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Issues
When It Mattered, Nathaniel was there.
DELIVERING FOR SOUTHEAST QUEENS.
$100K+
in scholarships for
local students
Protected
Transit access for seniors and students
$13 Million
recovered for Rochdale Village
Supported
MWBE participation in JFK redevelopment
PROTECT AFFORDABILITY
There is a real affordability problem.
In Albany, NATHANIEL WILL FIGHT BACK!
Here's What He'll Do in Albany.
These are the issues families raise every day — and the ones Nathaniel will fight to address in Albany.
STRENGTHEN OPPORTUNITY
PROTECT AFFORDABILITY
MAKE GOVERNMENT WORK
PATH TO HOMEOWNERSHIP AND HOUSING ASSISTANCE
Our parents and grandparents understood the value of homeownership and its path toward creating wealth. However, the dream of homeownership seems to be out of reach for this generation. Even those with homes are feeling the financial squeeze that prevents them from maintaining it. Nathaniel Hezekiah understands this current reality, and that is why he wants to create a path forward.
Under his plan:
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Nathaniel will partner with local banks and financial institutions to offer free financial literacy workshops — including a clear path to homeownership for Southeast Queens families.
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Nathaniel will ensure renters have access to housing counselors to set them up for success.
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Nathaniel supports the Faith-Based Affordable Housing Act and will work with the faith-based community to add residential housing on religious land.
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Nathaniel is proposing an emergency fund to offer homeowners struggling with costly repairs assistance with utilities, mortgage payments, and home maintenance.
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Nathaniel wants to create a Foreclosure Diversion Program for mediation and to help homeowners get back on track when they are faced with losing the home they have invested so much into.
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Nathaniel supports current proposed legislation that would close loopholes in the law to further prevent deed theft and implement a statutory right of redemption period after a foreclosure sale.
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Nathaniel will fight to reform how Area Median Income is calculated so that affordable housing in Southeast Queens is truly affordable — with onsite social services, transportation access, community spaces, and greenspace built in from the start.
BUILDING A CRADLE-TO-CAREER PIPELINE
The best way to ensure our children are set up for success is to usher them through each phase in life with purpose and a plan. We need to plant seeds now for the next generation to grow if we want to foster a community where our youth blossom into productive and contributing members of society. From the time they enter into a classroom, to the moment they exit, Nathaniel wants to set them up for the greatest amount of positive impact by:
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Expanding 3-K for all students statewide and expanding 2-K for all pilot so that more youth start a formal education earlier.
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Expanding the Excelsior program, creating opportunities for more students to attend and graduate from college.
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Giving parents options on where to send their children for school – whether it is a traditional public school or a public charter school – because they know best the type of environment their children thrive in.
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Ensuring compliance with reduced class size for NYC to improve student outcomes and allow for more personalized instruction.
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Developing trade school programs through partnerships with unions, school districts, and other organizations.
AFFORDABLE AND SAFE HOUSING FOR ALL
When the Mitchell-Lama program began in 1955, we know the founders did not anticipate residents would be priced out of their dwelling. The goal has always been to give families an affordable option to live, whether it is a rental or a cooperative.
Nathaniel wants to:
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Combat rising costs from building maintenance, insurance, and operational costs by creating a framework for oversight, board support, and training for board members.
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Increase capital improvement support for repairs.
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Strengthen tools that ensure landlords meet their legal responsibilities to maintain safe, clean and livable buildings.
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Increase penalties for repeated housing code violations.
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Improve coordination between state and city housing enforcement agencies.
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Ensure tenants have access to clear and transparent reporting systems.
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Support policies that empower tenants to organize and advocate for repairs without fear of retaliation.
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Support the construction of affordable rentals and affordable co-ops through tax credits and abatements.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THAT BENEFITS OUR COMMUNITY
Show me a thriving business community and I will show you one that is supported with capital, a competitive edge, partnerships, and a ready workforce. A robust business community does not just happen accidentally. It is an intentional plan. That is why Nathaniel wants to frame economic development in a way that benefits our community.
His plan is to:
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Enhance access to capital and technical support for those in the community who want to start or expand small businesses.
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Enrich the process for MWBE certifications in New York State and foster bonding opportunities through Empire State Development.
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Ensure we are keeping up with changing systems by establishing a taskforce with labor, stakeholders and leaders to address policies related to a shift in the workforce landscape created by artificial intelligence.
SAFER COMMUNITIES & VIOLENCE PREVENTION
Everyone wants to feel safe in their own neighborhood, whether they are walking down the street or enjoying the comforts of their own home. For Nathaniel, community safety has never been abstract. He lost his father and stepfather to gun violence — and has spent his life fighting to make sure no family in Southeast Queens has to carry that same pain. As your Assemblymember, he will resource the organizations already doing the work, build safe spaces for young people, and bring the full weight of Albany to bear on this crisis.
He has a plan to:
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Increase funding for preventative gun violence initiatives and sustain support for community-based nonprofits and organizations doing the work to keep us safe.
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Fight for continued HOPE grant funds for community groups to implement mediation and emotional intelligence strategies.
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Expand funding to create more safe spaces for youth through partnerships with clergy and culturally-sensitive programming.
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Advocate for a new community center in the heart of the district with enhanced outreach and programming that meets the needs of residents of all ages.
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Support holistic, collaborative efforts bringing together law enforcement, community organizations, schools, and faith institutions to address the root causes of violence and ensure Southeast Queens receives its fair share of state safety funding.
PROTECTING OUR SOCIAL SAFETY NET
Millions of New Yorkers with limited income and resources rely on the security of Medicaid and Medicare for health insurance, prescription coverage, and other benefits. Now more than ever, we need to fight to protect these programs that have seen recent cuts on a federal level.
Nathaniel has a plan to:
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Fight for an increase in state Medicaid funding to fill in the gap from federal cuts.
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Advocate for Southeast Queens representation in the State Health Insurance Program to give guidance on enrollment for those who need it.
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Create opportunities to advocate for people to retain their SNAP benefits.
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Ensure access to Medicaid for our special needs students.
TRANSPORTATION EQUITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE
With rising costs in gas, we need to ensure all commuters have access to public transportation if driving is no longer an option. That becomes even more important for seniors who have limited mobility. To create transportation equity so that we are serving our most vulnerable populations,
Nathaniel wants to:
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Work with the MTA on enhancing bus routes throughout Queens
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Work with the MTA to expand cross town bus options.
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Support policies that encourage responsible development by promoting transparency.
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Require strong building standards and ensuring developments contribute to the long-term stability of the communities they serve.
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Ensuring community investments include hiring local contractors in the development process and offering jobs and training programs to the local community.
ACCESS TO CARE
Housing stability is about more than simply having a roof over one’s head. Many residents benefit from access to services that support long-term wellbeing, including mental health resources, case management, and community-based support networks.
Nathaniel wants to:
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Invest in supportive housing models that connect residents to wrap-around services.
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Increase mobile crisis intervention supportive services to meet communities where they are.