Benine Hamdan

[{"question": "Ballotpedia survey responses", "answer_html": "<p>See also: <a href=\"/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\">Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection</a></p>\n<div class=\"row\"><div class=\"col-xs-10 col-md-6 col-xs-offset-1 col-md-offset-3\"><p><a href=\"https://ballotpedia.org/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\"><img align=\"middle\" alt=\"Candidate Connection\" src=\"https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/8/88/Candidate_Connection_Logo.png\" width=\"90%\"/></a></p></div></div>\n<p>Benine Hamdan completed <a href=\"/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\">Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection</a> survey in 2021. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Hamdan's responses.</p>\n<p><span class=\"expand-all\">Expand all</span> | <span class=\"collapse-all\">Collapse all</span></p>\n<div aria-multiselectable=\"true\" class=\"panel-group\" id=\"accordion\" role=\"tablist\"><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-bio-100274-2021-06-10\" id=\"heading-bio-100274-2021-06-10\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse-bio-100274-2021-06-10\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-bio-100274-2021-06-10\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWho are you? Tell us about yourself.\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading-bio-100274-2021-06-10\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse-bio-100274-2021-06-10\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tBenine Hamdan was born in Brooklyn, New York. She earned a B.S. in law from St. John's University in 2016 and later pursued her M.B.A from the Peter J. Tobin School of Business in 2020 . Benine's career experience includes working as a Business Risk Analyst with various insurance companies, family offices, and investment funds. Benine's work experience with the Department of Probation and community activities including her role at the Peter Cardella Center led her to discover her passion for public service. \r\n\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-key-message-100274-2021-06-10\" id=\"heading-key-message-100274-2021-06-10\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse-key-message-100274-2021-06-10\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-key-message-100274-2021-06-10\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tPlease list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading-key-message-100274-2021-06-10\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse-key-message-100274-2021-06-10\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><ul><li>Affordable housing for all</li><li>My goal every day is to fight on behalf of my constituents-New York's hardworking taxpayers and families to create employability programs.</li><li>Access to quality healthcare</li></ul></span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse1-100274-2021-06-10\" id=\"heading1-100274-2021-06-10\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse1-100274-2021-06-10\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse1-100274-2021-06-10\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading1-100274-2021-06-10\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse1-100274-2021-06-10\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tClimate protections : I have and am continuing to advocate to improve our infrastructure and roads through state and local governments. I have engaged in conversations with the private sector about ways to participate in project bids that will allow for the reconstruction of crumbling infrastructure. <br/><br/>\n<p>Housing: We must ensure people have access to appropriate and safe housing. Affordable housing is viewed as a basic human right, and considered to be an essential factor for the enjoyment of other economic and social rights.<br/><br/>\n</p>\nCrime and law enforcement: We must address the cause of crime. We are in a crime epidemic and it must be viewed in that way. The creation of mental health programs are essential amongst other solutions to resolve an important predicament our nation is facing.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse2-100274-2021-06-10\" id=\"heading2-100274-2021-06-10\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse2-100274-2021-06-10\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse2-100274-2021-06-10\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWho do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading2-100274-2021-06-10\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse2-100274-2021-06-10\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tI look up to my mom. She has the biggest heart, and her first instincts are to put other people first. I remember one day she told me to go knocking on every door on our block to offer baklava, a Mediterranean sweet. She is always willing to offer a helping hand. Not only is she good at knowing how to take care of my brother, sister and I, but she is someone who has led people to tell me , \"you think ahead of your age.\" She taught me strategic thinking, the what if's, how to interpret a situation without immediately judging, and how to listen and communicate before jumping to conclusions. Her years of writing about philosophy allowed me to grow my mindset and embody the creative spirit. Lastly, if it wasn't for her wisdom, I wouldn't be sitting here.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse3-100274-2021-06-10\" id=\"heading3-100274-2021-06-10\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse3-100274-2021-06-10\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse3-100274-2021-06-10\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading3-100274-2021-06-10\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse3-100274-2021-06-10\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tI can be contacted at anytime of the day. Every individual in my community should have the access and the ability to communicate with me about any issues or concerns to give me more reasons to fight for them. To retain the support of my community, I will confidently propose decisions for their betterment. Politicians may have several issues to work on, I will put my creativity and focus on identifying solutions for all issues.