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Connections

Orlando Rivera, candidate for NYS Assembly District 136

Two smiling men wearing headphones sit in front of microphones at a table in a radio talk studio: the man on the left has very short dark hair and is wearing a navy quilted vest and a light blue long sleeved button down shirt; the man on the right has short dark hair and is wearing a light blue pullover and jeans.
George Yeadon
/
WXXI News
Orlando Rivera on "Connections with Evan Dawson" on Wednesday, October 9, 2024

We’re joined by another candidate running for state office.

We talk with Orlando Rivera, candidate for Assembly District 136. He answers our questions and yours about his platforms and priorities for office.

Our guest:

Key issues raised by candidate during "Connections" appearance:

  • Rivera and Dawson talked extensively about public safety issues, with Rivera noting that crime in Rochester has affected businesses and neighborhoods, and that he'd look to "hopefully make a change to that environment." 
  • He sees a strong need to hold people responsible for their actions, saying that when he was younger, parents of that generation held children to a certain standard. These days, he said, "it seems like it's a revolving door, where people are allowed to commit a crime and then they're right back at it again." 
  • Regarding bail reform and other measures, while he sees that the actions were well-intended, he thinks the state needs to "start from scratch" again because people are seeing there are "no consequences" for their actions. "So it essentially becomes a recruitment tool for folks to commit crimes," he said. 
  • Even with additional judicial discretion when it comes to bail reform, Rivera said they're not using it "to the best of their ability." He suggested that perhaps more training is needed.  
  • For people who have been incarcerated, Rivera said rehabilitation efforts are necessary. He said a mentorship program could be helpful. 
  • Other top concerns include helping people "earn a decent wage." He noted that he has experience in training and workforce development and would work toward implementing work experience programs. 
  • He believes homeownership is the way to grow generational wealth, and he would work to give more people access to that. 
  • Rivera also said he's a "big proponent" of charter schools. 

*Notes: To hear our interview with Rivera's opponent, Sarah Clark, click here.
You can read more about this race and others you'll see on your ballot in the WXXI Local Elections Guide.

Evan Dawson is the host of "Connections with Evan Dawson." He joined WXXI in January 2014 after working at 13WHAM-TV, where he served as morning news anchor. He was hired as a reporter for 13WHAM-TV in 2003 before being promoted to anchor in 2007.
Megan Mack is the executive producer of "Connections with Evan Dawson" and live/televised engagement programming.
Julie Williams is an associate producer for "Connections with Evan Dawson" and is also the office administrator for radio, news and technology and operations. She started at WXXI in 2019 and has been working on Connections since 2022.