In her first term as senator, Marisol Alcantara acted as a political trailblazer, passing 31 bills in the New York State Senate, covering the gamut from immigration to domestic violence, suicide prevention to mental health services. As the most effective freshman legislature in New York state government, she has helped sign 12 bills into law, and has helped secure an additional $7.5 million invested in the district.
Now, she’s running for re-election, and she said she is determined to continue to fight for what she believes in.
As an immigrant from the Dominican Republic, Alcantara can empathize and understand more than most the challenges young women and men often face coming into a new world, and she takes it upon herself to advocate for those in need. “I know the importance of standing up for all communities,” she says. “As the only Latina in the state senate, I was proud to stand with my colleagues in the state legislature and pass anti-BDS legislation.”
Although it may seem like there are barriers for many, Alcantara has braved many obstacles, and now works to do the same for other women, such as raising the mark on city-funded contracts for minority female-owned business from $25,000 to $150,000, an accomplishment that has impacted many. “As a mother and wife, I am so very proud and honored to represent the 31st district and I look forward to championing the needs of all my constituents,” says the senator.
Tthe 31st district is as diverse as they come, running from the Elliot Houses in Chelsea through upper Manhattan, which includes the neighborhoods of Washington Heights and Inwood to parts of the Upper West Side, all the way to Times Square. These are diverse areas geographically, economically and demographically.
Alcantara has been a champion to all the communities and has worked and secured $100,000 in funding for Yeshiva University, to improve the safety and infrastructure of this flagship institution of higher learning, which she calls, “extremely important.” She has also worked with the frum community centered around KAJ (Breuer’s) and Congregation Mt. Sinai to the various shuls on the Upper West Side. The Senator has stood up to and against forces that have been pushing for boycotts against the state of Israel.
With 20 years of experience, advocating for the working communities, immigrants, women, and all the people of the 31st State Senate District in Albany, Alcantara hopes to continue to bring her passion, drive, and steadfast determination to new obstacles and will continue to fight for what she believes in.