Which New York City Do You Live In?
Hatem El-Gamasy
We, New Yorkers, live a true tale of two cities: one for the rich, powerful, and politically connected, and another for the hardworking families who battle daily to keep a roof over their heads and food on their tables. While the elites consolidate power and influence, struggling New Yorkers are being pushed further into the margins, left to fend for themselves in a city that increasingly forgets them.
Let me be clear: this disparity is not just theoretical—it’s playing out in real-time. When the suspect in the shooting death of UnitedHealthcare CEO was arrested and brought to NYC, our Mayor made a spectacle of it. He made sure he would be there for the suspect perp walk, telling reporters: “I want to look him in the eye and state, ‘You carried out this terrorist act in my city, the city that the people of New York love.”
Contrast this with the arrest of the suspect who brutally set a poor, homeless woman on fire while she slept in a subway car. She died in a crime so heinous it mirrors the cruelty of terrorist groups—but there was no perp walk of shame, and no mayor to look the suspect in the eye and tell him: “you carried out this terrorist act in my city.”
Why the difference? I can only conclude it’s because the woman wasn’t the CEO of a wealthy corporation. She was a homeless woman, stripped of her dignity, forgotten by society, and unworthy of political theater. She belonged to us, the majority of this city, the people who navigate through daily obstacles and challenges to make ends meet. She belonged to the other city, the one where the poor and hard-working people are ignored, pushed aside, and left to survive the streets alone. She did not belong to the city where the rich, elite and politically connected get attention and care from city politicians and agencies.
In 2023, Farah Louis, the incumbent NYC Council Member for District 45, approved $191 million in tax breaks for the landlord of the Flatbush Gardens Apartment complex—a landlord named one of the worst in NYC, with over 3,000 outstanding housing code violations. When was the last time our city offered small businesses a tax break of that magnitude? Imagine the impact such relief would have on our local bodegas, mom and pop stores, laundromats, restaurants, and barbershops—businesses that form the backbone of our neighborhoods and support hardworking families.
The sad reality is that these small businesses belong to the forgotten New Yorkers—the ones politicians mention in press conferences but ignore once the cameras stop rolling.
In 2024, our borough and city allocated up to $3 million for a dog park in Bed-Stuy—a historically Black neighborhood that has faced relentless gentrification over the past two decades. Meanwhile, public schools in the area remain stark reflections of NYC’s racial and socioeconomic divides, as reported by The New York Times. How can city officials justify millions for a dog park while our public schools in Bed-Stuy—and across the city—struggle with overcrowding, underfunding, and outdated resources?
Not every resident in Bed-Stuy has the luxury of owning and caring for a dog, but many families in the neighborhood have children. Why is their future not the priority?
We cannot allow this city to be governed solely for the benefit of the elite. It’s time for us to confront the stark reality of the tale of two cities and engage in an honest, straightforward dialogue about it. We must amplify the voices of the millions of marginalized, struggling New Yorkers. Moving beyond party politics, ideological divisions, and cultural polarization, we need to find practical solutions to bridge the gap between these two cities, loosen the grip of the rich, elite, and politically connected on our city’s affairs, and ensure that everyone has a chance to enjoy their share of the Big Apple.
As a former small business owner, husband, and father of two, I’m one with this city of hardworking people.
My message to the residents of District 45—Brooklyn’s heartbeat—is simple and clear:
I understand your daily struggles, admire your resilience, and share your hope for a better tomorrow.
That’s why I’d be honored to earn your trust and your vote—to represent you in the City Council.
Join me—Our Unity Is Our Strength!
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Hatem El-Gamasy is an independent candidate for NYC Council in District 45, Brooklyn.
Mr. El-Gamasy, a former small business owner, holds a master’s degree in international affairs from Seton Hall University’s School of Diplomacy and International Relations in New Jersey.
Posted on 01 May 2025, 13:03 - Category: News