Platform
In my campaign for the NY Assembly, I’m committed to bridging the gaps that often divide us—age, background, ideology—to build an intergenerational coalition that truly represents Harlem.
What I’m Fighting For
My approach is rooted in listening to all voices in our community, from our elders to our youth. Together, we will build consensus, find common ground, and create win-win outcomes that address our most pressing challenges. This isn’t just my campaign; it’s our journey to shape Harlem’s future.
Why It Matters
The bedrock of any thriving community is access to stable, affordable housing, a place where families can grow, children can study, and parents can rest after a day’s work.
Key Points
- Creating Affordable Housing: Transform the affordable housing development process through widespread community engagement, ensuring legally binding agreements that guarantee community benefits and long-term affordability.
- Cooperative Home Ownership: Empower tenants by promoting and subsidizing opportunities for cooperative home ownership, converting renters into community stakeholders.
- Maintenance Subsidies for Rent-Stabilized Units: Implement a robust subsidy program to maintain and improve rent-stabilized housing, thereby keeping units affordable and reducing vacancies.
- Tech-Enabled Housing Registry: Utilize technology to create a real-time, comprehensive digital registry for affordable housing, simplifying the application process and ensuring transparency.
- Estate Planning: Offer affordable access to estate planning services to secure the investments of our elders and ensure generational wealth for families. This will prevent displacement and protect against deed theft.
The Impact
By these actions, we are not just providing homes but are building a community that protects and enriches its residents, from the youngest to the oldest.
CloseWhy It Matters
A quality education is the ladder that allows our children to climb from poverty to prosperity, a right that should not be determined by one’s zip code.
Key Points
- Tech and Job Training: Introduce students and the unemployed to emerging industry technologies and job training, fueling innovation and addressing income inequality within our community.
- Digital Literacy for All: Level the playing field by ensuring every student, regardless of socio-economic background, has access to state-of-the-art tech education, thus bridging the digital divide.
- Community Mentorship Programs: Leverage the wisdom of our community by creating mentorship programs where professionals and local leaders can engage with students, contributing to improved educational outcomes.
- Virtual Learning Portals: Embrace the future by implementing advanced online learning platforms, customized to individual learning styles and needs, that can supplement traditional classroom instruction.
The Impact
By focusing on these educational cornerstones, we’re not merely promising our children a brighter future; we’re investing in the strength and vitality of our entire community.
CloseWhy It Matters
Quality health care is more than a service; it’s a right that affects us all. However, it’s especially urgent in communities facing significant health disparities, such as ours.
Key Points
- Universal Maternal Care: To combat high rates of preterm births and infant mortality, particularly in the Black community, we’re committed to universal access to essential maternal care. This includes screenings, midwife services, and doula support from pregnancy through postpartum.
- Automated Renewal for Seniors: Simplify the health insurance renewal process for our seniors by automating it, ensuring they retain optimal coverage without the hassle.
- Subsidized Scheduling and Prescription Support: Offer affordable assistance to help seniors manage their medical appointments and prescriptions, thereby improving their overall well-being.
- User-Friendly Healthcare Navigation: Create easy-to-use digital platforms to help all community members efficiently access the healthcare services they need.
The Impact
By focusing on universal maternal care and targeted support for seniors, we’re directly addressing two of the most pressing health concerns in our community. We’re committed to making significant strides in healthcare that will benefit everyone, from newborns to our eldest members.
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Economic empowerment is the bedrock of social justice. Without economic security and opportunity, communities remain vulnerable to a host of social ills. Now more than ever, we need policies that uplift everyone, regardless of background or origin.
Key Points
- MWBE Contract Oversight: Establish rigorous oversight mechanisms to ensure that Black-owned businesses are awarded a fair share of Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) contracts, leveling the playing field and supporting community growth.
- Transparency and Outreach in RFPs: Foster a culture of transparency by making Request for Proposals (RFPs) more accessible and easy to navigate, thereby promoting wider participation from diverse businesses.
- Green Job Training: Invest in the future by expanding training programs for green jobs, equipping our community with the skills to participate in the clean energy economy.
- Public Banking Legislation: Advocate for the passage of public banking legislation that reinvests tax dollars directly into our community, providing a sustainable source of capital and micro-loans for startups and small businesses.
The Impact
By focusing on these pillars, we aim to create a self-sustaining economic ecosystem that builds wealth, generates opportunities, and ensures a fair shake for everyone in our community.
CloseWhy It Matters
The foundation of any thriving community is the well-being and safety of its residents. Achieving this means moving beyond traditional law enforcement methods to more innovative approaches that tackle the root causes of insecurity.
Key Points
- Preventing Illegal Gun Trafficking: Utilize cutting-edge technology at key transportation entry points to thwart the inflow of illegal firearms into our state, backed by stringent laws that impose severe penalties for illegal gun trafficking.
- Mental Health Crisis Response: Implement specialized non-police response teams trained rigorously in mental health crisis intervention.
- Support for Mentally Ill Individuals: Collaborate with mental health institutions to safely remove mentally ill individuals from public spaces and subways, directing them toward immediate care, housing, and long-term rehabilitative services.
The Impact
Through these strategies, we aim to foster an environment where every Harlem resident can live free of violence and fear, empowered by systems that are both effective and just.
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The quality of life in Assembly District 70 is intrinsically linked to a fair and equitable approach to environmental justice and transportation. These issues extend beyond buses and green spaces, touching on economic development, public health, and community well-being. As we confront the realities of climate change, the stakes are both local and global.
Key Points
- Accelerate Green Transit: Expand on innovative technologies like electric induction charging for buses and light rails to transition our public transit systems to clean energy.
- Combat Modern-Day Redlining in Opioid Treatment: Push for the equitable distribution of addiction treatment facilities across all communities. This ensures access to life-saving care and prevents the over-concentration of such facilities in areas like Harlem. Evidence-backed policies will guide this reform.
- Green Horizons Initiative: Develop comprehensive legislation that provides financial incentives for converting buildings to renewable energy, encourages community-wide investment in sustainable energy projects, and offers subsidies for businesses and individuals to switch to electric vehicles. All these measures are backed by data analytics and AI to track effectiveness.
- Two Free Fares For All: Introduce legislation providing two free fares per day on all MTA transit options for NYC residents within the 5 boroughs. This aims to promote sustainable commuting and provide economic relief. Funding options to be explored include corporate sponsorships and a small increase in tourist transit fees.
- Empower with Solar: Collaborate with local governments to install solar panels on public buildings and open spaces. This will not only generate clean energy but also contribute to job creation and help meet emission reduction goals in the district.
- Safe and Walkable Streets: Prioritize the development of pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, including protected bike lanes and accessible walkways. Special focus will be given to areas of the district most affected by pollution and road safety concerns.
The Impact
By focusing on these strategies, we aim to create an Assembly District 70 where all residents can enjoy a high quality of life, free from the burdens of environmental degradation and transportation inequity. This is how we build a more sustainable, equitable future for Harlem.
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EARLY VOTING
NOT YET PUBLISHED
PRIMARY ELECTION DAY
JUNE 25, 2024