A bevy of Caribbean-American legislators were on hand on Saturday in welcoming Democratic mayoral nominee and Queens Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani to the Little Caribbean community in East Flatbush, Brooklyn.
Among the elected officials on hand were state Assembly Members Monique Chandler-Waterman, the daughter of Jamaican and Barbadian immigrants, who represents the 58th Assembly District; Brian Cunningham, the son of Jamaican immigrants, who represents the 43rd Assembly District; and Phara Souffrant Forrest, the daughter of Haitian immigrants, who represents the 57th Assembly District. City Council Member Rita Joseph, the Haitian-born representative for the 40th Council District, also joined.
Other elected officials present were Josue Pierre, the Haitian-American District Leader for the 42nd Assembly District in Brooklyn; and Anthony Beckford, the son of Jamaican immigrants, who serves as district leader for the 43rd State Assembly District in Brooklyn. Trinidadian-born Ernest Skinner, a representative for Caribbean Americans United in Support of Mamdani for Mayor, was also among members who accompanied Mandani as he visited several businesses in the “Little Caribbean” neighborhoods.
Mamdani tour includes stops at local businesses
Mamdani toured these businesses, held brief talks, and culminated the tour with a press conference adjacent to the Hills Restaurant at 4706 Church Ave., between Schenectady Avenue and East 48th Street.
Among other businesses toured were Nanni Health Food Store, 5222 Church Ave., between East 52nd Street and East 53rd Street; and Mango House, Inc., 5117 Church Ave, between East 51st and East 52nd Streets.
“I want to give deep gratitude for taking me into this district,” Mamdani told the press conference. “For small businesses, I heard all different stories. I’ve heard from New York City residents. … We cannot separate the stories of the Caribbean (community). We deserve a leader who will stand up.”
Responding to a question about President Trump’s possible use of the military to help address crime in New York City, Mamdani said that the city can handle the situation by itself and does not need the president’s military intervention.
Chandler-Waterman, whose district covers East Flatbush, Canarsie, Brownsville and Crown Heights and Little Caribbean, said it was “fitting that we are here today on the heels of J’Overt and Labor Day,” noted she was proud to stand with Caribbean Americans United in Support of Mamdani for Mayor and leading the Democratic nominee on a tour of Little Caribbean.
“He listened to our small business owners, he listened to our anti-violence groups, he listened about concerns of public safety, he listened to the community,” she added. “For too long, we have been loyal to leaders who did not listen to us. We stayed loyal because we had no options. But hear me — we don’t have to settle anymore.”
Joseph later told Caribbean Life that the walk with Mamdani and other local elected officials “highlighted the hardworking entrepreneurs and business owners who have built thriving enterprises in Brooklyn’s heart.”
“This walk demonstrates a genuine commitment to understanding the daily challenges and opportunities facing the Caribbean business community,” she added.
Pierre said Zohran’s plan to build 200,000 permanently affordable, is “exactly the kind of transformative investment we need in Flatbush.
“This isn’t just a number, it’s the promise of stability for families, seniors, immigrants, and working-class New Yorkers across all five boroughs,” he told Caribbean Life, stating that Mamdani has “shown the courage to lead with integrity, with clarity, and with urgency. That’s the kind of leadership our city needs, and it’s why I’m standing with him.”
Beckford also told Caribbean Life that “it was good to have Mamdani come out to the East Flatbush/ Flatbush community, to hear the stories of the people and small business owners.”
“Our Caribbean community has been the economic and service backbone of Brooklyn and New York City as a whole,” he said. “For Zohran to take his time to not only meet, but to also listen to the concerns, the hardships, the inequities and the push of our community is very meaningful.”
Wayne Ragguette, the Vincentian-born owner of Nanni Health Food Store, told Caribbean Life afterwards that he was pleased with Mamdani’s visit to “Little Caribbean”.
“I think it was a good thing for him to see how to operate a small business and some of the issues and concerns we have as merchants in the area,” he said. “Hopefully, if elected, he will return to the neighborhood and address some of those issues.”
