As the New York City mayoral race heats up, contenders are stepping up to cast their visions for tackling the deeply entrenched issues of affordability and public safety - all critical points for many New Yorkers, including those in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. Sunset Park has vocalized concerns, with locals speaking to Gothamist about their priorities which include improved communication from City Hall, especially for immigrant communities and entrepreneurs, and elevated public safety following a rise in hate crimes against Asian Americans.
Former Governor Andrew Cuomo has proposed to decidedly hire an additional 5,000 police officers, aimed at combatting what he perceives as a rise in crime and disorder. Meanwhile, City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams has committed to filling 2,000 vacant NYPD posts and improving trust between the police and local communities. In a contrasting approach, Queens Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani does not plan to increase police numbers, but rather envisions creating a new "Department of Community Safety" handling certain responsibilities currently overseen by the NYPD, as detailed by a amNewYork breakdown.
Lorena Kourousias, director of Mixteca, has highlighted the need for the city's leadership to respect the dignity and rights of immigrants. "This city was made by immigrants. And I will feel like we made the right choice [in mayor] if we see that people can walk around free, like they don’t have to hide, because they’ve done nothing wrong," Kourousias told Gothamist.
Tim Law, founder of the Chinese American Social Services Center, expressed concerns over rising anti-Asian hate crimes, while David Estrada from the Sunset Park Business Improvement District calls for the next mayor to better connect with immigrant entrepreneurs outside of social media bubbles. Looking at the spectrum of candidates, many seek to improve NYPD staffing levels, with Brad Lander and Zellnor Myrie both advocating for an increase, while State Sen. Jessica Ramos is focusing on addressing public safety through community-based initiatives and does not list bolstering the police force among her priorities, according to amNewYork.
