I have a long history as a public official advocating, supporting and acting on issues of social justice and equity for Black Long Islanders. In my former role as town supervisor (2004-2013), I implemented an economic development effort (including constructing new buildings along Prospect Ave to house minority owned business) and housing program in New Cassel, a minority community in North Hempstead. The culmination of that effort was the construction of the Yes We Can Community Center in New Cassel, a $26 million dollar facility that I conceived, funded, and built in my role as town supervisor. I also pursued significant improvements in public housing so that the poorest amongst us can live in dignity and comfort. My social and economic advocacy runs far and wide for all on the economic continuum, but have focused on those in need. I created Project Independence Westbury in North Hempstead to help our seniors with free rides to supermarkets and discounted rides to doctors visits along with other services. As Deputy County Executive in Suffolk County, I co-chaired the county's police reform task force with Vanessa Baird Streeter. We included community advocates and police authorities in our effort and we came up with a 1000 page, comprehensive reform plan that is changing the culture of policing in Suffolk County. For example, we now promote police based on how many people they help instead of how many people they arrest and we included a civilian based review board through our Human Rights Commission to address issues relating to police conduct. Our efforts also resulted in our most recent police recruiting class being the most diverse in county history.