I have been truly blessed and proud to represent our community in the New York City Council for the past eight years. Serving the neighborhoods where I was born and raised — Maspeth, Middle Village, Glendale, Ridgewood, Rego Park, Elmhurst, and before redistricting, parts of Woodhaven and Woodside — has been the honor of a lifetime. Every day I carried with me the same values that guided me long before I ever held elected office: honesty, independence, and a deep love for this community.

Before entering politics, I served as president of the Juniper Park Civic Association, sat on Community Board 5, taught design at the New York City College of Technology, and coached Little League. Those experiences shaped my belief that government should always serve the people, not political or special interests. When I first ran for City Council in 2017, I wanted to bring that same civic spirit to City Hall and prove that a regular neighbor could fight bureaucracy and deliver results for our community.

Over these eight years, my team and I have worked tirelessly to protect our quality of life. We have helped thousands of residents navigate city agencies, from fixing broken sidewalks and resolving property disputes to cutting through red tape for seniors and small businesses. My office became known for solving problems that others ignored and for never giving up when our neighbors needed us.

We also scored some major victories. Together, we stopped bad shelter proposals like the Holiday Inn in Maspeth that would have overwhelmed our community. Unfortunately, despite our opposition, the city forced the Cooper Avenue shelter on us, a decision Mayor Eric Adams promised to reverse but never did. We fought for funding to improve our parks, playgrounds, schools, and infrastructure, making sure our neighborhoods got their fair share. And we stood firm for public safety, supporting the NYPD and working with our precincts to keep our streets safe and our communities strong.

It was not easy. We endured two mayors who made our job, and your lives, harder. Under Bill de Blasio, we faced policies that were hellbent on destroying the very character of our neighborhoods through reckless homeless shelter siting, soft-on-crime laws, and a disregard for the voices of everyday New Yorkers. Then came Eric Adams, whose City of Yes proposals and now his ballot questions, what I call the City of Yes on steroids, threaten to reshape our neighborhoods without community consent. And soon we will have a new mayor who clearly does not share the same priorities and values that make our part of Queens such a special place to live. But no matter who occupies City Hall, I will continue to speak out for common sense and for the people who built this community.

The COVID-19 pandemic was another defining chapter of my time in office. It was one of the hardest moments any of us have faced, but it also revealed the true heart of our community. When government was paralyzed, our office was out in the streets delivering masks, food, and supplies, checking in on seniors, and helping small businesses navigate endless regulations. We worked seven days a week because that is what public service demands. It was not about politics; it was about neighbors helping neighbors.

I will not pretend there were no frustrations. The bureaucracy of this city can wear down even the most patient public servant. But I never stopped fighting for public safety, for clean streets, for lower property taxes, for accountability, and for common sense in City Hall. I opposed misguided policies like bail reform and the defunding of police, and I stood up for the hardworking men and women who keep this city safe, clean, and livable. That is what this community expects and deserves from its elected officials.

As I prepare to leave office, I do so with gratitude and optimism. Both candidates who sought to succeed me came from within my office and share roots in this community. They know the issues firsthand because they have worked side by side with me serving our neighbors. Phil Wong, the Council Member-elect, has long been a strong voice for public safety, education, and fiscal responsibility, and I am confident he will continue to fight for our neighborhoods.

Alicia Vaichunas helped so many constituents, saving thousands of dollars in fines and abatements that seniors would have otherwise missed out on. She defined the very commitment of my office. Unfortunately, negative political forces steered her campaign toward the blame game, which was so disappointing to see. And I’m sad to see that ended our friendship. But hopefully she will continue to work for my successor and the community will still benefit from her amazing persistence in problem solving.

Thank you to everyone who stood with me, supported me, and challenged me along the way. These past eight years have been an incredible journey from civic leader to Council Member, and I will always be proud that we stood together to keep Maspeth, Middle Village, Glendale, Ridgewood, Rego Park, and Elmhurst the safe, strong, and vibrant communities we call home.

As for retirement? Right now, that’s really not an option. I don’t think my wife could tolerate me in retirement mode.

Even though my time in elected office is ending, I am not going anywhere. I plan to be here in Middle Village, walking Juniper Valley Park, attending civic meetings, and lending my voice whenever the city tries to push bad policies on us. I may no longer have a vote in the Council, but I will always have a voice, and I will use it to defend this community just as I always have.