40th City Council Debate This Monday at 7pm – Submit Your Questions
This coming Monday night, June 5, between 7pm and 9pm at BKLYN Commons there will be a debate among the candidates for the 40th City Council District seat to represent Flatbush (including Ditmas Park and Prospect Lefferts Gardens).
Submit your questions to 40debate@gmail.com and hear the answers this Monday night!
Meet the current Council Member Mathieu Eugene, Brian A. Cunningham, Pia Raymond, Jennifer M. Berkley and Rose St. Albord for this special program.
Here’s a little bit of info about each candidate (in order from left to right in the image above):
Mathieu Eugene is the incumbent District 40 Council member. He was the first Haitian-born elected official in the NYC council. Some of the issues he stands for are: expanding employment opportunities in his district, ensuring quality education with small class sizes, supporting immigrant rights, and improving affordable housing opportunities. Every year during Christmastime, he hosts a holiday party for over 500 underprivileged children, where he gives the kids toys he collected during his annual holiday drive. He was elected in a special election (which had to be re-run because it turned out he did not live in the district) to serve out the remainder of Yvette Clarke’s term when she became our current Congresswoman. He’s been re-elected twice since, and is effectively looking for his fourth term.
Brian A. Cunningham was born and raised in Flatbush. He began his career as a student advocate counselor in Brooklyn, worked his way up to being an aide to State Senator Kevin Parker, and then serving as Council Member Laurie Cumbo’s Chief of Staff. Some of the issues he stands for are: making affordable housing affordable, supporting small businesses, increasing funding for senior services, supporting arts and recreational programs, as well as cultural institutions.
Pia Raymond is a Prospect Lefferts Garden native and a fifth generations Brooklynite. She is currently involved in many community efforts such as serving as the vice president of Lefferts Manor Association. In a recent interview with us, we caught up with her as she was on a listening tour speaking to merchants. She is bilingual (in Spanish) and believes that the skill allows her to better communicate and connect with people. Some of the issues she stands for are: supporting immigrant rights, quality education and equal rights for women.
Jennifer Berkley lives in Ditmas Park and spends her time fighting for affordable housing. In 2015, she ran for the Brooklyn Democratic Party County Committee and won Kings County’s only contested County Committee seat. She served for one term. Some of the issue she stands for are: supporting small businesses, better public transportation and protecting human rights for everyone.
Rose St. Albord was born and raised in Haiti. Ever since she was a young girl, she was involved in providing food for the hungry and donating clothes to the poor. Some of the issues she stands for are: affordable housing, better schools, women’s rights and healthcare, better transportation and immigration.
Have questions for candidates? Now is your chance: Submit your questions to 40debate@gmail.com and hear the answers this Monday night! You can submit any time till and including the debate night.
What: City Council Debate for District 40.
When: Monday June 5, 7 pm to 9 pm BKLYN Commons, 495 Flatbush Ave (Prospect Park Q/B stop)
Event Organizers: Seth Kaplan, Calista DeJesus, Uchenwa Hannah Njoku, Cheryl Sealey, Brenda Edwards, Emily Leshner
Moderator: Duane Joseph
Additional reporting by Zainab Iqbal.