political profi les District 17
BY HELEN SINES
Why are you running?
I am running to improve
the lives of the people and give
hope in District 17. I have spent
my life being a problem solver
and a public servant. I have a
proven track record of bringing
people together to make a
better tomorrow.
Tell us about yourself,
what you do for a living,
your relationship to the district,
and which neighborhood
you live in?
As the oldest in my family,
I came to district 17 as a single
parent, who raised three
daughters. I worked for 1199
SEIU, the largest Healthcare
union in the United States. I
held various leadership positions
and worked on numerous
political campaigns. Most
recently, I held a position as a
Chief of Staff for a City Council
member. Now, I am retired
and ready to hit the ground
running as the next City Council
member of District 17.
What are the biggest
challenges facing the district
and how will you solve
them?
The biggest challenges are:
Affordable housing: I plan to
have meaningful discussions
with developers regarding
the application requirement
thresholds in District 17. The
threshold is currently over
the annual salary income of
the residents in District 17 and
they need a leader that will
help the community fi ght for
affordable housing!
Education: I will advocate
for suffi cient funding to provide
quality education in our
underserved schools. I will
start an initiative to add worktrade
programs back into the
school system, in addition to,
more STEM related progress.
I will also push the schools to
focus on college prep.
Healthcare: I will advocate
for access to quality healthcare
in the Bronx regardless
of the patient’s ability to pay.
Jobs: I will advocate for the
creation of job programs and
career preparation.
Public safety: I will advocate
for funding programs for
a safer community and help
build a successful police-community
relationship.
BRONX TIMES R 16 EPORTER, APRIL 2-8, 2021 BTR
What will you do differently
than the incumbent?
I will be more visible. Physically
go into schools to see
how I can help. Spend offi ce
hours to accommodate the residents
and address their problems.
Hold town hall meetings
in various parts of the district.
6.
What’s your political experience?
My experience is vast, most
recently as the Chief of Staff
for a City Council member.
The hands on experience
I gained working as a chief of
staff has prepared me more
than any experience for a City
of Council seat. On a daily basis,
I answered the concerns
of the constituents. Also, as
a leader in 1199SEIU, I have
campaigned in several key
elections.
My fi rst experience was my
own campaign as a 1199 administrative
organizer. I was
a co-campaign manager in
the election of Annabel Palma
District 18 as a Council member.
I was a campaign manager
for the late Mayor David
Dinkins and Herman Carl
McCall at 1199 headquarters.
I also served as the covering
Political Action Director at
Courtesy of Helen Hines
1199 SEIU. I was a campaign
manager in the election of Bill
de Blasio. Additionally, I assisted
campaign manager Bill
Lynch in Maureen Walker’s
campaign for Mayor of Mount
Vernon, New York.
These are just a few of the
political experiences I have
obtained over the years. The
culmination of them have prepared
me for this moment to
run for City Council in District
17.
What endorsements do
you have?
I am currently accepting
endorsements at this time.
BY LATINA BROWN
Why are you running?
I am a single mom that
fully understands what the
district is lacking because I
face the same battles. I was
born in New York and come
from an immigrant family of
Jamaica. I have lived in the
Bronx for over 18 years and
witnessed landlords displacing
many immigrant families
and senior citizens from their
homes. My district alone has
the largest immigrant population
in Bronx county mostly
mothers. I relate to the women
and families in my district
because we are all facing the
issues of rent burden, deplorable
housing conditions, gun
violence and environmental
injustice. If I am elected, I
will be the fi rst Afro-Caribbean
female to represent the
district.
Tell us about yourself,
what you do for a living,
your relationship to the
district, and which neighborhood
you live in?
I am a single afro-Caribbean
mother, tenant leader,
community advocate and activist
running for city council,
district 17, Bronx, NY. I
work for the Offi ce of General
Counsel-City Council
and I am a member of the National
Latino Peace Offi cers
Association. I currently live
in the Hunts Point neighborhood
that has a very large
population of immigrants,
senior citizens, and single
parent household. As council
woman I will work with the
residents of the community
and listen to their concerns.
Having an open dialogue is
very important.
What are the biggest
challenges facing the district
and how will you
solve them?
The top issues:
Unemployment-District 17
residents need more job opportunities
in their own district.
Advocate for business owners
to hire from within the
district. Pass legislation that
stops discrimination against
low-level non-violent felons
from being turned down from
job opportunities throughout
the fi ve boroughs.
Small Business-Support
the small business job survival
act which was originally
presented in (Int 0737-2018).
Housing- I would ensure
that based on the income of
resident within the district
affordable housing should
fall into that criteria. Home
ownership opportunities is
needed in the community
with a grant program offered
to fi rst time homebuyers.
Environment-Create sustainable
housing, address the
pollution and illegal dumping
in Hunts Point and longwood
area, green public space
is needed and re-locate trucks
to a different route to avoid
further pollution in the community.
Bike lanes is necessary
to avoid pollution in the
community.
COVID-19- I fully support
the pandemic action plan.
Education-Fully fund
schools and programs. I will
not support a budget that disenfranchises
the low-income
families. I say NO to budget
cuts in education. Our children
deserve the best education!
What will you do differently
than the incumbent?
Funding should be
awarded to organizations that
are in the community and not
given to outside agencies or
businesses outside of the district.
The funding should stay
in the community to create
job opportunities for the residents.
For example: paying
outside agencies to do what
people or organizations that
live in the community takes
food out of the mouths of the
babies in our community. The
district needs a leader who
will represent all people as a
unit and not divide us.
What’s your political experience?
My experience is in supporting
my community, supporting
my family and creating
a safe, sustainable
community. All those actions
are what a public servant
should do which is a politician.
What endorsements do
you have?
Democracy of America,
National Latino Peace Offi cer
Association Advocacy, Community
Advocate Anthony
Herbert, Community Advocate
Shabir Gul, more endorsements
pending… More
importantly the biggest endorsement
comes from the
residents in district 17, and I
am happy to have their support.
Helen Hines
Lattina Brown
Courtesy of Lattina Brown