“I grew up in Williamsburg, in Los Sures, my entire life”: From this neighborhood came who could become the first Brooklyn Borough President of Latino descent. It is Antonio Reynoso, of Dominican immigrant parents.
“My mother and my father came here 40 years ago from the Dominican Republic. They were poor: Food Stamps, Well Fare, Section A, there was no government assistance program that my parents did not have,” Reynoso details.
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Today he walks through the Mayor’s Office. He has to attend City Council assemblies, where he represents District 34. He has already won the Democratic primary and is a wide favorite for the November general elections.
He knows how important it would be for the president of Brooklyn to speak Spanish: “To speak their language without having to write it phonetically. I think it will be a source of pride; I hope I can make them feel proud of the work that I am going to do.”
And he affirms that unlike the Bronx, a Latino has never ruled in Brooklyn because Hispanics are not the majority. He hopes that changes: “I am going to represent a county that is 40% African American and 40% White, and only 14% Latino. That is another achievement that I am representing a district that is not the majority Latino.”
One of the big problems you would face is rising rents across the county. He believes that the solution is not to stop real estate companies but to support the development of new homes: “That low-income apartments can be made for tenants who do not have much money. Create and develop new apartments that will be expensive, but also make more affordable housing. “
Reynoso hopes that the presence of Hispanics in the government will help migrants trust more in politics and participate in the life of the city: “If they see my face, if they listen to me how I speak. I hope they gain confidence in the government. I have the experience not only as a legislator, but as a son of an immigrant, I hope they trust me. “
Reynoso is from the group of progressive democrats in the city and defeated 11 opponents in the primaries. In November, he will run against Republican Menachem Raitport, and Anthony Jones and Shanduke Mcphatter from other parties.
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