New York - Rocky Chin demonstrated last night, Wednesday, April 11, 2001, during a candidate's forum co-sponsored by The Villager and the Downtown Express at the Puffin Room in SoHo, that he is the candidate with the experience and vision to lead the 1st District, making him the candidate to beat in this year's City Council race. Rocky demonstrated he would build on his 30-year solid record of public service and community activism to create a better, more unified District 1.
"Experience, Vision, Unity -- I have the experience and vision to make a real difference for District 1. I'll fight to bring progressive and innovative ideas to the City Council. I'll unify this diverse District so that we can work together to resolve differences that exist and arise in the community," said Rocky.
Noting that his background is as diverse as District 1, Rocky introduced himself to the audience by calling attention to the reason he decided to commit his life's work to public service: "I was born in Washington, D.C. on the 4th of July. I grew up thinking of myself as the all-American kid. But during a trip down South, I realized that there were different bathrooms for "whites" and "coloreds", and then, when I was a teenager and began to speak my mind, people would tell me, "Go back to where you came from!" Well, they may have told me to go back, but I decided to go forward and fight for a better America."
Rocky is ready to take that same passion and commitment to the City Council to fight for affordable housing, quality education, the environment, access for the disabled, civil rights, accountability in government and improved quality of life. "I'll make sure that all the voices in District 1 are heard by our government if I am elected to the City Council."
In the City Council, Rocky will draw on his years of experience to bring about change for District 1. Rocky has been a civil rights attorney at the New York City Human Rights Commission for 15 years, he is a past member of Community Board Three, and for many years has been a staunch advocate for immigrant workers' rights, vigorous civil rights enforcement, police accountability, tough hate crimes legislation, and affordable housing for low income and working people.
For more information, contact Susan Stetzer at (212) 334-6558.
