Meet Dante Arnwine

My name is Dante Arnwine, MPA and I’m a DEMOCRAT running for NYC Council District 41 to represent Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brownsville, Crown Heights, East Flatbush, Ocean Hill, and Remsen Village.

I currently serve as the District Manager of Brooklyn Community Board 9. As a city employee, I see firsthand the gaps in services from city agencies to Brooklynites. Filling those gaps with proactive and thoughtful legislative and generational investments in funding is how bring positive change to our district. I’m running to immediately bring presence, communication, strategy, and experience to Council District 41.

As a black-queer-man, I bring a unique perspective on a variety of issues from my personal and professional story. I look forward to listening to residents and working with stakeholders to opening the lines of communication to District 41.

Let me make it simple for you!

  • PRO- UNION
  • PRO- CITY WORKERS
  • PRO- PUBLIC SCHOOLS
  • PRO- PARKS & ENVIRONMENT
  • PRO- PUBLIC TRANSIT
  • PRO- SMALL BUSINESSES
  • PRO- LGBTQIA+ 
  • PRO-UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE
  • PRO- REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM
  • PRO- END PRISON PIPELINE

Want to see more about my policies, ideas, and vision? Keep Scrolling!

CONTRIBUTE HERE!!

READY TO VOLUNTEER WITH THE CAMPAIGN?

District 41 Stats:

State Assembly Districts – 43, 55, 56, & 58
State Senate Districts – 43, 55, 56, and 58
Congressional Districts – 8 & 9
Brooklyn Community Boards 3, 8, 9, 16, 17.
School District 16, 17, 18, & 23
Police Precincts 67, 71, 73, 77, and 81

Endorsements so far...

 

As your next Council Member, I will prioritize...

Seniors

Seniors, many of whom are city workers on fixed incomes, continue to feel the effects of gentrification due to a lack of representation in the City Council. Seniors deserve to age in place. We must create opportunities for social interaction through employment, technology, and social programming for older adults.  Dante will…

  • Connect homeowners to deed theft prevention programs that exists
  • Automatic SCRIE for older adults in rent-regulated apartments, including Mitchell-Lama developments. 
  • Diversify programming at older adult centers by creating a curriculum focused on technology, exercise, and mentorship
  • Work with dental schools and clinics to provide older adults with in-home dental care
  • Support zoning applications, which include the creation of units for seniors.
  • Create an older adult workforce by creating a pipeline to employment 

Youth & Young Adults

We must invest in our youth and young adults now, as their success will be our community’s future prosperity. Technology has opened the door of opportunity for many young adults and even teenagers. We will expand opportunities by providing them with job placement, access to financial support, and the industry exposure needed to build competitive resumes and strong relationships. Dante will…

  • Create CD41 student government advisory council consisting of school districts 16, 17, 18, 23, & (75). Students elect student representatives to speak on their behalf who understand their issues. 
  • Connect our youth in schools to more digital mental health services.
  • Advocate for the expansion of the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) from six (6) weeks to nine (9) weeks to allow participants to make more money.
  • Create business opportunities for aspiring teenage and young adult entrepreneurs by connecting them to successful entrepreneurs in growing industries (technology, gaming cybersecurity, healthcare – to make it accessible, construction/ mining, and many more)
  • Create physical space for our youth to be exposed to theater, dance, gaming, and sports

Education

Funding. Funding Funding. Public education is the great equalizer, empowering students with the knowledge and skills to succeed. A free, high-quality, and memorable primary and secondary public education experience is a human right. Modernizing our education curriculum and supporting our vulnerable student populations is essential to preparing all who live in our district for our future economy. We must identify fundamental teachings gutted from our education system and reaffirm their necessity. Dante will…

  • Fight to keep our public schools public! But, will support all students in the district no matter their parent’s choice for their education. 
  • Be laser-focused on processes to ensure families and students who need Individual Education Plans (IEPs) get their IEPs.
  • Advocate for more government, history, and life skill courses, like typing, to be a requirement.
    Work with principals to implement farm-to-table opportunities in Districts 16, 17, 18, & 23 to build healthy habits at school and home.
  • Work with industry stakeholders to create an artificial intelligence (AI) curriculum or incubator in Central Brooklyn.
  • Advocate for mandatory field trips to increase exposure to cultural institutions and the Arts for students of color.
  • Work with principals to create Night Schools for youth & adult educational programming.
  • Create funding opportunities for school Parent Associations to engage more families in our education system.

