Mike DiSanto
(BROOKLYN, NEW YORK) MARCH 1st, 2010 – Mike DiSanto, Democratic candidate for State Senate and a lifelong Brooklyn resident today unveiled his plans for the revitalization of South Brooklyn at the American Heritage Democratic Organization in Bay Ridge.
In his remarks, DiSanto claimed that the residents of the 22nd State Senate district have suffered due to lack of funding and a dysfunctional legislature in Albany.
"Since the 1980s I have seen the gradual decline of our neighborhoods, when they should have been consistently improving,” said DiSanto. “I was able to get a decent public school education and we had art and afterschool programs. Today teachers do not even get paper for their students. The children need to be the top priority. Education is more important now than it has ever been due to the new dynamic global economy.”
DiSanto also stressed the need for communities to get necessary funding for infrastructure improvements and residents need tax breaks to make repairs on their aging homes in this economy, saying “I believe this will increase home values and create jobs.”
DiSanto blasted developers for knocking down houses and putting up poorly built condos. He said that those developers were destroying residential neighborhoods and the ambience that used to go along with living in south Brooklyn. He called for better programs for first time home buyers and guidelines for development that does not jeopardize the uniqueness of our neighborhoods.
“Kids I grew up with, who want to buy houses here to raise their families cannot afford to let this happen, said DiSanto. “This is destroying our residential neighborhoods.”
He also touted green initiatives to beautify neighborhoods, improve air quality and bring “green jobs” to Brooklyn. The borough has the second least amount of park space per person of all the five boroughs and therefore should be at the top of the list when it comes to funding for green initiatives.
DiSanto also stressed the need for more community events across all of the neighborhoods in his district including concerts and festivals to restore the sense of community allowing residents and their families increased opportunities for recreation and socialization. He stated that these events will also benefit small business owners who have suffered through the economic slowdown.
DiSanto slammed the MTA and leadership for cutting transportation services in Brooklyn while building two new subway lines in Manhattan.
“It is obvious where the loyalty lies,” said DiSanto. “We are not second class citizens because we do not live in Manhattan.”
He called for the use of stimulus money to restore service cuts not for new lines and a 10 year plan to fix the ailing MTA.
DiSanto ended by remembering his father Mario, a school teacher and community activist who died of bone cancer when he was 12 years old.
“He wanted so much to see a vibrant community here,” DiSanto said of his father. “I am going to continue his fight and make his dreams and reality for all of the residents of the district.”
DiSanto is running for the State Senate seat currently held by Republican Marty Golden, which include parts of Bay Ridge, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, Gravesend, Sheepshead Bay and Marine Park.
Photo:
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