Hatem El-Gamasy’s Priorities for District 45
For Our Kids, Our Families, Our Future
I’m Running to Put Us First
I’m running for City Council to put the people of District 45 first—above politics, bureaucracy, and special interests. Our safety comes first. Our kids come first. Economic empowerment for our communities comes first. Our well-being comes first. Our rightful place in this city comes first.
Food Insecurity
In October 2024, heartbreaking news broke: four-year-old Jahmeik Modlin starved to death in Harlem. He suffered from malnutrition, dehydration, and starvation. When city doctors examined Jahmeik’s three siblings, they found them severely malnourished as well. This tragic, inhumane death of a child in the richest city on Earth should never have happened. No one should go hungry in a city of such abundance—especially not our children.
Public Health and Safety
That same month, a report revealed that citywide overdose rates declined for the first time in four years. Yet here in Brooklyn, the situation remains alarming. East New York now has the sixth-highest overdose rate in the city. In 2023 alone, over 700 people in Brooklyn lost their lives to drug overdoses. This is unacceptable in a city renowned for its hospitals, public health resources, and nonprofits working tirelessly to prevent such tragedies. We must do better.
Children’s Safety
In September 2024, I reached out to city agencies and elected officials, asking for a school crossing guard at the busy intersection of Nostrand Avenue and Avenue K, right outside Andries Hudde Junior High School. I was told that elementary schools were prioritized and that resources were too limited. Meanwhile, the NYC budget approved $175,000 for tree guard installations in our district. I fully support protecting and planting more trees—but how can safeguarding trees take precedence over safeguarding our children? That’s why I will fight to ensure that every school in District 45 has the crossing guards and safety measures our kids deserve.
Small Business Support
As a former small business owner, I understand the daily struggle of keeping a business open in this city. Every day, small business owners in our district face heavy fines, confusing regulations, and a lack of real support—making it nearly impossible to thrive.
In 2023, our current City Council Member, Farah Louis, voted to grant one of New York City’s worst landlords a $191 million tax break. This landlord had more than 3,000 outstanding violations and was known for falsely certifying repairs in the Flatbush Gardens housing complex. While powerful landlords and large corporations receive massive tax breaks from the City Council, our small businesses are left to fend for themselves—battling fines, red tape, and rising costs without relief.
I will be the voice of every small business in District 45. I will fight to level the playing field, to end unfair favoritism for the wealthy and well-connected, and to make sure City Hall hears us, listens to our concerns, and works alongside us to create an environment where local businesses can prosper—not just survive.
Our Fight for Equity
These are just some of the reasons I’m running for City Council. I’m committed to fighting for food security, children’s safety, small business support, and a better quality of life for all of us. I will not stay silent. I will not stop fighting until they hear us—loud and clear. Our community cannot and will not be sidelined or marginalized any longer. We deserve a seat at the table, and we will have a say in every issue that affects our district and our great city.
I come from a village in Egypt where the saying is, “Nobody sleeps without having dinner.” I want to bring that spirit of solidarity to District 45 and all of New York City. Each one helps another. No one should ever go to bed hungry. No child or elder should ever face death from starvation. Access to food, medical care, and education are fundamental rights for every person in our district, our city, and across this nation.