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse4-100274-2021-06-10\" id=\"heading4-100274-2021-06-10\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse4-100274-2021-06-10\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse4-100274-2021-06-10\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading4-100274-2021-06-10\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse4-100274-2021-06-10\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tTheir responsibility is to support and create laws that create positive action. Delivering on their messages is important to build trust. \t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse5-100274-2021-06-10\" id=\"heading5-100274-2021-06-10\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse5-100274-2021-06-10\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse5-100274-2021-06-10\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat was your very first job? How long did you have it?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading5-100274-2021-06-10\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse5-100274-2021-06-10\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tMy first job was at a Brooklyn sole proprietor law office working as a Paralegal for one year.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse6-100274-2021-06-10\" id=\"heading6-100274-2021-06-10\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse6-100274-2021-06-10\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse6-100274-2021-06-10\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading6-100274-2021-06-10\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse6-100274-2021-06-10\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tThere is more than one greatest challenge that our nation may face over the next decade, but an underlying cause of some issues is drug addiction. It is causing the rise of crime and violence, racism, and an imbalance in our criminal justice system. \t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse7-100274-2021-06-10\" id=\"heading7-100274-2021-06-10\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse7-100274-2021-06-10\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse7-100274-2021-06-10\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tTell us your favorite joke.\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading7-100274-2021-06-10\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse7-100274-2021-06-10\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tI heard about this senior citizen. He was driving down the freeway in his brand-new Corvette, with the top down, going 80 miles an hour, when he saw flashing red lights from a state trooper in his rearview mirror. Without thinking about it, he floored it, took off to a hundred miles an hour. He heard the sirens behind him. He finally pulled over and said, “Officer, I’m so sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking.” The state trooper said, “Listen. It’s Friday, 4:00PM. My shift is over in 30 minutes. If you tell me a reason why you’re speeding that I’ve never heard before, then I’ll let you go.” The man thought about it and said, “Officer, years ago, my wife ran off with a state trooper, and I thought you were bringing her back.” The officer said, “Have a great weekend.”\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse8-100274-2021-06-10\" id=\"heading8-100274-2021-06-10\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse8-100274-2021-06-10\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse8-100274-2021-06-10\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tDo you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading8-100274-2021-06-10\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse8-100274-2021-06-10\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tI believe compromise and diplomacy are necessary to settle an issue concerning the well-being of Americans. The focus should be on strengthening the similar key points from both parties to achieve their satisfaction.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div></div>\n<div class=\"small\" data-nosnippet=\"\"><p><i><b>Note:</b> Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.</i></p></div>", "answer_text": "See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection\n\nBenine Hamdan completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Hamdan's responses.\nExpand all | Collapse all\nWho are you? Tell us about yourself. Benine Hamdan was born in Brooklyn, New York. She earned a B.S. in law from St. John's University in 2016 and later pursued her M.B.A from the Peter J. Tobin School of Business in 2020 . Benine's career experience includes working as a Business Risk Analyst with various insurance companies, family offices, and investment funds. Benine's work experience with the Department of Probation and community activities including her role at the Peter Cardella Center led her to discover her passion for public service. Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office? Affordable housing for all My goal every day is to fight on behalf of my constituents-New York's hardworking taxpayers and families to create employability programs. Access to quality healthcare What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? Climate protections : I have and am continuing to advocate to improve our infrastructure and roads through state and local governments. I have engaged in conversations with the private sector about ways to participate in project bids that will allow for the reconstruction of crumbling infrastructure. Housing: We must ensure people have access to appropriate and safe housing. Affordable housing is viewed as a basic human right, and considered to be an essential factor for the enjoyment of other economic and social rights. Crime and law enforcement: We must address the cause of crime. We are in a crime epidemic and it must be viewed in that way. The creation of mental health programs are essential amongst other solutions to resolve an important predicament our nation is facing. Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why? I look up to my mom. She has the biggest heart, and her first instincts are to put other people first. I remember one day she told me to go knocking on every door on our block to offer baklava, a Mediterranean sweet. She is always willing to offer a helping hand. Not only is she good at knowing how to take care of my brother, sister and I, but she is someone who has led people to tell me , \"you think ahead of your age.