Brooklyn Borough President Race: Khari Edwards Seeks Office

BROOKLYN, NY — As early voting begins in New York City, the stage is set for voters in Brooklyn to choose who will become their next borough president.

The June 22 primary will feature 12 Democratic candidates vying to replace Borough President Eric Adams, who is running to become New York City's next mayor.

Among them is Khari Edwards, a local organizer who most recently served as the first vice president of color at Brookdale Hospital, where he was vice president of external affairs.

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

Age (as of Election Day)

46

Position Sought

Brooklyn Borough President

Party Affiliation

Democrat

Neighborhood of residence

Crown Heights

Family

Khari Edwards is the son of immigrant parents from Trinidad and Guyana. He is married and has three children; Ethan 17, Niah 16, and Myles 12.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

Midwood High School and Thomas Edison University

Occupation

Former Vice President at Brookdale Hospital

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

N/A

Campaign website

https://khariedwards.com/

Why are you seeking elective office?

For the last eight years at Brookdale Hospital, I worked alongside union members who despite essential jobs keeping Brooklyn safe and healthy, did not have roofs over their heads. I couldn’t stand by and spectate as year after year and election after election we stood idly by as our city became more unaffordable. I am running to ensure that every Brooklynite has equal access to opportunity and basic services from the government regardless of where they live, what they look like or how much money they make.

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

Even before COVID, affordable and secure housing was the most important issue facing Brooklyn. As Borough President, I will hold developers accountable to the community by requiring a “Community Benefits” agreement for all ULURP applications, require reports on displacement and racial impact so we can see how development impacts residents, push to give community boards a binding vote on land use applications and projects, and reallocate funds into rental vouchers so residents can stay in their homes. To make these plans a reality, I will use the power my office has to introduce legislation into the City Council and will work with my colleagues in government to get bills passed to immediately start helping Brooklynites.

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

I am a frontline healthcare worker who is the only candidate in the race with experience working on the ground in every neighborhood of Brooklyn thanks to my time at Brookdale Hospital and serving two governors.

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

New York City did not provide our hospital workers and support staff with the necessary means of address COVID-19. As a frontline healthcare worker in a community devastated by COVID, I saw firsthand how the distribution of tests, vaccines, hospital beds, and basic resources like PPE, varied widely across Brooklyn and closely followed racial and economic lines. I would have prioritized the hardest hit communities for testing, early vaccine distribution and access to essential resources such as rental assistance, food, and PPE.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

As Borough President, I will focus on: (1) improving healthcare access for every Brooklynite, (2) getting the borough back to work through support for small businesses, MWBE’s, and workforce development programs, and (3) increasing access to services for older adults and our youth, supporting our youth.

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

During my tenure at Brookdale Hospital, I am proud to have worked with every hospital in Brooklyn to address healthcare inequities and potential hospital closures; spearhead a new initiative to increase census engagement in Central and North Brooklyn; create the "It Starts Here" program, which connected over 2200 students with victims of gun violence; and organize 250 union members, healthcare professionals, elected officials, and community stakeholders to address health, housing and employment disparities in East Brooklyn.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Always enjoy the journey and don’t be afraid of making mistakes

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

I am a first time candidate who is not a politician but has worked in the community for over 20 years. I got my start in public service working for Assemblymember Nick Perry where thanks to helping an elderly constituent get her power restored, I learned the true meaning of public service.
Our campaign has been endorsed by Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke, Assemblymembers Latrice Walker, Diana Richardson, and Nick Perry, Senator and Comptroller candidate Kevin Parker, Councilmember Alicka Ampry-Samuel, The Progressive Democrats Political Association of Central Brooklyn, DC 37, DC 9, Alliance of South Asian American Labor, Grammy Award Winner & Renowned Faith Leader Hezekiah Walker, Coney Island Empowered Citizens and Sheepshead Bay Houses Tenant Association President Barbara McFadden

Read More:

• Brooklyn Borough President Race: Where Things Stand