VOTE411 Voter Guide

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Brooklyn’s biggest challenges are the lack of affordable housing, the mental health crisis, and food insecurity—all deeply connected and exacerbated by systemic inequities. Skyrocketing rents and displacement are forcing families out of their neighborhoods. Our mental health system is overwhelmed, leaving too many without access to supportive care or housing. And food insecurity continues to grow, with many families relying on emergency food programs just to get by. These issues don’t exist in isolation—they compound each other. When people don’t have a stable home, they’re more likely to struggle with health and economic stability. When families go hungry, children struggle in school and adults struggle at work. These challenges impact quality of life for everyone in Brooklyn, and we need holistic, community-driven solutions that prioritize dignity, stability, and access to basic needs for all our neighbors—not just those with means or influence.

I will tackle Brooklyn’s housing crisis by expanding affordable housing, protecting tenants, and preventing displacement. I’ll push for increased housing production across the borough, oppose downzonings that restrict development, and implement my Comprehensive Plan for Brooklyn—an equity-focused roadmap with over 200 recommendations that link housing, land use, and health outcomes. I’ll also host Tenant’s Rights Forums, advocate for a Tangled Title Fund, and secure capital funding for supportive housing. On mental health, I’ll expand permanent supportive housing rooted in a Housing First approach and fight for increased investment in accessible care. For food insecurity, I’ll support community-owned supermarkets, expand SNAP enrollment through local partners, and grow cold storage capacity for nonprofits. These aren’t isolated problems—they demand coordinated, people-first solutions that prioritize dignity, stability, and well-being for all Brooklynites.

First, I’ll fund renovations at District 75 schools to create vocational training spaces—like an auto shop, beauty salon, and commercial kitchen—and build a workforce pipeline for students with disabilities. I’ll also fund sensory rooms to better support their learning.

I will also continue my work with the Arts Ambassador program to uplift emerging Brooklyn artists, especially those from underrepresented communities. This initiative will provide access to funding, exhibition space, and opportunities to grow their careers and strengthen our cultural fabric.

Third, I am actively working developing a supportive housing facility designed specifically for women leaving the carceral system that will offer stable housing, job readiness programs, mental and physical health care, and services to help women prepare for independent living, ensuring both they and their children can thrive. My goal with my second term is to reduce the population of Brooklyn mothers in jail or prison to zero.

My most ambitious goal is to help build 200,000 units of housing in Brooklyn over the next four years. We’re facing a housing crisis, and the only way out is through bold, borough-wide action that prioritizes equity and scale. I’ve laid the groundwork by never supporting downzonings or historic districts that restrict development, and by pushing for ULURP approvals that increase capacity in neighborhoods across Brooklyn. I created the *Comprehensive Plan for Brooklyn* to guide growth rooted in public health, sustainability, and equity—because your zip code shouldn’t determine your life expectancy. This plan includes over 200 recommendations to improve quality of life, expand housing, and ensure every neighborhood contributes to solving our housing crisis. I’ve also called for a *citywide comprehensive plan* to replace our piecemeal zoning process and ensure that growth decisions are based on need, not politics. It’s time for every community to do its fair share.

One of the biggest challenges to building 200,000 units of housing in Brooklyn is shifting the narrative around supply-side development. Too often, conversations about new housing are dominated by fear—fear of change, displacement, or strain on infrastructure. But the truth is, not building is what’s deepening our affordability crisis and fueling displacement. We must reframe development as a tool for equity and stability, not just profit. That means helping communities understand how increased housing supply—especially when paired with strong tenant protections, affordability requirements, and investments in infrastructure—can prevent displacement, lower rents, and improve quality of life. We also face a system that prioritizes zoning over planning. Without a citywide comprehensive plan, development remains inconsistent and politicized. To overcome these challenges, we need clear, community-driven planning and the political courage to act boldly in the face of a housing emergency.