Wash Heights District 10 Council Race: De La Rosa Vs. De La Cruz

UPPER MANHATTAN, NY — Voters living in Washington Heights and Inwood's 10th Council district will see two names on their ballots when they vote in the Nov. 2 general election.

One of those names will be current Upper Manhattan Assembly Member Carmen De La Rosa, who beat out seven other candidates in the Democratic primary for the district in June.

De La Rosa will face off against Republican challenger Edwin De La Cruz, who has lived in Upper Manhattan since he was a child and has worked as a tenant organizer.

The two candidates are running to replace term-limited Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez.

Patch is profiling each of the candidates ahead of Election Day. Below is information about both De La Rosa and De La Cruz. De La Rosa's responses are from a Patch sent questionnaire, while the information about De La Cruz, who did not respond to our questionnaire, is from his campaign website.

Edwin De La Cruz

De La Cruz was born in the Dominican Republic and identifies himself as a moderate republican.

He lists his main objective as helping in Upper Manhattan's economic recovery from the pandemic and emphasizes that he'll always listen to the requests of his constituents.

De La Cruz attended SUNY Cortland and formed a tenant association in his Upper Manhattan building in the 1990s.

His campaign website says he is best known for "laser focus in achieving difficult objectives."

Here is a video explaining his decision to run for city council.

Carmen De La Rosa

Age (as of Election Day)

35

Position Sought

City Council District 10

Party Affiliation

Democrat

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

Inwood

Family

My Daughter is Mia and she is 7 years old. My Husband is Jose Louis Espiritusanto. My parents still live in Inwood in the building where I was raised.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

My Husband, Jose- works at the NYS Department of State at the Office of New Americans.

Education

Raised in Inwood and attended Mother Cabrini High School, before receiving my bachelor's degree at Fordham University in the Bronx.

Occupation

Assembly Member for the 72nd District

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

NYS Assembly: Elected 2016, re-elected 2018 & 2020

Democratic District Leader: Elected 2015, re-elected 2017 & 2019

Campaign website

https://carmenfornyc.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

I am running to represent the district where I grew up, am raising my family and have represented in the State legislature for the last five years. I am running because the challenges before our city and in our communities are monumental. The fight to uplift and heal our communities is too important for me to sit it out.

Over the last five years in the state legislature, I have worked hard and always put people first. Staying true and accountable to the voices/experiences of my constituents. We have worked to build coalitions to usher in historic wins for the people including: strengthen the rights of immigrants and workers. I was the main sponsor of the NYS Dream Act and championed Driver's License for all. Leading on the mandate to protect and deliver housing justice for tenants, I worked with colleagues to ensure the passage of historic tenant protection and reform.

I look forward to bringing that energy and fight to the City Council in 2021. We need leaders that know which levers to pull in favor of the people. In the City Council, I look forward to: Spurring job creation and retention in our communities, expanding protections for immigrants, looking for creative ways to ensure our economy recovers and as always stand up for the most vulnerable among us. I am running because this fight is too important for us to sit out and not leave it all on the line for our people.

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

If elected, fighting for affordable and healthy housing will be a top priority for me.
I believe housing is a human right. The City must implement a city-level Homes Guarantee campaign by preserving existing affordable public and social housing (including NYCHA), build new social housing units, and advocate for a comprehensive housing plan.

I oppose the NYCHA Blueprint for Change, which I believe will be dangerous because it will put public housing in private hands. I also support expanding the use of Community Land Trust and guaranteeing the right to counsel in eviction proceedings.

Finally, I would facilitate the creation of a Community Housing Taskforce to combat landlord abuse.

Many of the issues that face the community intersect along racial, economic, gender, and ethnic lines. While stopping displacement will be a cornerstone of my work, we will need to address many other issues to improve the quality of life for all our residents in District 10.

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

As the Democratic nominee for City Council, there are many differences between me and my Republican challenger.

There are a range of issues including the COVID vaccine, climate change, and voting rights where I stand in stark contrast to the Republican party.

My platform is based on science, on economic, social, and racial justice. The party of Trump stands in direct opposition to the progress we seek as a community and nation.

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

N/A

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

My office was one of the only government offices that remained open during the pandemic, first virtually and then as soon as it was safe enough to do so in person. We are essential workers and my staff was tremendously effective at serving the community during such a difficult time.

Constituent services is just one example of the leadership my team exemplified during this time. Working on COVID relief policy and providing essential services and information in culturally accessible ways was vital to our communities' resilience.

In retrospect, we need to deepen our social and political networks to prepare for future events that may arise in the future. With the current climate crisis we know that we need to strengthen local institutions and organizations to be better prepared for future emergencies.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

My campaign is defined by equity and the intersection of problem-solving for historic issues that have existed in our communities and the work to uplift voices traditionally left out of government decision-making.

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

I have been working in government for over 15 years in every capacity from community affairs, legislative and budget director, Chief of Staff and most recently as a State legislator. I have extensive experience in budget negotiations and prioritizing budget equity.

Most recently, I led the charge for the historic passage of the $2.1 billion Excluded Workers Fund is an example of the progressive vision and legislative acumen I will bring to the City Council. The excluded workers fund is a nationally recognized achievement that has had a real impact on the lives of New Yorkers who were not included in the federal stimulus package.

Navigating the complex and diverse legislative process while maintaining the goals of the Excluded Workers campaign, this is a recent example of my commitment to social justice and my experience as a legislator.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Keep true to your values and make sure that people know what your non-negotiables are. Uplifting my community is non-negotiable. They always come first.

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

My policy agenda and process for decision-making is grounded in my lived experience growing up in the community, my years of public service, and my passion for social change.
During the primary my campaign outlined my platform and vision for the community, which you can view here: https://carmenfornyc.com/issue...

Since my historic primary victory on June 22nd, my campaign has engaged in a listening tour and has released a community survey to engage with all residents in the District. I intend to work side-by-side with the community and develop a grassroots approach to governance.

The person is political - I am poised to become the first woman, the first Mother, and the first immigrant woman of color to represent District 10 at City Hall. I will never forget where I came from and will always fight for those in the community whose voices are not always heard.