Month: July 2026

She emphasizes that the party’s direction is driven far more by supporters, members, and community stakeholders than by the small number of critics suggesting otherwise. At stake is more than a leadership role; it is a conversation about how Brooklyn Democrats will organize, collaborate, and internally compete while representing one of the nation’s most politically influential boroughs — a borough whose visibility and civic engagement she helped elevate. 

“My vision for Brooklyn’s future has always been shaped by a clear strategy: a party that is inclusive, accountable, community-rooted, and financially healthy,” Bichotte Hermelyn said. “A party that doesn’t just talk about diversity but lives in it. A party that leads with integrity and connection, because that is how we keep Brooklyn strong and keep our democracy vibrant.”

Chair Bichotte Hermelyn further reaffirmed her commitment, stating, “Our work is about bringing people together, expanding opportunity, and ensuring every community has a voice,” Bichotte Hermelyn said. “That’s what progress looks like.”

Below is a Q&A with Bichotte Hermelyn:

As the first woman and first Black woman to lead the Brooklyn Democratic Party, how has that historic responsibility shaped your leadership and your vision for Brooklyn’s future?

Being the first woman — and the first Black woman — to lead the Brooklyn Democratic Party has shaped my leadership by forcing me to see the institution from every angle at once: its history, its fractures, its potential, and its responsibility to represent all of Brooklyn. Stepping into this role meant inheriting long-standing relationships and conflicts while still carrying the obligation to move the organization forward with discipline and integrity. 

It pushed me to embrace diversity in every form — cultural, ideological, generational — and to make sure every community felt seen and valued. It also demanded a level of steadiness and focus that never wavered, because breaking barriers comes with the expectation that you must lead with clarity, fairness, and resilience. Additionally, this historic responsibility has shaped my vision for Brooklyn’s future into one that centered on representation, unity, and progress built through strong institutions and inclusive leadership. 

How have you kept the Brooklyn Democratic Party focused on results instead of distractions, and what measurable wins show that focus matters?

Over the past six years, I’ve kept the Brooklyn Democratic Party focused on results by building systems that prioritize transparency, inclusion, and consistent civic engagement rather than getting pulled into distractions. Under my leadership, the party became one of the most active and visible in the state — hosting judicial forums, expanding the judicial screening panel to include under-represented groups such as Muslim, Jewish, LGBTQ, Caribbean bar associations, and updating election processes to be inclusive of non-binary county committee candidates. 

We strengthened civic participation through MLK Day service events, statewide and out-of-state bus trips, networking programs, and our annual gala, all while maintaining a communication reach of more than 200,000 people. These efforts made the party more accessible, more transparent, and more present than ever before. At the same time, I ensured the organization remained financially stable and structurally strong, because results only matter when the institution behind them can withstand political shifts, internal disagreements, and the pressures of representing the largest Democratic County in the nation.

What achievements or changes under your leadership do you believe have been overlooked in the current debate about the future of the Brooklyn Democratic Party?

Some of the achievements under my leadership aren’t overlooked — they’re simply dismissed by naysayers who would rather ignore the reality of what it takes to rebuild and stabilize a county organization. Over the past six years, the Brooklyn Democratic Party became more active, more transparent, and more civically engaged than it had been in years. We expanded community service, hosted judicial forums, created networking opportunities, and strengthened financial stability. The work speaks for itself, even if some choose not to acknowledge it.

A slight majority of incoming district leaders now appear to support a change in leadership. What do you believe is driving that sentiment, and why do you believe your leadership remains the right path forward for Brooklyn Democrats and the borough? 

Some of that sentiment is driven by people who want change for the sake of power, not change that brings “good trouble” or equity. I support change too — but it has to be the kind of change that strengthens the party, not destabilizes it. The truth is, I made the seat attractive through hard work, transparency, and stability, and now some people simply want access to that same throne. It’s been a heavy crown, but my leadership remains the right path forward because it’s rooted in service, accountability, and a vision that puts Brooklyn’s diverse communities first.

Despite the many challenges facing Brooklyn, how have you remained focused on delivering results, and which accomplishments are you most proud of during your tenure as chair?      

