The focus on Tocci’s civil rights and human rights record comes as Bramson receives a key endorsement from the Empire State Pride Agenda. “Noam Bramson has a strong, clear commitment to equal opportunity for all New Yorkers. We are confident that he will be a leader on human rights issues in the Assembly, and we will work actively for his election,” said Joseph Grabarz, Jr., the group’s Executive Director.

“I believe that all people deserve protection from discrimination,” said Bramson. “My commitment to fairness and equality is one of the fundamental reasons I entered public life, and I will always fight for social justice.”

Robin Nichinsky, of the Mamaroneck/Larchmont Human Rights Commission, expressed concern about any legislator who fails to support basic human rights and anti-discrimination laws. “Our Commission, “ says Nichinsky, “has consistently supported these laws, and I am troubled by any legislator who opposes such common sense measures in Albany.”

“Ron Tocci is clearly out of step with with his own constituents on civil rights issues,” said civil rights activist Kathie Davidson. “This is the Twenty-First century, and we have an Assemblyman whose mindset belongs in the Nineteenth. We need leaders like Noam Bramson, who truly believe in fairness and equal opportunity.”

Tocci’s “Shameful” Record on Civil Rights and Human Rights

1991

A.6786 – Voted against Bias Crimes Bill to prohibit bias-related violence and intimidation and make it a criminal offense.

1993

A.5906 – Voted against this bill to require Cooperative Apartment Corporations to state their reasons for rejecting potential buyers. The bill was in response to ongoing discrimination problems based on “race, religion, national origin or sex.”

1994

A.1336 – Voted against SONDA – the Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act. Prohibits sexual orientation discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, education and credit.

A.2103 - Voted against Bias Crimes Bill to prohibit bias-related violence and intimidation and make it a criminal offense.

A.5906 – Voted against this bill to require Cooperative Apartment Corporations to state their reasons for rejecting potential buyers. The bill was in response to ongoing discrimination problems based on “race, religion, national origin or sex.”

1995

A.3801 - Voted against SONDA. Prohibits sexual orientation discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, education and credit.

A.5405 - Voted against Bias Crimes Bill to prohibit bias-related violence and intimidation and make it a criminal offense.

A.5461 – Voted against Hospital Non-Discrimination Act which provides that no hospital shall discriminate because of race, color, creed, national origin, sex, disability within the capacity of the hospital to provide treatment, sexual orientation or source of payment in admission or retention of patients.

1996

A.3801 - Voted against SONDA. Prohibits sexual orientation discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, education and credit.

A.5405 - Voted against Bias Crimes Bill to prohibit bias-related violence and intimidation and make it a criminal offense. It includes sexual orientation as one of the prohibited categories.

1997

A.2826 - Voted against SONDA. Prohibits sexual orientation discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, education and credit.

1998

A.2826 - Voted against SONDA. Prohibits sexual orientation discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, education and credit.

A.1242 - Voted against Bias Crimes Bill to prohibit bias-related violence and intimidation and make it a criminal offense. It includes sexual orientation as one of the prohibited categories.

1999

A.811 - Voted against SONDA. Prohibits sexual orientation discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, education and credit.

A.1573 – Absent from vote on Bias Crimes Bill to prohibit bias-related violence and intimidation and make it a criminal offense.

A.3314 - Voted against Hospital Non-Discrimination Act which provides that no hospital shall discriminate because of race, color, creed, national origin, sex, disability within the capacity of the hospital to provide treatment, sexual orientation or source of payment in admission or retention of patients.

2000

A.811 - Voted against SONDA. Prohibits sexual orientation discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, education and credit.

A.1573 – Voted against Bias Crimes Bill to prohibit bias-related violence and intimidation and make it a criminal offense. It includes sexual orientation as one of the prohibited categories.

S.4691-A/A.30002 - Voted against the "Hate Crimes Act of 2000"; provides that the commission of certain specified crimes which are committed in whole or substantial part because of a belief or perception regarding the race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, religion, age, disability or sexual orientation of an individual shall be punishable as hate crimes.

2001

A.1971 - Voted against SONDA. Prohibits sexual orientation discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, education and credit.

2002

A.1971 - Voted against SONDA. Prohibits sexual orientation discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, education and credit.

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