Crystal Hudson is a third generation Brooklynite and former Deputy Public Advocate. She became known in the community as the person behind Greater Prospect Heights Mutual Aid, a volunteer network that provided food and material support for thousands of people in need during the worst months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hudson is no stranger for public service. She was in charge of community engagement in Public Advocate Jumaanee Wiliams’ office, and has worked as a central staffer in the City Council, and a Chief of Operations for the outgoing council member, Laurie Cumbo. She supports a strong reform agenda on elections and policing, and has worked with advocates and good government groups to promote Ranked Choice Voting and reduce police misconduct. If elected, her top priority would be access to education. She wants to expand the current pre-K education program to implement universal, free childcare from 0 to 3. Hudson is the only candidate in this race with government experience, and her campaign and interview with Citizens Union demonstrated that. She presented a very thorough policy agenda, broke down goals to specific actions, and showed she knows the nuts and bolts of the system but is still able to envision creative plans to achieve substantial changes. At one point she noted she would like to see an all female budget negotiating team in the City Council. Citizens Union believes Crystal Hudson will be an excellent advocate for her community and an effective lawmaker that can hit the ground running, and we prefer her in this race.

Renee Collymore has deep roots in this district. Her family has called Clinton Hill home since the 1940s—they owned several important small businesses in the community—and she has continued that work as an active community member. A former district leader, president of block association, and a civically engaged educator, Collymore has an intimate understanding of the district and the needs of the community. If elected, she would work to promote broader civic engagement through a new civic education plan. She also wants to create New York City’s first Tiny House Village for the homeless in the district. Citizens Union believes Collymore would be a true advocate for her community, and would put constituent services as a top priority.

Curtis Harris, an accountant and parent, is running because he is “sick and tired of being sick and tired.” Harris runs a local Crown Heights organization that uses poetry to engage youth and incarcerated individuals. A member of Community Board 8, he focuses his campaign on providing COVID-19 relief, securing real affordable housing for his district, and fighting for more healthcare options for his future constituents.

Hector Robertson has been a community organizer for over 20 years, serving on the local community board since 2000, and leading a block association. Experiencing his neighborhood changed and gentrified, and seeing his neighbors struggle with rising housing prices, he wants to organize tenants, and fight to stop their abuse and neglect by landlords. If elected, he would also seek to make sure community boards have a larger voice in rezoning. Robertson expressed a special interest in reforming the Board of Elections to make it more accountable and professional, and has proposed to overhaul the Campaign Finance Board, which he says is in need of reform.