political profi les district 14
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 west
Bronx’s District 14, which encompasses
the neighborhoods
of Claremont Village, Fordham,
Kingsbridge, Marble Hill,
Morris Heights, Mount Eden,
Mount Hope, and University
Heights. Incumbent Councilman
Fernando Cabrera is term
limited and is running for Borough
President. There are six
candidates in the June 22 primary.
They are: Adolfo Abreu,
Fernando Aquino, Haile Rivera,
Pierina Sanchez, Socrates
Solano and Yudelka Tapia.
The Bronx Times asked
each candidate a few questions
to get to know them. Their answers
have been edited for
length and clarity.
BY PIERINA SANCHEZ
Why are you running?
I am running for City Council
because the working people
of our community have been
ignored and excluded from
the political system for far too
long.
This is a diffi cult moment
in history. Yet together, we will
rise. No people are more resilient
than we are here in the
Bronx.
One of my earliest memories
is of waking in the middle
of the night to a strong smell
of smoke, blinding lights, and
screams. That fi re was my very
fi rst experience of tenant harassment.
Through my years of constituent
services in the community,
I know too many of
our neighbors have stories like
this. My platform centers our
experiences and the solutions
we truly need: housing as a human
right, economic opportunities
for all, and fully-funded,
equitable public schools and
programs.
Tell us about yourself, what
you do for a living, your relationship
to the district, and
which neighborhood you live
in
I’m an Afro-Dominicana,
daughter of immigrants, and
lifelong Bronxite. I was born
in University Heights, raised
in Kingsbridge, and currently
live by Fordham. From an
early age, I learned the value
of hard work. I watched my elders
sell oranges, drive taxis,
clean buildings and schools in
order to ensure me and my generation
Pierina Sanchez
had a chance at higher
education and opportunity in
this country.
I went to public schools and
because of public programs
like Upward Bound at Bronx
Community College, I made it
to Harvard and Princeton, the
Obama White House, and City
Hall. I share this with the pride
that comes from knowing my
breaking into these spaces refl
ects the resilience and power
of our community.
What are the biggest challenges
facing the district and
how will you solve them?
As a council member, I will
draw on my personal and professional
experience in housing
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, M 58 ARCH 26-APR. 1, 2021 BTR
injustice to fi ght for stable
and healthy homes for everyone.
Housing is a human right.
In our district, where 96% of
our neighbors are renters, 70%
of residents were one paycheck
away from being late on the
rent before COVID-19 hit. We
must win the fi ght to #Cancel-
Rent during the pandemic, and
the fi ghts to support truly affordable
housing, and save NYCHA,
longterm.
I am also committed to
universal economic opportunity.
Today, good jobs are
scarcer than ever in the West
Bronx: our 17% unemployment
rate—which has nearly doubled
during this crisis—and
$21,000 median income were
already some of the lowest in
the city even before COVID-19
hit.
What will you do differently
than the incumbent?
Our community has been
one of the hardest hit by
COVID-19. We have lost hundreds
of neighbors too soon,
our rate of cases continues to
be among the highest in the
city, while our vaccination
rates are among the lowest.
My goals and ideals are
boldly progressive and my approach
will be deeply rooted
in the grassroots—fi ghting
for housing as a human right;
access to good jobs with good
wages and benefi ts; community
ownership and control of
housing and jobs; fully funded,
high quality education and
enrichment programs; environmental
stewardship and
humane treatment of animal
life—all while building community
and people power.
What’s your political experience?
I began my career in public
service in the summer of 2007
advocating to expand early education
programs at Agenda
for Children Tomorrow, and
helping immigrant families
stabilize their status in the
U.S.
Starting in 2010, I spent
2 years working in the City
Council District 14 offi ce, supporting
thousands of my neighbors
with their concerns, including
organizing buildings
to fi ght landlords for repairs.
I then served in the Obama
White House and as an urban
planner at Regional Plan Association
(RPA). At RPA, I was
committed to the mission that
any long term plan for the New
York region must be built on a
foundation of equity and social
justice.
Most recently, I was a Senior
Advisor for Housing, Economic
Development and Labor
in City Hall.
What endorsements do you
have?
Our campaign has received
the support of elected offi cials
including U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres
(NY-15), U.S. Rep. Adriano
Espaillat (NY-13), New York Assembly
Members Kenny Burgos
(AD85) and Catalina Cruz
(AD39), City Council Members
Adrienne Adams (CD28), Justin
Brannan (CD43), Danny
Dromm (CD25), Keith Powers
(CD4), Carlina Rivera (CD2),
Mark Treyger (CD47), James
Vacca (CD13), Helen Rosenthal
(CD6), Diana Ayala (CD8) and
Rafael Salamanca (CD17).
We also have the backing
of labor unions and community
groups including Hotel
Trades Council (HTC), Communication
Workers of America
(CWA), District Council
37 (DC37), United Teachers
Federation (UFT), 32BJ SEIU,
Churches United for Fair Housing
(CUFFH), Women of Color
for Progress, Voters for Animal
Rights, New American Leaders
Action Fund, and Downtown
Women for Change (DWC). Full
list available at www.pierasanchez.
nyc/endorsements
Courtesy of Pierina Sanchez
/endorsements
/endorsements
/endorsements