Transportation

As a member of the NYC Transit Riders Council, I have and continue to advocate for the accessibility of Franklin Avenue-Medgar Evers College (2,3,4,5,S) in the next MTA capital plan. Strong cities have strong transportation networks that are accessible to all.  We should consider public-private partnerships to finance infrastructure projects to bring equity and increased accessibility to the network. We need a transportation infrastructure in place to support the future affordable residential and commercial opportunities we want to come online. Dante will…

  • Highlight over and over there are ZERO ADA-accessible train stations in the 41st Council District
  • Be an avid supporter of the expansion of the (2)(5) trains on Nostrand and (4) trains along Utica Avenue.
  • Support common sense traffic and pedestrian policies and projects around schools, parks, and cultural institutions.
  • Create legislation requiring car share companies to maintain spots for Alternate Side Parking rules.
  • Fund speed reducer (speed bump) request approved for installation in D41by New York City Department of Transportation
  • Work with the Dept. of Transportation to repurpose spots created by the “Daylighting” initiative.
  • Modernize and reform Access-a-Ride to make the experience easier for older adults and individuals with disabilities
  • Advocate for electric buses as the MTA considers redesigns to the Brooklyn Bus Network.

Workforce Development & Small Businesses

Good UNION jobs means we can negotiate higher wages and greater benefits for workers on projects in the district. I will require all ULURP application in CD41 to use union labor on projects. We will use good union jobs to bring people and families out of poverty and to create stability and securing for working families. And, commercial rent is crippling small businesses across the district. I will negotiate commercial rent stabilized leases to ensure opportunities for small businesses to thrive.  Dante will…

  • Support the expansion of merchant associations & BID operations in CD41.
  • Modernize the city public procurement processes to ensure nonprofits get paid on time.
  • Support Commercial Rent Stabilization
  • Advocate for funding to ensure working receive required hours of safety training under LL196 
  • Ensure that (re)development plans in Black neighborhoods include commitments to training and long-term employment in high-quality jobs for incumbent residents.
  • Require developers to fill in gaps in services by reinvesting in community (Bus shelters, trash receptacles, computers for students, graffiti removal, etc.
  • Sit down with leaders in the hospitality industry to create new opportunities for LGBTQIA+ persons and people of color in the 41st Council District who aspire to make in the culinary and beverage industries.

NYCHA & Mitchell-Lama

Many older adults live in NYCHA and Mitchell-Lama units across the city. Abhorrent conditions throughout NYCHA developments require swift action to address. The typical bandaids to address repairs or long overdue upgrades are unjust, leaving families sometimes living in unsafe or unsanitary conditions. Additional oversight of these programs will ensure families receive the services and support required by law. Making it easier for individuals living in these buildings to renew or apply for appropriate services online will streamline processes and speed up renewal. Right now, NYCHA is under attack via the PACT-RAD program. We must stop the privatization of NYCHA and infuse the agency with funds to address the billions in needed repairs. Dante will…

  • Not support the privatization of NYCHA developments 
  • Hold poor Mitchell-Lama development managements accountable 
  • Build a prequalified list of registered vendors for no-bid contracts available online.
  • Invest in technologies that speed up complaint monitoring and rent collection.
  • Bring resources and information directly to large housing developments by hosting events and programming at developments across the district.
  • Support Family and Community Days at NYCHA development.
  • Build “mini-libraries” using unused space at Mitchell-Lama and NYCHA facilities.

Public Safety

Keeping our sidewalks, streets, communities, and families safe, ensuring our justice system is fairer, more equitable, and preventative, and ENDING the long history of gun violence in the district is paramount. We must invest in public services and programs promoting connected and healthy communities, anti-violence programs, vital job and workforce development programs, and mental health services. Agencies tasked with keeping us safe from and during emergencies need sufficient resources to keep us safe. Dante will…

  • Support freezing the NYPD budget as is and require future officers to reside in NYC during their employment. 
  • Support CM Gutiérrez’s bill to create an office for residential displacement remediation that would serve as central support to city residents displaced from their homes following a residential fire or other natural disaster. (Intro 0749-2024)
  • Work to redirect NYPD funding to precinct community councils to expand community engagement efforts.
  • Work with mail providers, block associations, and tenant associations to prevent package theft.
  • Create a direct pipeline to jobs for formerly incarcerated individuals and city employment.
  • Hold the Sheriff’s Office accountable for illegal smoke shops and require the creation of a public list of closed smoke shops to be sent to community boards and elected officials.
  • Support our Emergency Service workers (EMS) by modernizing the department’s tech and station unit space
  • Require food delivery apps to refund the consumer the entire cost of the order including taxes.

Health & Mental Health

Many of the health issues we currently experience have been dealt with for decades. From inequities in maternal care to the health disparities we see in black men to the potential closure of much-needed healthcare facilities, we have historic problems to fix and prevent. We must protect our frontline workers and public servants who work to keep us safe and healthy. Dante will…

  • Advocate for increased funding for our safety net hospitals to update infrastructure and meet the demand of future population growth
  • Increase mental health services in communities of color by expanding mobile mental health crisis teams.
  • Support CM Ossè’s bill, which would require the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) to include food service establishments, retail establishments, and health clubs in an existing Opioid Antagonist Program, which already serves nightlife establishments. (Intro: 0359-2024)
  • Work with developers and landlords with vacant storefronts to bring fresh produce mini markets to commercial corridors.
  • Liaise with State lawmakers to advocate for shorter days and more training for home health aide workers.
  • Increase access to healthy and nutritious fresh food through increasing funding for fresh food box programs.
  • Fund additional DOE Health Food Trucks.
  • Collaborate with willing religious organizations to support the larger community’s health needs.

