To the Editor:
I’m a father, husband, immigrant, and proud graduate of Boston Public Schools. My story is rooted in the values, challenges, and resilience that define District 5. Like many in our community, I know what’s possible when government and community come together to invest in people because those opportunities changed my life.
From my first job at Fenway Park to internships on Beacon Hill and Capitol Hill, I’ve experienced firsthand the power of opportunity. When doors are opened, lives are transformed. That’s why I’m running for Boston City Council to be an advocate for every neighborhood, someone who listens, understands, and fights for real, lasting progress.
That starts with housing. We must confront the urgent crisis of affordable housing and homeownership in Boston. Too many families are being priced out of the communities they’ve called home for generations. We need policies that help build wealth and keep it in our communities so families can pass it on to the next generation. Boston’s current residential exemption isn’t enough. I’m calling for the creation of an anti-displacement tax relief fund for seniors and long-time residents, to help them stay in their homes with dignity.
We must also invest in public education, apprenticeship programs, quality-of-life improvements, and public safety. Across District 5, dangerous streets have led to fatal car crashes claiming the lives of our children. They deserve to grow up and grow old.
And in Hyde Park, the neighborhood I call home, we face the highest infant mortality rate in the city. As a parent, I know this is not normal, it’s a crisis. Public safety is not a luxury, it’s a basic right.
Our city budget must reflect the urgency in our neighborhoods: greater support for seniors, real opportunity for youth, investment in local arts which bring vibrancy to our blocks and bold action on climate change. That means addressing the heat islands in Mattapan, the flood-prone areas in Hyde Park, and tree loss in Roslindale.
As a city planner and your neighbor, I believe real change begins by listening and then acting with urgency and purpose. With over a decade of experience advancing equity, opportunity, and transparency at both the city and state governments, I will be an independent voice who reflects our values and gets things done.
I’ve worked alongside communities across Boston on grassroots efforts like the Community Preservation Act, which is now creating affordable homeownership opportunities and building generational wealth. The CPA also funds critical green space and historic preservation projects advancing both equity and environmental justice.
Our neighborhoods deserve transparent, independent leadership – leadership that reflects our shared priorities and truly listens. I’m ready to be that leader. This campaign is about action, accountability, and creating a future that protects our children and works for all of us.
