Jon Rivera
DemocraticQ1 Data centers are a controversial part of America’s growing AI industry, supporting cutting-edge innovation and potential job creation, but raising issues of resource use and utility costs. New York now has a moratorium on data center construction. At the same time, state tax law grants tax exemptions to equipment and services used by data centers, which some proposed legislation would repeal. What do you see as the right balance of costs and benefits for new data center construction in New York, and how would your policies accomplish that balance?
Artificial intelligence presents significant opportunities for economic growth, research, and job creation, but those benefits cannot come at the expense of ratepayers, local communities, or our climate goals. I was a big supporter of legislation establishing a moratorium on large-scale data centers because New York needs a framework that fully evaluates their impacts on energy demand, water use, and utility costs.
New York should welcome innovation, but we have to ensure that taxpayers and utility customers are not subsidizing projects that strain our electric grid or undermine our climate commitments.
KEYWORDS: Responsible AI, Energy Infrastructure, Labor Standards, Community Benefits
Q2 New York currently generates about 47% of its energy from low carbon sources including nuclear, hydropower, and wind and solar, with the remainder coming from combustion sources (natural gas, oil, biofuel, and solid waste). While New York committed to shifting to low-carbon energy sources and emissions reductions in passing the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), Governor Hochul recently moved to delay implementation of several components of the state’s climate law to December 31, 2028. As concerns about energy costs, reliability, and emissions grow, what energy sources would you prioritize, under what timeline, and what evidence would guide that decision?
I believe we have to continue implementing the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act while ensuring affordability and grid reliability. I support an “all-of-the-above” clean energy strategy that prioritizes renewable energy, energy storage, hydropower, existing nuclear generation, energy efficiency, and transmission upgrades.
We know that climate change is already affecting New York through extreme weather, flooding, and public health impacts. At the same time, families are concerned about utility bills and reliability. Those concerns must be addressed through investments that lower long-term costs, expand clean energy supply, and modernize our grid.
KEYWORDS: Clean Energy, Reliability, Affordability, Climate Action
Q3 Young adults say that social media is their top source of science information, but acknowledge that it is less trustworthy compared to other sources. In addition, the widespread usage of social media and other sources of scientific information has resulted in the spread of misinformation that has spurred public education policies to curb it, such as a NYC vaccine misinformation legislation. What role should public education play in combatting misinformation and disseminating trustworthy, up to date scientific information to students and their families?
Public education plays a critical role in helping students and families navigate an increasingly complex information environment. Schools should focus on teaching critical thinking, media literacy, digital literacy, and scientific reasoning so students can evaluate information sources and distinguish credible evidence from misinformation.
Rather than promoting particular viewpoints, educational institutions should equip students with the tools to ask questions, verify claims, and understand how scientific knowledge develops through evidence, peer review, and ongoing research.
I also support strengthening partnerships between schools, universities, public health agencies, libraries, and community organizations to make trusted scientific information more accessible.
KEYWORDS: Media Literacy, Critical Thinking, Science Education, Public Trust
Q4 Pesticides are widely used in food production to help manage pests and support crop yields, but ongoing debates over their safety have raised questions about their long-term use and led to proposals to restrict certain pesticides. What data and evidence will you use to weigh the role of these products in food security against safety concerns when shaping policy on their use in New York agriculture?
Agricultural policy should be guided by the best available science and a commitment to both food security and public health. Decisions regarding pesticide use should be based on peer-reviewed research, environmental monitoring data, public health evidence, and guidance from scientific and regulatory agencies.
I support evaluating pesticides on a case-by-case basis, considering both their effectiveness and potential impacts on farmworkers, consumers, pollinators, water quality, and ecosystems. Where evidence identifies significant risks, New York should support safer alternatives and help farmers transition to effective pest-management practices.
Any restrictions should be paired with technical assistance, research investments, and support for integrated pest management strategies that maintain productivity while reducing risks.
KEYWORDS: Evidence-Based Policy, Food Security, Public Health, Integrated Pest Management
Q5 New York has the second largest international student population of any U.S. state, the majority of which study in STEM fields. The federal government is pursuing largescale changes to student visa approval, including increased visa denials, revoking existing visas, restricting travel from certain countries, and decreasing student visa durations. How, if at all, should New York respond to federal visa changes affecting international STEM students and researchers, and the resulting projected changes in the scientific workforce supply?
