The Mission

As a life-long New Yorker, I am committed to seeing the best New York has to offer.  Because of this, I want to make significant changes to the way we do business.

As things stand, the New York school systems are failing our children.  This is not because of the schools or the teachers.  We need to acknowledge that we are not giving them all of the tools they need for success.  Too many of our children graduate high school without any financial literacy.  They do not know how to build credit.  They do not understand how taxes work.  They are not taught about local jobs that offer tuition reimbursement.  They do not understand the consequences of the student loans they apply for.  Children graduate our high schools, some as young as 17 years old, and sign up for huge student loans because they are taught that they need to go to college to be successful.  We need to make sure our youth have the correct guidance.  Financial literacy is just as important as knowing the Pythagorean Theorem.  I want all public school students in New York to learn how to support themselves.

Currently, New York is home to a few sanctuary counties and cities.  This is not enough.  New York City is one of the most diverse cities in the country.  We know that New Yorkers come in all shades and cultural origins.  When Ireland was struck by famine in the mid-1800s and the Irish immigrants came to New York, we didn’t build a wall to keep them out.  When Italian immigrants came to New York in the early 1900s looking for work, we didn’t send them home.  New York embraces.  We need to keep that same energy.  I want New York to be a sanctuary state.  The current administration has been threatening to cut federal support for cities that do not cooperate with ICE.  New York can take a stand though.  We have one of the largest economies in the country.  The federal government needs us.  We cannot be bullied.

As the son of two Central American immigrants, I promise you that I will work as hard as I can to preserve your rights.  With your help, I will be your advocate in the New York State Assembly.  We can protect each other.