One of Brooklyn's hotly contested City Council races in the June 24 primary election is in south Brooklyn's District 47.
There are two candidates running on the Democratic party line, and two Republican primary runners looking to represent a district that comprises parts of Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst, Gravesend and Coney Island. Current Council Member Justin Brannan has hit is term limit and is running for city Comptroller.
Kayla Santosuosso and Fedir Usmanov are on the Democratic ballot line, while Richie Barsamian and George Sarantopolous are running as Republicans.
Democratic candidates
Kayla Santosuosso has been living in Bay Ridge for over a decade. She first worked for the Arab American Association before buying a local bar with her husband in 2019. She is currently the chief counsel in Justin Brannan's office.
Santosuosso said working in a variety of jobs has helped build diversity in her skill set.
"I've worn a lot of hats and have a lot of skills from wearing those hats," she said. "I've worked closely with immigrant communities. I know the struggles that small businesses face firsthand. I know how to do the job I'm running for because I've worked in the [council member's] office, and I work with city agencies and know how to make them deliver for people."
Child care is an important issue because many middle-class families must leave New York so they can afford to have children, she said. The solution is for the city to create a 2K program that runs like a daycare service.
A big public safety issue Santosuosso said she wants to tackle is drag racing. She said whenever she knocks on doors around the district, residents tell her they are afraid of themselves or their children being hit. Her idea of stopping drag racing is to work with the local police precincts, and introduce more speed bumps and speed cameras.
She also wants to make sure bathrooms in local parks are kept clean and open, she added.
"The council member's job is mostly solving people's problems, being responsive and taking care of issues," Santosuosso said. "We've been really lucky to have an office that prioritizes that type of constituent service, and I want to keep that up."
BK Reader reached out to Fedir Usmanov's campaign for a statement and requested an interview, but did not receive a reply.
Republican candidates
Life-long Brooklynite Richie Barsamian is a retired police officer who became the chairman of the Kings County Republican Party nearly two years ago.
"I was always a public servant," he said. "I love the Bay Ridge community, and I love the city of New York. I love everything that this city has to offer. It is truly not only a unique, unique place, but has something for everyone of every age group."
Barsamian said it has become too expensive for seniors to continue living in the city. He would like to provide free fares for older New Yorkers on the subway and buses, and increase funding for senior centers.
He also said he wants to see more cops on the street, just like during the Giuliani and Bloomberg administrations. He wants to bring the number of police officers back to 40,000 officers, and have them patrol the streets and subway system.
When asked why voters should consider him, Barsamian replied, "I've been a big supporter of what the community needs. I am ready, if given the honor, to have my office open to everyone, to listen to everyone, and to protect people."
Originally from Staten Island, George Sarantopolous has been living in Bay Ridge with his family for about 25 years. He is both a cancer survivor and the founder of Access One Solutions, an ATM and credit card processing company.
"I'm doing this for the right reasons," he said. "I want to give back to my community."
Healthcare is a concern for Sarantopolous, given that cancer and diabetes rates are rising in the city. He is also concerned about the lack of transparency over medical bills and wants to fix that so patients would not be surprised when they get their bill in the mail.
Sarantopolous is concerned about the lack of safety on subways, along with package and car theft. He compared the city's high taxes akin to "death by a thousand cuts," as you ge nothing in return. He also wants to see more cops on the street, and he would tackle homelessness by sending the unhoused to rehabilitation programs.