\" She taught me strategic thinking, the what if's, how to interpret a situation without immediately judging, and how to listen and communicate before jumping to conclusions. Her years of writing about philosophy allowed me to grow my mindset and embody the creative spirit. Lastly, if it wasn't for her wisdom, I wouldn't be sitting here. What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder? I can be contacted at anytime of the day. Every individual in my community should have the access and the ability to communicate with me about any issues or concerns to give me more reasons to fight for them. To retain the support of my community, I will confidently propose decisions for their betterment. Politicians may have several issues to work on, I will put my creativity and focus on identifying solutions for all issues. What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office? Their responsibility is to support and create laws that create positive action. Delivering on their messages is important to build trust. What was your very first job? How long did you have it? My first job was at a Brooklyn sole proprietor law office working as a Paralegal for one year. What do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade? There is more than one greatest challenge that our nation may face over the next decade, but an underlying cause of some issues is drug addiction. It is causing the rise of crime and violence, racism, and an imbalance in our criminal justice system. Tell us your favorite joke. I heard about this senior citizen. He was driving down the freeway in his brand-new Corvette, with the top down, going 80 miles an hour, when he saw flashing red lights from a state trooper in his rearview mirror. Without thinking about it, he floored it, took off to a hundred miles an hour. He heard the sirens behind him. He finally pulled over and said, “Officer, I’m so sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking.” The state trooper said, “Listen. It’s Friday, 4:00PM. My shift is over in 30 minutes. If you tell me a reason why you’re speeding that I’ve never heard before, then I’ll let you go.” The man thought about it and said, “Officer, years ago, my wife ran off with a state trooper, and I thought you were bringing her back.” The officer said, “Have a great weekend.” Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking? I believe compromise and diplomacy are necessary to settle an issue concerning the well-being of Americans. The focus should be on strengthening the similar key points from both parties to achieve their satisfaction.\nNote: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it."}, {"question": "Campaign website", "answer_html": "<p>Hamdan's campaign website stated the following:\n</p>\n<div style=\"height:400px;overflow:scroll;border:1px solid gray;margin:20px;padding:10px;\">\n<table data-nosnippet=\"\" style=\"border-collapse: collapse; border: none;background-color: transparent; auto; ;\">\n<tbody><tr>\n<td style=\"border:none; color:#B2B7F2;font-size:35px;font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: bold; text-align: left; padding: 10px 3px;\" valign=\"top\" width=\"20\">“\n</td>\n<td style=\"border: none; padding: 4px 10px;\" valign=\"top\">\n<p><b>Economic Development</b>\n</p><p>Infrastructure in the US has been ignored and neglected for far too long. In NYC, it’s more than just the state of our roads and bridges (yes! It’s the potholes too). Plainly, New York City is unprepared for the infrastructure stress and havoc that Climate Change is creating. For example, while hurricane frequency is increasing, Brooklyn and the entire Metro Area are underprepared for the inevitable “big one.” The shoreline of Coney Island and Brighton Beach, and particularly Manhattan Beach, Gerritsen Beach, and Sheepshead Bay are almost laid open – there is no serious buffering against future storm floods. In addition, our bridges are in desperate need of repair and the Fort Lee congestion is just one of 10 infrastructure bottlenecks in the New York City tri-state area. Hurricane Katrina should have been our wake-up call – that was in 2005! Hurricane Sandy was in 2012. What have we accomplished in16 years?\n</p><p>I have worked on significant infrastructure projects in Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, and other developing markets. It is time we put my expertise to work in the US for real change – including utilizing a business model that will also engage the private sector and bring us to the 21st Century.\n</p><p>With prices rising across the board for cars, food, gas, and housing, hamstringing the economic recovery, we cannot be patient with rising prices and must take action to tackle these challenges. We should not support the uncontrolled and reckless spending of the Biden Build Back Better agenda that will only exacerbate the economic misery we’re feeling each day.\n</p><p>We must do more for our small businesses. I understand what it means to meet payroll, keep the lights on and to try and create some security for our children. Would NY be NY without our shopkeepers, restauranteurs and services that line our streets? The last couple of years have been a big challenge. We need to build more support into the system. SBA loans often come too late to prevent many businesses from closing their doors. We need to stand ready to leverage existing platforms, such as the Community Reinvestment Fund’s common loan applications, so small businesses can address the liquidity and solvency crisis. We need to take other steps such as strengthening the small business safety net by exploring the creation of business interruption insurance related to pandemics or unexpected Climate Change related emergencies.\n</p><p><br/>\n<b>Safer streets and communities</b>\n</p><p>I try not to let my anger, and yes, fear overwhelm me when I walk in the City I love. Sometimes it’s hard, but we need to act. First and foremost, we need to address public safety. Yes, NY State did recently take some good steps, but we still have a long way to go. We need to fund multiple efforts that fight the cause of crime – mental health issues, poverty, unemployment and the wealth gap. In certain areas, we may need to increase the use of cameras while still respecting individual privacy. We should not defund the police. We might want to restructure how the police budget is spent, better training, better analysis of the people who become police and more efforts towards community involvement. We need the police, perhaps even more cops on the beat (and definitely other community resources like mental health professionals). But we also need to ensure all of our police who are sworn to “Serve and Protect,” are a part of the community and respect the rights of ALL of our citizens.