NYC Council District 9 Race: Alpheaus Marcus Seeks Harlem Seat

HARLEM, NY — Voters in New York City's 9th Council district, which includes all of Central Harlem and parts of East Harlem and Washington Heights, will see two names on their ballots when they vote in the Nov. 2 general election.

One of those names will be Alpheaus Marcus, a consultant and community advocate who is the Republican Party nominee. He is facing Kristin Richardson Jordan, the Democratic nominee who defeated incumbent Bill Perkins in the June primary.

Patch reached out to all candidates in the election to create these profiles. Marcus's responses are below.

Age (as of Election Day)

50

Position Sought

City Council 9th District

Party Affiliation

Republican

Neighborhood of residence (i.e., East Village, Astoria, etc.)

Harlem

Family

JaiQuan Johnson #31 Son
Sheronda Team's #48 Sister

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

Some college

Occupation

Consultant and Community Advocate

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

No office held

Campaign website

alpheausmarcus.net

Why are you seeking elective office?

Because change and Accountability is necessary. There is no accountability being held with City Hall.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Crime, Gentrification, Failing School Districts, NYCHA.

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

I understand the position and I am not bound by any party affiliations. The community comes first.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency) (Note: this question was asked during the June primary race, when Bill Perkins was still a contender for the Democratic nomination.)

They have caused the community in Harlem to give up on the issues that affect the Harlem Community as a whole. The belief in hope for change has been compromised for fear. Our community needs to believe in a candidate that will fight for the issues for effective change opposed to pacifications and symbolism.

How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?

They dropped the ball. They allowed price gouging to effect and affect the residents of Harlem where the median income is $15 an hour and rent is $1,500 for some apartments with no subsidy or supplemental assistance.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Giving the power back to the voters thru accountability and effective change. No more useless ideologies or funding for programs that benefit but do absolutely nothing.

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

Exposing the City as the biggest slumlords by the conditions of NYCHA. Establishing both the NCO and Build the Block Programs geared at reestablishing the relationship between the NYPD and the Black Communities affected by over policing in our communities.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Never change who you are because in politics everyone has a price.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

As a community advocate I have focused my resources and networking to assist the urban communities affected by injustices as well as the transgressions perpetuated thru the self genocidal mentality rooted in senseless gun violence. I have helped countless families in NYCHA throughout the city, as well as families receiving justice thru bringing the attentions of unsolved crimes. I fight hard for the people and as a county lawmaker this position will amplify my work as an community advocate to insure that the urban community gets the social rights, social issues affecting them but most importantly inspire the urban communities to begin understanding that they must inject their agendas in both parties.