Bold and Brave

As we wind down the final hours of 2019, it is important to reflect on both the progress we have made this year but also the challenges that remain for our community. I believe that the past year proved that so much is possible when we are bold and brave.

Our three powerhouses representing Queens - Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Jessica Ramos, and Catalina Cruz - brought new leadership and fresh perspective to elected office. Significant legislation moved forward in the State Legislature that had been delayed by decades of Republican control. New York State passed the Reproductive Health Act. With the key help of activist groups like New York Communities for Change, we now has the strongest rent reforms and tenant protections in generations. Make the Road New York and other important immigrant rights organizations were instrumental in passing  the Green Light bill, which provides drivers licenses to all New Yorkers.  

Here in Queens, Tiffany Cabán's historic campaign for Queens District Attorney generated tremendous energy and momentum on criminal justice reforms. Though she didn't win, what Tiffany Cabán did in her race to drive the conversation on these much-needed reforms should be considered a victory.  In the past year, we showed that when we work together and support courageous leadership, we can make progress and build power. 

I am running for State Assembly to be a grassroots leader on the most critical issues facing the neighborhoods of Corona, East Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, and Woodside. My vision is to build upon those victories, and bring about many more, as an activist in Albany. 

 We are building a people-powered movement to advance bold ideas for our community and we have already done so much with our grassroots campaign. I recently stepped down from leading a national reproductive justice organization to dedicate myself to campaigning. We have talked to neighbors about policing and the MTA. We’ve met up at cafecitos in each neighborhood in the district to hear directly from folks about their concerns. And we’ve already won early support from Make the Road Action and New York Communities for Change, and more to be announced in the New Year.

We still have so much more work to do to make New York a fairer, more equitable place for everyone. I am committed to health care for all, making CUNY free again, and fixing the MTA. I will be a leader on transparency and fair elections by seeking to ban corporate donations, expand voting access, and create a robust system of campaign finance reforms. In order to be bold in solving the challenges facing New Yorkers, we must run campaigns on grassroots support and liberate ourselves from the demands of big money.

We should start 2020 with hope and optimism that bold and brave action can help us blaze a trail into the future. I hope you will join me in bringing change to Albany.

Will you help send me to Albany to fight for our immigrant, working class community? 

In Solidarity,

Jessica