Democratic Candidate for City Council District 35 Crystal Hudson celebrated a win for the LGBTQ+ community in the general election last Tuesday. She made history as the first openly gay Black woman elected to the City Council.
Hudson won the election by a landslide with 94.67% of the votes so far, according to the Board of Elections (BOE) unofficial election night results.
Hudson said she is excited to be part of such an incredibly diverse incoming City Council with more representation than in previous years. This election season also marks the first time the City Council has majority women elected and the first Muslim woman member along with more LGBTQ+ officials.
“From the start, this campaign was rooted in love and principles of justice, equity, and dignity for all, and that’s exactly how I plan to lead on the council,” said Hudson in a statement.
“The people have spoken and elected a body that is far more representative of the diversity of our communities and responsive to the issues that matter,” added Hudson.
Hudson was previously the co-director of Outreach for City Council in the same district she ended up running for. She worked with the term-limited City Council Majority Leader and Council member Laurie A. Cumbo in Brooklyn. She credited her early strides in fundraising to her strong connections in the community and positions she held in offices for Cumbo and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams.
“I know and love this community deeply, and as the granddaughter of Jamaican immigrants, a caregiver who has navigated our complicated healthcare system, the daughter of a nurse, and a Black, queer New Yorker,
I will fight even harder for historically marginalized people to have a seat at the table,” said Hudson.
Hudson is a third-generation Brooklynite and resident of Prospect Heights. She attributes her commitment to public service to her mother’s decline in health back in 2013. Her mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, and as her primary caregiver, Hudson learned how difficult it is for working families to navigate bureaucratic systems and access medical care. As a result of that struggle, she became a fierce advocate for seniors.
During the COVID-19 crisis, Hudson said she did everything she could to keep her mother and other seniors safe. Initially, she went around knocking on doors to check on people before deciding to create the Greater Prospect Heights Mutual Aid (GPHMA) group.
Hudson plans on advancing her “pro-Black, pro-queer, pro-justice policies” laid out in her ‘Black Agenda for New York City’ as soon as she gets in office, she said. Her vision is to fight for truly affordable housing for all, meaningful criminal justice reform, equitable schools, investment in Black and brown communities, and a fair recovery from COVID-19.
“I believe that when Black New Yorkers thrive, all New Yorkers thrive, and I’m ready to fight for our safety and access to affordable housing, quality education, healthcare, and good-paying jobs,” said Hudson.
Ariama C. Long is a Report for America Corps member and writes about culture and politics in New York City for the Amsterdam News. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep her writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visiting: https://tinyurl.com/fcszwj8w
stop sellling us out > you fall in the rich people – developers’ trap to save your self.. SHAME! WHY AREN’T YOU TO OUR TENANT PROTESTS.. < TWO OF THESE LEAD BY BLACK WOMEN AND MEN LAST WKEND… shame…so you send a rep to BS us.