Like many Brooklyn-ites, and many New Yorkers for that matter, I was not born here. I grew up in a small town in Maine. But after living in Brooklyn for 13 years – in this crazy, brave, funny, dynamic, bold, magical, diverse, surprising tapestry of neighborhoods, this is HOME. From Canarsie to DUMBO, Midwood to Cypress Hills, Brooklyn rocks.

This year several candidates from Brooklyn are running for Public Advocate. But despite my love of my home borough, this year the candidate I’m supporting is actually from another boro. That candidate is Reshma Saujani.

While the other Brooklyn candidates have been tireless supporters of our borough – and in several high profile battles for Brooklyn, passionate defenders of the “Borough of Churches” – our next Public Advocate must by necessity serve all our great city’s residents. 

The challenges I know Reshma will work incredibly hard to address are:

• How do we make sure ALL New York City children have an opportunity to receive a world-class K-12 education that prepares them not only for this centuries careers, but for this centuries challenges they’ll be asked to face and solve as members of the the NYC community?
• How do we continue to manage and promote the transition of New York City’s economy from one where the finance and (old) media industries were central to one where NYC is a vibrant technology hub, rivaling Silicon Valley. How do we make sure this tremendous growth in the city’s tech sector creates opportunities for all 5 boroughs and all of its residents?
• How do we best foster a NYC society, culture, and economy that creates opportunities across the social strata and diverse neighborhoods of our city?

Our next Public Advocate must face these with an “attitude of gratitude”, and a focus on getting things done. Ideas are great, but execution will matter just as much.

Reshma is the right woman for the job. 

But rather that just take my word for it, I’d be thrilled if you would join me, Kal Penn, and several others as we host Reshma at Woodlands in North Park Slope at 6:30pm on Tuesday July 16. Click here to RSVP https://secure.reshmafornewyork.com/page/contribute/kal-penn-event. 

If you can’t make it Tuesday, I hope you’ll consider making a donation to Reshma’s campaign at https://secure.reshmafornewyork.com/page/contribute/default.

I hope to see you Tuesday!

Rob Underwood
@brooklynrob
www.robunderwood.com