Candidate Questionnaire Responses
When in office, what will you do to reduce harm and ensure there is social and economic equity for Black Long Islanders? If you are an incumbent, what policies/initiatives/laws have you supported that do this?
To ensure social and economic equity for Black Long Islanders, my plan will focus on several key areas:
Prioritize fully funding public schools in historically underfunded Black neighborhoods to close the education gap and provide students with resources, such as tutoring, after-school programs, and college prep.
Push to increase funding for Black-owned businesses through grants, low-interest loans, and technical assistance programs.
Work with unions and industries to ensure fair wages, job security, and career advancement opportunities.
Work to create rent stabilization programs that adjust allowable rent increases based on inflation or local wage growth, providing flexibility while ensuring that tenants aren't subject to sudden and unreasonable rent spikes.
Ensure access to quality healthcare by advocating to expand funding for health clinics in underserved communities and addressing disparities in maternal health, mental health services, and chronic disease care.
Push for equitable health outcomes by tracking environmental injustices, such as ensuring clean air, water, and housing conditions in Black communities.
Is there anything else you'd like us to know about your campaign?
I’ve dedicated my professional and public service career to creating meaningful social change in the healthcare, education, workforce development, and environmental sectors.
With over 15 years of experience in environmental advocacy, I have had the privilege of working on various impactful projects and campaigns that have significantly contributed to promoting environmental justice, including releasing the Fields of Filth interactive map and report that shed light on the true impact that industrial farms are having on communities of color and waterways in North Carolina and beyond.
I have also successfully advocated for policies and programs focused on New York's Black maternal and infant health crisis for the Greater New York March of Dimes and Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic.
As a Long Beach, NY City Council member, I pushed forward investments in infrastructure to bring long-needed flood protections to the City’s vulnerable north shore. I also worked to make Long Beach one of the top 22 safest cities in the U.S. by investing in community policing, surveillance systems, and implementing the City’s first gun buy-back program in six years.
In addition, as President of the Long Beach Public Schools Board of Education, I brought forward anti-hate programs.
I'm committed to working to put policies in place that uplift the Black community. By addressing systemic inequalities and providing opportunities for economic growth, education, and justice, we can create a future where we all thrive together.