Sophia Resciniti is the Republican candidate to represent District 123 in the New York State Assembly. Resciniti has served on the Binghamton City Council for three years, representing District 2 on Binghamton’s West Side. Last year, she was elected as council president. Resciniti is a licensed clinical social worker and the former director of field education for Binghamton University’s department of social work.
What motivated you to run for this position?
“My motivation to run for this seat came from being a mother, a small business owner, social worker, immigrant and city councilwoman. As a mother, I’m watching my children leave this area to find opportunity in other places. As a small business owner, I can speak first-hand about the challenges businesses are facing due to suffocating regulations passed down from Albany. As a social worker I’m hearing loud and clear the voices of those who are barely making ends meet due to rising costs and their fears regarding increased crime. As someone who migrated to this country, to this area specifically, for opportunity, I’m frustrated to see so many families flee [New York] state. I want young people and families to stay in our area. I’m motivated to run for this position to bring back opportunities hampered by the same old out-of-touch Albany politicians.”
How does your background and previous experience make you a good candidate for this position?
“I believe my experiences uniquely qualify me for this race. I migrated to this country for the American Dream. I was the first in my family to go to college and I chose the profession of Social Work where I’ve worked with marginalized populations such as women and children experiencing domestic violence and the elderly. I’m the mother of four children and a small business owner. I can speak first hand as to how Albany has made it difficult to raise a family, to have a small business and to feel safe in our area. What makes me a good candidate is the fact that I’m not a career politician. I bring a new perspective, one that is filled with real life experiences. Experiences that unlike those who’ve been in Albany for decades, folks in the community can relate to.”
What do you believe are the biggest issues facing your district and how do you plan to approach them?
“I have knocked on thousands of doors. It is constituents who are identifying the biggest issues in our community and asking for change. The top two are the economy and crime. Binghamton graduates will soon be looking to start careers and nothing would make me happier than to have our bright and talented graduates from BU stay right here. In order for that to happen we have to make changes. Albany, over the last 20 years, has adopted a hostile relationship with business and scared away countless jobs. Families are leaving our state in an unprecedented way. Small business owners I’ve talked to, say they are barely hanging on after years of suffocating regulations from Albany. We should be working with businesses to expand and grow. We should be looking to create a business climate to attract 21st century businesses, like high tech and green energy. It’s no secret that crime is on the rise. While knocking on doors, I noticed the increase of cameras at people’s homes just over the last 3 years. They talked to me about their concerns to walk in their neighborhoods, letting their children walk to school or go to parks. They are asking for politicians in Albany to support victims and law-abiding citizens and to repeal the disastrous bail reform bill that is nothing more than a ‘catch and release’ program for dangerous career criminals.”
Many students and community members are concerned about the increasing prices of housing in the area as well as many reported infractions made by landlords. How do you plan to address housing?
“Affordable housing is in issue that affects this district, and all communities across New York state. On City Council, I voted to expand affordable housing through new housing projects, partnerships with the Broome County Land Bank, and allocating federal funding to support housing services and new construction. New York state needs to do a better job of moving these housing projects through approval. There is a ton of red tape and delays to build new affordable housing, and it’s more expensive in New York state than many other states with mandates from state government. As the next member of the Assembly, I would hold accountable the state agencies to more quickly expend funding to municipalities to support affordable housing, and provide additional funding to places like Binghamton, Johnson City and Endicott to expand code enforcement services to crack down on bad landlords taking advantage of families.”
Access to reproductive health care has been a big concern for many students and young people across the nation. What do you plan to do to address these concerns?
“I am pro-choice. As a woman, mother of daughters and a social worker, I’m proud to have stood up for women’s rights my entire life. I strongly believe in women’s reproductive rights and I’m on the Board of Family Planning of South Central NY. As a member of the Assembly, I will not support legislation that would take that away.”
What do you offer the students and youth of Broome County and why should they vote for you?
“I offer students and youth in this area a fresh new voice. I am someone who loves this area and while I may not always agree with everyone on every issue, I do listen to everyone’s point of view. Nothing would make me happier than to have our bright and talented graduates from BU stay right here. I am accessible and my door will always be open, not just during election years.”