Fighting for our Future
Education
We can do more and we must do more. I will work to shift the city’s education funding formula to ensure our young people have what they need
Youth Services
Funding is needed to support our effective gun violence prevention programs that empower leaders to engage in real leadership development and prevent gun violence in our community.
Protecting our Legacy
Supporting Homeowners
Black homeownership has reached an all-time low across the nation and we have seen signs of that decline right here in Southeast Queens. As a lifelong resident of Southeast Queens, I know that an increase in foreclosures is not just a market indicator, it is the displacement of a family.
I will aggressively work to support our current homeowners by increasing access to foreclosure prevention programs and by cracking down on predatory real estate schemes, particularly those that target our seniors and often lead to them losing their homes.
Responsible Development
We have witnessed an increase of new residential buildings in our district. While, we are primarily a community of homeowners, it has been discouraging to see how few units of these new developments are set aside for our young people who are returning home from college or for families preparing to make the transition to home ownership.
I will work to increase the required ratio of affordable housing units within new developments so that members of our community do not have to leave the community to live and raise their families.
Property Tax Reform
The New York City property tax system is broken. The homeowners in our district pay a lion’s share of the City’s property taxes while others enjoy years of tax abatements and credits. Our City government has, for the last two years, been discussing reforms to our property tax system.
I am ready to join that fight and will work to prioritize a fairer and more transparent property tax system that prioritizes relief for our low-income and senior homeowners.
Community Beautification
I walk the streets of our community daily. And I have regularly had to engage with neighbors who are tired of the excessive dumping of waste that occurs on our street corners.
I will work to increase funding for community beatification projects including a large-scale anti-dumping campaign and the creation of new green spaces.
Empowering our Communities
Supporting our Frontline Workers
I am committed to standing with our Unions and fighting for these workers as they battle for hazard pay, for access to much needed personal protection equipment (PPE), and for the right to work and build a future for themselves and their families. There success is all of our success.
Community led Economic Development
I will prioritize establishing a vacant commercial property tax to force landlords to give Southeast Queens businesses and entrepreneurs a chance. I will also work to ensure that our community gets its fair share of the economic dollars and incentives that other districts receive across the city and state. I will make sure that the dollars we use to bring the types of businesses we operate in our community need most, those for us and us.
Transportation Equity
I will expand the express bus service to our neighborhoods, expand the Atlantic ticket benefit to include trips from Southeast Queens to Penn Station, and work to support public transportation alternatives.
Ensuring Accountability
City Services
I will prioritize being responsive to the needs of our community members.
Police Reform
I will push for an empowered Civilian Complaint Review Board and more transparent and community-led disciplinary proceedings.