October 2021
www.workersworldtoday.com
6
One to Watch
Antonio Reynoso: My Mandate as the Next Brooklyn President BY WWT EDITORIAL TEAM
O
n November 2, the likely next leader of Brooklyn will be in office. The South‐side Williamsburg‐born Brooklynite, Antonio Reynoso has represented his con‐ stituents, Bushwick and Ridge‐ wood, from District 34, will be elected into office as the 19th Brooklyn borough president. During an interview with Peo‑ ple, Power & Politics, he shared the focus and how he intends to execute his bold, ambitious, and progressive plan for the whole of Brooklyn borough. The dis‐ cussions focused on what his administration's key areas of accountability will be when he becomes elected. According to him, the central theme of his tenure remains the issue of maternal health and health equality for black women. A problem he reveals is of great importance to him, hav‐ ing experienced firsthand the
dangers black women face dur‐ ing their pregnancy and birthing." I want to make Brook‐ lyn the safest place for women to have babies. It's going to be a goal for us to achieve from day one. It is a personal story for me. My wife had a baby in a public hospital, and, sadly, my wife is eight times more likely to die during their pregnancy and the birth of our child than her white counterpart. It is a sad thing to realize, and I want to do my part as an ally". His strategy will focus on im‐ proving facilities, processes and making sure the voices of women and those concerned are heard. Working collabora‐ tively with NYC Mayor‐elect, he will devise ways of actualizing the plan. "…we are going to have a conversation about em‐ powering midwives and doulas. I think that is the best way for us to effect meaningful change. And the way that we are going to do that is by centering black
women's health and making sure that the facilities and the processes and the voice of black women mostly are centered in their birthing experience." Being an offspring of immi‐ grants, his plan for documented immigrants in New York in‐ cludes a commitment to ensur‐ ing that they can participate in deciding the future of their bor‐ ough by ensuring that they have the voting rights to contribute in choosing leaders in a city where they live. "…If you have a green card and you are a resident of
New York, then you should have an opportunity to vote in elec‐ tions. If you live in the city and you have been contributing in any way, shape, or form, you should have access to be able to hold your elected officials ac‐ countable at least choose who they are." He acknowledges this importance among documented immigrants, especially amongst Latino, African and Caribbean communities, which are left out of active participation in shap‐ ing the political landscape. "The current Borough President,
soon to be Mayor Adams, I've heard that he initially said he is supportive of it. Given that his victory was mostly a black and brown coalition, it would be great for him to do, to show ap‐ preciation to the Latino, Caribbean, and black communi‐ ties that he is grateful, and wants to give them a larger voice in the New York political landscape." Also, upon his assumption of office, Mr. Reynoso's top five pri‐ ority issues besides maternal and black women's health in‐ clude education, housing, open space, and celebration of cul‐ tural diversity. On education, ensuring that students in the borough are healthy and safe remains crucial in his agenda."Given what is happening in COVID, we must look out for the interest of our children, we can protect our children through vaccines, so we have to hold them (principal, continued on page 7
