Brooklyn District 35 City Council Race: Hudson Faces Kinsey

CROWN HEIGHTS, BROOKLYN — Voters in Brooklyn's 35th Council district will see two names on their local ballots when they vote in the Nov. 2 general election.

One of those names will be Crystal Hudson, who beat out seven other candidates in the Democratic primary for the district in June.

Hudson will face Regina A. Kinsey, a candidate who also ran in the Democratic primary and is now running under the Common Sense party in the general election.

The two candidates are running to replace term-limited Council Member Laurie Cumbo, who currently serves as Majority Leader in the legislature.

Patch is profiling each of the candidates ahead of Election Day. Below are responses from Kinsey, who filled out Patch's questionnaire during the Democratic primary. Hudson did not respond to multiple requests to fill out Patch's questionnaire.

Regina A. Kinsey

Position Sought

City Council Candidate District 35

Party Affiliation

Democrat

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

Crown Heights

Family

Respectfully Decline

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

Respectfully Decline

Education

Product of NYC Public Schools and The City University of New York

Occupation

Community Advocate

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

First time candidate

Campaign website

www.reginakinsey.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

I was very disappointed with the current leadership, the failed housing policies, and their lack of concern for the families in our district. Our voices weren't heard, but the lobbyists and the developers were, that prompted my decision to run. I will bring common sense, sound reasoning, fiscal responsibility, and the voice of the people back to City Hall.

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

The lack of affordable housing is the most pressing issue in the district. I intend to revisit and revise the harmful policies that displaced so many and that made it harder for those who remain to stay. I intend to defer from the current AMI (Area Median Income) which includes Westchester County and Rockland and utilize a metric that calculate the median income of the district. Fixing the AMI debacle is crucial to stabilizing the district and increasing a truly affordable housing stock.

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

I'm the only pro-public safety and victim rights candidate. Our economic recovery greatly depends on public safety. If crime continues to spiral out of control, we will lose a tremendous amount of our tourism market. So far three tourist have been shot which means we're off to a bad start in what's suppose to be our recovery phase. No one wants to risk visiting a crime ridden city. Residents are moving out everyday and local businesses are suffering and the city is losing much needed revenue. Safer cities thrive economically, that's why it's imperative that we begin move forward with common sense governing and denounce any dangerous narratives that call for the defunding of our law enforcement. A city of this size and magnitude cannot police itself. This is a critical time in NYC's history, we cannot afford to fall victim to nonsensical rhetoric that make us all unsafe and that undermine our recovery.

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

I believe local officials performed as best as expected under the circumstances. In the beginning no one knew what was going on, other than a deadly virus was upon us. 911 should serve as an example as to why emergency preparedness is paramount, particularly in major cities. Our first responders answered that call and many of them paid with their lives. They were our heroes and the residents came together as one. We must get back to that place. The pandemic revealed how unprepared we were. It revealed that since 911 our legislators haven't been making the proper investments for emergency preparedness. It revealed that our hospitals had been experiencing years of budget cuts, and bed reductions by our Governor to make way for unaffordable luxury housing. We were short on life saving equipment and PPE's as a result of the divestment. The health and livelihood of our residents can no longer be taken for granted. Half measures are unacceptable, It's time to end the neglectful pattern of downsizing of our hospitals for the sake of greed and make the proper investments in them to meet 21st century standards.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Public Safety and Housing is my priority. Making sure that our seniors and families with school age children have permanent housing is crucial. Those are the two most vulnerable groups and I aim to break that cycle. Health and Hospitals, Education and Youth Services, Small Business, and Crime Victim Justice are equally important issues that need immediate attention.

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

My longevity as a community advocate in addition to my tenure on the 77th Precinct Community Council, Community Board 8, and various other civic organizations has afforded me the opportunity to build relationships with local leaders, foster community partnerships, and make important decisions on projects in the district. The building blocks to having a successful office and a thriving district is knowing, understanding and respecting the residents needs. My commitment to community began at the age of nineteen and continues to this day. My community outreach is extensive. For years I've been instrumental in helping many young men and women secure jobs, housing and other needed services. In addition to assisting our senior population navigate the red tape that often stand in the way of acquiring wrap around services. I've also been on the frontlines in the fight against deed theft, third party transfer and unaffordable housing.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

The best advice ever shared with me was from my late friend, mentor and biggest supporter. "Don't waste your time with groups and people who are not gonna vote for you anyway, get out and get the voters" James E. Caldwell

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

I'm a staunch advocate for the community and as your councilwoman that would not change. Everyday the residents of our beautifully diverse district inspire me to fight harder for the fairness and respect we deserve. My positions are based on the needs of the district, not an agenda or unrealistic wants. I don't waiver or flip flop, my positions have remained the same from the beginning of our campaign. From pledging to fix our AMI (Area Median Income), to supporting our local businesses, preserving our greenspaces and ensuring that under my leadership, the 35th council district will thrive once again, I'm committed!