In a letter to the editor, Jersey City resident Koren Frankfort articulates why she feels Assemblywoman Jessica Ramirez must be re-elected: “Her credentials are pristine.”
Dear Editor,
New Jersey is where I vote and my home. I am a voter in the 32nd Assembly District and have, in the growingly distant past, worked in Hudson County among all the feuding political players currently filling your mailboxes on a daily basis.
I stay in touch, I read the local news, and I keep track of the fodder, but nothing has been so chaotic as what I am seeing in the 32nd district race.
Those who know me know that I advocate for survivors of sexual assault since I became the first woman in the state to publish on predatory behavior in NJ politics, so this race has been particularly interesting to watch given there are multiple women candidates in the 6 way race.
The greatest standout to me – from an experiential and qualifications standpoint – is Jessica Ramirez, Esq. She is a mother, a self made attorney, and a Latina braving the current political climate, who has also specialized in the advocacy for survivors of sexual assault.
Conversely, former Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla, bracketed with another woman candidate, Katie Brennan, who herself has a sizable anti-harassment/anti-assault platform that stemmed from her vocal accounts of an SA by an aide to the outgoing, term limited governor as well as being an affordable housing advocate of note.
Obviously, a bracket between two advocates for survivors of sexual assault would have been exciting and nationally relevant, particularly at the heels of a Harris loss, but for whatever reason, that is not what we are looking at.
Ramirez is bracketed with the earnest Councilman Youssef Saleh, who I have experienced having a sinkhole filled in front of my home at the speed of light, to his credit.
For the purpose of being focused, boiling it down to vote share and trade, incumbent Jessica Ramirez and Hoboken Mayor Bhalla should clearly be the front runners.
Both are attorneys. Both have represented all or much of the electorate. However, the mailings sent out by Bhalla opponents pose serious questions, and the attention of voters has been redirected to matters other than the future of our party, which instead create a potential narrative of misuse.
Irrespective of where these stories are coming from – political enemies or otherwise – or how true, untrue, or nuanced they are, they put an undue burden of distraction on the voter leading to the penultimate question: Are there so many distractions that this candidate cannot succeed in Trenton? The final question being, do they get my vote?
Apples to Apples, there are no distractions with Jessica Ramirez, Esq. Her running mate for the Assembly is a good human. Her credentials are pristine.
Her bills are strong and seek to help the most disenfranchised. She has decades of experience in doing so, and it is that story that really resonates with me, though.
Jessica Ramirez being a seasoned attorney really understands problems, as well as where and how to solve them.
My background in government as well as my education in public policy often showed that when problems arise, those impacted will look for help from whom they are most familiar, making much of what government folks do is directing them to the appropriate office at the correct level of government.
Because of this, effective leaders are highly visible with healthy coalitions of support in the ranks of their peers, and are also astute when it comes to the roles of each level of government.
It makes them fast and effective. Further, being someone capable of getting along from a position of strength doesn’t hurt either. Our incumbent embodies these things.
After looking into all the candidates, I sought out Jessica. I am a survivor and there is always a part of me that wants to talk to people who would quietly lend a hand to someone in that position having not had that myself in the past, and I was really excited to learn about this advocate who got justice for so many people like me.
She took my call. She enjoyed my child’s photos and she extended the grace to let me learn about her. I learned that she succeeded because she worked hard to adapt to the mainland and lives by the values of working folks.
She views the district through the lens of someone who understands the nuances and challenges of gentrification and the complicated histories of racist policies and disenfranchisement.
She wants to help regular people and promote progress for everyone as a core value. And at the heels of letting Trump become president again, matters of principle should be the matters of the party. Luckily, we have a solid emerging leader in Jessica Ramirez.
I don’t seek to slam other candidates. I have not heard anything negative about the HCDO backed candidates, who are also women, who I also hope to see rise in their service as they deepen their experience and work in Hudson.
I seek to reflect the positive values I have seen on the campaign trail of Assemblymember Jessica Ramirez. I seek to flag that she has been advocating for survivors – like me – the entirety of her career.
I seek to point out that her work is good beyond the forward thinking legislation she puts forth, but also her constituent services and the team she has put together in her Legislative Staff.
Of the six candidates, she is the most clear choice. As far as the rest go, ask your questions. How much experience do they have? How well do they know the district? How available are they? How much explaining do they need to do before stepping foot in office?
Do they have a platform that can be effectively leveraged to address the most serious concerns of the current political climate?
The job of the voter is to pick the best candidate. Clearly, that is Jessica Ramirez. One of your two choices to represent district 32 should be her.
With sincerity,
Koren Frankfort, MS of Urban Policy and Management
District 32 resident
Political operative and advocate
These views are my own and do not represent the views or positions of any candidate or organization with whom I am affiliated or have been affiliated.
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