Katherine Walsh, 36, sat at a corner table in a small Manhattan cafe, sipped at her coffee and mulled over her candidacy for the 51st Assembly District seat representing Red Hook and Sunset Park.
Much of her conversation revolved around the issues of housing, immigration and waterfront development while creating a healthier and more sustainable environment.
“We have to address all of these crises in the context of a warming climate,” she said.
Walsh, a fourth-generation resident of the district, said with the state Climate Change and Protection Act passed last June, together with the City Mobilization Act passed in April, plans for generating a more resistant environment started to make some headway. But according to Walsh, little has been done to integrate these regulations.
As such Walsh said as an assemblymember she hoped to be the bridge that connects climate protection legislation to concurrent developments, including the rezoning plans of Sunset Park’s Industry City.
“I read the environmental impact statement and there will be severe, significant and unmitigated effects. You need to make sure you elect the right people who understand urban planning and climate science, and who care for that,” she said
For example, Walsh questioned the fourth Last Mile Trucking Facility proposed to be built on the same street as a new school in Sunset Park. “The increase in trucking has caused multiple fatalities – why should our district be burdened with these trucking facilities? How does this align with our goal of cleaner air and lowering pollution?”
Making note of the housing crisis in the city, she is also putting affordable housing in the forefront of her campaign. First championing the protection rights for tenants and renters by pushing for the Housing Stability and Support Act to be passed this legislative cycle and then securing a pathway to homeownership through reinvigorating the MitchelLlama Act of the 1950s.
With the intention of representing the diverse community of the largely Latino and Chinese district, Walsh said she raised over $50,000 for her campaign without taking money from big corporations, putting her in second place ahead of her two competitors also challenging incumbent Assemblyman Felix Ortiz.
Walsh said Ortiz raised well over $100,000 according to a past listing, but has not filed his contributions when it was due.
Walsh also questioned both where Ortiz was getting his campaign contributions and on the recent scandalous alleged embezzlement of over $80,000 by a former chief of staff and campaign treasurer.
“You’re a leader. You’re taking responsibility for the contributions that come in- what does it say about his leadership if he’s not even aware of what’s happening with his campaign contributions?” Walsh said
Using the term “relentless worker” to characterize herself and her campaign, Walsh admitted that doing service for her community was embedded in her blood and soul.
“I come from a family where both my parents did local work for the community. My father worked in the community hospital and my mother was a public school teacher. By growing up in that environment, it’s in my DNA to want to fight for what we deserve,” she said.
Also in the race are Marcela Mitaynes and Genesis Aquino. The primary is slated for June 23.
