Paul Newell
Democratic District Leader, 65th Assembly District
Jenifer Rajkumar for City Council
Dear Lucas,
In the 1st City Council District, covering Battery Park City, Financial District, Chinatown, Seaport, Lower East Side, SoHo, NoHo, Tribeca, and Greenwich Village we face a clear choice. In Lower Manhattan, where skyrocketing rents and massive, ill-conceived development projects are threatening our neighborhoods, that choice is Jenifer Rajkumar.
Jenifer is my Co-District Leader, and we have worked closely on behalf of our communities for two years. She is brilliant, hard-working, honest, and capable. What I love most about working with Jenifer is her tremendous skill at the art of inclusion. Her integrity and commitment to progressive values are unshakable, yet she knows that democracy is a consultative process. Her ability to listen, help craft solutions to community problems and work hard to realize those goals is an inspiration.
Perhaps the most important way in which a City Councilmember can impact our neighborhoods is through the land use. With real estate values at all-time highs, new massive projects are proposed all the time. Many of these are sensible, and New York City needs to grow. But it is imperative that these new projects take into account the needs of our community – and not just end up as giveaways to wealthy developers. It is here that the choice between Jenifer and Margaret Chin is clearest. Chin, however well-intentioned, has simply failed to be an effective voice for our neighborhoods in these deals. From the NYU expansion, to the South Street Seaport, to the Bowery, to SoHo, and more, Chin has been unwilling or unable to side with our community against big real estate. It’s why the Downtown Express recently wrote that Chin "does not deserve to be reelected."
It’s also why REBNY, the organization of NYC’s biggest billionaire landlords and developers, has been funding Chin’s campaignwith hundreds-of-thousands of dollars. REBNY’s Board of Directors includes names known to Lower Manhattanites like Larry Gluck, Richard LeFrak, Larry Silverstein, and Bill Rudin. It is safe to say that any candidate backed "Jobs for NY" – REBNY’s Citizens United style PAC – is NOT on our side.
Jenifer Rajkumar has steadfastly refused any and all funding from big real estate and their PACs. In the city council, Jenifer will be a fierce and independent voice on these projects. She’ll work to ensure that new development makes sense for the community, and brings with it the affordable housing, additional school seats, and increased transportation we need.
As District Leader, Jenifer has accomplished a lot, including restoring M9 bus service, speaking out to keep local firehouses open, advocating for the preservation of the South Street Seaport, and a lot more. That’s why The Villager, Downtown Express, and the SoHo Journal have all endorsed Jenifer Rajkumar for City Council. The Villager wrote that Jenifer Rajkumar’s "intelligence, her ability to quickly get to the heart of the issue and her diligence give us hope."
Jenifer is also running for reelection as District Leader, so some of us – in parts of Battery Park City, Financial District, SoHo, and the Lower East Side - will have the opportunity to vote for her twice. Please be sure to do so.
On Tuesday, I’ll be supporting Jenifer Rajkumar for City Council and District Leader. I ask you to join me. Thank you.
Yours,
Paul