While reading a story in the New York Times last year, I was struck by a phrase that appeared in the article...“making a difference every day.” It dawned on me that, after 10 years in public service, including the last 27 months as an elected official representing the people of Staten Island and Brooklyn who comprise the 50th Council District, those words capture my approach as a member of the New York City Council—to try to make a difference every day in the lives of the people who I have the privilege of serving.

Since its inception in 1992, the hallmark of this office has been responsive constituent service. My staff and I work each day to resolve those issues, big or small, which determine the quality of life of a community. We have been trained by the best, have been doing it for a decade and know the players and the process to solve problems. Moreover, we have obtained millions of dollars for our schools, parks, libraries and for youth, senior, community and cultural organizations. Additionally, we have introduced meaningful legislation to protect children from pornographic web sites at computers at public schools and libraries and to end the placement of families in need into firetraps.

I have been at the forefront and leading the fight for: senior housing; placing Automatic External Defibrillators in public places, including our school and athletic fields; obtaining a new firehouse and additional classroom space; bringing the Farm Colony back to life; instituting Graffiti Free NYC in our community; acquiring digital cameras to better prosecute domestic violence cases; stopping our young people from smoking that first cigarette and improving the overall condition of our roads, including how they are “restored” after utility cuts. We will continue to fight for fast ferry service and comprehensive rezoning.

It is about making a difference...every day.

(Statement reprinted as supplied by the candidate.)

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