Why I’m Voting for Julio Pabón Tomorrow, Tuesday, February 23rd

TO FIND OUT IF YOU LIVE IN THE 17TH DISTRICT, CHECK HERE

TO FIND OUT WHERE TO VOTE, CHECK HERE

When Julio Pabón first told me he was running against then Councilwoman Maria del Carmen Arroyo, I didn’t hesitate to volunteer for that campaign in 2013.

It was an opportunity to help dismantle the dirty political machine that has a stranglehold in The Bronx that keeps us from truly uplifting our community and benefits Te politicians who sell us out to developers and the likes for the highest bid.

Although we didn’t win that election (notice I use to plural we and not he to refer to just Julio for we are all in it together with Julio) we won an unprecedented 32 percent of the votes and a record turnout of voters came out because they are tired of business as usual in The Bronx.

Tomorrow, I’ll be voting for Julio Pabón because he has no ties to ruling Bronx Democratic Machine on doesn’t support Julio because they are terrified in an elected official with a mind of his own and someone who won’t vote a certain way because the county leadership tells them how to vote.

Voting for anyone else is a vote for the establishment that doesn’t care about us and only cares about photo ops with celebrities at gentrification parties that make fun of our borough’s painful past.

Bronx Democratic County machine leaders are calling UNIONS and telling them not to endorse Julio. As a union leader said, “They don’t tell us who to vote for, WE TELL THEM WHO WE’RE VOTING FOR!”

Don’t forget that the county backed candidate, Rafael Salamanca arrived 15 minutes late to the first forum with the candidates—and didn’t even bother to apologize to the audience and constituents of the district. This is how much they truly care about the people of our district and The Bronx. They’re above a simple apology.

Let’s face it, with all the monies that pour into our district and borough, we should have already been able to economically uplift our residents by equipping them with the necessary educational tools for a stronger future.

The money flowing in to provide resources to keep our kids involved in educational and extracurricular activities including the Arts and athletics.

But not enough of the has been done.

We continue to build affordable housing that isn’t truly affordable to those who live in our district and borough thereby neglecting those who need it.

Small businesses are closing at alarming rates because their are no protections for them like residential renters. Forget about opening a business as it is virtually impossible for small businesses to do so because of all the red tape.

Julio is a small business owner and understands this better than anyone running.

I’m voting for Julio Pabón tomorrow not because he’s the change we need but because he will be the catalyst that provides the space for us to change and take charge of our own futures.

Tell a friend, your neighbors, Abuela y Abuelo, grandma and grandpa, loved ones, family members and anyone else to vote for Julio Pabón because The Bronx is Not For Sale.

An IMPORTANT reminder from Camella Pinkney Smith, Bronx resident and candidate for Bronx Borough President in 2017:

Tomorrow is Election Day in the 17th CD. The polls are open from 6:00am-9:00pm. If you are not sure if you live in the 17th CD or don’t know where you polling site is located click on the below link;

http://vote.nyc.ny.us/html/home/locator_updates.shtml.

If your name has always been in the Voter Book and tomorrow it’s not in there and they advised you to do an Affidavit Ballot. Take a picture of the Ballot (with your cellphone) after you complete it and before you put it in the envelope. Properly fill out the envelope and sign it. Make sure the inspector signs it also. Then file a complaint with the Dept. of Justice Voting Section.

If you experience any problems while in the polling site contact United States Department of Justice Civil Rights division. The Voting Section enforces the civil provisions of the federal laws that protect the right to vote, including the Voting Rights Act, the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, the National Voter Registration Act, the Help America Vote Act and the Civil Rights Acts.

The Voting Section accepts complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws –
By email at voting.section@usdoj.govEmail links icon
By telephone at (800) 253-3931 (toll free)
By telephone at (202) 307-2767
By fax at (202) 307-3961
By complaint form athttp://www.justice.gov/crt/complaint/votintake/index.php

By letter to the addresses below:
Voting Section
Civil Rights Division
U.S. Department of Justice
Room 7254 – NWB
950 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.
Washington, DC 20530

REMEMBER TO EXCERISE YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE ON FEB. 23RD 2016. SEE YOU AT THE VOTING POLLS.