Roxanne J. Persaud as President of the 69th Precinct Community Council in Canarsie, member of Community Board 18, and Commissioner on the New York City Districting Commission.

2026 New York General Election

2020 NYC Votes candidate statement: “We have great schools and talented teachers; but more funding is needed to ensure our students have the best opportunities available to them. Our neighbors who run the City’s hospitals, airports and facilities deserve the same compensation and status as everyone else.”

Meet the Candidates: Roxanne J. Persaud

Under “Helping Small Businesses Stay Open During COVID-19,” the Persaud campaign page lists: “Authorization of outdoor dining and beverage sales in municipal spaces until 2025 (Ch. 238 – 2021, Ch. 277 – 2022). Prohibition of COVID-19-related negative experience rating charges in employers’ unemployment insurance premiums, (Ch. 21 – 2021).”

Our Issues – Roxanne J. Persaud

Question 27 asked about making college and graduate school affordable and easing student debt. Persaud responded: “I sponsored legislation that became law (Chapter 323 of 2019) which created statutory exemptions for balances in NY 529 college savings accounts, from public assistance income and asset tests.”

Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Roxanne J. Persaud for NY Senate District 19

Question 34 asked whether Persaud would push for Home Stability Support to bridge the difference between public-assistance shelter allowances and fair-market rents. She responded: “As a co-sponsor of S2375; as Chair of the Senate Social Services Committee (which has reported the bill); and as a member of the Human Services Budget Working Group (which has strongly advocated for the necessary appropriations), I can confidently say that I have and will continue to push for the passage of Home Stability Support (HSS).”

Under “Protecting & Lifting Up Vulnerable New Yorkers,” the Persaud campaign page lists: “Exemption of income earned from participation in the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) from public assistance household budgeting so as not to penalize youth from seeking summer employment and work experience, eff. November 25, 2019 (Ch. 544 – 2019).”

Under “Helping Small Businesses Stay Open During COVID-19,” the Persaud campaign page lists: “Authorization of outdoor dining and beverage sales in municipal spaces until 2025 (Ch. 238 – 2021, Ch. 277 – 2022).”

Advocates equal compensation and employment status for workers at city hospitals, airports, and facilities.

Supports barring COVID-19-related negative experience-rating charges in employers' unemployment-insurance premiums.

Sponsored a law excluding New York 529 college-savings balances from public-assistance income and asset tests.

Co-sponsored and continues to advocate for Home Stability Support, which would address gaps between shelter allowances and market rents.

Supports excluding Summer Youth Employment Program earnings from public-assistance household income calculations.

Supports authorizing outdoor dining and beverage sales in municipal spaces.

- Advocates equal compensation and employment status for workers at city hospitals, airports, and facilities.
- Supports barring COVID-19-related negative experience-rating charges in employers' unemployment-insurance premiums.
- Sponsored a law excluding New York 529 college-savings balances from public-assistance income and asset tests.
- Co-sponsored and continues to advocate for Home Stability Support, which would address gaps between shelter allowances and market rents.
- Supports excluding Summer Youth Employment Program earnings from public-assistance household income calculations.
- Supports authorizing outdoor dining and beverage sales in municipal spaces.

Economy

As of September 9, 2026, Roxanne J. Persaud’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Energy & the Environment

Question 28: “Do you support a single-payer universal health care system? Please elaborate.” Persaud responded: “I fully support the New York Health Act, also known as ‘Medicare for All’ as sponsored by Senator Gustavo Rivera.”

Question 29: “Discuss your stance on reproductive rights, including access to contraceptives and abortion services.” Persaud responded: “I will gladly accept any negative ratings by conservative interests (and community opposition) due to my strong stances in support of various reproductive health measures (including contraception and abortion services) that continue to come under threat by the federal government.”

In a January 21, 2025 Senate press release on women's health legislation, Persaud is identified as S.1720's sponsor and said: “This bill S.1720 is an essential step toward increasing awareness about the symptoms and health risks of perimenopause and menopause, as well as the benefits of hormone therapy treatments. It will provide essential information to the public, empowering New Yorkers to better manage their symptoms with increased knowledge that will guide them when speaking with their medical professionals and, in turn, improve their access to care and its outcome.”

New York State Senate Expands Reproductive Protections, Women’s Health, and Privacy | NYSenate.gov

On its “Ensuring Basic Human Dignity” section, the Persaud campaign issues page lists: “Modernizing many state statutes to incorporate affirming people-first language and replacing the outdated ‘R’ word in referring to people with disabilities (Ch. 477 & 479 – 2022). Prohibition on performing pelvic exams on unconsenting anesthetized or unconscious persons, eff. April 4, 2020 (Ch. 360 – 2019).”

