NYC Council District 19 Election: Nabaraj KC Seeks Bayside Seat

BAYSIDE, QUEENS — Democratic voters in New York City's 19th Council district, which includes College Point, Whitestone, Malba, Bayside, Douglaston, Little Neck, North Flushing, and Auburndale, will see 6 names on their ballots when they vote in the June 22 primary election.

One of those names will be Nabaraj KC, a community activist.

Patch reached out to all candidates in the election to create these profiles. KC's responses are below.

<b>Age (as of Election Day)</b>

42

<b>Position Sought</b>

City Council Member, District 19

<b>Party Affiliation</b>

Democratic Party

<b>Neighborhood of residence (i.e., East Village, Astoria, etc.)</b>

College Point

<b>Family</b>

Wife, Ramila, and two sons, Nirabh and Neel.

<b>Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?</b>

No

<b>Education</b>

I earned a Masters’ Degree at Duquesne University.

<b>Occupation</b>

Small businessman (since 2005) and professional realtor (since 2017).

<b>Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office</b>

Member of Queens Community Board 3

<b>Campaign website</b>

nabaraj2021.com

<b>Why are you seeking elective office?</b>

Always Community First. I am committed to serving our community and I would like to leave the greatest positive impact -- safer streets, fewer and simpler regulations on our small businesses, and improvements to our public schools.

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

Reviving small businesses in our city. They are the lifeblood of New York City as they employ hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers, but many have been forced to close during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a small business owner myself, I understand how our small businesses are struggling and how to help them. We need to keep small businesses open by continuing direct loans and expanding loan forgiveness programs. We should launch commercial rent control that will keep businesses in their current locations, and reduce red tape and confusing regulations that hold back small businesses, particularly those owned by immigrants.

<b>What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?</b>

I have dedicated my life to community service for 20 years. In times of crisis, I have stepped up to help my community here in Queens as well as in my home country of Nepal. My mantra is “Service before Self,” and that is how I will continue to approach my work in the community -- whether elected to the City Council or not.

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

N/A

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

I wish local officials would have communicated better with the community, including the immigrant community and small business community. I also believe our elected officials could have done more to help small businesses survive.
Improving outreach will be a focus of my work on the City Council, especially for those who do not speak English as a first language.

<b>Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.</b>

Public safety -- We must work together to stop violence on the streets. Let’s invest in programs that help young people find jobs and stay in school. Let’s foster better relationships between police officers and the communities that they protect and serve. Let’s stand up against hate crimes. Let’s build a safer and more prosperous city.
Education -- Education is the path to success. Our children have suffered because of remote
learning and the lack of extracurricular activities during the pandemic. As children come
back to in-person learning, let’s ensure that social workers, guidance counselors, and
psychologists are available at every school to help those who are struggling. Let’s make
our school buildings the state-of-the-art facilities our children deserve, and invest in
technology so that every student can access remote learning if we need it again.

<b>What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?</b>

From 2019-20, I served as President of the Rotary Club of New York, Queens, the oldest and largest service organization in the world. I currently serve as Assistant Governor for Rotary District 7255. I truly believe the motto “Service Before Self” and I’m proud of my service to the community through the Rotary Club and other community organizations.

<b>The best advice ever shared with me was:</b>

When I was a little boy, my grandfather used to tell me that there is no barrier to success as long as you are motivated and dedicated towards your goal.
And my 6-year-old son told me he's proud of me because I care about my family, my community, and those in need. I hope to make my sons proud in this run for City Council.

<b>What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?</b>

I hope the community will support me on June 22nd, or during early voting from June 12th-20th. I am focusing my campaign on supporting small businesses, public safety, and our children’s education. As a Nepalese-American immigrant, I care deeply about better serving all the immigrant communities in Queens and across New York City. I am also committed to bringing our community back from the COVID-19 crisis, and I am proud of my efforts to distribute meals and PPE to Queens residents throughout the pandemic.