Carl Heastie: Quotes and Statements

Upon being elected Speaker in February 2015, Heastie spoke at a rally organized by Reverend Al Sharpton in Harlem, where he characterized the moment as a historic opportunity for the Black community to have representation in one of the state's most powerful positions . He pledged to restore public trust in government following the corruption scandal that removed his predecessor, Sheldon Silver .

Heastie has been among the most vocal defenders of New York's bail reform legislation. In January 2020, he argued on social media that the bail system had historically functioned as a discriminatory mechanism, stating that a defendant's ability to post bail does not correlate with their threat level and that the prior system treated poverty as equivalent to dangerousness . He has also stated that bail was only ever intended to ensure a defendant's appearance in court and that his position is rooted in equal treatment regardless of wealth or race .

In March 2021, Heastie authorized the Assembly Judiciary Committee to begin an impeachment investigation into Governor Andrew Cuomo, stating that the accusations concerning the governor were serious . In August 2021, after Cuomo announced his resignation, Heastie stated that the investigation had uncovered credible evidence related to the allegations but that the Assembly would suspend the inquiry because its purpose, determining whether the governor should remain in office, had been answered by the resignation .

During his opening remarks at the 2019 legislative session, Heastie acknowledged the legislators who had championed criminal justice reform, highlighting the case of Kalief Browder as a catalyst for speedy trial reform. He described the bail system as one that had not been used fairly and characterized it as a pre-sentencing mechanism that penalized defendants based on economic status .

In March 2024, after reports surfaced about his romantic relationship with a lobbyist, Heastie addressed reporters at a state budget proceeding, stating emphatically that he would not discuss his personal life publicly. He asserted that protocols were in place to prevent conflicts of interest and that his personal life would never come into conflict with his professional duties .

At his September 2025 endorsement of Mamdani for New York City mayor, Heastie said the decision was straightforward given the campaign Mamdani had run. He noted that affordability was the central issue driving the Black community out of New York and that Mamdani's message had resonated with voters on that point . He also described Mamdani's candidacy as offering a romantic vision of what the city could be, and characterized that optimism as something voters were eager to embrace .

In the final days of the 2026 legislative session, Heastie told reporters that the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act would not receive a floor vote because there were insufficient votes for passage. He affirmed that he personally supported the bill but characterized himself as the best vote counter in the Assembly and indicated the votes were simply not present .

During the 2021 New York State My Brother's Keeper Symposium, President Obama delivered remarks crediting Heastie with bringing leaders together to launch the first statewide implementation of the initiative. Heastie has described education as the foundation of opportunity and has framed education funding as the Assembly's foremost investment in the future of New York's families .