Two Indian-American lawyers recently announced their candidacies for District Attorney and City
Two Indian-American lawyers recently announced their candidacies for District Attorney and City Council in Brooklyn, newsindiatimes.com reports.
The integrated website of local media outlets News India Times, Desi Talk and The Indian American ran two separated stories about DA candidate Abe George and City Council contender Natraj S. Bhushan.
Lawyer Natraj S. Bhushan, who recently announced his candidacy for City Council in New York City’s 48th District of Brooklyn, hopes to unseat councilmember Michael C. Nelson.
“As an attorney, I have always zealously fought for and championed the rights of my fellow neighbors, friends, family and small-business owners,” Bhushan, 28, said in a press release.
According to the profile by Bhargavi Kulkarni, Bhushan promises to address such issues as immigration and education reform, tax-cuts for small businesses and homeowners, creating more affordable housing, and establishing a professional mentor program for high school and college students.
Of the roughly 150,000 people in the district, 20-25% are Asians, which include Pakistanis, Indians, Filipinos, and those of other East Asian origins. A majority of the district’s other constituents are Russians, Ukrainians, and Orthodox Jews.
Another story, by Ela Dutt, profiles former Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Abe George, 34, in his quest to become Brooklyn DA. The story focuses in George’s hopes to recruit more volunteers and donors to his campaign for the September 10 Democratic primary, as the borough’s Indian-American population is expanding.
George has a tough fight ahead trying to unseat dug-in incumbent DA Charles Hynes, 77, in office for 23 years; and former federal prosecutor Kenneth Thompson, 46. Thompson is known for having filed the civil suit on behalf of the hotel maid, Nafissatou Diallo, who accused the chief of the International Monetary Fund Dominique Strauss-Kahn, of sexual assault.
George told News India Times things are going well in terms of catching up to Hynes’ campaign war chest which in January was reportedly at $400,000. But things could be even better if Indian Americans rallied behind him whether they lived in Brooklyn or not. According to New York Daily News, George has so far collected around $200,000.
According to the story, George was born and raised in Brooklyn, the son of Mary and Kadavil George, who moved to the U.S. from India’s Southern city of Trivandrum in the 1980s.
“Things are going well and I want to reach out to the Indian American community,” George told News India Times. “In New York City and Long Island, we are yet to elect an Indian American,” he said, “We need to push candidates forward. We need a voice in law enforcement. Even if they (Indian Americans) are outside Brooklyn, they must support trailblazers.” (…)
Brooklyn, he says has an environment any immigrant group or anyone else, including Indian Americans would want to live in. “It is culturally diverse – you can get anything from curry chicken to potato. You can get the metropolitan aspect plus the suburban feel. So you get the best of both worlds!” Potato latkes are traditional Jewish pancakes.
Source: News India Times