For eight years, Council woman Sara Gonzalez ) has represented District 38, which includes Sunset Park. We applaud the work she has done to improve the juvenile justice system and her support for small businesses in the district. But her participation in the City Council has lost steam. It’s time to make way for a new leader with the enthusiasm and tenacity needed to address the issues plaguing the district.

Carlos Menchaca is that refreshing voice. The District 38 candidate is a community organizer who happens to be LGBTQ. He was raised in a Mexican immigrant home and learned English, like many others in the area, through a Head Start center and understands the desperation of parents when the district lacks such services. He has years of experience working in the offices of Borough President Marty Markowitz and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, and thus, knows how to navigate the local political process.

When Hurricane Sandy ravaged some areas of District 38, Menchacha organized the community to provide the necessary aid that was not reaching the neighborhood. The economic potential of the district is a priority for Menchacha, who wants to ensure that development contracts deliver on programs for job creation and training for residents.