So far, there have been two parts of my candidate statement that has garnered its share of controversy.

"Socially progressive. Politically moderate.”

and

“small business commerce”

Socially progressive. Politically moderate:

Growing up within the Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn New York community; being Buddhist, vegan, Haitian, and educated by Asian monastics set me apart from most. Being progressive comes naturally to me because I know what it is to be “othered” and to be ostracized, ridiculed, and bullied because of my beliefs or way of life.

Now, it wasn’t all bad and I genuinely view my upbringing with fond nostalgia and wiser eyes. As a third culture kid, I eventually learned that the Black experience was multi-layered and I embodied many of those layers. I learned to love myself and understand the intricacies of identity and how best to look at things.

This is where my moderate political stance comes in. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not moderate when it comes to being a liberal versus conservative. There is nary a conservative bone in my body, but that doesn’t mean i can not find command ground with conservatives or independents.

The thing we three have in common: liberals, conservatives, and independents is that we are building towards something. We aren’t Anarchists who want to tear everything down. We aren’t MAGA followers who bend the rule of law around a cult of personality. We can find command ground based on good ideas, which no one has a monopoly on.

Liberal moderates like myself are very dangerous, because we believe compromise is possible if it meets shared goals. Our decision making is pre-ordained, and our tolerance isn’t fixed.

That is why I consider myself politically moderate. When it comes to issues led by Democrats, I will likely vote in the direction of my party. I prefer doing so upon hearing from the other side. It may slow things a bit in the process of decision-making, but I prefer to be informed of the best balance for every argument.

Small business commerce:

I’ve learned that “small business” can be a dog whistle politicians use to support an anti-union stance. This may be so, but I am not those politicians.

Unions are important to me because the biggest influencers in my life were unionized teachers. My foster dad took me to the dentist, shopped on Saturdays, repaired his Chevvy Caprice Classic - all thanks to having a union job as a middle school teacher.

When I think of small business, I think of Rudy’s Can’t Fail that is closing down.

I think of Rotten City Pizza shutting down.

I think of Jasmine Blossom Cuisine temporarily closing down and the many businesses that have shuttered their doors due to the pandemic.

When I speak to these business leaders, they confide their wishes for support from the local government. They needed additional help to survive the changes that came with quarantines and lack of foot traffic.

These are the businesses I kept in mind when I decided to run for city council. It doesn’t negate the interests of the unions, but it also provides a better feeling for these businesses and their staff that someone in the city council is looking out for them.

What do you think?