NYC Council Elections 2021: Josue Perez Seeks Uptown Seat

UPPER MANHATTAN, NY — Voters in Manhattan's 10th city council district, which includes Washington Heights and Inwood, will see eight names on their ballots when they vote in the June 22 primary election.

One of those will be Josue Perez, a math teacher in the community, who is among the Democrats seeking to replace term-limited Ydanis Rodriguez.

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

Josue Perez

Age (as of Election Day)

43

Position Sought

Councilman

Party Affiliation

Democrat

Neighborhood of residence (i.e., East Village, Astoria, etc.)

Washington Heights

Family

I have Sons and I am a very proud father.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

no

Education

20 years in education educating the community. I went to college and earned the privilege to educate my community; children like me.

Occupation

For the past 20 years, I have educated the city's youth. I'm currently teaching High School Mathematics and Computer Science in the Theodore Roosevelt Campus, focusing my efforts on improving the lives and opportunities of our community's children, including participating in after-school programs, coaching a middle school baseball team, and participating in free Tutoring Programs. I coordinated the BJC (Beauty and Joy of Computing) program to bring computer Science to minority and young women in our community.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

I have been working for 20 years as a teacher. As a UFT delegate, I continue to fight for Public Education in our children's lives. I have personally seen the detrimental effects of the encroachment of charter schools into the public sphere. I survived the Bloomberg Administration's attacks on public educators and our union, watched students suffer through Common Core, and remained a solid supporter and believer of the enormous equalizing effect of public education.

Campaign website

https://www.josueperez.org/abo...

Why are you seeking elective office?

As a resident of the neighborhood, I know the struggles of local families trying to stay in their homes. I recently had to move because the landlord in our last building wanted to raise the rent beyond what we could afford to pay. I strongly feel that we shouldn't be forced out of our homes for rents rising to unaffordable rates far too quickly for us to keep up.

Becoming a Candidate for City Council District 10 is the next step in my long trajectory of public service. I appreciate the opportunity to present my campaign and my mission to you and look forward to your support.

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

I would then go on to fight for other issues important to our community, actively involved supporting "Paid Family Leave" and "Fight for 15". I'm a founding member and director of FDC (Fuerza Dominicanos Por el Cambio). I am an advisor and member of the board of directors of "Amor Sin Frontera" (Love without Borders), and the National Commission of Human Rights Inc.

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

I am different than my competitors and I will tell you why. I have years fighting for our community and fighting for other issues important to our community, actively involved supporting "Paid Family Leave" and "Fight for 15". I'm a founding member and director of FDC (Fuerza Dominicanos Por el Cambio). I am an advisor and member of the board of directors of "Amor Sin Frontera" (Love without Borders), and the National Commission of Human Rights Inc.

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

My mother worked two jobs to support our family and planted roots here, where I have gone on to live for a large part of my life. I have watched the changes, both good and bad, that shaped our neighborhood. It has inspired me to choose a career where I was not just an observer of these changes but also an active participant, where I can give back to the community and improve the conditions here for current and future generations, of every background.

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

Immediate action was required. I left that too much time lagged within a response time. As soon as the pandemic happened we created avenues of support to help all NYC residents.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

we have an opportunity with the upcoming democratic primaries elections to take back or community. I am running to help with the community with HOUSING, Education, Quality of life Program and resources, and to support small businesses.

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

As a resident of the neighborhood, I know the struggles of local families trying to stay in their homes. I recently had to move because the landlord in our last building wanted to raise the rent beyond what we could afford to pay. I strongly feel that we shouldn't be forced out of our homes for rents rising to unaffordable rates far too quickly for us to keep up.

Becoming a Candidate for City Council District 10 is the next step in my long trajectory of public service. I appreciate the opportunity to present my campaign and my mission to you and look forward to your support.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Best advice ever given to me was to never burn any bridges, as no one can cross any burnt bridges. I always strive to look for solutions to any issues presented.

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

My name is Josue Perez, and I am running for City Council in District 10. I'm an immigrant from the Dominican Republic. My parents immigrated to New York, full of hope and purpose, and appreciative of the potential of the world's most iconic Sanctuary City. They were respected members of the community in their country; they were both educators and business owners. My mother represented the chamber of commerce, and my father was the chairman of the community board.