East Harlem 68th Assembly District Race 2022: Edward Gibbs Profile

HARLEM, NY — Voters in New York City's 68th Assembly district, which includes East Harlem and parts of Central Harlem and the Upper East Side, will see four names on their ballots when they vote in the June 28 primary election.

One of those names will be Edward Gibbs, the incumbent who has held the seat since winning a special election in January.

Early voting runs from June 18-26. (Find your polling sites here.)

Patch reached out to all candidates in the election to create these profiles, asking for their positions on issues like affordable housing and public safety, and giving them the chance to describe their records in detail. Gibbs's responses are below.

Name

Edward Gibbs

Campaign website

https://eddieforassembly.com

NYC neighborhood of residence

East Harlem (El Barrio)

Office sought

State Assembly

District, if applicable

New York's 68th Assembly District

Party affiliation

Democrat

Education

Associates Degree, Cayuga Community College

Occupation

State Assemblymember since January 2022

Family

I am the proud father of Edward Jr., Donovan, and the late Ariel Gibbs, and grandfather of Dezire, Myian, Ian, and Kaiden.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No.

Age

53 years old

Previous public office, appointive or elective

Democratic District Leader for the 68th Assembly District since 2017

Why are you seeking this office?

I love East Harlem. I was born and raised here, and I have lived here through many of the struggles we have endured. I have seen our neighborhood get left behind time and time again when it comes to economic opportunity, safe and affordable housing, and city services like sanitation.

Today, the 68th Assembly District is at a crossroads. Gun violence is on the rise, rent is skyrocketing, and people need jobs. Most unsettling, though, is that people are stuck in an endless struggle of suffering. I know this struggle very well because I’ve lived it.

I am running for re-election because I believe the 68th Assembly District deserves a community advocate representing them in Albany. I am running because no one will fight harder than me for New York’s 68th Assembly District.

Additionally, as the first formerly incarcerated member of the New York State Legislature, I am seeking re-election to continue to represent the incarcerated and formerly incarcerated New Yorkers who have been voiceless for too long. Like too many New Yorkers, I faced the criminal justice system without proper legal representation, but after my time in prison, I was devoted to turning my life around and spending it in service of my community. I hope to continue to be able to use my unique perspective to fight for change in Albany.

Please complete this statement: The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ___, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is inequity. This issue is broad, but it affects our lives every day. Our NYCHA developments are in crisis and severely underfunded. When putting food on the table, working parents struggle to provide nutritional meals like my mom did when we lived on welfare. Young Black men are over eighty times more likely to get shot in New York City than white men. Layers of prejudice and racism baked into our political and policymaking processes mean there is a disparity in public services here in East Harlem. In these areas and so many others, inequity plagues our neighborhood daily. As Assemblymember, I plan to continue to infuse an equity perspective in everything I do. I am in office to support people who have been marginalized, and I operate from a place of lifting people up. This means championing reforms that will directly help working New Yorkers and create the more equitable, safe, healthy, and just community that we all deserve.

How would you address ongoing concerns about public safety in New York City?

We live at a time when people all over our district – young and old – are scared to go out on the streets for fear of being the victim of a crime. That’s simply not right. We need to get illegal guns off our streets, ensure that police have the resources they need to work hand in hand with our communities, and remove those who might be a threat to themselves or others from the subways. Furthermore, in the long run, we need to make sure we are setting up our kids for success by funding public education and other programs, so they don’t end up in this cycle of violence like I once did.

Do you think the NYPD's response to the recent surge in crime will affect efforts at police reform and, if so, how?

We must take a more balanced approach to public safety and justice. As someone who has been affected by the criminal justice system, violent crime, and the war on drugs, I bring a unique perspective to this discussion and know that but I know we can achieve both simultaneously. We must allow the NYPD to aggressively confront crime while ensuring there is a robust system for oversight, and we must ensure the NYPD has the resources to work hand in hand with our communities to make everyone safer.

What is one policy you would support to make housing more affordable in New York City?

I support mandatory inclusionary housing with deep levels of affordability. I am guided by the principle that housing is a human right, and I know this will help make housing more affordable in our city.

Should officials do more to encourage New Yorkers to return to work in person? If so, how? If not, why not?

We need to adapt the building stock to meet housing needs and make the city more livable so people will come and stay regardless of whether they go to an office or public space to work.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

Long before holding public office, I have been an active presence in this community for over three decades, organizing annual coat drives, Thanksgiving dinners, Christmas toy giveaways, back-to-school supply drives, and numerous other community events. At the height of the pandemic, I cared for vulnerable seniors and distributed food, water, and PPE. Of all the candidates, I know our neighborhood the best and what we need to do to uplift our working families, because I have spent my life fighting for us.

Another thing that sets me apart is the broad coalition of working New Yorkers I have supporting my re-election campaign from an extensive list of major unions including the New York State AFL-CIO, District Council 37, 1199 SEIU, 32BJ SEIU, the New York State Nurses Association, New York State United Teachers, the New York City District Council of Carpenters, the United Fire Officers Association Local 854, the New York State Public Employees Federation, and Communications Workers of America Local 1180 to advocacy groups including New York Immigration Coalition Action, the New York League of Conservation Voters, and the 504 Democratic Club.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

I am focused on making our neighborhoods safer and getting guns off our streets; increasing affordable housing options; expanding social services and healthcare for seniors; improving mental health and social services to tackle the homeless crisis; fully funding our public schools; and creating good-paying jobs in our community.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

The six months I have spent in office so far should prove to my neighbors that I will go above and beyond as their representative in Albany. During this legislative session, I introduced twenty bills and co-sponsored over 130 more, all of which will make New York a more equitable, healthy, safe, or just place to live. I passed bills to ensure college students with disabilities have access to proper instructional materials, protect biodiversity in New York State, and ensure that summer youth programs are properly funded. I was proud to stand up for tenants by demanding a rent freeze, the slowing of the calendaring of eviction court cases, and more secure NYCHA developments. Our neighborhood has always stood strong in the face of adversity; I am confident that I am the candidate who can do the same.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

When we were little, my mother always told my siblings and me that only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I understand what it’s like to grow up in public housing to a single mother of five. My siblings and I grew up in poverty, sometimes going hungry because there wasn’t enough food to go around. I understand what it’s like to hustle to get money in my pocket because there weren’t enough jobs or opportunities in my community for kids like me. I understand what it’s like to be a formerly incarcerated individual who encounters numerous obstacles to entering the traditional workforce with a felony on his record. These experiences and the adversity I have battled throughout my life have shaped who I am as a person, a candidate, and most importantly, a representative and advocate for my community.

Though I was successful in turning my life around after prison, there’s unfortunately another New York where guys with a record like me don’t make it. They are left behind, trapped in a vicious cycle that engulfs the lives of our youth. It leaves our communities deprived of resources, opportunity, and hope. I am proud to be a strong advocate for a New York where this is no longer the status quo.

I am committed to fighting for a more just, safe, and affordable community, and I would be honored to have your support. Thank you very much for your consideration.