CRIME AND SAFETY

As a retired lieutenant of the New York Police Department, Sammy knows  how to handle law enforcement. He understands how, although defunding  the police makes for great politics, it makes for poor policy in the most  vulnerable parts of The Bronx. The NYPD needs to be fully funded to  continue to improve its expanded training in mental health and de escalation. The police department is not perfect, but we need make sure  our officers are supported and put in place so our citizens can enjoy  walking around the saftest and greatest borough in New York.

EDUCATION

The Bronx has been behind on education in the city for decades. I will  advocate for more city funding to increase our graduation rate, and give  our graduates the real world tools for the jobs of tomorrow.  

I want to eliminate high-stakes testing. Teachers are being forced to teach a  test rather than using those test to gauge where their students need the  most help. We need to shift the culture on testing. 

Schools are over crowded. We need to invest in school infrastructure, and  build more schools. And I advocate to fund schools to increase pay and support for public school educators.  

By 2026, ensure $100 billion of investments to Title 1, 2, & 3.  

And when it comes to higher education, I support free CUNY. I support  canceling all student loan debt. And I want to increase investment in trade programs which can provide anyone with a steady job in a demanding job market.

LGBTQ

I have believed in gay rights since the 90s. No one should be judged for  who they love, and no one’s civil rights should be less than for who they  are. And now with the queer community thriving more than ever in New  York City, we cannot ignore the issues our trans citizens are facing across  the country. We need to stand in solidarity with the trans community and remember when the most marginalized people are protected, we are all  better protected.

HOUSING

We must create a pipeline from public housing to home ownership. We  need to start investing in our tenants over our developers, and putting the  control back into the hands of the people who live here. As Borough  President, I will work with turning over ownership of buildings to non profits, allowing low income families to start owning, and building  generational wealth amongst our citizens.

TECHNOLOGY

The Bronx has been behind on education in the city for decades. I will  advocate for more city funding to increase our graduation rate, and give  our graduates the real world tools for the jobs of tomorrow.  

I want to eliminate high-stakes testing. Teachers are being forced to teach a  test rather than using those test to gauge where their students need the  most help. We need to shift the culture on testing. 

Schools are over crowded. We need to invest in school infrastructure, and  build more schools. And I advocate to fund schools to increase pay and support for public school educators.  

By 2026, ensure $100 billion of investments to Title 1, 2, & 3.  

And when it comes to higher education, I support free CUNY. I support  canceling all student loan debt. And I want to increase investment in trade programs which can provide anyone with a steady job in a demanding job market.

HEALTHCARE

Bronx County is ranked last place, 62 out of 62 counties in New York State, in the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps Report. And COVID 19 has ravaged the borough already plagued with high rates of asthma and  other lung based diseases. I will advocate that every piece of legislation effecting our infrastructure only improves our quality of life. And I will  push for easier access to healthcare to take care of our ailing citizens.

VETERANS

We have a sacred obligation to care for our veterans and their families.  There are homeless veterans in our streets, or living in poverty in our  borough. As a veteran of the Gulf War, I will be the voice in the Borough  Hall that has long been ignored. I will make sure my office has high  consideration in hiring veterans. And I will donate a portion of my salary to  veteran and first responder causes.