NYC Council District 39 Race: Briget Rein Seeks Seat

PARK SLOPE, BROOKLYN — Voters in New York City's 39th Council District, which extends from the Columbia Waterfront District down to Borough Park, will see seven names on their ballots when they vote in the June 22 primary election.

One of those names will be Briget Rein, a current member of Community Board 6 and political activist who has worked for the United Federation of Teachers and served as a government liaison to City Council.

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

Age (as of Election Day)

53

Position Sought

City Council District 39

Party Affiliation

Democratic

Neighborhood of residence

Cobble Hill

Family

Gregg (brother), 59; Sarita (mother), deceased; Arnold (father), deceased

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

My brother, Gregg, is a Clerical Associate for the Department of Education

Education

Undergraduate degree: Hunter College; Graduate degree: The College of Staten Island

Occupation

Teacher, PS 104 and PS 109 (10 years); Lobbyist, United Federation of Teachers (18 years); Assistant to the Staff Director, United Federation of Teachers (current, 1 year)

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Member, Community Board 6

Campaign website

https://www.brigetrein.com/

Why are you seeking elective office?

Having worked as a teacher, a union organizer, the City Hall representative for the United Federation of Teachers, and a member of Community Board 6 makes me uniquely qualified for this seat. My mother, Sarita, came to the United States from Peru and instilled in me and my brother, Gregg, a sense of serving our communities and I believe that, based on a combination of my experience and the situation our city is in, my calling is to serve my community in the City Council.

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

COVID recovery. As Councilmember, the first bill I would introduce would be creating a COVID compensation fund and that is modeled after the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund that is coupled with supporting research into the long-term effects of COVID-19. Too many people lost loved ones in the pandemic and/or have residual side effects so we need to provide funding to treat pay bills, stimulate the local economy, and treat those still impacted.

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

I have the most experience and would be able to get started on the work of helping the residents of District 39 on Day One. I have been at the bargaining table in City Hall helping to draft and pass legislation, I have negotiated budgets, and I have personal relationships with councilmembers, staff members, and lobbyists already in place so there is no learning curve for me.

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

Mayor de Blasio has been doing a great job at getting people vaccinated especially with creating incentives to do so. The only thing I would have done differently is I would have been more transparent with parents on what the plan was closing schools, what each side’s position was, and how everyone was working to get the schools back open for in-person learning.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

I want more funding for education especially for programs like anti-bullying hotlines, Dial-A-Teacher, and building two new high schools in the district. I want to create new tax incentives to bring back small businesses and have them hire local, especially MBWEs and LGBTQ+-owned businesses. Finally, I want to support transportation by working with the MTA to make more subway stations wheelchair accessible and bringing back the bus line along Union Street.

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

Negotiating the education budget, including $1 million for Community Learning Schools, $1.5 million for Positive Learning Collaboratives, and $655,000 for Dial-a-Teacher and BRAVE.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

“Look at all of these politicians and just remember that they all go the bathroom the same way as you.” - Randi Weingarten

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

My positions on issues are not set in stone. I like to ask people what issues are impacting them because I believe hearing more perspectives gives me a clearer understanding of what I should focus my attention on and what things I believe should be changed. If people come to me with a problem that is coupled with how my position is personally impacting them and facts and figures to prove how I am wrong, there is a good chance I will change my view.