Thank You

A little over a year ago I announced my candidacy for City Council. I dreamt of running an inclusive campaign that would center the needs of the most vulnerable and elevate the aspirations of our working-class and immigrant neighbors. A campaign that would speak truth to power and propose clear plans for radical structural change. A campaign that would bring joy to those in it and around it and inspire our community to recognize its power. Last week our campaign came to an end, and while we may have fallen short of our goal of winning, I couldn’t be prouder of all that we accomplished.

We ran an independent, grassroots effort that was intergenerational, reflective of our district’s diversity, and wholeheartedly committed to the people of this community. We championed social and public housing, highlighted the needs of delivery workers, street vendors, and small businesses, prioritized non-citizen voting, and made the case for a budget that invested in economic security and a stronger social safety net instead of prisons and policing. We did all this in the middle of a pandemic and during one of the most turbulent years for our city because that’s how we wanted to show up for New Yorkers who have been marginalized and harmed for too long.

I am humbled by all of the volunteers and team members who put their lives on pause to work for our campaign and worked tirelessly day in and day out. I am thankful for all of the new friends and neighbors that I met throughout this year and the hundreds of conversations that I had with our district’s incredible people. I am indebted to my family, friends, and team for their countless hours of counsel, support, and encouragement. None of this would have been possible without you.

Make no mistake that our fight for dignified and guaranteed housing, a just recovery post-COVID, essential protections and benefits for workers and small businesses, and a new vision for safety grounded in economic and racial justice continues. I am honored to have earned your vote and gained your trust and am more committed than ever to building a Sunset Park, Red Hook, and South Brooklyn for all of us.

Thank you for being part of this journey. See you in the streets.

With Gratitude,
Rodrigo