International students and researchers are essential contributors to New York’s economy, universities, healthcare institutions, and innovation ecosystem. While immigration policy is primarily a federal responsibility, New York should continue positioning itself as a welcoming destination for talented students and researchers from around the world.
If federal visa restrictions reduce the STEM talent pipeline, New York should strengthen partnerships among universities, industry, and research institutions to retain talent and support workforce development. We should also expand state investments in higher education, research, and STEM career pathways for New Yorkers.
Our state’s economic future depends on attracting and retaining highly skilled individuals, no matter their background, who contribute to scientific discovery, entrepreneurship, and technological advancement.
KEYWORDS: STEM Workforce, Higher Education, Innovation Economy, Talent Retention
Q6 Extreme weather events are increasingly impacting farmland and food supplies across NY, including up to 30 million dollars in damages to farmer livelihoods. This has prompted the USDA to designate 30 counties in New York as Natural Disaster Areas. What policies, if any, would you support to help farmers adapt to and prepare for increasingly erratic weather?
Farmers are already experiencing the impacts of more frequent flooding, droughts, and severe storms. New York should help agricultural producers build resilience through investments in climate-smart farming practices, soil health, water management infrastructure, and emergency preparedness.
I support expanding technical assistance programs, improving access to crop insurance, investing in drainage and irrigation improvements, and strengthening disaster recovery resources. Research partnerships between universities, extension services, and farmers can also help identify practices that improve productivity while reducing vulnerability to extreme weather.
KEYWORDS: Climate Resilience, Farm Sustainability, Disaster Preparedness, Soil Health
Q7 Law enforcement agencies across New York have contracted with Flock to install Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) cameras as a public safety tool. The technology is receiving pushback over concerns over privacy and data sharing, resulting in city councilors in Syracuse voting to remove Flock cameras. What are your views on accessibility and utilization of ALPR data by local and federal law enforcement, and what legislation, if any, would you propose governing how ALPR data is collected, stored, shared and retained?
Public safety agencies should have access to effective tools that help solve crimes and protect communities, but those tools must be accompanied by strong privacy protections and public accountability.
I support clear statewide standards governing ALPR systems, including limits on data retention, restrictions on sharing information with unauthorized entities, auditing requirements, and transparency regarding how data is used. Access should be tied to legitimate law enforcement purposes and subject to oversight.
KEYWORDS: Privacy, Public Safety, Transparency, Accountability
Q8 Smoke from Canadian wildfires in recent summers has pushed New York air quality to unhealthy levels. The long-term consequences, if any, of these wildfires are unknown: Short-term data show a rise in asthma-related emergency department visits during smoke events, though some studies suggest the increase is comparable to that seen on high-pollen days. With extreme wildfire seasons projected to become more frequent as global temperatures rise, what measures, if any, do you think New York should invest in to prepare for future smoke events?
The wildfire smoke events that affected New York demonstrated how environmental challenges can quickly become public health emergencies. New York should invest in improved air-quality monitoring, public notification systems, emergency preparedness, and community resilience measures.
Schools, childcare centers, senior facilities, and public buildings should have access to effective air filtration systems, particularly in communities with vulnerable populations. Public health agencies should also continue educating residents about reducing exposure during poor air-quality events.
Preparation is especially important because these events can affect children, seniors, and individuals with respiratory conditions.
KEYWORDS: Air Quality, Public Health, Emergency Preparedness, Community Resilience
Q9 New York is the second largest recipient of funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Proposed federal budgets would significantly reduce NIH funds going to New York hospitals, universities, and research institutions. Where do you stand on the proposed changes to NIH funding levels, and what steps, if any, would you take to address their potential effect on New York’s research sector?
I oppose cuts that would reduce NIH funding for New York’s hospitals, universities, and research institutions.
New York is home to world-class research institutions that are advancing treatments for cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, and many other conditions. Reductions in federal research funding would threaten scientific progress and weaken our competitiveness. As a State Senator, I plan on advocating for robust federal research investments while supporting state initiatives that strengthen research partnerships, workforce development, and innovation.
KEYWORDS: NIH Funding, Medical Research, Innovation, Economic Development