Public Employee Press: PEP Talk
Union endorsements for June 22 Primary election
Brooklyn Borough President: Khari Edwards
Born and raised in Crown Heights, Khari Edwards is the son of immigrant parents from Guyana and Trinidad, both of whom were city workers. He is a product of the city’s public schools and now has three public school children of his own.
Edwards’ nearly two-decade career has been dedicated to community development and political action. Recently, he served as Vice President of External Affairs at Brookdale Hospital, where he was the first VP of color. At Brookdale, Edwards developed the hospital as a community resource, building partnerships with community-based organizations.
Edwards created several community-based initiatives targeting those in need, including free math tutoring programs geared toward young women and girls of color. He is one of the lead coordinators of the East Brooklyn Call to Action Campaign, a project that focuses on housing, healthcare, workforce development disparities, and physical fitness for central Brooklynites.
As Brooklyn Borough President, Edwards will focus on health disparities in Brooklyn. With a focus on preemptive care, he will provide robust funding for hospitals, mental health programs, and addiction treatment. Edwards’ plan also includes expanding COVID-19 testing and increasing community wellness visits by doctors.
Edwards will tackle the affordable housing crisis in Brooklyn, using his power as Borough President to introduce legislation that will enact policies to protect thousands of at-risk families.
He advocates for a tax structure to ensure small businesses will continue to be the foundation of economic growth, including support for young entrepreneurs and funding youth business initiatives, and creating a portal for youth jobs and paid internships.
