NYS senators endorse Bravo for City Council

By Moses Kuwema

New York State Senators Jessica Ramos and Alessandria Biaggi have endorsed Ischia Bravo; Democrat for City Council in District 15.

Both senators Ramos and Biaggi assumed office in 2019 after defeating long time incumbents and members of the Independent Democratic Conference, a group of Senate Democrats who caucused with Republicans to give the GOP a majority in the chamber.

Senators Ramos and Biaggi represent the new era of Democratic activism in the NY State Senate, ushering an era of independent progressivism and pragmatism.

“When the new class of New York City Council Members take office in 2022, they will inherit a city facing its greatest hour of need.

“This set of unprecedented challenges require the most qualified, experienced, and formidable leaders to take office.

“Ischia Bravo is the most serious candidate in District 15. Since I took office two years ago, it is abundantly clear that few have advocated as aggressively in the Bronx than Ischia.

“Her sixteen years of experience, combined with her fierce ability to maintain her
independence and buck the status quo, is early proof that she prioritizes people over politics,” she said.

“As Community Board 7 District Manager, Ischia has already taken many stands for what is right for her district and community. Collectively, this signals something we should all take note of — that is, on day one, Ischia will be ready to hit the ground running. Ischia’s relentless nature will ensure that New York City’s recovery plan makes the Bronx its first priority.

“No one will out-hustle Ischia’s work for this district, and that is why she has my full support as the next Council Member of District 15,” said Senator Biaggi in a statement released Tuesday by Bravo’s campaign manager Ryan Dooling.

Her counterpart senator Ramos added, “Working families in the Bronx need a champion committed to fighting for equity and justice in New York City Council’s 15th District. Ischia Bravo is that leader — a mother, community advocate, and lifelong Bronx resident devoted to the values of community-inspired grassroots change.

“A product of
local public schools and housing, Bravo will empower working New Yorkers by delivering critical resources to bridge the gap in service delivery and offer solutions to fix our city’s housing, health, and fiscal crisis.

“As we navigate New York’s post-pandemic recovery, I am confident Bravo will relentlessly advocate for the needs of Bronx residents.”

Bravo is a mother, community advocate, and lifelong Bronx resident. She understands the needs of our community and knows how to work within local government
to deliver resources back to our neighborhoods.

As a product of public housing, Ischia understands how housing influences every aspect of one’s life, from education and employment to health.

Ischia is passionate about reforming New York City’s broken housing system because of her own lived experience and that of so many of her struggling neighbors.

Ischia attended local schools within the NYC public school system, is a proud CUNY alumna, obtaining her Bachelor’s degree from John Jay College of
Criminal Justice and her Associate’s from Hostos Community College.

Ischia has dedicated her life to public service because she believes zip codes should not determine life outcomes.
Ischia currently serves as the District Manager for Bronx Community Board 7 (CB7), where she amplifies the voices of her local residents and holds city stakeholders accountable to serving her community, which ranks among the poorest across New York City and is in critical need of resources.

As District Manager, Ischia has developed a new system to ensure that any developer that is approved to receive funding from the City government must hire people from the local community. Knowing how difficult it is for her
community – which includes immigrants, single mothers, and low-income families – to navigate the City’s Housing Connect Lottery to be considered for affordable housing opportunities, Ischia created housing clinics so the neediest families and community members could apply to new housing developments with ease.

Ischia knows her neighbors deserve better and is determined to improve the quality of life for every resident in District 15.