My mom was a baby. My dad was seven. Both of their families fled communism in Cuba and started over with nothing.

They grew up in Brooklyn, met in gym class at FDR High School, and raised my brother and me in Midland Beach. My brother serves with the FDNY. I teach fourth grade in a New York City public school.

I studied economics at St. John’s University and worked on Wall Street. Then I earned a master’s in childhood math education at Brooklyn College and moved to the classroom. I learned how money works downtown. Now I see what happens to families when it doesn’t work for them.

What this campaign has taught me

I grew up here. I thought I knew Staten Island. This campaign keeps showing me sides of it I’d never seen.

I went door to door collecting petition signatures to get on the ballot. I sat with veterans at the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 421 and the Harlem Hellfighters’ anniversary luncheon. At O’Hara’s, I listened to retired detectives who worked the pile after 9/11. I rode with my dad, retired law enforcement, at the motorcycle blessing for police. I raised money for Eden II, celebrated at the Albanian picnic and the Sri Lankan festival, and handed out groceries at a food drive alongside fellow Cubans.

And everywhere I went, I heard the same things:

• “E-ZPass and gas are outrageous.” This hits every family, every week.
• I’m Tier 6 myself. Albany finally lowered the retirement age for Tier 6 teachers this year. But we still pay more and retire later than teachers hired before 2012. The job isn’t finished.
• Utilities, property taxes, and insurance keep going up.
• Parents of kids with special needs are fighting for every service, and school buses need proper supervision.

We’re not the forgotten borough. We’re the different borough, and too often our needs get overlooked.

Why I’m running as a Democrat

I’m a moderate. Common sense over politics. I’m running as a Democrat for one reason: that’s where the votes are in Albany. Democrats have run the State Senate since 2019, and Staten Island hasn’t had a seat at that table. Being in the majority is how we bring money, services, and attention home.

What I’ll fight for

• Protect workers. Fix Tier 6 and stand with the people who keep this city running.
• Lower costs. Fight every toll hike and protect the Staten Island resident discount. Stop property tax increases, and take on rising utility bills and insurance premiums.
• Safer streets and better schools. Fix our roads and intersections, staff our precincts, and make sure every school bus is supervised.

My parents and grandparents came here with nothing, and New York gave them opportunity and freedom. I’m running to pay it back.

The American Dream isn’t something I read about in a history book. I was raised on it.

Vote November 3. Early voting runs October 24 – November 1.