Let me be clear. I have not joined the Republicans, I joined my fellow Democrats in the Independent Democratic Conference (IDC). I decided to join the IDC to deliver a progressive agenda for the City, because without the IDC, the State Senate would not have passed legislation that increased the minimum wage, established paid family leave and provided free UPK.
To bring these and other progressive results to New York City, at times the IDC forms a coalition with the Republicans to allow some Republicans that can’t vote for an increase in property taxes upstate or Long Island not to vote, and in turn, the IDC gets the ability to add or push off legislation that they don’t agree with that may hurt New York City and their constituents. For communities struggling upstate, tax relief provides much-needed savings for homeowners. For a State Senator from outside New York City, a property tax cap is as essential as family paid leave is to me. This coalition makes Republicans more receptive to measures that are traditionally Democratic, and it allows us to move forward our values and initiatives.
Unfortunately, because the mainline Democrats are in the minority they don’t have a say on what’s on the agenda. Under the Trump Administration, we either sit on our hands and shift the blame to why it couldn’t be done or we step up and try to make effective change, and turn my voice into action and results. Although this was safe to do under Obama, now it is not the time to sit on the sidelines.
I want you to be clear that I will never, never change my Democratic values, values I have been fighting all my life and values that I will never abandon. I will never, never advocate for anything that hurts my community, my district, my constituents. I will never, never accept anything that hurts immigrants and hard-working families.
I really want to hear your concerns as I always have, and if you want me to explain further, please reach out to my office. The number is 718-205-3881.
