NYC Primary Election 2020: Mapp Runs For E Harlem Assembly Seat

NEW YORK, NY — Democrats living in East Harlem will head to the polls on June 23 to cast their votes in a contested primary for New York's 68th State Assembly District.

Incumbent Robert Rodriguez will face off against local businesswoman and political candidate Tamika Mapp. Both Rodriguez and Mapp also ran for East Harlem's City Council seat in 2017, but lost to Diana Ayala. In the 2017 City Council race Rodriguez finished a close second and Mapp finished a distant third.

Rodriguez has represented New York's 68th Assembly District since winning the seat in 2010. Rodriguez ran unopposed in the Democratic primary for the seat until 2018, when he comfortably held off a challenge from Democrat John Ruiz.

The primary election is open to registered Democratic voters. All New York voters may request a mail-in ballot due to the coronavirus pandemic. Ballots must be postmarked by the date of the election for the vote to count.

For those who want to head to the polls, click here to find your poll site. Early voting is available from June 13 to June 21.

Patch reached out to all candidates in the primary election to create these profiles. Responses have been lightly edited for clarity.

Tamika Mapp

Age as of Election Day (Nov. 3)

44.

NYC neighborhood of residence

East Harlem.

Position Sought

State Assembly.

Party Affiliation

Democrat.

Family

Monisha, 49;
McKenzie, 8.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No.

Education

BS, Paralegal Studies;
AS, Medical Billing and Coding.

Occupation

Self-employed.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

County Committeewoman.

Campaign website

www.mapp.vote

Why are you seeking elective office?

The economy is terrible, people are hurting, and our State is not doing enough to solve the real problems. I'm running because we can do better. Our system works when everyone gets a fair shot, everyone gives their fair share, and everyone plays by the same rules. My opponent's policies are not fair; they rig the system to benefit the rich over the rest of us. My policies would ensure that everyone who works hard and plays by the same rules has the opportunity to live the American Dream.

The single most pressing issue facing our nation/state/community is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Affordable housing.
Possible solutions:

• Affordable Housing fund, to help create, rehab and support affordable housing throughout New York
• Tax abatement for Co-ops and Condo's; ensuring that they won't expire
• Rent Equity: give our renters an opportunity to buy a place of their own
• Redesign affordable housing income guideline: ensuring all income levels have the opportunity to apply for new affordable housing.

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

Accountability and Accessibility is the most critical difference between me and the other candidates. When our community needed items such as masks, food and resources I was reachable and showed up; instead of saying I'll get back to you and never get back.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

Not canceling rent when our community and businesses needs it the most!

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

• Criminal Justice; to ensure when our community comes out of the criminal justice system they have the resources they need to succeed.
• Wage Equality: Every New Yorker needs to be paid at least $20 an hour.
• Housing For All, change our tax abatements, affordable housing income guidelines, funding NYCHA to get the necessary repairs.

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

• Helped pass the minimum wage to $15 per hour;
• Helped pass the Raise the Wage;
• Lend my voice online and offline for housing, family law and criminal justice issues.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

If you're waiting for a sign..... This it it!

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

My name is Tamika Mapp, and I've overcome tough challenges my whole life. I was abused as a child, and I had my son at 14 years old. I endured endless custody battles with my daughter's father, I have been out of work and homeless. I never let myself be a statistic, and I never let hardship hold me back.

Thanks to the adversity I faced, it is important to me to fight to make it better for others the way I wished someone would have fought for me. As an adult, it is my life's passion to give back. To that end, I'm a veteran, Girl Scout leader, small business mentor, PTA President, and County Committeewoman.

I am running to represent you in East Harlem so that our children's schools can get the proper funding they deserve; everyone can live somewhere safe and affordable regardless of their income level, people who have paid their debt to society can have a place in the community to aide their re-entry, people who work can be paid a living wage. These are lofty goals, but we deserve nothing less, and just like I fought hard to overcome personal challenges in my life, with your help, I will fight just as hard to win this election and serve you in Albany. These are new times that require new leaders. Change is hard but necessary.