UES 73rd District Assembly Race 2022: Alex Bores Profile

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — Voters in New York City's 73rd Assembly district, which includes parts of the Upper East Side and Midtown, will see five names on their ballots when they vote in the June 28 primary election.

One of those names will be Alex Bores, a data engineer who is among the Democrats seeking to replace retiring member Dan Quart. (One of the five names on the ballot will be May Malik, who has since dropped out of the race.)

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. Bores's responses are below.

Name

Alex Bores

Campaign website

https://alexbores.nyc

NYC neighborhood of residence

Upper East Side

Office sought

State Assembly

District, if applicable

73rd Assembly District

Party affiliation

Democrat

Education

Master's Degree in Computer Science from Georgia Tech; B.S. from Cornell

Occupation

Data Engineer (10)

Family

I'm married to Darya Moldavskaya. She is the love of my life, an immigrant, an accomplished entrepreneur, and a deeply empathetic person. We met on our college debate team.

My parents and younger sister are all born-and-raised New Yorkers who live on the Upper East Side. My parents are both proud union members, my sister is a talented musician, and they have all been tremendously helpful in our campaign.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

N/A

Age

31

Previous public office, appointive or elective

Party office: Democratic District Leader (elected, 2021-present)

Why are you seeking this office?

I was born and raised on the East Side of Manhattan, and I’m the only candidate in the race who went to school in the district: PS6, followed by Wagner and Hunter High School.

Now, I’m a data engineer and have spent my career in government technology, building solutions to our government’s most pressing challenges. From helping the DOJ prosecute violent crime right here in New York City, to getting direct COVID relief to 50,000 families last year, I’ve proven I’m ready to fix the problems facing New Yorkers with 21st century solutions.

Candidates like to talk about their varied experience, but I like to talk about results. When I talk to my neighbors, they tell me that Albany is corrupt, dysfunctional and ineffective. I’m running to fix a broken Albany from the inside and deliver real results to New Yorkers — on public safety, quality of life, the environment, schools, and more.

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

Public safety. As the grandson of an NYPD officer, I know that getting New York back on track starts with safety.

I am the only candidate in the race with experience working inside our criminal justice system to reduce crime. I've worked with two previous Manhattan District Attorneys (Morgenthau and Vance) and I built software that the DOJ used to solve violent crimes right here in New York City.

As your Assemblymember, I’ll fight for fully funded public safety, including responsive and well-trained police, mental health treatment, violence interruption programs, and crackdowns on gun violence.

I will also fight to fund our court system: prosecutors, judges, and public defenders, to reduce the unconscionable delays we now face. This will get innocent people out of jail — and repeat offenders off the streets.

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

I will add to my previous answer.

We must make our subways safe. I will call for a full frequent audit of MTA security cameras to ensure they are working. Cameras exist in every station, but they fail too often when we need them most. I will also advocate for subway platform safety barriers: automated barriers where feasible and cost-effective, and simple barriers elsewhere. I’ll fight to make every subway station accessible to people with disabilities, so we can all stay safe in case of an emergency.

As a Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate, I will work to enforce “ghost gun” legislation to get untraceable, 3D-printed guns off the street and end the “iron pipeline” of guns coming into New York from other states.

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

It’s crucial that we have public safety and justice. As an NYPD officer, my grandfather walked his beat and built trust with the community. Decades after he retired, he would still be recognized in his own neighborhood.

As Assemblymember, I will work to fully fund public safety and ensure our police are well-trained, responsive, and accountable. Police reform should build trust in the police, which makes us all safer.

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

I will support changes in zoning to enable the conversion of failing hotels into housing. If we don't take action, these hotels will either become derelict or turn into shelters, which are exempt from many zoning rules. New York State has already allocated $200 million to enable conversions, so we don't need to spend any additional money — just allow for these conversions to happen. A bill recently signed by the Governor is a good start.

