political profi les district 11
BY JESSICA HALLER
Why are you running?
I am a climate activist, tech entrepreneur,
and working mom of
four.
I’m running because NYC is
facing a health crisis, an economic
crisis, a housing crisis, the crisis
of systemic racism, on top of the
climate crisis, and I know how to
create solutions to address them
all.
The Bronx needs a leader
with the experience and ability
to deliver for this community.
I’ve started companies and created
jobs. I’ve led non-profi ts. I’ve
worked with the NYC government
to improve constituency outreach.
I will be an independent voice
to stand up to the political machine
that has failed us, and deliver
a more resilient, sustainable
and equitable city.
Tell us about yourself, i.e.
what you do for a living, your
relationship to the district, and
which neighborhood you live
in?
I am a working mom of four
that left the corporate world to address
the growing threat of climate
change, even before anyone was
asking the questions about what
to do about the crisis. I’m an entrepreneur
who creates solutions
that work. I’ve lived my entire life
along the 1 train and moved to the
Riverdale section of the Bronx to
raise my family back in 2000.
I’ve organized communities
in this district for The People’s
Climate March, to create a Farmers
Market, to improve interfaith
dialogue. I’ve worked for cleaner
air, better health care, and to elect
bold leaders. The future of our district
is bright, now we just need to
elect someone with the fearlessness
to lead.
What are the biggest challenges
facing the district and
how will you solve them?
First: we need economic recovery
rooted in justice. I’ve put forward
the Bronx Pandemic Reconstruction
program, which would
create 10,000 jobs by offering unprecedented
training opportunities
through green technology and
infrastructure, entrepreneurship,
and child and elder care jobs.
Second: we must increase affordable
housing. We must equitably
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BRONX TIMES R 18 EPORTER, MARCH 5-11, 2021 BTR
distribute affordable housing
throughout the district and city
and make sure it’s built sustainably.
Third: the climate crisis.
Across the city, we must pass a
faster and broader implementation
of the Climate Mobilization
Act. I will reverse historic environmental
injustices that have left
the Bronx with some of the highest
asthma rates in the country,
and invest in green jobs and infrastructure.
What will you do differently
than Councilman Cohen?
The NYC Budget determines
how we allocate our money, and it
represents our values. In the 2020
NYC Budget, the NYPD received
more than its share of funding versus
other social service agencies. I
would not have voted to support
the 2020 Budget, and I will only
support future budgets that promote
a resilient, sustainable, and
equitable city.
Councilman Cohen also did
not support a bill to ban the use of
pesticides in our parks. These poisonous
pesticides are used more in
low-income communities, endangering
children’s health.
What’s your political experience?
Most of my experience is in the
private and non-profi t sectors, and
I worked with the New York City
Comptroller’s offi ce under John
Liu to develop and implement a
system to improve constituent outreach
and services. Making systems
work better is what I excel at
and I will use that experience to
make our city services work better
for us all. With the budget challenges
our city faces, it is critical
that we become more effi cient and
better utilize our resources to create
a more equitable and resilient
city.
I have written environmental
policy platforms for several candidates,
including Sen. Alessandra
Biaggi in 2018.
What endorsements do you
have?
Oliver Koppell; Former Bronx
City Councilman and New York
Attorney General
Melissa Mark-Viverito; Former
Speaker of the NYC City Council
Ruth Messinger; Former Manhattan
Borough President, former
Democratic Nominee for Mayor
Elizabeth Crowley: Candidate
for Queens Borough President,
former NYC City Councilwoman
Helen Rosenthal; City Councilwoman
North Bronx Racial Justice
Bronx Climate Justice North
Jim Owles Liberal Democratic
Club
Open NY
Women for the Win
21 in ‘21
VoteMama
NY League of Conservation
Voters
Jewish Climate Action Network.
NYC
Concerned Citizens for
Change
American Institute of Architects
No IDC NY
To RSVP to our exclusive debates
go to:
https://www.schnepsmedia.
com/webinars/
Jessica Haller
COVID-19 vaccines are now available
to certain groups in New York City.
To learn more about COVID-19 and vaccines,
visit nyc.gov/health/coronavirus.
Health
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