The Soul of NYC Facing a Crossroads

Brooklyn is the most populous borough in New York City, home to over 2.7 million residents and a diverse mix of cultures, industries, and historic neighborhoods. From the artistic enclaves of Williamsburg to the working-class communities of East New York and the historic brownstones of Brooklyn Heights, this borough has long been a symbol of opportunity, resilience, and change.

However, with rapid gentrification, rising costs of living, failing infrastructure, and growing concerns about public safety, Brooklyn faces significant challenges that demand fiscal accountability and responsible leadership. Mismanaged funds, wasteful city projects, and unchecked development threaten the very fabric of the borough. It’s time for real oversight to ensure taxpayer money is spent wisely and Brooklyn remains a borough for all.

Housing & Affordability: The Cost of Rapid Gentrification

Brooklyn has undergone dramatic transformation over the past two decades. Once considered an affordable alternative to Manhattan, Brooklyn is now one of the most expensive places to live in the country. The median home price exceeds $900,000, and rents have surged, pushing out longtime residents in favor of luxury developments.

Despite billions in city spending on “affordable housing,” many Brooklynites still struggle to find a place to live. Who is truly benefiting from these housing initiatives?

What Needs to Be Done:

• Audit city-funded housing projects to ensure that tax incentives are actually creating affordable housing, not just enriching developers.
• Investigate vacant luxury developments that sit empty while homelessness rises.
• Demand transparency in rent stabilization programs to prevent abuse.

Brooklyn must remain a borough where working-class families, young professionals, and small business owners can afford to live.

Small Businesses Under Siege

Brooklyn is known for its entrepreneurial spirit, with thousands of small businesses, independent restaurants, and local markets that fuel the borough’s economy. However, these businesses are being crushed by excessive regulations, skyrocketing commercial rents, and aggressive city fines. Many storefronts remain empty.

What Needs to Be Done:

• Conduct a full audit of city fines and fees to prevent small businesses from being unfairly targeted.
• Implement tax incentives for local businesses, ensuring they can survive against corporate competition.
• Review and revise commercial lease regulations to prevent abuse

Brooklyn’s economy thrives when small businesses succeed. City policies should help them, not hinder them.

Public Safety & Rising Crime Concerns

While Brooklyn has seen a decrease in violent crime over the past few decades, some neighborhoods have experienced an increase in theft, assault, and drug-related crimes. Businesses and residents alike express concerns over public safety, especially in areas like Downtown Brooklyn, Brownsville, and East New York.

With crime comes financial consequences—business closures, declining property values, and increased spending on emergency services. Yet, city funds meant for community safety often go unaccounted for, and many crime prevention programs fail to show measurable results.

What Needs to Be Done:

• Audit NYPD spending in Brooklyn to ensure resources are being used effectively in high-crime areas.
• Demand greater transparency on public safety grants to ensure taxpayer money is funding real solutions.
• Invest in community-led safety initiatives that have a proven track record of reducing crime and improving neighborhood trust.

Infrastructure & Transit: A Borough Left Behind

Brooklyn’s streets, subways, and public services are failing under the weight of years of neglect. Despite billions of dollars allocated for infrastructure projects, many roads remain riddled with potholes, subway lines are plagued with delays, and flooding from inadequate drainage systems is a growing concern in coastal neighborhoods like Red Hook and Canarsie.

The MTA’s $51.5 billion capital plan was meant to modernize public transit, yet Brooklyn commuters continue to suffer from unreliable service, signal malfunctions, and unsafe conditions in subway stations. Where is this money going?

What Needs to Be Done:

• Conduct a forensic audit of MTA spending in Brooklyn to track where taxpayer funds are going.
• Push for greater transparency in infrastructure contracts to ensure projects are completed on time and within budget.
• Prioritize investment in flood prevention and climate resilience projects for at-risk neighborhoods.

Brooklyn’s future depends on a functional, efficient infrastructure system that serves its residents—not just political insiders.

Wasteful Spending & Government Mismanagement

Brooklyn receives billions in taxpayer dollars for education, public housing, transportation, and community programs. Yet, year after year, residents see little improvement in services. Instead, taxpayer money is often lost in a maze of bureaucracy, mismanaged contracts, and failed initiatives.

From overpriced city contracts to unaccounted-for budget increases, wasteful spending is one of the biggest threats to Brooklyn’s long-term success.

What Needs to Be Done:

• Investigate city contracts that have ballooned in cost without delivering results.
• Hold city agencies accountable for delays and budget overruns in major Brooklyn projects.
• Increase public access to government spending reports, allowing Brooklyn residents to see where their tax dollars are going.

Brooklyn Deserves Fiscal Responsibility & Real Oversight

Brooklyn is a borough full of ambition, culture, and history. It is home to millions of hardworking New Yorkers who deserve better from their government.

• Affordable housing should be truly affordable.
• Small businesses should be supported, not suffocated by regulations.
• Public safety should be a top priority, with accountability for every dollar spent.
• Infrastructure projects should deliver results, not endless delays.

The future of Brooklyn depends on financial oversight, responsible spending, and leadership that prioritizes the needs of all residents—not just developers and corporate interests. It’s time to demand transparency, accountability, and real solutions.