Brooklyn has faced challenges in parts of South Brooklyn, but we have to be honest about why. These setbacks didn’t happen because the district suddenly shifted politically — they happened because some longtime representatives stopped connecting with the people they served. Peter Abbate is a clear example: despite decades in office and nearly a million dollars in his account, he still lost, along with former staff, Iwen Chu and allies, even with support from current officials in the area. Some critics want to point fingers, but often those critics are looking to deflect from their own failures, and accountability matters. 

My focus has always been on strengthening the party through connection and presence. We’ve seen what happens when Democrats stay engaged — leaders like Assemblymember Bill Colton and Councilmember Susan Zhuang won difficult races because they never stopped showing up for their communities. That’s the model we’re building from as we reconnect, rebuild, and support candidates who truly reflect South Brooklyn’s diverse neighborhoods. We kept the Senate seat blue with Senator Sam Sutton and saw rising leaders come closer than ever, such as Joey Saban. In addition to elevating new voices like Joyce Xie and Larry He, they understand that success requires deep community engagement, multilingual outreach, and real visibility in areas that have felt overlooked. That’s how we strengthen support across the borough — by rebuilding trust block by block and staying connected to the people we serve.

Your leadership has focused on building strong partnerships across Brooklyn’s diverse communities. How have those collaborations helped advance the party’s mission and create meaningful opportunities for civic participation and voter engagement? 

My leadership has always been rooted in the belief that no matter where you fall on the ideological spectrum, we are still Democrats — and that shared identity gives us a foundation to build from. Over the past six years, my job has been to unify the party by working with every corner of our Democratic family, including those on the furthest ends of our spectrum, and finding common ground. That meant partnering closely with Democratic clubs across the borough, engaging residents to join their county committees, and strengthening grassroots participation so every neighborhood had a voice. 

It also meant expanding civic access by having the Board of Elections train community members and, in my role as a legislator, co-sponsoring election reforms in Albany that make voting easier and more accessible for all. These collaborations have helped advance the party’s mission by creating meaningful opportunities for civic participation, deepening community engagement, and ensuring leaders like myself remain accountable to delivering results that support a decent, affordable quality of life for Brooklyn families.

Leadership is often measured by the legacy it leaves behind. What impact do you hope your tenure as chair will have on the Brooklyn Democratic Party and the future of Democratic leadership in Brooklyn?   

As I continue to lead the largest Democratic Party organization in the country, I do so with a deep awareness of our fundamental rights — especially the right to vote and the protections guaranteed under the 15th Amendment against racial discrimination in voting. 

Having come from a place where suppression was real, I understand what is at stake. Across the nation, we are witnessing a rollback of voting rights not seen since the pre-civil-rights era: the Supreme Court has narrowed Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, making it harder to challenge racial vote dilution; states have enacted laws restricting early voting, absentee ballots, and voter registration; and racial gerrymandering continues to weaken Black and brown political power in communities like mine. These realities shape my leadership and reinforce my commitment to protecting access, expanding participation, and ensuring that every Brooklyn resident has a voice in our democracy. 

My legacy is to continue protecting our voting rights, which extend to every other fundamental right our communities depend on — our right to choose, our right to counsel and support on housing issues, our birthrights, and our right to affordability and economic dignity. My legacy will be grounded in ensuring that Brooklyn families can fully and fairly access these protections, because defending our rights is not just a political responsibility — it is a moral one rooted in lived experience and the ongoing fight for equity.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani declared that “there’s a new sheriff in town” on Monday as Edwin Raymond was sworn in to lead New York City’s Sheriff’s Office.

The well-worn line carried unusual weight at the Brooklyn College ceremony, as Raymond, the son of Haitian immigrants, took office on the same day Temporary Protected Status expired for more than 300,000 Haitians living in the United States. 

He also inherits an agency whose former leader, Anthony Miranda, was fired by Mamdani earlier this year and is now under federal investigation for corruption within the office.

Mamdani and other officials pointed to Raymond being the first Haitian New Yorker to lead the Sheriff’s Office as both a milestone for the city’s Haitian community and the beginning of a new chapter for an agency emerging from a period of apparent turmoil.

“Anyone who thinks that they can push Haitian New Yorkers out of this city, out of this country — ask me where Haitian New Yorkers are going to go,” Mamdani said. “I tell them the only answer is up.”

