Jun 10, 2021Justice, Not Jails.Throughout this election season, I have talked to thousands of voters in my district. During our conversations, people almost always ask about my thoughts on the Kew Gardens jail. I oppose this project, not just because of its location, but because I don’t want new jails. Period. Any proposal that…No New Jails5 min readNo New Jails5 min read
Jun 7, 2021NYC: It’s Time to Create a Public Bank!On April 26th, Mayor De Blasio introduced the largest budget in NYC history totaling $98.6 billion, the vast majority of which will be kept in Wall Street banks. The same week, our City Council members debated a resolution calling on the state legislature to pass the NY Public Banking Act…Public Bank4 min readPublic Bank4 min read
Jun 7, 2021Rightsizing the Police Budget will Enable a Safer, Healthier and More Equitable CityThis Op-Ed was originally published in the Gotham Gazette on May 5, 2021. On April 26, Mayor de Blasio presented his executive budget plan for the city’s next fiscal year, FY22, which begins July 1. In it, he included slight increases to the NYPD’s budget. This comes on the heels…Nypd5 min readNypd5 min read
Jun 3, 2021Op-Ed: In Honor of Earth Day, Let’s Fight for Municipal CompostingThis Op-Ed was originally published in the Forest Hills Post on April 22, 2021. I worry now more than ever about my children growing up on an uninhabitable planet. The science is loud and clear that we need to act urgently. If I were in City Council now, during these…Compost3 min readCompost3 min read
Apr 4, 2021Small Businesses are NYC’s Lifeblood. City Council Must Fight To Save Them.I have lived in Kew Gardens for nearly two decades. I love it here. All the local store owners know my kids, and few things excite me more than the food in my district. Too often, I walk by a shop feeling heartbroken when they are forced to close. The…Small Business4 min readSmall Business4 min read
Apr 4, 2021Queens can’t wait for universal childcareThis opinion piece was originally published in the Queens Chronicle on March 22, 2021. Every year during Women’s History Month, I get tired of people paying lip service to women’s rights. Acknowledging gender inequity is important, yet words fall short when they’re not coupled with deep structural changes. …Mothers4 min readMothers4 min read
Mar 6, 2021New York Needs a City Plan! ‘Planning Together’ Misses the MarkThis Op-Ed was originally published in the Gotham Gazette on March 4, 2021. On February 23, public hearings began for City Council Speaker Corey Johnson’s “Planning Together” legislation, which would institute a process for creating a comprehensive plan for New York City. …City Planning5 min readCity Planning5 min read
Feb 23, 2021Opinion: One month isn’t enough. NYC needs culturally responsive educationThis Op-Ed was published in the Queens Daily Eagle on February 21, 2021. As we celebrate Black History Month, I am struck by the absurd notion that devoting one month to Black History is sufficient. The origin of Black History Month is noble — it was the brainchild of an…Éducation4 min readÉducation4 min read
Feb 8, 2021We Must Enable our Elders to Age in PlaceAs headlines of nursing home COVID casualties dominate local news, it is clear that we need leaders who partner with, and prioritize, our elders. There are simple, cost-effective, and ethical policy remedies that our campaign is fighting for to ensure our elders can age in their homes with dignity. Our…Seniors2 min readSeniors2 min read