In a recent exclusive interview with LittleAfrica News, Leonardo Coello, the Bronx Director for the Mayor’s Office of Community Affairs, asserted that the most effective way to tackle New York City’s community issues lies in improving and accelerating collaboration between city officials and elected representatives.
Coello is campaigning for the upcoming June primary in Assembly District 77, which includes the neighborhoods of Claremont, Concourse, Highbridge, Mount Eden, and Morris Heights in the Bronx, on the west side of the borough.
The Assembly member seat for District 77 became vacant after the resignation of Latoya Joyner in January. The primary election will be held on June 25, 2024.
Coello said he is excited about the campaign due to his deep understanding and involvement with local residents and their issues.
He stated, “The opportunity to be able to represent all of them in Albany at our state’s capital is something that I’m very excited about.”
Coello outlined his primary objectives, placing a strong focus on tackling housing challenges, bolstering support for small business owners through low-interest loans, improving public safety measures, and expanding job creation efforts.
He remarked, “I wanna focus on bringing more jobs. I want to focus on giving more housing opportunities to our community. I wanna focus on bettering the education system so folks don’t have to leave the Bronx because they want to get their children the best education possible.”
Coello highlighted the necessity of a united approach to tackle long-standing public issues, calling on elected officials at the city, state, and federal levels to collaborate closely.
By drawing attention to the persistent challenges facing the borough and the wider city and pooling their collective expertise, he emphasized that such cooperation is essential for driving meaningful progress for the community’s welfare.
“If we’re all lockstep and barrel together, and we’re all pushing that needle the same way, and we’re all seeing things through the same lens, I think that’s how we could start to really, really get some things accomplished,” Coello explained.
If elected, he pledged to advocate for the formation of a task force comprising various elected officials to tackle issues that concern the residents the most.
Coello acknowledged the alarming trend of residents leaving New York, attributing the exodus to the housing crisis and the soaring cost of living.
To combat these issues, he argued that Albany must step up its efforts by allocating more resources.
Coello stressed that securing this necessary funding would require relentless advocacy from dedicated individuals fighting for greater financial assistance.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, approximately 545,500 residents moved out of New York State in 2022. The Bronx leads with the highest number of its residents leaving New York City.
Responding to LittleAfrica News’ question on how he plans to address staffing shortages and early retirements, which have significantly impacted public safety, Coello noted the city’s need for more police officers.
He cited the issue of the police force being overstretched across various responsibilities, a factor greatly contributing to the rise in retirements.
Coello stated that supporting small businesses, which form the backbone of the community by employing the majority of residents, is among his top priorities.
He pointed out that during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite the availability of substantial federal assistance, these businesses struggled to secure necessary funding.
This difficulty was largely due to the absence of a centralized system that could efficiently guide them in accessing these funds.
Highlighting the importance of preparedness for future challenges such as pandemics and the migrant crisis, Coello stressed the need for elected officials to ensure the establishment of clear protocols and procedures.
He concluded, “It’s no magic pill, except that it’s just about working hard and coming together and getting the stuff done.”
