CORONA — Assemblyman Francisco Moya has announced he's running for the city council seat currently held by Councilwoman Julissa Ferreras-Copeland, who won't seek re-election at the end of the year.
The assemblyman, who was born and raised in Corona, said he hopes a role in the council will allow him to continue to fight for working-class people, a continuation of his work in Albany.
"I think that we have an opportunity right now to really focus on issues that will affect the city of New York," he said.
"When we have a Trump administration that's looking to attack cities like New York — over Sanctuary City, immigration, women's rights, worker's rights — those are the issues."
Locally, he said he'd like to see more investment in schools across the district, which is the most overcrowded in the city.
He says he'll also push for more affordable housing, while simultaneaously advocating for smarter development.
"This area has zero affordable housing," he said.
In the assembly, he's advocated for a higher minimum wage and last week, Moya announced a collaboration with reality and non-fiction television show producers who plan to open a studio in Queens.
He'll be running for the council seat against a familiar candidate: Hiram Monserrate, who Moya defeated in the primary for his assembly seat in 2010, announced his run in May.
"The people have made their decision now three times on this individual," Moya said of Monserrate. "Our voters are well informed and I think they have sent that message loud and clear in the past."
"I'm running on my record," Moya added. "I will run on the issues that matter."
