political profi les District 12
BY BRONX TIMES
As New York City prepares
for one of its largest election cycles
in recent memory, there is
one city council race that will
directly impact the northeast
Bronx’s District 12, which encompasses
the neighborhoods
of Wakefi eld, Baychester,
Eastchester, Olinville, Co-op
City, Edenwald, and Williamsbridge
There are three candidates
in the June 22 primary.
They are: incumbent Kevin
Riley, Pamela Johnson and
Shanequa Moore. These profi
les have been edited for clarity
and length.
Why are you running?
I am running for re-election
to continue representing
the people of the 12th City
council district in City Hall. I
believe my motivation for running
derives from the very
people of this community who
have had a hand in grooming
me into the man I am today.
Being a life long Bronxite and
a native son of the 12th district,
I have seen the good, the
bad and the ugly, and I believe
I am the leader that can make
the changes we need and deserve.
From COVID relief to
making education a priority, I
believe that with the backing
of our community, I am the
right candidate for the job.
Tell us about yourself,
what you do for a living, your
relationship to the district,
and which neighborhood you
live in.
I love my community. I’ve
lived in the 12th district my
entire life, which is 33 years.
The neighborhood has been
so infl uential in my life from
working at the NYPL Gunhill
Branch to attending church at
Butler United Methodist and
now representing my neighborhood
in City Hall as the
newly elected Council Member
for the 12th district. I am
currently raising my family
in the same house I lived in
my entire life, located in the
Baychester area of the 12th
District. I love adding value
to my community through my
love for public service. I am a
founding member of The Dad
Gang, Her Story Her Space
and Music over Violence. Mentorship
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, M 20 ARCH 26-APR. 1, 2021 BTR
has always been a crucial
component to my development,
which has led me to be
apart of several mentorship
groups including MBK.
What are the biggest challenges
facing the district and
how will you solve them?
The biggest issues in our
community right now have
been exacerbated due to
COVID. We need to focus on
how we will be able to assist
families and small businesses
impacted by this pandemic.
The next issue is tackling
healthcare access for all. During
this pandemic we have
witnessed fi rst hand that access
to quality care is important.
Here in the Bronx, we
have high rates of asthma and
many other diseases seen as
comorbidities that can result
in negative outcomes when
paired with COVID-19 transmission
Lastly, I believe education
is another issue pertinent to
the 12th district.. The pandemic
has once again shed
light on the inequities present
in our public education system.
Many families are without
the resources needed to
successfully participate in effective
online learning, exposing
the digital divide.
What’s your political experience?
Since 2008, I have worked
under the leadership of the
present Speaker of the NYS Assembly
Carl Heastie. I started
as an intern in his district offi
ce, then became a constituent
liaison, followed by offi ce
manager and lastly, Community
Relations Director. I am
also the male district leader
for the 83rd assembly district.
And recently this year, I became
the newly elected Council
member for District 12.
What endorsements do you
have?
Hotel Trades, DC 37, 32BJ
SEIU, CWA District, NYSNA,
Ironworkers, Immigration
Coalition, Speaker Carl E.
Heastie, Senator and Bronx
County Chairman Jamaal
Bailey, Bronx Borough President
Ruben Diaz Jr.
Courtesy of Kevin Riley
BY SHANEQUA MOORE
Why are you running?
I am running for public offi
ce to bring diversifi cation
and change to my district. New
leadership and a new vision is
needed, we need bold and innovative
leaders who will ethically
and fearlessly advocate
for the needs of people of color.
As a licensed social worker
and nonprofi t leader, I understand
how to connect with and
uplift people and how to advocate
for equitable policies and
I know City Hall will gain tremendously
from my expertise.
Tell us about yourself, what
you do for a living, your relationship
to the district, and
which neighborhood you live
in
For 20 years, I have advocated
for the needs of children
& families. I started and
founded a non-profi t organization,
I’RAISE Girls & Boys
which has become a beacon
of hope to over 10,000 youth
of color over the past 8 years.
I have secured over $1 million
in funding for core education
and youth programs. I am an
active member of CB 12 and
the 3rd Youth Vice President of
NCNW in D12, I am an active
member of the National Association
of Social Workers NYC,
where I spearhead citywide
initiatives on addressing systemic
racism and oppression
in the social work profession.
What are the biggest challenges
facing the district and
how will you solve them?
The biggest challenges are
community safety, affordable
housing and public education.
I will work in collaboration
with the NYPD, faith based
community and CBOs to develop
community based initiatives
and strategies to reduce
crime. I will ensure affordable
housing units are rented
to families who need them and
fi ght to maintain affordable
housing units, I am also advocating
for low-income housing
units in my district.
I have been working on initiatives
to reimagine public
school education for the past 8
years and will continue to do so
with innovative curriculum,
school based counseling support,
STEM,
art and music
competitive
opportunities
for
public school
students, college
preparation
and trade
programs.
What will
you do differently
than the
incumbent?
Our district
needs a
leader, not a
politician, who will be authentic
and transparent and put
their needs before anything, I
will do that. I will ensure everyone
is included at the decision
making table. I will bring
my expertise as a licensed
social worker and nonprofi t
leader and introduce legislation
that helps our city recover
from COVID—and that pushes
District 12 forward.
What’s your political experience?
I have served in public service
for over 8 years as a State
Representative with the New
York State Offi ce of Children
& Family Services where I enforced
legislation on health
and safety in early childhood
programs.
I led top investigations
and high profi le cases of child
abuse in conjunction with Albany
(New York State Judges
and Lawyers). This position
gave me a clear understanding
of state and city policy and
how the two connect and work
together.
What endorsements do you
have?
As a grassroots campaign,
the core and base of my endorsements
are voters and
community leaders. One can
only expect the incumbent
to be handed endorsements
by unions and PACs when a
part of the political machine
and backed by the party. I am
proud however, to be endorsed
by dozens of infl uential community
leaders and faith based
leaders and have the backing
and support of the voters of my
district
Kevin Riley
Shanequa Moore
Shanequa Moore