Experience and Qualifications
My qualifications and experience are rooted in my professional background and in my direct work with communities across the United States, especially in New York and Puerto Rico. I am an attorney with 15 years of experience, a labor organizer for 12 years, and an educator, with a record of advocating for working families, public employees, immigrants, and underserved communities. I have trained and organized workers, developed leadership programs, negotiated on labor and public policy issues, and built coalitions to advance economic and social justice. This experience has given me a deep understanding of how public policy impacts daily life, from education and labor rights to housing, health, and public safety, and as a resident and community advocate in Yonkers, I understand firsthand the challenges families face with the cost of living and access to services.
Community Involvement
I have been actively involved in community advocacy around healthcare access, hospital staffing issues, and neighborhood quality of life in Yonkers. Alongside healthcare workers and NYSNA, I advocated to protect healthcare services and address unsafe staffing conditions impacting workers and patients. I also helped organize residents in response to overdevelopment concerns in my neighborhood, building a coalition of more than 500 community members for smart development.
Education
Licensed attorney with PR and DC Bar; Master in Immigration Management, Cornell DEI Certificate and Labor Relations
Party Endorsements
Working Families Party, Hispanic Democrats of Westchester; running in the Democratic line.
Campaign Phone
787-940-0828
Campaign Instagram
www.instagram.com/garciaforyonkers/
My top priorities are fully and fairly funding public education by closing Foundation Aid gaps and investing in Yonkers schools, teachers, and student supports; strengthening hospitals and public infrastructure while improving transparency and accountability in how public dollars are spent; and addressing affordability for working families by tackling the rising costs of housing, transportation, and everyday essentials so people can stay and thrive in our communities.
The most effective climate policies in New York focus on both reducing emissions and protecting communities from climate impacts. That includes investing in renewable energy, improving energy efficiency in homes and public buildings, and modernizing the grid, especially in older and low income communities. We also need stronger climate resilience through flood protection and infrastructure upgrades, along with expanded public transit and safe walking and biking options to reduce transportation emissions. Just as important is prioritizing environmental justice so frontline communities receive the support and protections they need.
I would focus on policies that address both structural inequality and the day-to-day conditions that shape opportunity in communities across New York. That includes fully funding public education so schools in districts like Yonkers have equitable resources, expanding affordable housing and protecting tenants from displacement, and ensuring fair access to healthcare and quality public services regardless of zip code or income.
I also support strong labor protections, fair wages, and the right to organize, because economic justice is central to racial justice. In addition, we need criminal justice reforms that prioritize fairness, accountability, and community safety while reducing unnecessary disparities in enforcement. Across all of these areas, the goal is to ensure that government systems are working equitably for historically underserved communities, including Black, Latino, immigrant, and working-class families.
The Louisiana v. Callais decision raises concerns about fair representation and whether communities that have historically faced political marginalization can fully see their voices reflected in government. In NY, Black, Latino, and working class communities can be especially impacted when district lines fragment neighborhoods or dilute their collective influence, even in areas where they make up a significant share of the population, such as Yonkers and across the state. NY should respond by strengthening independent, transparent redistricting processes and ensuring meaningful public participation. Districting criteria should protect communities of interest so they are not unnecessarily divided. We should also expand language access, civic engagement, and voter education in Black, Latino, and working-class communities to ensure full participation in the democratic process. The goal is fair representation and equal opportunity to elect leaders who reflect these communities.
Experience and Qualifications
Chief of Staff to Assemblyman Nader Sayegh; Clerk at Yonkers Commission on Human Rights
Community Involvement
Yonkers Democratic Party Executive Director, Democratic District Leader. Frank is well known throughout the city for his community and volunteer work, having been involved in multiple Democratic campaigns, walking picket lines with striking union members, and having worked at the Yonkers Commission on Human Rights.
Education
Hunter College BA, New York Law School JD
Party Endorsements
Yonkers Democratic Party, Teamsters Local 456, 1199SEIU, 32BJ, AFSCME Local 1897, Yonkers Uniformed Fire Officers Association, Yonkers Fire Fighters Local 628, Yonkers PBA, Yonkers CLSA, County PBA, CSEA, NYS AFL-CIO, Westchester Corrections
Campaign Phone
9145233473
Campaign Instagram
frankjereis
My top 3 priorities include addressing the rising cost of living, securing more state aid for Yonkers Public Schools, and fixing tier 6 to make sure all our public servants get the dignified retirements they deserve. On the rising cost of living includes a particular focus on Coned. Coned has a monopoly over our utilities and residents can no longer afford it.
NYS must maintain clear targets for lowering emissions. Investments must continue to be made in non-polluting energy sources such as solar. There needs to be increased efficiency in areas like our buildings, transportation, and appliances. Also, resilient infrastructure needs to be built out across our State for issues like flood control and heat mitigation.
I will pursue policies that makes sure New York State is investing in all communities with a particular focus on communities that have been historically marginalized. In addition, I look forward to being a voice that consistently speaks out against all forms of discrimination and hate.
Regardless of decisions from SCOTUS, New York State must have safeguards in place to make sure New York's districts never intentionally divide community of colors or other historically marginalized communities to dilute their voting power.
