issues

GUN VIOLENCE

I lost my son to gun violence.

There’s not a day that passes that I’m not reminded of this tragedy and I think about him everyday. The problem with gun violence has hit home. This needs to stop now! We need harsher penalties for gun possession, stricter gun control laws and background checks. We also need a ban on assault weapons, automatic weapons and ghost guns. We need to take guns out of the hands of criminals and replace them with an education and a job. I will work hard to find solutions to the growing problem of gun violence.

EDUCATION

With his educational program established in 1984, John educates over 30,000 students each year.

John Ruiz Miranda is a trail blazer for children’s fire safety education. 38 years ago, with little resources or support, John Ruiz Miranda created The Rappin Fireman and his fire-safety friends, a fire safety program that still thrives today. Since 1984 his educational programs have toured public schools throughout the entire NYC metropolitan area. As your NYS Assembly-member John Ruiz Miranda will advocate for public schools to expand their educational programs by way of the arts, by expanding after school tutoring programs and by expanding educational support for children with disabilities.

ARTS AND CULTURE

As the director of the Broadway District Play “Mandela” John has been involved In theatre since 1984.

East Harlem/El Barrio is a cultural community of poets, actors, writers, painters, museums, art galleries, libraries and theaters. Yes, theaters! As a theatrical Broadway District producer and the founder of the East Harlem Repertory Theater Company, I would like to see the cultural community of East Harlem come alive with hosting theatrical, and short film festivals. I will continue to support our theatrical small theaters, cultural museums, libraries and art galleries.

SENIORS

Seniors are the golden members of our community.

Seniors paved the way for us all. They set the ground work for with we all stand and rightfully so their needs are important. As your NYS Assembly-member I will advocate for the expansion of senior care such as senior safety initiatives, affordable senior housing, senior centers and improved access for seniors to local businesses and public transportation.

VETERANS

Myself, brother, uncle and grand-daughter are Veterans.

I proudly served my country and as a veteran of the Armed Forces I know the struggles veterans have to endure. As your NYS Assembly member, I will advocate for benefits such as more veteran housing, more access to high quality medical care, an increase in veteran preference jobs, and all services veterans sacrificed so hard for.

COMMUNITY

El Barrio means “the neighborhood”.

Sadly, we are at risk of losing the cultural identity of our community. East Harlem was built on the celebration of the food, music, art and culture of its people. As your Assembly- member I will work hard to sustain the cultural identity of East Harlem by supporting all business and cultural institutions that promote the access and expansion of our cultural identity.

PUBLIC SAFETY

Everyday most of us feel the stress of potential danger but we can’t allow the increase in crime to go unchecked.

Everyday most of us feel the stress of potential danger. But we can’t not allow the increase in crime go unchecked. As your NYS Assembly-member I will work with law enforcement agents with providing an increase of surveillance for high crime areas. I will also correspond with grassroots community leaders with providing tools that will empower us to fight back against crime.

NYCHA AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING

I lived in Taft houses for 55 years.

Our community has the highest concentration of NYCHA housing in the city. Decade after decade the needs of NYCHA residents are ignored. As a former 55 year Taft resident my fight for the quality of life for the residence of NYCHA is personal. As your NYS Assembly-member I will work hard to “open the books” and bring transparency on the financial state of NYCHA. We must monitor all government funds allocated to the repair and capital projects allotted to NYCHA housing. The state needs to invest consistently and more greatly into the capital needs of NYCHA. I am committed to making NYCHA a priority in the state budget process.

SMALL BUSINESS

I was a young man when my father opened his business in La Marqueta.

Small businesses are the pillar of the community and unfortunately businesses in our community have been pummeled throughout the last two years. We need to invest in education, mentorship, access to investors and capital to incubators and start-up businesses. We need to streamline regulations and facilitate access to capital. As your NYS Assembly member I would work hard to help guide small businesses through the often complex and tedious process of obtaining no interest loans and grants so they may find some financial relief that will keep their businesses afloat.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING

As a life-long Harlem resident, it saddens me to witness how the identity of our community is slowly eroding due to the high rents.

As your NYS Assembly-member I will fight to keep our community affordable by advocating access to rent subsidies, working with developers and government to expand housing affordability, provide eviction prevention services and offer our community with easy stream line access to newly developed affordable housing. I will work hard to ensure that businesses that sell goods and services unique to the culture of our community have access to financial safety nets so they can remain in business.