Housing & Development

As a tenant who is paying market rate, I feel the squeeze. The rising cost of homeownership and rent is affecting many working-class families. To address our housing crisis, we must create affordable homeownership and rental opportunities for families of all sizes while strengthening rent regulations that protect tenants. Our district needs housing that will address the long-term wants and needs of the community. Dante will…

  • Continued enforcement of LL18 to protect our neighborhoods. We have to figure out how to prevent private equity from infiltrating  our communities while giving homeowners less-bureaucratic rental opportunities. 
  • Hold KNOW YOUR RIGHTS forums and community events with tenant rights advocates and organizations.
  • Advocate for initiatives focused on creating homeownership opportunities for all families. 
  • Demand all housing developed on city-owned lots be targeted to seniors, low and extremely low-income households, individuals with disabilities, and formerly incarcerated.
  • Advocate to our Members of Congress to change the AMI (Area Median Income) formula used to determine affordability.
  • Fight to bring warehoused apartments online to increase housing stock.
  • Require certain rezonings to require the creation of community space or open space
  • Require developers to provide an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Infrastructure for support.
  • All new developments with 75 units or more are required to build sufficient parking relative to the number of units created and the population demand.
  • Work with block and neighborhood associations to inform homeowners and renters of their rights and connect them to current housing benefits.
  • Write a policy requiring landlords/ managing agents to clean trash chutes no less than three (3) times a year and post an inspection report in the lobby of their building for tenant review.

Environment, Culture, and Recreation

Brooklyn is culture and art. We must promote and advocate for quality arts programming to support and strengthen the district’s cultural life. The more programs offered to our youth, the more exposure they gain to understanding other cultures, leading to conversations about unity, not division. Dante will…

  • Support the 1% Parks Budget movement.
  • Support enforcement of LL97 to reduce emissions from buildings
  • Expand community garden usage and secure investments in infrastructure
  • Support cultural events and programming by connecting organizations to public funding
  • Additional mobile units must be procured to connect people to IDNYC, New York City’s municipal identification program.
  • Demand Black History be taught in every classroom.
  • Commission local artists to work with agencies to bring more public art to the area
  • Activate open space and plazas by making it easier for small businesses and nonprofits to utilize space.
  • Gain exposure to cultural programming for youth in school and after.
  • Create additional funding opportunities for libraries by better utilizing properties.
  • Expand culinary opportunities in school districts 16, 17, 18, & 23.

LGBTQIA+

Every day across the country, LGBTQIA+ rights are being dismantled. The community and allies have fought for the rights we deserve for decades, and that fight continues. Thank you for your bravery. New York City is a model of both inclusion and equality. Trans and queer youth remain under attack by our federal government. We will protect the individual and reproductive rights of all so we can make your own decisions about our own bodies. Dante will…

  • Support the establishment of a commission for LGBTQIA+ older adults within the Department for the Aging to identify challenges, share best practices, and develop expert recommendations on ways to improve the quality of life of LGBTQIA+ older adults (Int. 564)
  • Commit to funding programs that provide housing, training, job placement, and professional development for LGBTQIA+ youth.
  • Work with community groups to create safe spaces for LGBTQIA+ youth
  • Increase civil penalties and enforcement against those violating New York City’s Human Rights Law, which prohibits workplace, housing, and public accommodation discrimination.
  • Modernize age eligibility requirements for Senior citizens exemption at the state level. Current eligibility states that each of the property’s owners must be 65 years of age or over unless the owners are husband and wife.
  • Fund initiatives that support BIPOC, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender non-conforming, and queer communities

Quality of Life & Constituent Services

As a District Manager, I have held agencies accountable while working hand in hand to address gaps in district services. We, taxpayers, deserve to live in safe, healthy, and prosperous spaces. Ensuring the agencies we interact with daily have the personnel and tools they need to perform their responsibilities is vital to maintaining what works in our communities for us and identifying low-impact services. Dante will…

  • Advocate for increased funding for Department of Sanitation MLP programs
  • Work with agencies to:
    • Increase street lighting on dark residential & commercial blocks
    • Remove derelict and plateless vehicles
    • Translation services for community boards for public meetings
    • Address sanitation issues along commercial corridors
  • Help agencies continue to build out their multi-lingual resources for outreach

Contact

Send us an email at: danteforny@gmail.com