Gabriella was born and raised in Albany and proudly graduated from public high school before attending Union College and Albany Law School. She spent her legal career as a public defender, where she witnessed firsthand the gaps in our systems that leave people without the support they need. Many of her clients faced homelessness, untreated mental or physical health issues, and poverty - and too often, resources weren’t available to help them. Frustrated by these systemic challenges, Gabriella decided to run for office, and her community elected her to serve.

Before joining the Assembly, Gabriella represented Albany’s 6th Ward on the Common Council. There, she implemented practical policies and programs, including legalizing skateboarding downtown, creating a first-of-its-kind housing code violation database, and launching a pilot program on Lark Street to support people experiencing homelessness, mental health crises, and substance use challenges. That pilot has since evolved into the fully-funded Albany Navigates program, which is focused on ending homelessness through proactive outreach and empathetic connection.