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Jamaica Estates, South Jamaica Estates, Rochdale, Springfield.

GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS
Take a look at all the latest results for the November 5, 2002 general
election.
x-Vivian E. Cook (Dem) 14,198 - 96 percent
Rachel Gordon (Ind) 592 - 4 percent
Candidates:
- Vivian E. Cook (Dem/Lib) Incumbent
- Rachel A. Gordon (Ind)
BIOGRAPHIES
Assemblywoman Vivian E. Cook (Dem/Lib), a member of the New
York State Assembly since 1991, is the chairwoman of the
Queens County Democratic Committee. Cook also is a member
of the Democratic National Committee and the Queens County
Executive Committee and was appointed chair of the Task
Force on Food, Farm and Nutrition Policy in 2000. She sits
on the Committee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse; Codes;
Corporations, Authorities and Commissions; Economic
Development, Job Creation, Commerce and Industry; Housing;
Insurance; and Majority Steering. Cook is a member of the
Criminal Justice Task Force, and Treasurer of the New York
State Black and Puerto Rican Legislative Caucus.
* * * * *
Rachel A. Gordon (Ind) is a native of South Jamaica who grew up
in the South Jamaica Housing Project. Gordon has degrees in
Community Counseling Psychology and Human Service
Administration from Springfield College School of Human
Services in Wilmington, Delaware; as well as a Bachelor of
Technology from New York City Technical College. She most
recently served as the Supportive Housing Director for the
Southeast Queens Clergy for Community Empowerment and was
previously the Senior Residence Director at the YMCA of
Greater New York.

7 BILLS IMPORTANT TO NEW YORK CITY RESIDENTS THAT YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE IS LIKELY TO VOTE ON IN THE NEXT TERM:
1. Rent Regulation: The current rent regulation laws expire in June 2003. Supporters of rent regulation hope that the current provisions will be extended for another five years and that the legislature will repeal the provision which deregulates apartments that rent for $2,000 or more a month. The State Assembly passed such a bill this year, but it died in the Senate in the face of opposition from Majority Leader Joseph Bruno. If the Legislature does not take concerted action in June, rent regulation in New York City will end.
In 2002 Assemblymember Cook voted in favor of repealing vacancy decontrol, the law that permits landlords to increase rent 18 percent automatically whenever a tenant moves out.
2. Commuter Tax: In 1999, when the State Legislature repealed the Commuter Tax, the city's economy was good. Reinstatement of the Commuter Tax is likely to come up again this Spring as the City's economy takes a turn for the worse.
In 1999 Assemblymember Cook voted in favor of repealing the commuter tax.
3. School Funding: Even with mayoral control of the school system, more than 40 percent of New York City's school funding comes from Albany. Next year's budget will determine how much money New York City's schools will get from the state.
4. Rockefeller drug laws: New York's drug laws, passed in 1973 by Governor Nelson Rockefeller, are among the harshest in the nation. The Democratic-controlled Assembly, Republican-controlled Senate, and the Governor have not been able to agree on how to reform these laws, look for renewed negotiations and new legislation in the next term.
5. Minimum Wage: Currently set at $5.15 an hour, Democrats will likely propose raising the minimum wage to $6.75 an hour, a proposal that passed the Assembly, but failed to ever get to the floor of the Senate last year.
Raising Minimum Wage - vote on A5132 In 2002 Assemblymember Cook voted in favor of raising the minimum wage.
6. Sexual Orientation Non Discrimination Act: This has been floating around the New York State Legislature for 30 years, with the Governor's support, it is likely to come up for a vote again next Spring.
7. Campaign Finance Reform: Some 80 organizations have proposed a "Clean Money, Clean Elections" bill for the New York State Legislature. Like the New York City law, it would establish a system under which candidates who comply with limits on campaign spending and contributions Last year, Speaker Sheldon Silver introduced a bill to provide two-to-one public matching of campaign contributions. The bill passed the Assembly, but it died in the Senate in the face of opposition from Majority Leader Joseph Bruno.
In 2002 Assemblymember Cook voted in favor of two-to-one public matching of campaign contributions.
HOW SOME ORGANIZATIONS RANKED ASSEMBLYMEMBER VIVIAN E. COOK:
EMPIRE STATE PRIDE AGENDA
Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act
The Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act adds actual or
perceived sexual orientation to the state's existing laws
which prohibit discrimination in employment, housing, public
accommodations, education, and credit on the basis of age,
race, creed, color, national origin, sex, disability or
marital status.
Pride Agenda's Position: SUPPORT
Vivian E. Cook's Position: SUPPORT
Hate Crimes Act
The Hate Crimes Act enhances criminal penalties for a long
list of crimes in which perpetrators intentionally select a
target based on the victim's actual or perceived race,
color, national origin, ancestry, gender, religion,
religious practice, age, disability or sexual orientation.
The Hate Crimes Act also requires the state to collect,
analyze and annually report on data regarding hate crimes
throughout the state.
Pride Agenda's Position: SUPPORT
Vivian E. Cook's Position: SUPPORT
THE BUSINESS COUNCIL OF NEW YORK STATE
Comparable Worth Bill
This bill enacts the "New York State Fair Pay Act" which
declares it unlawful to discriminate between employees of
different sexes for work that is of comparable worth.
BC of NYS Position: OPPOSITION
Vivian E. Cook's Position: SUPPORT
Act to Increase State Minimum Wage
This act amends the labor law, raising state minimum wage
from $5.15 to $6.75 an hour as of January 1, 2003.
BC of NYS Position: OPPOSITION
Vivian E. Cook's Position:SUPPORT
NEW YORK STATE AFL-CIO
Act to Amend the Retirement and Social Security Law
regarding Age of Retirees
This act decreases the age at which public retirees may
re-enter public employment without losing any of their
benefits from 70 to 65.
AFL-CIO's Position: SUPPORT
Vivian E. Cook's Position: NO VOTE
Act to Amend the Labor Law regarding Employer Responsibilities
This act stipulates that the failure to post a statement of
wage rates and supplements at any job site shall be regarded
as a misdemeanor and subject to a civil penalty. It
requires maintenance of "sign-in" and "sign-out" sheets upon
the request of the fiscal officer.
AFL-CIO's Position: SUPPORT
Vivian E. Cook's Position: SUPPORT
FAMILY PLANNING ADVOCATES OF NEW YORK STATE
Emergency Contraception for Rape Survivors Act
This act requires hospitals to provide information on
emergency contraception and, upon request of a rape
survivor, to distribute emergency contraception to rape
survivors during emergency treatment.
Family Planning Association of New York's Position: SUPPORT
Vivian E. Cook's Position: SUPPORT
Contraceptive Coverage Equality Act
This act requires health and accident insurance policies
that provide coverage for prescription drugs to cover the
costs of contraceptives prescribed by a healthcare provider
authorized to prescribe drugs according to the education
laws.
Family Planning Association of New York's Position: SUPPORT
Vivian E. Cook's Position: SUPPORT
Immigrant Healthcare Act
This measure allows aliens to receive medical assistance
with less difficulty and calls for state reimbursement of
certain medical assistance and family health plus costs
incurred on behalf of certain aliens.
Family Planning Association of New York's Position: SUPPORT
Vivian E. Cook's Position: SUPPORT
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