LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Bowman is 'breath of fresh air'

Posted

To the editor:

(re: “So, has Bowman abandoned Riverdale?” Oct. 21)

I was struck by the front-page headline in the Oct. 21 edition, “So has Bowman abandoned Riverdale?”

As a Riverdale resident, I have great respect for Congressman Jamaal Bowman’s prioritizing living wages for this staff members over opening extra district offices.

With a district office in the Bronx (Co-op City), and one in Westchester County — and a mobile constituent services van that regularly travels the district, including a six-hour visit to Riverdale on Oct. 28 — residents of the 16th Congressional District are well covered.

I disagree with Kathy Solomon of Northwest Bronx Indivisible who links a district office to access and presence. In my experience — and that of many I know — Congressman Bowman and his staff members have been extremely accessible and responsive to a wide range of needs. In addition, Mr. Bowman and staff members have participated in many events in Riverdale proper and adjacent neighborhoods.

As a champion of progressive struggles, the congressman’s decision to pay his hard-working staff a living wage rather than spending the same money on more district offices is exactly what I look for. In addition, I don’t see my “interests” as different from those of my fellow Bronxites in Co-op City, where Mr. Bowman’s Bronx district office is located.

Thank you for being a consistent voice for racial, housing, economic and environmental justice, Mr. Bowman. You’re a breath of fresh air in this district.

Jennifer Scarlott

Have an opinion? Share your thoughts as a letter to the editor. Make your submission to letters@riverdalepress.com. Please include your full name, phone number (for verification purposes only), and home address (which will not be published). The Riverdale Press maintains an open submission policy, and stated opinions do not necessarily represent the publication.
Jennifer Scarlott,

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