I’m April Somboun and I’m a mom — and that’s why I’m running for City Council in Brooklyn’s 33rd District. My childhood was much different than my own children’s upbringing. I was born in a refugee camp, to a single mother — a Lao immigrant who fled communism to give me a better life. We relied on section 8 housing, food stamps, and public schools to be our foundation and, from there, we continued to drive forward, eventually achieving that American Dream my mother so desperately wanted for us.
That drive for change — for finding a better path forward — has motivated me from day one. Now, as a mom of two including a son in our local public school, I recognize what’s working and what’s not, and I see a clear-cut path to meaningful change, not just in District 33 but across the borough and the city — a path I want for my kids and for every child. To me, that starts with four key pillars:
#1. Holding the Department of Education accountable for educating our children — and keeping them safe
If 2020 taught us one thing it’s the critical role our public schools play, not just to educate our children but to keep them safe and secure.
As a City Council member, I’m committed to advocating for adequate funding for school — funding that ensures students, staff, and students have the PPE gear, rapid testing, and communication platforms they need to keep the community healthy. To that end, I want to see:
- Funding for clean, safe ventilation, and opportunities for kids to get out, with designated spaces and streets for outdoor gym and recess.
- Funding for the tools and access students need for hybrid and remote learning. No student should be denied an education because of lagging internet access.
#2. Ensure high-quality after school care for all students and families
Families work — but, in many cases, the public school schedule doesn’t work for or with them, especially those who don’t have the option to do their jobs from home. The end result: in December alone, women accounted for 140,000 job losses. Black and Latinx women represented a disproportionate number of those women. We need to course correct — and that means:
- Helping our economy grow by providing free and low-cost after-school enrichment programs.
- Ensure kids have a warm, comfortable place to retreat, where experienced educators and childcare experts provide the support they need — everything from a healthy snack to homework help.
#3. Giving moms more opportunities to get back to work
COVID-19 had a devastating impact on small businesses in Brooklyn and beyond. One-third of New York’s small businesses could wind up closing due to the pandemic, leaving 500,000 people unemployed.
As a City Council member, I will help restore this thriving piece of our city’s landscape — and help more moms get back to work. That means:
- Advocating for better wages for small business workers.
- Pushing to keep outdoor dining and shopping open 12 months a year.
- Expediting new business development by curbing the nuisance fees and lengthy wait times for people who want to get their companies off the ground.
- Working with state and local leaders to pass commercial rent relief for storefront businesses. Predatory rents should never drive a shop or restaurant out of business.
#4. Helping our parks and playgrounds thrive
If you have young children you know how critical park access has been, especially over this last year — they represent pure joy, reprieve, and community togetherness, in a uniquely safe environment.
Despite their importance, parks are constantly under the microscope, with budgets being slashed substantially due to the pandemic. As a City Council member I will work to:
- Restore park budgets, and ensure these spaces are maintained year-round.
- Create new and expanded programming that brings people to the parks — programming like community events, concerts, outdoor movies, festivals, and more.
- Add more comfort facilities and integrate solar garbage cans to reduce litter.
We’re in the trenches, balancing it all — and, at the same time, we’re looking ahead with an eye on what could be for our kids, our communities, and our collective futures. That’s why, when you elect moms to office, legislative priorities change — and I want to be that changemaker for the right now and for that next generation.
To learn more about my campaign, please visit: www.aprilsomboun.com.
