Assembly Member Monique Chandler Wartman, and Ernest Skinner, a representative of Caribbean American United on Aug. 30, endorsed Democratic candidate for Mayor of the City of New York, Zohran Mamdani during a tour of Church Avenue in Little Caribbean.
Chandler-Waterman facilitated the meet and greet with small business owners of Nanni Health Foods Veggie Restaurant, SR. Mango House, The Hills, and Cultchanonstop, who expressed their concerns with Mamdani, a member of the New York State Assembly from the 36th district, in Queens.
The contingent included Councilwoman Rita Joseph, Assemblyman Brian Cunningham, District Leader Flatbush Assembly District 42, Josue Pierre, Assemblymember Phara Souffrant of Assembly District 57, in Brooklyn, Community Leader, Beckford, and Founder of Little Caribbean and the platform I Am Caribbeing, Shelley Worrell.
During a press conference outside of Cultcha Nonstop, Chandler-Waterman in a fiery speech, said representation matters.
“Our Children deserve it, our ancestors demand it, and our futures depend on it. But family, I can’t do it alone. This is our fight, “it’s not an I thing, it’s a we thing. This is a fight of all the sons and daughters of the Caribbean, every immigrant, every New Yorker who believe in justice, dignity, and inequity,” said Chandler-Waterman.
“When we link arms, we rise together, and we are unstoppable. That is why today, I am proud to stand with the Caribbean American United in support of Mamdami for mayor.
She spoke of showing Mamdani the rich cultural history during the walk through Little Caribbean, noting that he listens to the plight of the community.
“He listens to our small business owners, he listens to our anti-violence group, he listens to our concerns about public safety, he listens to our community, she said, adding, “For too long, leaders have not listened to us, but we stayed loyal because we did not have options.”
“But hear me, we don’t have to settle anymore, because of lack of options, she said, noting that after elected officials left Downstate Hospital to crumble, community leaders and healthcare workers worked to acquire $1 1million to keep the institution open.
Mamdani, a Ugandan native who migrated to the U.S. with his parents at the age of seven, later, entering the mayoral race as an unknown, to beat out former New York Governor, Andrew Cuomo, and incumbent Mayor Eric Adams at the June primary to be the candidate for the November ballot, spoke passionately about changing the landscape of New York for the better.
With a warm welcome, and handshakes behind him, Mamdani laid out a plan, highlighting some of the concerns raised by residents, such as public safety.
“I have heard a lot of concerns around safety and the importance of investing in a long term approach at addressing gun violence as a public health epidemic, and I’ve heard from core violence organizations that tare part of our crisis management system, about the necessity of investing, and I what frustrates so many New Yorkers is we have programs that work but they operate at a pilot scale,” he said adding, “if they are working why are they not being applied everywhere if you are able to reduce shootings by up to 40% but you’re in less than 50% of all precincts.
“The first thing that I will do is to follow through on that which already works; there’s a lot we must come up with,” said Mamdani.
“It’s a joy to be here. I was born in East Africa and the West Indian cricket team was always held up as one of the most incredible teams that we had ever seen, he said, naming favorite cricketers like Brian Lara, and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, “these were icons for so many of us, and to be here and to see those same flags it’s really a joy, said the candidate.
Additionally, Mamdani answered questions on several other topics affecting the community, such as housing development, New York City government, finds and fees, concerns about being attacked from inside and outside of the city. He also applauded elected officials for embracing him and helping him to understand the needs of their community.
“Ahead of J’Ouvert and the West Indian Day Parade, it was an honor and joy to receive the endorsement of my friend and colleague Monique Chandler-Waterman. I can’t think of no better way to celebrate than with Little the Caribbean tour and community visiting these vibrant small businesses like Nanni Vegan, Cultchanonstop, The Hills, and SR Mango House.”
Nearly 20% of New York City’s 8.8 million residents have roots in the Caribbean, and this weekend is all about celebrating the vibrancy, culture, and resilience of this community and its historic role in the fight for freedom and liberation, Mamdani said in a social media post.
