Catalina is an Assemblywoman. She works at the New York State Assembly, where she has been since 2018. She previously worked as a housing law attorney, as Chief of Staff to former City Council Member Julissa Ferreras-Copeland, as Counsel to the New York City Council’s Committee on Immigration, and as Director of the Governor’s Exploited Workers Task Force.

Assemblymember Catalina Cruz - NYS Assembly

Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Catalina Cruz for NY Assembly ...

Catalina Cruz previously worked as a housing law attorney, as Chief of Staff to former City Council Member Julissa Ferreras-Copeland, as Counsel to the New York City Council’s Committee on Immigration, and as Director of the Governor’s Exploited Workers Task Force.

Catalina Cruz - Ballotpedia

Catalina has served as a member of the New York State Assembly District 39
since 2019.

2026 New York General Election

Supports mandating a statewide minimum wage for tipped service workers.

Plans to criminalize wage theft and enhance rights for nail salon workers.

Supports additional vending licenses and safe working conditions for street vendors.

Wants additional vending licenses and safe working conditions for street vendors.

Supports the fight for equal pay rights and against workplace discrimination.

- Supports mandating a statewide minimum wage for tipped service workers.
- Plans to criminalize wage theft and enhance rights for nail salon workers.
- Wants additional vending licenses and safe working conditions for street vendors.
- Supports the fight for equal pay rights and against workplace discrimination.

Economy

Supports New York State becoming a global leader in the transition to renewable energy.

Wants New York State to become a global leader in the transition to renewable energy.

- Wants New York State to become a global leader in the transition to renewable energy.

Energy & the Environment

Supports decriminalizing abortion and co-sponsored the Reproductive Health Act to repeal legal loopholes that threaten women's access to safe abortion services when their health is at risk.

Supports secure contraception coverage and advocates for the passage of the Comprehensive Contraception Coverage Act.

Believes in secure contraception coverage and advocates for the passage of the Comprehensive Contraception Coverage Act.

Wants to increase access to healthcare and adequate housing.

Seeks to increase access to healthcare and adequate housing.

- Supports abortion access.
- Believes in secure contraception coverage and advocates for the passage of the Comprehensive Contraception Coverage Act.
- Seeks to increase access to healthcare and adequate housing.

Healthcare

Supports fighting to ensure that protections around criminal justice are not rolled back.

- Supports fighting to ensure that protections around criminal justice are not rolled back.

Voting & Elections

Supports bills that consider parole release for individuals over 50 who have served at least 15 consecutive years and address mitigating factors at parole.

Believes in considering parole release for individuals over 50 who have served at least 15 consecutive years and address mitigating factors at parole.

Supports ending the criminalization of sex work to protect the rights and health of sex workers.

Supports measures to enhance public safety.

Supports legislation to ban conversion therapy and advocates for surrogacy rights.

Seeks legislation to ban conversion therapy and advocates for surrogacy rights.

Supports establishing legislation to ensure that all women are free from all types of gender-based violence.

Supports increasing penalties for workplace discrimination and hate crimes.

Advocates for increasing penalties for workplace discrimination and hate crimes.

Supports the legalization of marijuana for personal use and expunging the records of individuals arrested on marijuana charges.

Believes in the legalization of marijuana for personal use and expunging the records of individuals arrested on marijuana charges.

Supports accountability against those who abuse seniors or individuals with disabilities.

- Believes in considering parole release for individuals over 50 who have served at least 15 consecutive years and address mitigating factors at parole.
- Wants to legalize sex work.
- Supports measures to enhance public safety.
- Seeks legislation to ban conversion therapy and advocates for surrogacy rights.
- Supports establishing legislation to ensure that all women are free from all types of gender-based violence.
- Advocates for increasing penalties for workplace discrimination and hate crimes.
- Believes in the legalization of marijuana for personal use and expunging the records of individuals arrested on marijuana charges.
- Supports accountability against those who abuse seniors or individuals with disabilities.

Public Safety

Supports increasing access to 3K and after-school programming for working-class neighbors, regardless of immigration status.

Prioritizes increasing access to 3K and after-school programming for working-class neighbors, regardless of immigration status.

Supports increasing access to STEM, arts, and other programs that allow children to dream and learn.

Supports increasing access to STEM, arts, and other programs that allow children to "dream and learn."

Supports ensuring full foundation aid funding every year.

Advocates for ensuring full foundation aid funding every year.

- Prioritizes increasing access to 3K and after-school programming for working-class neighbors, regardless of immigration status.
- Supports increasing access to STEM, arts, and other programs that allow children to "dream and learn."
- Advocates for ensuring full foundation aid funding every year.

Education

Supports increasing housing stock through innovative programs and construction that does not displace families and includes union labor.

Believes in increasing housing stock through "novel programs" and construction that does not displace families and includes union labor.

Supports increasing tenant protections to prevent unjust evictions.

Supports small landlords to maintain community stability.

Advocates for small landlords to maintain community stability.

- Believes in increasing housing stock through "novel programs" and construction that does not displace families and includes union labor.
- Supports increasing tenant protections to prevent unjust evictions.
- Advocates for small landlords to maintain community stability.

Housing & Urban Development

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Catalina Cruz

Buket Urgen

Ramses S. Frias

- Your assembly member is involved in the legislative process at the state level as part of the New York State Assembly, which consists of 150 members and serves as the lower house of the New York State Legislature.  
- Assembly members are responsible for representing your interests and assisting you with navigating state services while bringing resources back to your district.  
- Assembly members draft laws, approve budgets, oversee the state executive branch, and engage in debates and votes on proposed legislation.  
- In addition to drafting and voting on bills, your assembly member can serve on committees, where many bills may be delayed before reaching a vote.  
- Assembly members are elected for a two-year term with no term limits.  
- Their annual salary is $142,000.  

Your representative and state lawmaker in the New York State Assembly.