District manager for Bronx Community District 7, Ischia Bravo, received a boost, on Dec. 8, to her campaign to replace Councilman, and now Congressman-elect, Ritchie Torres, in the District 15 City Council race, following the endorsement of New York State Senators, Jessica Ramos and Alessandra Biaggi.

Both Ramos and Biaggi assumed office in 2019 after defeating long time incumbents, and members of the Independent Democratic Conference, a group of senate Democrats who caucused with Republicans to give the GOP a majority in the chamber. Both senators represent the new era of Democratic activism in the State Senate, ushering in independent progressivism and pragmatism.

Via a press release, Biaggi said when the new class of New York City council members take office in 2022, they will inherit a city facing its greatest hour of need. “This set of unprecedented challenges require the most qualified, experienced, and formidable leaders to take office,” she said. “Ischia Bravo is the most serious candidate in District 15. Since I took office two years ago, it is abundantly clear that few have advocated as aggressively in the Bronx [as] Ischia.”

Biaggi went on to say that Bravo’s sixteen years of experience, combined with her fierce ability to maintain her independence and buck the status quo is early proof that she prioritizes people over politics. “As Community Board 7 District Manager, Ischia has already taken many stands for what is right for her district and community. Collectively, this signals something we should all take note of – that is, on day one, Ischia will be ready to hit the ground running.”

Biaggi added that Bravo’s relentless nature would ensure that New York City’s recovery plan makes the Bronx its first priority. “No one will out-hustle Ischia’s work for this district, and that is why she has my full support as the next council member of District 15.”

Meanwhile, Ramos said working families in the Bronx needed a champion committed to fighting for equity and justice in the 15th District, and that Bravo was that leader, referring to her as a mother, community advocate, and lifelong Bronx resident devoted to the values of community-inspired grassroots change.

“A product of local public schools and housing, Bravo will empower working New Yorkers by delivering critical resources to bridge the gap in service delivery and offer solutions to fix our city’s housing, health, and fiscal crisis,” Ramos said. “As we navigate New York’s post-pandemic recovery, I am confident Bravo will relentlessly advocate for the needs of Bronx residents.”

According to her campaign, Bravo is described as a mother, community advocate, and lifelong Bronx resident, who understands the needs of the community and knows how to work within local government to deliver resources back to neighborhoods. As a product of public housing, her campaign said she understands how housing influences every aspect of one’s life, from education and employment to health, and that she is passionate about reforming New York City’s broken housing system because of her own lived experience, and that of so many of her struggling neighbors.

Bravo attended local schools within the city’s public school system, is a CUNY alumna, obtaining her bachelor’s degree from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and her associate’s degree from Hostos Community College. The campaign said she has devoted her life to public service because she believes zip codes should not determine life outcomes.

As district manager for Bronx CB7, the campaign said she amplifies the voices of her local residents, and holds city stakeholders accountable in serving her community, which ranks among the poorest across New York City, and is in critical need of resources.

Her campaign added that Bravo developed a new system whereby any developer who is approved to receive funding from City government has to hire people from the local community. She did this because she knows how difficult it is for her community, which includes immigrants, single mothers, and low-income families, to navigate the City’s Housing Connect Lottery system and to be considered for affordable housing opportunities.

According to her campaign, Bravo created housing clinics so that the neediest families and community members could apply to new housing developments with ease. Her campaign added that she knows her neighbors deserve better and is determined to improve the quality of life for every resident in District 15.