Important Issues of Our Campaign

Michaelle is committed to assisting the residents of the 22nd Assembly District by connecting the state government’s services to constituents that need them. She is constantly reaching out to community members, organizing town hall meetings, hosting workshops, and supplying distributions all to best support those that she represents.  

She has and continues to secure millions in grant funding to provide resources to local governments, schools, and non-profit organizations.  Here are some of the projects funded through the office:

  • The redesign of Southern State Parkway exit 13. 
  • Updated water infrastructure for the Water Authority of Western Nassau County.
  • Equipment upgrades for Valley Stream Civilian Patrol.
  • Upgrades for the  Floral Park Police and Fire Department.
  • The Teen Center, at the Elmont Library.
  • Road resurfacing in Bellerose Village.

Michaelle believes that healthcare is a fundamental human right – not a luxury. Simply stated, when it comes to healthcare, no one should be left behind. Instead of stressing over high co-pays and skyrocketing insurance premiums, we must ensure that every New Yorker has the coverage that they need. Michaelle supports common-sense legislation that protects the rights of patients, not insurance companies. 

She also supports the expansion of mental health services, the restoration of school-based health centers, and early intervention programs. She is a co-sponsor of the NY Health Act, which will create a universal healthcare system in New York State.

Michaelle is a product of the public school system. She is an avid proponent of a high-quality public education system that is tightly coupled with Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM), and increased after-school programs. To prepare our children to compete on a global level, they must be equipped with all of the necessary tools to succeed in the modern economy. 

Every budget cycle, Michaelle and her colleagues fight to allocate millions of dollars more in education funding to Long Island school districts. In addition, Michaelle has personally allocated grants to enrich educational programming. One of her long-term goals is to establish a truly universal pre-kindergarten program on Long Island.  Michaelle will continue to invest in our children and ensure that the needs of each school district and each pupil are met.

New York’s affordability crisis is putting seniors at risk. From property tax rebate checks, enhanced senior tax exemptions, to the Earned Income Tax Credit, Michaelle has made tax relief and cost savings a top priority.  Michaelle has also advocated for policy reforms, including expanding access to New York’s drug affordability programs, ending the pay-for-delay deals that drug manufacturers use to delay the introduction of lower-cost generic drugs to the marketplace, and establishing a prescription drug importation program in New York. 

Moreover, Michaelle has introduced legislation that will require all health insurance providers to cover high-quality hearing aids that have been prescribed by a doctor. These common-sense measures will lead to more positive outcomes for our senior citizens. Michaelle will continue to be a champion for our older New Yorkers.

Women across the country only earn 80 cents out of every dollar that a man earns. While our state has one of the lowest wage gaps in America, Michaelle will continue to support policies that strengthen the enforcement of our state’s fair pay laws. It is crucial to have women in positions of power to enact legislation to safeguard women’s rights.    

In June 2022, a conservative Supreme Court overturned the Roe V. Wade decision, striking down a 50-year-old precedent. In response to this, the state legislature convened an emergency session and passed numerous pieces of legislation to protect reproductive rights, including the Equality Amendment. This constitutional amendment will prohibit discrimination related to any pregnancy or pregnancy outcome. Michaelle has been at the forefront of this fight in NY and has received a 100 percent rating from Planned Parenthood Empire State for her work to protect women’s reproductive healthcare. 

In late 2019, Michaelle crafted the first legislation in the nation that would establish a ban on the practice of virginity testing. She had passed similar legislation earlier that year to ban the practice of performing non-consensual pelvic examinations, a practice that was common in teaching medical institutions. Now Michaelle is focused on passing legislation that will close the racial gap in maternal mortality. 

The current federal administration has made efforts to enact policies that will grow New York’s green economy. It’s important to build on this momentum to continue safeguarding the health and safety of everyday New Yorkers. As a leading advocate for environmental issues, Michaelle understands that our state must take the lead and do its part to protect the environment. In 2019, She was a proud co-sponsor of, and helped pass the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, which set ambitious goals for NYS to expand green jobs, and enact policies that rescind decades of detrimental environmental legislation. 

Michaelle knows that we must pivot toward the renewable energy sector and pass ambitious policies that will create green jobs. She has also advocated for greater investment into infrastructure that will support the generation of green energy. As a result of all her past work, Michaelle was given a 100% rating by the EPL/Environmental Advocates’ legislative scorecard.

Michaelle was the first person of Haitian descent to be elected to the New York State Legislature. She believes this nation was built by immigrants and their dream for a better life. People who immigrate to New York have inalienable human rights regardless of their race, creed, or color. 

She is a consistent advocate for immigrant communities across the state and has led efforts to lobby Congress to support Dreamers and Temporary Protected Status recipients living in New York. Michaelle has sponsored bills to ensure that beneficiaries of temporary protected status would continue to receive Medicaid benefits. She passed the Protect Our Courts Act, a historic piece of legislation that denies Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents the right to make civil arrests in and around New York State courthouses without a judicial warrant or court order. In 2022, Michaelle successfully fought for expanded healthcare coverage for undocumented immigrants for one year following a pregnancy outcome and provides Medicaid coverage for undocumented seniors aged 65 and older.

The current federal administration understands that we are a nation of immigrants but this alone isn’t enough to keep those who have made the heartbreaking choice to come here safe. Michaelle is continuously pursuing legislation that will provide a path to those wishing to make this country their home.

From fighting for a higher minimum wage – because an honest day’s work should always result in an honest day’s pay – to spearheading an expansion of the paid leave program, Michaelle knows that New York State is only as strong as its workers.

Raised in a union family, Michaelle knows that organized labor is vital to safeguarding New York’s working families. Unfortunately, we have seen attempts at union busting across our state.  Michaelle has a long-standing relationship with unions and remains a true friend of organized labor. In 2022, Michaelle proudly supported bills that will increase protections for warehouse workers and freelancers in our state. 

Michaelle also recently introduced a groundbreaking piece of legislation that will significantly expand temporary disability insurance. This bill will ensure that workers receive a living wage and get to keep their job and health insurance.

Michaelle has vowed to bring more accountability to Industrial Development Agencies (IDAs). The Town of Hempstead IDA awarded a $14 million payment in lieu of taxes (“PILOT”) agreement with Macerich, owner of the Green Acres Mall. As a result, the hardworking residents of Valley Stream were burdened with an unfair and high property tax increase.

The Industrial Development Agency was designed to be a tool for economic growth and job creation on the local level. However, the modern IDA has turned into a vehicle for tax breaks for large companies with little benefit for residents. Consequently, Michaelle has introduced several bills in the legislature aimed at increasing oversight of IDAs. Michaelle proudly passed the law which requires all IDA meetings to be live-streamed and recorded as well as a bill that mandates formal communication between IDAs and taxing authorities like school districts. 

Further, this year, Michaelle introduced a bill that will prohibit tax breaks for eCommerce companies. These measures will help increase the transparency surrounding the numerous tax breaks, credits, and exemptions IDAs award each year. To prevent abuses of this kind, we must increase the accountability surrounding PILOT agreements.