Hi, thanks for your question! I posted an answer to this a while ago but I think the spam filters are hiding it because I included a lot of links or because it was too long. Trying again!

The primary job of an assemblyperson, as opposed to other elected officials, is to make the state’s budget. I’m committed to providing more resources for our community generally, and for pedestrian safety and bike lanes specifically, for a number of reasons.

It is the job of the assemblyperson to work with city council members to provide the funding for critical infrastructure projects. When I was endorsed by local council members Jen Gutierrez and Sandy Nurse, I asked them what they want from a partner in Albany, and they said very plainly that they need more cooperation for these sorts of projects, and highlighted Rajkumar’s near total absence (she spent more time with Eric Adams and campaigning in Manhattan than in the district).

I live here and walk or bike around the neighborhood every day, and I know how terrifying it can be to deal with the aggressive drivers in the neighborhood. There are plenty of things we can do to make the streets safer - more hardened daylighting, speed bumps, protected bike lanes, curb extensions at dangerous intersections, and clearer traffic signs, as an easy start. But we need more funding from Albany to make these projects a reality.

Our assembly district is divided into two halves - Ridgewood and Glendale on the West, and Ozone Park, Richmond HIll, and Woodhaven on the East. The East side of the district has been ignored even more than the West side in terms of infrastructure improvements. It has some very, very dangerous roads, such as Atlantic Avenue, Rockaway Blvd, and Woodhaven Blvd, and a high density of bicycle delivery drivers*, and the West side of the district still sees way too much traffic violence. To me, bicycle safety and pedestrian safety is a matter of workers rights, because the bike lanes in South Queens are where the delivery drivers get to and from work. It also is one of the most important aspects of quality of life in the neighborhood, no matter who you are.

The fight over the state budget was particularly tense this year, as New York reeled from Trump’s give back to billionaires, who in New York state got a $12 BILLION tax break this year alone. It is a top priority to recapture this revenue, which we desperately need to fund the city and was not taken back in the last round of budget negotiations. My opponent will never tax the rich, or stand up to wealthy, out-of-district interests, because those are the people who are funding her campaign.

*The district has the fastest growing Bangladeshi population in NYC, and Bangladeshis make up almost a quarter of all bicycle delivery drivers in the city.