Advocate Candidate Meets Locals

By COLlive reporter

Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez, who is running for Public Advocate in a special election to fill the position vacated by newly elected Attorney General Letitia James, visited Crown Heights last week to speak to residents and hear about local concerns.

Council Member Rodriguez, who represents New York’s 10th Council District in the Bronx, has maintained a longtime friendship with Jewish councilmembers in New York, and joined a mission to Israel with Council Member David Greenfield a few years ago.

Originally from the Dominican Republic, Rodriguez told residents that he is a family man with traditional values, and has been a longtime champion of the ethnic communities he represents, which includes the Jewish community of Brooklyn Heights as well as Yeshiva University.

Rodriguez said that he immigrated to the US at 18, starting out as a humble dishwasher and built himself up, receiving an education and becoming an educator himself, before being elected as Council Member, where he serves on transportation, education, public safety, and civil rights committees.

Residents shared concerns of Crown Heights locals, such as the recent uptick in violent crime, the rise in Anti-Semitic incidents, and the high price of real estate.

“We have zero tolerance for any action of hate,” Rodriguez said. “My record shows that I have been there for the people. It’s not a privilege for Jewish residents to be assured safety, it’s their right,” he said.

Rodriguez said if he is elected, he is committed to learning more about the individual needs of the Crown Heights community, and making sure they have a voice, saying he would establish a Latin-Jewish council to further good relations between communities.

“I will make sure to have a representative from your community in my office,” he promised. “I am committed to be guided and educated on the issues affecting the Jewish community,” he said.