New York State Assembly, Phara Souffrant Forrest

Phara earned her bachelor's degree in international relations at SUNY Geneseo, her associate's degree in nursing at CUNY City Tech, and her bachelor's degree in nursing at CUNY School of Professional Studies. She lives in Crown Heights with her husband and child.

Phara was previously a nurse. She also held jobs in New York City public schools, as an Uber driver, and doing youth advocacy work at Global Kids.

Phara Souffrant Forrest is an assemblymember in State Assembly District 57. She was first elected in 2020 and is serving her 2nd term.

Candidate website

Supports ending the "misclassification of gig workers."

Wants to end the "cruel misclassification of gig workers."

Supports increased wages for home care workers.

Supports raising taxes on the top 5 percent of earners, Wall Street speculation, and corporate profits to fund social programs for equitable COVID-19 recovery.

Supported raising taxes on the top 5% of earners, certain investment income, and corporate profits to fund social programs for equitable COVID-19 recovery.

As a state representative, supported higher income taxes on wealthy individuals and corporations, raising $4.5 billion to avoid financial catastrophe, fund social services, and support the Excluded Workers Fund for undocumented workers.

As a state representative, supported the Excluded Workers Fund for undocumented workers.

- Wants to end the "cruel misclassification of gig workers."
- Supports increased wages for home care workers.
- Supported raising taxes on the top 5% of earners, certain investment income, and corporate profits to fund social programs for equitable COVID-19 recovery.
- As a state representative, supported the Excluded Workers Fund for undocumented workers.

Economy

Supports divesting state funds from fossil fuels and banning new fossil fuel power plants.

Supports the Build Public Renewables Act, which would create democratically controlled public utilities.

- Supports divesting state funds from fossil fuels and banning new fossil fuel power plants.
- Supports the Build Public Renewables Act, which would create democratically controlled public utilities.

Energy & the Environment

Supports free, universal healthcare through the New York Health Act.

Supports expanding healthcare coverage to undocumented New Yorkers.

- Supports free, universal healthcare through the New York Health Act.
- Supports expanding healthcare coverage to undocumented New Yorkers.

Healthcare

Voting & Elections

As a state senator, sponsored the Less Is More Act, which ended prison time for minor parole violations.

Supports expanding parole eligibility for incarcerated individuals with mental health and substance use needs.

- As a state senator, sponsored the Less Is More Act, which ended prison time for minor parole violations.
- Supports expanding parole eligibility for incarcerated individuals with mental health and substance use needs.

Public Safety

Supports a free public university system by advocating for the New Deal for CUNY legislation.

- Supports a free public university system by advocating for the New Deal for CUNY legislation.
- Supports universal childcare.

Education

Supports allowing tenants to buy their buildings instead of selling to developers.

Supports letting tenants buy their buildings instead of selling to developers.

Supports "Good Cause" eviction protections to guarantee lease renewals for all New York tenants.

Supports providing housing vouchers for unhoused individuals.

Supports providing housing vouchers for unhoused people.

Supports "fully funding NYCHA" (New York City Housing Authority).

- Supports letting tenants buy their buildings instead of selling to developers.
- Supports "Good Cause" eviction protections to guarantee lease renewals for all New York tenants.
- Supports providing housing vouchers for unhoused people.
- Supports "fully funding NYCHA" (New York City Housing Authority).

Housing & Urban Development

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Phara Souffrant Forrest

Phara earned her bachelor's degree in international relations at SUNY Geneseo, her associate's degree in nursing at CUNY City Tech, and her bachelor's in nursing at CUNY School of Professional Studies. She lives in Crown Heights with her husband and child.

Phara Souffrant Forrest is the assemblymember for New York's 57th Assembly District. She was first elected in 2020, and this is her second term.

Supports raising taxes on the top 5 percent of earners, certain investment income, and corporate profits to fund social programs for equitable COVID-19 recovery.

Supports taxing wealthy individuals and corporations.

Supports higher income taxes on wealthy individuals and corporations to fund social programs and support economic recovery.

Supports raising taxes on the top 5 percent of earners, Wall Street speculation, and corporate profits to fund social programs.

- Wants to end the "cruel misclassification of gig workers."
- Supports increased wages for home care workers.
- Supports raising taxes on the top 5 percent of earners, certain investment income, and corporate profits to fund social programs for equitable COVID-19 recovery.
- As a state representative, supported the Excluded Workers Fund for undocumented workers.

Supports removing barriers to healthcare access.

Supports the right to vote in the Democratic Primary for individuals who are at least 18 years old, US citizens, and have registered as a Democrat by June 3, 2022.

Rejects "ALL corporate donations and developer dollars."

Believes in creating a New York where everyone, regardless of income or background, can succeed, and supports prioritizing working-class needs over "the corrupt establishment and powerful special interests."

As a state assembly member, passed laws to increase parole justice.

Believes minor technical violations should not result in reincarceration, saying "Sending people back to prison, especially for minor procedural hiccups endangers their safety and ability to join the workforce, destabilizes their families and communities, and contributes to the overcrowding of state prisons."

As of September 23, 2024, Phara Souffrant Forrest’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Phara Souffrant Forrest is a nurse and has been representing central Brooklyn in the New York State Assembly since 2021.

Phara Souffrant Forrest has represented central Brooklyn in the New York State Assembly since 2021.

- Your assembly member is involved in the legislative process at the state level as part of the New York State Assembly, which consists of 150 members and serves as the lower house of the New York State Legislature.  
- Assembly members are responsible for representing your interests and assisting you with navigating state services while bringing resources back to your district.  
- Assembly members draft laws, approve budgets, oversee the state executive branch, and engage in debates and votes on proposed legislation.  
- In addition to drafting and voting on bills, your assembly member can serve on committees, where many bills may be delayed before reaching a vote.  
- Assembly members are elected for a two-year term with no term limits.  
- Their annual salary is $142,000.  