District 77 Assemblyman Landon Dais has made remarkable progress in his short tenure, including the appointment of more family court judges, securing funding for school labs, Deed Theft Protection bill, and implementing a tax break to encourage local media outlets.
Elected on February 13 in a special election following his predecessor’s resignation, Dais has quickly become a pivotal figure in his district.
A father of two and a dedicated husband, Dais’s educational background includes degrees from Morehouse College, Columbia, and Hofstra Law School.
Beyond politics, he contributes to his community as a youth baseball coach, fostering both sportsmanship and teamwork among children.
Dais’s efforts have extended various facets of community support, especially to local non-profits and small businesses in New York, helping them broaden their impact and reach.
In an interview with LittleAfrica News, Dais expressed his commitment to enhancing the quality of life in his constituency through a comprehensive approach, from improving sanitation and housing affordability to ensuring safety.
Dais stated, “I want to bring 77 new businesses to the district, and create 7,700 jobs because we create more economic mobility for our community.”
He added, “I promise affordable housing becomes an easier issue, violence goes down and our area can meet its potential that we all know that it can meet.”
Shortly after his appointment following the special election, Dais introduced the Programmatic Bill aimed at protecting homeowners in the Northeast Bronx, Bed-Stuy, and Harlem—mainly Black and Latino communities—from deed theft by con artists, which could lead to losing their homes.
The bill empowers the District Attorney’s office to assist those who cannot afford private litigators in defending their property rights.
Recognizing the importance of journalism, the assemblyman worked on securing a tax break for small and medium publications to bolster local New York journalism.
“We need representation of the communities at a micro level, not controlled by corporate journalism, who can tell the stories of the 77th, of the Bronx, of the communities that are represented in our areas to make sure their voice is heard,” he emphasized.
Driven by a commitment to improving the judicial system, Dais worked to increase the number of family court judges in New York State and City.
With bipartisan support for his bill, NYC will elect 12 new family and civil court judges in November.
“This is a big deal because the family courts are backlogged with thousands of cases. By bringing these new judges in, it’s going to help bring families back together,” Dais noted.
Education remains a top priority for Dais, who secured $1 million for STEM labs in District 77 schools and received an additional $1 million from Governor Kathy Hochul.
Ten district schools will receive $200,000 in grants to enhance science project learning opportunities for students.
Dais explained, “We always talk about affordable housing also. Affordable housing means nothing if they don’t have jobs that can afford those apartments. We have to increase how much money our community is making. Financial literacy, job training, workforce development….These are things making a difference for people.”
The District 77 lawmaker commented that after-school programs like chess, sports, debate, speech, and swimming would also be on his future agenda, providing enriching experiences for the district’s youth.
Addressing health disparities, Dais expressed concern over the high mortality rates among Black and Latino women during childbirth despite the United States having the world’s best health system.
“That’s unacceptable,” he said, stressing the need for improved healthcare systems to support mothers during pregnancies.
Dais is also working on initiatives to lower closing costs and provide grants to help people purchase homes within his district, ensuring residents do not have to leave their communities.
As the upcoming primary approaches, Dais is optimistic about re-election to continue his quest for positive change.
He enjoys the backing of notable figures such as Senator Robert Jackson, Luis Sepulveda, Jose Serrano, former Congressman Jose Serrano, and Bronx President Vanessa Gibson.
Early voting will begin this Saturday and run through the following Sunday, allowing District 77 residents to have their voices heard and shape the future of their community.
