31st City Council District

1. What is the most important issue in Council District 31 you would address if elected?

Jobs and growth. I have used my seniority to plan a vocational school for the unemployed to help retrain residents for new jobs. This continues my tradition of commitment to employment in Southern Queens, as I also created NYCWorks, a $20 million training and job placement program to help residents find new and better employment. As the author of modern Affirmative Action in New York City, I will continue fighting for a fair playing field for businesses owned by people of color, and will continue to pass laws to enhance the ability of these businesses to compete for city contracts.

2. What other important issues would you address if elected?

My entire life I have fought to insure a high quality of life and education for the 31st district. I will continue fighting to ensure the district is downzoned to stop sleazy developers from building cookie cutter houses in our community. Since 2002, I have delivered more than $7 million in discretionary money towards our schools for libraries and new technology. More needs to be done and I intend to do it.

3. What makes you the best candidate for this office?

I have led on any issue that has threatened our community, from fighting Prisons to fighting Hotsheet motels from entering our district. Our community deserves leaders, not followers. Since my first year in office, I have fought predatory lending, which the banks have used to plunder our community. I authored the strongest anti-predatory lending law in the nation, passed in November of 2002, 6 years before the current housing crisis.

I have also protected our community by closing a loophole which allowed our children to buy bullets.

I fought the special interests such as the banking industry before it was politically popular, and as a result, many families in the 31st district have been protected from unfair practices. On Election Day, I ask for your vote so I can continue defending our community.

(Reprinted as supplied by the candidate.)

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