Race for District 12: Pamela Johnson
Bronx education expert, mother of three vying for Andy King’s council seat
BY ALEX MITCHELL
One City Council District
12 candidate seeks to make
history as not only the fi rst
woman, but woman of color,
to represent that northeast
section of the Bronx on Centre
Street this December.
She is Pamela Johnson, an
education professional and
former stay-at-home mom
of three who grew up with
a single mother in NYCHA
housing.
Johnson is the president
of Community Education
Council (CEC) 11 for District
12, where she and others
opened six schools and
raised an estimated $1.2 million
in funds.
She is also the founder of
Eastchester Heights-based
educational nonprofi t Urban
Neighborhood, a consultant
for the city’s Department of
Education, and has served
on the education committee
of Community Board 12 for
some years.
Johnson also previously
ran against now-expelled
City Councilman Andy King
in 2017 for that same District
12 seat she’s currently vying
for.
Calling her run a “fresh”
opportunity for the northeast
Bronx, Johnson’s main
campaign issues, in addition
to education, are housing
and the preservation of
small businesses through
the COVID-19 pandemic.
Education
As both CEC president
and DOE consultant, Johnson
said she has the perspective
of both “a parent side
and institution side” towards
education.
She is sharply critical
that the DOE “could have
done better” at getting learning
devices and technology
to students and families in
need.
Johnson called on Verizon
to provide temporary, free internet
to those households,
also saying that the DOE has
internet-ready devices which
could be distributed.
She continued, saying that
there is state money owed
from contracts for excellence
as well as charter school reimbursement
Visit us in Co-Op City
500 Baychester Ave (@ Baychester & Bartow)
Contact Theresa Whittick at (347) 964-3237,
theresaann.whittick@td.com,
or visit tdbank.com/smallbusiness.
BRONX TIMES R 20 EPORTER, DECEMBER 18-24, 2020 BTR
monies which
could feasibly be collected
and allocated to solve the ongoing
tech issue.
The candidate also said
that attaining proper ventilation
for schools to get
through the pandemic is an
important issue she is focused
on for District 12.
Housing
When it comes to affordable
housing, Johnson wants
to shift the 80/20 ratio of
market to affordable housing
to closer fi gures of 70/30
out of an obligation “to help
people.”
She also said that it is a
more economically sound decision
to keep people in their
homes rather than transition
them into shelter systems.
“It’s so much cheaper
keeping people in their apartments,”
Johnson said, later
adding her pledge to fund
city’s food pantry system for
those in need as well.
Saving small businesses
Johnson is a sharp supporter
of the small jobs survival
act, she told the Bronx
Times.
Saying that small businesses
bring “huge revenue”
to her prospective Bronx district,
Johnson would look
into getting these shops tax
credits and other needed assistance
to keep their doors
open through the rigors and
restrictions COVID-19 has
implicated.
The City Council candidate
also emphasized that
Bronx small businesses often
employ those “diffi cult
to hire” such as formerly incarcerated
individuals and
those who have disabilities.
In wake of Governor Andrew
Cuomo’s plan to close
indoor dining, Johnson also
made her pledge to aid local
restaurants for many reasons,
a particular one being
that they often hire from the
LGBTQ community.
Early voting for the District
12 City Council race runs
from Dec. 12 to 20 and the offi
cial election day is Dec. 22.
Visit the Board of Elections
website at fi ndmypollsite.vote.
nyc to fi nd early voting and
election day sites.
Courtesy of Pamela Johnson
Let’s talk shop
about your shop.
Your business has been there for Co-Op City.
We’re here for you, too.
Unexpectedly Human
Member FDIC, TD Bank, N.A.
37935-TD20_Co-Op_City_GO_Post_SB_8.75x5.6875_r5.indd 1 10/23/20 10:01 AM
link
/smallbusiness
link
