Our community is at an important crossroads in terms of its economic development, diversity and quality of life. Now, more than ever, we need unifying leaders who are able to bring together diverse communities around common causes like increasing affordable housing, improving our public schools, creating and maintaining good jobs and preserving the livability of our neighborhoods. Indeed, my campaign is founded upon the belief that we must first come together in order not only to revive together, but to thrive together. My issue priorities reflect this:

COME TOGETHER

• Creating a Unifying Leadership: Currently, District 20 residents are divided along racial/ethnic lines and also into pro-development and anti-development camps. I would rally our residents around the universal value of social justice and common vision. I would also unify the community through a smart growth strategy that ensures affordability and quality of life.

REVIVE TOGETHER

• Fighting Against Budget Cuts and Supporting Fair Share Tax Reform: During this time of economic crisis, we should not be making budget cuts on the backs of working men and women, immigrants, the poor, the disabled, senior citizens and others in need. As a member of the City Council, I would not only strengthen government investment in our communities, but would also fight to implement revenue generating measures like a fair and progressive income tax system.

• Good jobs and workforce development: The key to any economic recovery strategy is the creation and maintenance of good jobs. Workforce development efforts and job training should create viable pathways to the middle class by emphasizing skills needed to get the sustainable jobs of tomorrow. Such programs should include youth, veterans, immigrants, and other populations within our community.

• Revitalization of small businesses: I will make sure that our City supports and strengthens the small businesses that comprise the heart of our community’s local economy by expanding their access to credit and business advisory services. I would reform licensing requirements and process to be more efficient and work to relieve burdensome regulatory enforcement where it does not directly serve the public interest. I will use zoning and other economic development tools to ensure that small and independent businesses have fair access to new commercial/retail space.

THRIVE TOGETHER

• Smart growth: I would pursue a smart growth strategy to ensure that our community continues to thrive and remain vibrant. The growth must be premised on a fair and transparent process that genuinely engages the community and brings the benefits of development to all residents, not just select developers. I would present a vision for growth that balances business concerns with a need for affordable housing, as well as parking and congestion concerns with the need for green spaces.

• Keeping Housing Affordable: Given the steady decline of reasonably priced housing coupled with the boom in luxury development in Flushing and surrounding areas, we must prioritize preserving existing affordable housing, as well as creating new homes that meet a range of incomes and the needs of diverse Queens residents. We should repeal the Urstadt Law to restore control to New York City and repeal vacancy decontrol, so rent-stabilized housing does not continue to disappear. Developers should include a variety of affordable housing units within new development projects, particularly for low/moderate/middle-income families.

• Better Public Education: I am committed to insuring that our public schools offer the best of opportunities to all children. To do that, we have to invest in our schools in order to keep classes small, support our teachers and improve graduation rates for all students. I support funding and accountability mechanisms to ensure the City fully implements the promise of the Campaign for Fiscal Equity decision to provide all students with a sound and basic education, including poor students, special education children and English Language Learners. We must also reform the current mayoral control system to bring checks and balances, transparency and true parental engagement. We must not compromise the education of our children to close the budget gap. Instead, we should make sure that the wealthiest pay their fair share before making cuts in public education. I also support adult literacy programs, including ESL classes for adults.

• Improved Transportation Infrastructure: Flushing is one of New York City’s major transportation hubs with weekday commuters and weekend visitors/shoppers straining its infrastructure to the limits. Congested thoroughfares and public transportation service disruptions are not only a personal inconvenience but also a matter of economic competitiveness for our community. As Flushing’s representative on the City Council, I will aggressively seek to leverage federal stimulus monies and other public investments to expand and rebalance the town’s parking supply, introduce congestion easing measures, modernize subway/LIRR stations and maintain critical bus services.