Supports the New York Health Act, a single-payer health care proposal also known as “Medicare for All.”

Supports access to contraception and abortion services.

Sponsored S.1720 to increase public education about perimenopause, menopause, and hormone-therapy treatment.

Supports prohibiting pelvic exams on anesthetized or unconscious people without their consent.

- Supports the New York Health Act, a single-payer health care proposal also known as “Medicare for All.”
- Supports access to contraception and abortion services.
- Sponsored S.1720 to increase public education about perimenopause, menopause, and hormone-therapy treatment.
- Supports prohibiting pelvic exams on anesthetized or unconscious people without their consent.

Healthcare

Voting & Elections

Question 14: “Do you believe sincere remorse, risk of reoffending and actions taken while incarcerated should be considered over the original crime in determinations of parole?” Persaud responded: “I think it should be strongly taken into consideration.”

Question 17: “Do you believe in the decriminalization of sex work? Are you sponsoring the bill introduced by Jessica Ramos?” Persaud responded: “I have not supported the legislation but will continue to listen to the discussions.”

Under “addressing the issues,” the Persaud campaign page lists: “Creation of a New York State Firearm Violence Research Institute within the State University of New York system, eff. February 6, 2022 (Ch. 595 – 2021).”

Under “addressing the issues,” the Persaud campaign page lists: “Establishing the crime of unlawful installation of a gas meter, a class b misdemeanor, to apply to any utility gas meter installed by a person not employed or authorized by a public utility or the Public Service Commission, eff. July 16, 2021 (Ch. 274 – 2021).”

Under “addressing the issues,” the Persaud campaign page lists: “Enacts a permanent Enhanced Multi-disciplinary Teams (E-MDT) program within the NYS Office for the Aging to investigate acts of elder fraud and abuse, eff. July 1, 2021 (Ch. 223 – 2021).”

Under “addressing the issues,” the Persaud campaign page lists: “Authorization for reimbursement of employment-related transportation expenses of crime victims that sustained physical injuries, eff. April 5, 2021 (Ch. 233 – 2020).”

Believes parole decisions should strongly consider remorse, risk of reoffending, and conduct while incarcerated.

Does not support legislation to decriminalize sex work, while remaining open to discussion.

Supports a State University of New York-based Firearm Violence Research Institute.

Supports making unauthorized installation of utility gas meters a misdemeanor.

Supports a permanent multidisciplinary state program to investigate elder fraud and abuse.

Supports reimbursing employment-related transportation expenses incurred by physically injured crime victims.

- Believes parole decisions should strongly consider remorse, risk of reoffending, and conduct while incarcerated.
- Does not support legislation to decriminalize sex work, while remaining open to discussion.
- Supports a State University of New York-based Firearm Violence Research Institute.
- Supports making unauthorized installation of utility gas meters a misdemeanor.
- Supports a permanent multidisciplinary state program to investigate elder fraud and abuse.
- Supports reimbursing employment-related transportation expenses incurred by physically injured crime victims.

Public Safety

2020 NYC Votes candidate statement: “As your Senator, I will continue to be a champion for our district. We have great schools and talented teachers; but more funding is needed to ensure our students have the best opportunities available to them.”

Under “Education,” the Persaud campaign page lists: “Grants, in perpetuity, a statutory authorization for non-citizen permanent residents to become permanently certified teachers provided they meet all other qualifications (Ch. 422 – 2019).”

Supports increased funding for schools to expand student opportunities.

Supports permanent certification eligibility for qualified teachers who are noncitizen permanent residents.

- Supports increased funding for schools to expand student opportunities.
- Supports permanent certification eligibility for qualified teachers who are noncitizen permanent residents.

Education

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Roxanne J. Persaud

- Supports excluding Summer Youth Employment Program earnings from public-assistance household income calculations.
- Supports authorizing outdoor dining and beverage sales in municipal spaces.

- Sponsored S.1720 to increase public education about perimenopause, menopause, and hormone-therapy treatment.
- Supports prohibiting pelvic exams on anesthetized or unconscious people without their consent.

- Supports a State University of New York-based Firearm Violence Research Institute.
- Supports making unauthorized installation of utility gas meters a misdemeanor.
- Supports a permanent multidisciplinary state program to investigate elder fraud and abuse.
- Supports reimbursing employment-related transportation expenses incurred by physically injured crime victims.

- Supports permanent certification eligibility for qualified teachers who are noncitizen permanent residents.

Mauricio Mendez

Buket Urgen

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