The expiration followed a Supreme Court ruling last month that cleared the way for the Trump administration to end TPS for Haitians and Syrians. Temporary lower-court orders had kept the protections in place through July 27.

TPS allows eligible immigrants to work in the United States and protects them from deportation when conditions in their home countries make returning unsafe. Haitians without another form of legal immigration status could now face deportation.

Mamdani’s message on Monday to Haitian New Yorkers who are fearful of what lies ahead is that City Hall and other city and state officials stand with them. He joined officials at the ceremony in calling on Congress to provide a permanent solution.

State Attorney General Letitia James, who administered Raymond’s oath of office, warned that the expiration would strip hundreds of thousands of Haitians of their legal protections and authorization to work.

“Their lives will be upended today,” James said.

Five days earlier, James joined 18 other attorneys general in urging Congress to extend TPS for Haitians, restore judicial oversight of decisions ending the protections, and provide TPS holders with a path to legal residency.

Their letter said approximately 56,800 Haitian TPS holders live in New York state and placed the nationwide Haitian TPS population at roughly 350,000. The coalition urged the Senate to approve legislation already passed by the House that would extend the protections until April 20, 2029.

“We are with you,” James told the Haitian community on Monday.

New NYC Sheriff Raymond vows to gain ‘community confidence’

Raymond became emotional later in the ceremony as he discussed his late parents. He wiped away tears as he said he had printed invitations for them and planned to bring the invitations to their graves that evening.

Raymond grew up in East Flatbush and spent 15 years in the NYPD, serving as an officer in Transit District 32 and the 77th Precinct before rising to the rank of sergeant and lieutenant. He later served as a platoon commander in the 81st and 83rd precincts and as commanding officer of community affairs for Patrol Borough Brooklyn North.

He retired from the department in 2023 after becoming a prominent internal critic of the NYPD after joining a 2015 lawsuit alleging that officers were pressured to meet enforcement quotas in predominantly Black and brown neighborhoods.

He later chronicled his experience in “An Inconvenient Cop: My Fight to Change Policing in America.” Raymond also received the NAACP’s Courage Under Fire Award. 

After leaving the NYPD, he joined James’ office as its first law enforcement social justice liaison.

“Mayor Mamdani could not have chosen a better person to lead the New York City Sheriff’s Office,” James said, before jokingly asking the mayor to stop poaching employees from her office.

Public Advocate Jumaane Williams used the ceremony to contrast Raymond’s elevation with the treatment of officers who challenged law enforcement institutions from within. Williams said Raymond should have been elevated within the NYPD for the kind of policing he practiced, rather than pushed out.

“To see you now, where you’re running your own law enforcement, is amazing,” Williams said.

Before speaking, Williams wiped the Sheriff’s Office emblem on the podium, drawing laughter from Mamdani and others in attendance. He did not explicitly explain the gesture, but went on to criticize previous city administrations that he said had failed to deliver promised changes to policing and public safety.

“We had administrations that looked like the communities we came from, that spoke public safety language the way we spoke, and still things did not change the way it was supposed to,” Williams said.

“What a difference an administration makes,” he added, saying the Mamdani administration is “finally getting this right.”

Williams also acknowledged that the Sheriff’s Office had done valuable work in the past, pointing to its enforcement against large gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic. He said he expected the agency to become “even better” under Raymond.

Finance Commissioner Richard Lee opened Monday’s ceremony by describing the Sheriff’s Office as a centuries-old institution whose authority depends on maintaining the public’s trust.

The office serves as the civil law enforcement division of the Department of Finance. Its deputies enforce court orders and judgments, execute orders of protection, seize illegal firearms, investigate tax fraud and assist people experiencing mental health crises.

Mamdani said Raymond would also oversee the office’s role in investigating deed theft through the administration’s newly created Office of Deed Theft Prevention.

Raymond did not announce major changes for the office on Monday. Instead, he promised to lead the office with transparency and professionalism and to rebuild confidence in the agency.

“Public office is not about status,” Raymond said. “It’s not about power. It’s about stewardship.”

He pledged to strengthen relationships with the communities the office serves and foster a culture of ethical leadership among its employees.

“Community confidence is not given,” Raymond said. “It is earned every day.”