As the countdown to the November elections approaches, the election atmosphere in South Brooklyn is heating up, with residents showing a high level of interest in the discussions between the two party candidates about the future direction of the community. On the 2nd of November, the Alliance for a Better Way (AWA) held a forum for state assembly candidates in South Brooklyn, where the focus was on housing development, public safety, education reform, and small business policies – all hot topics within the Chinese community. The incumbent Democratic State Assemblyman for the 47th District, William Colton, faced off against his Republican challenger, retired police officer John Ricottone. Also present were Republican State Senator Xueli Chen and State Assemblyman Yongjia Zheng, while their Democratic challengers, Lining He and Xiaoqiong Xie, were not in attendance.
In response to the active promotion of affordable housing by the New York City government and how state laws can take precedence over or restrict local zoning regulations, for example, additional dwelling units (ADUs), minimum parking requirements, public transportation, housing density, and more. Both 47th District candidates agree that there should be an increase in housing supply but with differing emphases.
Colton emphasizes that increasing housing supply should not come at the cost of relaxing building safety, health, and environmental regulations. He criticizes certain homeless projects for lacking rigorous scrutiny and advocates for encouraging public-private partnerships through government funding and policy incentives, rather than weakening safety standards. Ricottone focuses on the resilience of local infrastructure, highlighting that parts of Brooklyn have aging sewer systems that may not withstand high-density development projects. He questions, “Why are so many vacant buildings not being rented out? What’s wrong with the system?” He proposes conducting a comprehensive investigation into the actual market demand and suggests converting planned homeless shelters into apartments for the elderly to better meet the community’s real needs.
Furthermore, addressing the presence of left-leaning Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) members in the council, Colton states that while he does not agree with their ideology, he maintains an open communication attitude. He stresses that elected officials should collaborate across party lines to solve problems but never compromise when it comes to protecting the interests of the district. Despite having many points of agreement on issues like public safety, homelessness, and education that have been of continuous concern to the community over the years, there are still differences in policy approaches between the two candidates.
Regarding bail reform, Ricottone advocates for the direct abolition of current bail reform provisions, believing that releasing repeat offenders at will severely undermines law enforcement morale. Colton reiterates his opposition to the law from 2019, advocating for safeguarding the rights of indigent defendants unable to pay bail but stressing the need for enhanced preventive detention for violent and repeat offenders.
On the issue of homeless shelters, Colton criticizes the current system for becoming a tool for developers to access government funds and finds the placement policy too rigid. Ricottone, on the other hand, focuses on surrounding public safety and public health issues, suggesting that individuals with mental health or substance abuse problems be referred to professional medical institutions and explicitly forbidding the placement of homeless shelters near schools and subway stations.
In terms of education, both candidates oppose the forced implementation of reduced class sizes policies in the absence of supporting facilities and strongly support preserving the Specialized High School Admissions Test (SHSAT). Drawing on his 11 years of teaching experience, Colton advocates for expanding gifted programs and special education resources; while Ricottone proposes the direct repeal of class size limits and enacting legislation through state law to permanently secure the SHSAT.
Both candidates believe that the current rental policies are overly tilted towards tenants. Ricottone supports the abolition of the “just cause eviction law” (referred to as the “bad tenant protection law” by Chinese small landlords) while Colton advocates for narrowing its applicability, striking a balance between protecting tenant rights and safeguarding the rights of small landlords.
In the latter part of the forum, State Senator Xueli Chen from the 17th District and State Assemblyman Yongjia Zheng from the 49th District shared their reasons for seeking re-election and their achievements in office.
Chen mentioned his nearly 27 years of police experience and small business operation background. He pointed out that he initially ran for office because the city government intended to repurpose James Madison High School for immigrant housing, believing that existing politicians had not adequately responded to community demands. Therefore, he felt the need for change. One of the first things he did upon taking office was to draft a bill requiring fire extinguishers in apartments. Zheng shared his 24 years of naval service experience and handling over 10,000 voter cases, covering everyday services such as parking, sewer systems, streetlights, and tree trimming.
On the issue of specialized high schools, Chen advocated for placing New York City’s 8 specialized high schools under the direct oversight of the New York State Department of Education to prevent political interference in admission systems by the city government. Zheng pointed out that the risks faced by the specialized high school system are not only due to city government policies but are also related to the political landscape of the state legislature. He expressed concerns that the increasing influence of Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) in the state legislature could lead to new abolition risks. Therefore, he urged supporters to remain vigilant and advocated for safeguarding the existing system through legislation.
Regarding small business and energy policies, both candidates oppose excessive regulation and unlicensed street vending, advocating for reducing the burden on legal businesses. Towards the end of the forum, Huang Youxing, co-founder of the Alliance for a Better Way and the current city council member, raised the issue that New York City’s “Local Law 97” and policies restricting the use of natural gas in new construction could impact the traditional cooking practices of the Chinese community. He asked state representatives how they would ensure the preservation of different cultural cooking methods.
Chen emphasized the importance of traditional cooking methods for various ethnic groups like Asians, Greeks, and Pakistanis. He supported the construction of a natural gas pipeline in northern New York State and highlighted his efforts in delaying the implementation of the “Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act” while proposing a “tax holiday” bill to waive one year of utility bill delivery fees, criticizing various government charges as essentially exploiting taxpayers. Zheng reiterated his firm opposition to the natural gas ban and fracking ban, noting that the inadequate supply of electricity and natural gas has exacerbated the energy burden on low-income and tenant communities. He criticized the current laws that prohibit the construction of interstate pipelines from neighboring Pennsylvania to transport natural gas as highly unwise, missing out on numerous job opportunities and resulting in New York State’s underground energy resources being developed and utilized by neighboring states. Both candidates emphasized continued resistance and hoped to overturn the natural gas ban through changes in future political landscapes and legislation, safeguarding residents’ right to choose energy options and preserve traditional cooking cultures.
The Alliance for a Better Way also invited Saritha Komatireddy, a representative for the Republican candidate for New York State Attorney General, to participate in the forum and address policy stances on bail reform, homeless shelters, landlord rights, and more.