I will also support expanding low-income rental vouchers. This is not a long-term fix but will provide immediate relief to families while we implement other solutions.

In the long-term, I will advocate for building more housing in and around New York City through public investment, transit-oriented development (encouraging growth of housing near MetroNorth and LIRR stations to reduce pressure on New York City), legalizing accessory dwelling units, and more.

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

We should encourage people to return to work in person by making returning to work appealing, not by mandating it. We can make more New Yorkers comfortable returning to work by ensuring the subways are safe, accessible, and run on time. We can update ventilation in our public buildings to keep us safer from COVID and other airborne diseases. And we can expand small business recovery grants to keep beloved stores open and our business districts bustling.

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

I will be the only Democrat in Albany with a degree in computer science or a career in government technology. In a world of cryptocurrency, cybersecurity threats, and a government that can’t set up a functional vaccine appointment website, it’s time to elect leaders who can tackle 21st century issues with effective and efficient solutions.

I am also the only candidate that went to school in the district — or attended New York City public schools at all.

Many candidates like to talk about experience, but as an engineer, I always focus on results. I'm the only candidate who has dedicated a page on their website to their track record. I have a demonstrated history of results when working with the government, some of which are detailed below.

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

Education: I’m the only candidate that went to the schools in our district and I will fight to ensure our schools prepare our kids for a changing world. As a product of the Gifted and Talented Program, I will fight to expand access to educational opportunities regardless of zip code.

Reproductive rights: My great-grandmother died of an illegal abortion, so abortion access is personal. I will ensure New York is a safe haven for all who need reproductive care.

Modernizing government: We cannot solve 21st century problems with 20th century technology. I will ensure that our government makes the best use of our tax dollars by using technology to deliver services more efficiently, starting with a one-stop-shop website for all government services and resources.

Economic recovery: New York City’s recovery is lagging behind the country’s. We must reinvest in small business recovery grants and make it easier for our beloved mom-and-pop stores to survive and grow.

Senior issues: I will fight to ensure seniors can stay in their homes and get the care they need. I will work to simplify government websites to guarantee New Yorkers can access benefits they need. Additionally, we should provide tax breaks to Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities and buildings that provide dedicated nurse services.

Climate action and the environment: At the current rate, we have 7 years before we’ve released enough greenhouse gas to guarantee a 2-degree rise in temperatures and a global calamity. The time to act is now. I will fight for changes both big and small, and take immediate steps to combat climate change by using renewable energy, fortifying our climate resilience, and protecting our green spaces to ensure a beautiful and biodiverse New York for the next generation.

Animal rights: New York lags behind other states in protecting wildlife and animals. We must update our laws to ensure we ban inhumane and cruel animal practices.

Pandemic preparedness: As the one-time epicenter of COVID, New York must be prepared for the next public health crisis. Our state can lead the way in protecting us from new variants and diseases by investing in research, ventilation, and early warning systems.

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

Among the many victories in policy and implementation that I have delivered during my career in government tech are:

Building systems to enable the Department of Justice to solve violent crimes right here in New York City; prosecute opioid "Pill Mills" through analyzing government data; and recover $17 billion for taxpayers by holding those responsible for the Great Recession accountable.

In the past year, creating programs that distributed direct COVID relief and helped 50,000 families keep their homes warm and their water running.

Founding and leading an organization that became the largest provider of cybersecurity training for government and campaigns in 2020.

Drafting and passing legislation with common-sense rent regulations.

Getting the Roosevelt Island Tram on Google Maps. This was the last form of mass transit in New York City that wasn’t integrated with online maps.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Focus on results, not rhetoric.

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

Our campaign has built a broad coalition of support with people of differing views and opinions. But we can all agree: New Yorkers want data-driven policy decisions and a government that works.

Now more than ever, we need innovative ideas and new perspectives, not politics-as-usual. I will bring private sector know-how, public service values, and a fresh voice to Albany.

This is my home. I’m never giving up on New York. And neither should you.