Althea Stevens centering quality of life concerns in fi rst term
Continuing our series of political
“Snapshots,” the Bronx Times sat down
with each of the Bronx’s recently elected
offi cials for a discussion on their 2022
legislative agendas and issues of importance
to their districts.
BY ROBBIE SEQUEIRA
Althea Stevens, the freshman City
Council member representing the
Bronx’s 16th District — which includes
the Claremont, Concourse, Concourse
Village, Highbridge, Morris Heights,
Mount Eden and Morrisania sections —
is diving headfi rst into a new chapter of
her life: politics.
And it’s a chapter that she didn’t
think would be written, originally.
A teen mom by her junior year of
high school and a woman of color — a
population that has been traditionally
denied and shunned from local and
public political offi ces — Stevens said
the deck was stacked against her in her
fi rst bid for public offi ce.
“I’m not supposed to be here. This
system isn’t set up for a women of color
(to succeed), especially a teen mom,”
Stevens, a fi rst-time elected offi cial
said to the Times. “But during my campaign,
I had people come up to me and
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say that they voted for me or joined on
my campaign because they had a candidate
who looked like them, identifi ed
with them and connected with them.
That’s pretty special.”
Stevens is one of fi ve women in the
Bronx City Council delegation, an increase
from two women the year prior.
Stevens handily won her fi rst bid for
public offi ce capturing 90% of the vote
in November 2021 and now plans to use
the seat to improve the day-to-day quality
of-life concerns in District 16, which
is includes some of the city’s most impoverished
neighborhoods.
“For me, it’s addressing the noise
complaints, garbage concerns, and offering
that sense of community that I
think is missing in my district,” she
said. “I get tired of hearing how we’re
the poorest congressional district … because
I want to empower my constituents,
make them feel safe in their community
and a part of the local political
process.”
Stevens represents a large chunk of
the South Bronx, an area generationally
plagued by crime, food insecurity
and housing strife, as well as an overabundance
of homeless shelters in the
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, J 22 JAN. 14-20, 2022 BTR
area.
District 16 is home to more than
1,100 shelter units for families with children—
more than any other City Council
district, by far. Stevens said she
plans to oppose any new proposed shelters
in the area, citing issues with the
city’s propensity for adding short-term
shelters, in lieu of promoting permanent
affordable housing.
In the arena of housing policy, Stevens
has a strong track record that includes
her work with the New York City
Housing Authority (NYCHA) Tenants
Association, working to improve affordable
housing and providing sustainable
options for low-income families and individuals.
Stevens wants larger city investment
in NYCHA for public housing,
while working also with other community
based organizations to stabilize
rents and recalculate median area incomes.
Another issue Stevens will look to
address is the dearth of access and resources
in South Bronx, particularly
resources to aid Bronxites against
COVID-19 variants. Stevens already
worked to secure COVID testing sites in
the Highbridge and Morris Heights sections
ALTHEA STEVENS
AGE: 39
NEIGHBORHOOD:
CONCOURSE VILLAGE
POLITICAL IDEOLOGY:
PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRAT
Fun Fact: She is a turtle mom, with two
pet turtles named Purple and Squirt.
Althea Stevens at her fi rst meeting in January
as a member of the New York City Council.
Photo courtesy Althea Stevens
and hopes for more COVID testing
sites throughout District 16, which carries
some of the borough’s lowest vaccination
rates.
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