12/31/2021
As 2021 comes to an end, so does my tenure as your New York City Councilwoman.
I must say that it’s been a privilege and honor to represent you for the past 12 years. Thank you for giving me that opportunity. Together we’ve accomplished so much for the North Shore and the city.
Thank you for the support you gave me during my three terms on the Council. And many thanks to all the community leaders, clergy, businesses, nonprofits and cultural groups for your support. It was a pleasure working with you.
As the first Black person elected to public office on Staten Island, I fully appreciated that I had a responsibility to serve all of the people of the North Shore as well as be the voice of the marginalized and underserved and that as your Council Member I was expected to act in the best interests of a city with a culturally, economically and politically diverse population.
I was totally committed to keeping my campaign promises to improve our district by building schools, promoting economic development and affordable housing, increasing waterfront access, improving parks and enhancing the capacity of our community organizations. I worked hard to achieve those goals.
I secured hundreds of millions of dollars in public investments in the North Shore, including technology for our schools. I was the prime sponsor of more than 100 pieces of legislation during my three terms and served as the Deputy Majority Leader and chair of the Waterfront, Civil Rights, Senior Centers and the Youth Services committees.
Still, much remains to be done. The city should consider redeveloping the Staten Island Hospital site on Castleton Avenue as an education complex and resurrecting the North Shore Railroad. The city must do more to build equity in our schools by generating more affordable housing.
I’m disappointed that not all of the projects started during my time in office were completed, but it’s gratifying to report that these projects that I championed are moving ahead and will be completed in the near future. Among them:
Reconstructing the Cromwell Recreation Center;
Renovating the Mariners Harbor Community Center to serve youth and seniors;
Relocating the Jersey Street Sanitation Department garage to Fresh Kills to allow for development to better serve the neighborhood;
Constructing a new school on the waterfront (Front St.);
Building affordable housing on Front Street.
Commissioning the new Staten Island Ferry “Sandy Ground.”
This will be my last digital newsletter as your District 49 Council Member. I hope you've found these weekly updates, as well as our social media posts, to be a useful source of information
As I leave office, my hope is that the communities of the North Shore will continue to grow and thrive and that we will continue to care for one another as neighbors and friends and work together to build a bright future for Staten Island and New York City. I love the North Shore and will miss serving as your City Council member!