\n</p><p><br/>\n<b>ACCESS TO QUALITY EDUCATION</b>\n</p><p>We must fully fund our schools and support student programs like the gifted &amp; talented. While indispensable to quality improvement efforts, curriculum and learning depend on the effective and efficient functioning of other elements of an education system. A systemic approach is therefore required to analyse critical impediments and implement responsive interventions.\n</p><p><br/>\n<b>Health care reform</b>\n</p><p>Medicare should be designed to give Seniors options, rather than as a one-size-fits-all institution. Democrats used the “Affordable Care Act” as an assertion of power than they used it to improve health care conditions in this country, and in doing so they consequentially damaged the health of this nation. The Affordable Care Act costs the American people an exorbitant amount of money to implement, besides the risk this cost especially creates to small businesses.<sup class=\"reference\" id=\"cite_ref-quotedisclaimer_3-0\"><a href=\"#cite_note-quotedisclaimer-3\">[3]</a></sup>\n</p>\n</td>\n<td style=\"border: none; color: #B2B7F2; font-size: 35px; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: bold; text-align: right; padding: 10px 1px;\" valign=\"bottom\" width=\"20\">”\n</td></tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"cquotecite\" colspan=\"3\" style=\"border: none; padding-right: 4%\"><cite style=\"font-style: normal;font-size: smaller; float: right;\">—Benine Hamdan's campaign website (2022)<sup class=\"reference\" id=\"cite_ref-4\"><a href=\"#cite_note-4\">[4]</a></sup></cite>\n</td></tr></tbody></table>\n</div>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-1548351761485-0\"><script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(\"div-gpt-ad-1548351761485-0\"); });</script></div>", "answer_text": "Hamdan's campaign website stated the following:\n“ Economic Development Infrastructure in the US has been ignored and neglected for far too long. In NYC, it’s more than just the state of our roads and bridges (yes! It’s the potholes too). Plainly, New York City is unprepared for the infrastructure stress and havoc that Climate Change is creating. For example, while hurricane frequency is increasing, Brooklyn and the entire Metro Area are underprepared for the inevitable “big one.” The shoreline of Coney Island and Brighton Beach, and particularly Manhattan Beach, Gerritsen Beach, and Sheepshead Bay are almost laid open – there is no serious buffering against future storm floods. In addition, our bridges are in desperate need of repair and the Fort Lee congestion is just one of 10 infrastructure bottlenecks in the New York City tri-state area. Hurricane Katrina should have been our wake-up call – that was in 2005! Hurricane Sandy was in 2012. What have we accomplished in16 years? I have worked on significant infrastructure projects in Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, and other developing markets. It is time we put my expertise to work in the US for real change – including utilizing a business model that will also engage the private sector and bring us to the 21st Century. With prices rising across the board for cars, food, gas, and housing, hamstringing the economic recovery, we cannot be patient with rising prices and must take action to tackle these challenges. We should not support the uncontrolled and reckless spending of the Biden Build Back Better agenda that will only exacerbate the economic misery we’re feeling each day. We must do more for our small businesses. I understand what it means to meet payroll, keep the lights on and to try and create some security for our children. Would NY be NY without our shopkeepers, restauranteurs and services that line our streets? The last couple of years have been a big challenge. We need to build more support into the system. SBA loans often come too late to prevent many businesses from closing their doors. We need to stand ready to leverage existing platforms, such as the Community Reinvestment Fund’s common loan applications, so small businesses can address the liquidity and solvency crisis. We need to take other steps such as strengthening the small business safety net by exploring the creation of business interruption insurance related to pandemics or unexpected Climate Change related emergencies. Safer streets and communities I try not to let my anger, and yes, fear overwhelm me when I walk in the City I love. Sometimes it’s hard, but we need to act. First and foremost, we need to address public safety. Yes, NY State did recently take some good steps, but we still have a long way to go. We need to fund multiple efforts that fight the cause of crime – mental health issues, poverty, unemployment and the wealth gap. In certain areas, we may need to increase the use of cameras while still respecting individual privacy. We should not defund the police. We might want to restructure how the police budget is spent, better training, better analysis of the people who become police and more efforts towards community involvement. We need the police, perhaps even more cops on the beat (and definitely other community resources like mental health professionals). But we also need to ensure all of our police who are sworn to “Serve and Protect,” are a part of the community and respect the rights of ALL of our citizens. ACCESS TO QUALITY EDUCATION We must fully fund our schools and support student programs like the gifted & talented. While indispensable to quality improvement efforts, curriculum and learning depend on the effective and efficient functioning of other elements of an education system. A systemic approach is therefore required to analyse critical impediments and implement responsive interventions. Health care reform Medicare should be designed to give Seniors options, rather than as a one-size-fits-all institution. Democrats used the “Affordable Care Act” as an assertion of power than they used it to improve health care conditions in this country, and in doing so they consequentially damaged the health of this nation. The Affordable Care Act costs the American people an exorbitant amount of money to implement, besides the risk this cost especially creates to small businesses. [3] ” —Benine Hamdan's campaign website (2022) [4]"}]