Issue Position: Jobs & Black + Economic Development

Issue Position

We have in our district one of the world's greatest economic growth engines, John F. Kennedy airport. Everyone is working there. Except us.

My plan:

Entry level jobs at JFK should be going to young people, living wage employment opportunities should go to everyone in our community. I intend to demand that we get our fair share from the airlines and all the businesses that service travelers from around the nation and around the world. It's about time we got our fair share.

Small business is being driven out of business. Big business, corporations, often pay no taxes. Small businesses which create real jobs are being destroyed by city policies. They are being double and triple taxed. We need to help our local merchants, not destroy their hopes and dreams. We support creating initiatives that expand state tax incentives to small businesses that create employment opportunities for those who are hard to employ, are MWBEs and partner with community organizations and merchant groups to improve the neighborhood. We will fight to create opportunities for new business owners and entrepreneurs.

Green jobs are not a dream. Urban agriculture is no fantasy. Food cooperatives that benefit all of us in the Rockaways and Southeast Queens can help create independence, small business opportunity, and good paying jobs. It's happening in other cities. Why not here?

As Assemblymember, we will work with labor unions, community groups and city/state agencies to build and expand apprenticeship models for young people in our public schools. We must create direct pipeline programs for our students to earn a trade or skill to expand their employability.

A New Deal for gig workers? People working in the new hi-tech economy, gig works, should be allowed to choose whether they want to be paid as employees or as independent contractors. Let them control their own lives.

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