Young Community Activists Meet Assemblywoman

Young activists and entrepreneurs from the Jewish community met for the first time with Assemblywoman Diana Richardson, who represents Crown Heights in the New York State Assembly. Among the topics discussed were affordable housing, traffic and the recent stabbing of a young Jewish man.

Since she was elected more than nine months ago, Richardson said that she had always wanted to meet with members of the Jewish community, but “certain individuals” attempted to bully her into doing things which she felt were unethical as a precondition to any such meeting. This impeded any such meeting with the Jewish community, until others took the initiative and made it happen.

Richardson was elected in a special election in May 2015, after the seat in the 43rd district was vacated by Karim Camara, who left for a job in the administration of Governor Andrew Cuomo.

Although not backed by the “Jewish leadership” in Crown Heights, Richardson swept the election – taking more than 50% of the vote.

Opening the meeting, Yaacov Behrman, who organized the get-together, introduced the assemblywoman. Richardson introduced herself as a lifelong resident of Crown Heights and the daughter of a truck driver and department of education secretary, as well as the mother of a 12-year-old boy.

The participants then each got up and introduced themselves and spoke briefly about what they do. Among them were directors of Friendship Circle, Yaldei Hashluchim, Shomrim, CHYE, real estate brokers and others.

Rabbi Shea Hecht related a brief Dvar Torah mentioning that politics date back to the time of the Talmud, where they discussed the necessity to work together with public officials.

Although meeting with members of the Jewish community for the first time, she said that she learned quite a lot from a trip to Israel in December, along with a delegation from the Assembly.

Richardson said that she believes the recent wave of arrests in Albany on corruption charges is a good thing, which now allows for the constituency to be properly represented.

Discussing the recent stabbing of Yehuda Leib Brikman, she expressed her concerns that mental issues were a factor in the attack. They discussed the need for better security, and mentioned the security camera system that was installed in Boro Park after the tragic incident of the abduction and murder of Laiby Kletzky.

Richardson said she believes that gentrification is about economics – and not color or race.

She also expressed her dissatisfaction with the current plans for the development of the Union-Bedford Armory. “Plans to build 330 apartments, many of which will become condos that will sell for over a million dollars and leaves the community with something like 50 affordable housing units that even I cannot afford, is not a good plan,” she said, adding that for the zoning variance and the 521a tax abatements are of far greater benefit to the developers than to the community.

“We as a community need to band together and make sure that we get what this community needs,” she said. “This is not a good deal.”

Another issue that was discussed was the horrible traffic conditions around the neighborhood. “Have you ever tried driving up New York Avenue between 3pm and on,” asked a participant, while a Hatzalah volunteer said “sometimes it’s faster to run and get the ambulance rather than drive.”

Richardson listened and said that she would like to hear more and work to get as many of the issue resolved. She gave out her contact information and asked that participants keep in touch with her.

“It was a productive and focused meeting,” said Behrman at the end of the event “the assemblywoman cares about our community and I am happy that this meeting took place.”