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Ten mayoral candidates participated in a public Q&A discussion board on the Better Allen AME Cathedral in Jamaica on Sunday, Feb. 23. The occasion introduced collectively group members to have interaction with candidates representing Democratic, Republican, and Impartial platforms.
Dozens of attendees gathered on the famend church, positioned at 10-31 Merrick Blvd, to listen to candidates define their marketing campaign priorities and reply to questions on key points, together with training, public security, and immigration.
The candidates in attendance included State Senators Zellnor Myrie (D) and Jessica Ramos (D), former Metropolis Comptroller Scott Stringer (D), Meeting Member Zohran Mamdani (D), former Meeting Member Michael Blake (D), present New York Metropolis Comptroller Brad Lander (D), James Manning(R), Javon Terell Ross(I*), Von Del Valle(*), and Scott Joyner(I).
The discussion board was organized by the church’s GAC Votes Social Justice Ministry, a non-partisan group devoted to voter training and civic engagement. The dialogue was moderated by Dr. Donald Garner, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Better Allen AME Cathedral, and Treasure Brooks, a multidisciplinary artist and co-founder of Sol Road Methods.
Candidate Guarantees
The primary half of the occasion included private statements from the candidates in addition to marketing campaign guarantees.
Myrie’s opening assertion touched on the legacy of Black management inside the metropolis. For the previous 7 years, he has represented central Brooklyn within the NYS Senate.
NYS. Sen Zellnor Myrie addresses the group on the Better Allen AME Cathedral throughout the mayoral candidate occasion. Picture by Athena Dawson
He added that he has handed laws to fight deed theft, a prevalent concern for Southeast Queens owners. “Many of you bought homes in Southeast Queens as your only source of wealth, and for years, we had bad actors defrauding us out of our homes, stealing our deeds. And it was not a crime, he said. “I wrote a bill, and I changed that, which made it a crime that went into effect this year,” Myrie added.
For the previous six years, Sen. Ramos has represented northeast Queens neighborhoods, together with Jackson Heights, East Elmhurst, and Corona. She emphasised that she was “walking in her purpose” whereas reflecting on rising up in Jackson Heights and her present dedication to labor unions and native authorities.
NYS Sen. Ramos represents the northeast Queens neighborhoods, together with Jackson Heights, East Elmhurst, and Corona. Picture by Athena Dawson
Moreover, Ramos immediately criticized incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, saying she is watching as he has “disappointed us all.” “We want to prove to everyone that New York City is a city for everyone so that people young and old and everyone in between can have a brighter future in New York City and tackle together the issues before us, of affordable housing, crime, real public safety, and better health outcomes,” Ramos stated.
Stringer, the previous New York Metropolis Comptroller for an eight-year term-limited tenure, touched on his lifelong roots within the metropolis. He stated that New York Metropolis is not “moving forward,” and there’s a want for an skilled mayor.
Scott Stringer has ties to native authorities as he was the previous New York Metropolis Comptroller. Picture by Athena Dawson
“I believe we need a mayor who has real experience, who has a feel for the city and that’s why I decided to get back in the ring,” Stringer stated. “ I’m going to say to you we need somebody who understands how to build a new administration, free of corruption, somebody who’s going to get things done on the time that we have on this plant, and I’m back in the ring because I really believe in this city and I believe in all of you,” he stated.
As for Mamdani, an Meeting member representing western Queens, he stated his household legacy consists of advocating for the freedoms of others, and his present focus is on affordability for all.
Mamdani touts progressive plans inlcuding lease freezing. Picture by Athena Dawson
“What good is the right to live in this city if you cannot afford it, if you cannot afford your rent, your mortgage, your Con-Edison bill, your child care, your groceries? I’m running to make this a city we can afford, and I’m going to do that by freezing the rent,” he stated.
Blake is a reverend, former meeting member of the Bronx’s 79th district, and former aide to President Obama. His remarks highlighted his earlier state, native, and federal authorities work. Blake had a six-year tenure within the NYS Meeting, the place he created the My Brother’s Keeper program and chaired the Mitchell-Lama Committee.
Blake is a reverend and former Bronx meeting member operating for mayor. Picture by Athena Dawson
A few of Blake’s operating factors embody combating for Medicaid and Medicare and decreasing the price of residing. “I’m running so we can focus on the true cost of living, where we can have a guaranteed income and ensure that we have universal childcare,” Blake stated. “When we think about what is going on in D.C., as the only person who has White House, state house, and local experience, we cannot worry just about what’s happening in D.C. unless we work here on the ground.”
Lander stated he’s operating to ship a safer, extra inexpensive, and better-managed metropolis for all New Yorkers. Lander added that he needs to wash up crime within the streets and subways and handle corruption in Metropolis Corridor. He then described a few of his monetary wins throughout his time period as comptroller. “My audits and public finance and pension fund management have saved New York City taxpayers over two-and-a-half billion dollars, Lander said. “I’ve also brought the focus of the office to the racial wealth gap, putting the first study out on the racial wealth gap in New York,” he stated.
Lander additionally described a few of his monetary wins throughout his time period as comptroller. Picture by Athena Dawson
Manning was candid about his time spent incarcerated earlier than he turned a brand new leaf within the late 70s.Picture by Athena Dawson
Manning took a unique method in addressing the group, as he candidly spoke about his earlier expertise with incarceration and the justice system within the 70s earlier than he discovered God. “ In 1976, however, I met the Lord Jesus Christ in the Brooklyn House of Detention. He came forcefully into my life. I repented for all of the wrong things I’ve done, all of the people I robbed, all of the homes I had burglarized, and all of the family and friends I had embarrassed. I dutifully repented in that jail cell to the awful things I had done,” Manning stated. “I will be the next mayor of New York City.”
Ross, who declared that he’s operating as an Impartial, stated his platform focuses on “respect in love, reform in love, and restore in love.” “That’s what this is all about: ending corruption. We all deal with so many different things, different problems, but the same issue,” Ross stated.
Ross was one in every of two Impartial candidates current on the occasion.Picture by Athena Dawson
Del Valle’s opening assertion took a tone of “stepping up” and “innovation ” for citygoers. “We have to be together, New York; we got to stop separating each other,” Del Valle stated. “We need to change the way we’re doing things.”
Del Valle famous that he’s not a profession politician and is operating on a platform of “innovation.”
Joyner, who can also be operating as an Impartial, emphasised needing to deal with the transit system, extra accountability for elected officers, and speedier repairs for NYCHA residents.“We need better infrastructure, we need 150 more bike lanes, and I want to create a public accountability office that audits everybody, including the mayor’s office, comptroller’s office, and city council to make sure that everybody is accountable for their actions,” Joyner stated.
Joyner stated he needs so as to add 150 extra bike lanes to metropolis streets and handle transit woes.Picture by Athena Dawson
