John Isaac with family
By Dan Murphy
The biggest election in Yonkers this November will be in the race for Assembly in the 90th District. Incumbent Democrat, Assemblyman Nader Sayegh is facing a serious challenge from small businessman, John Isaac.
While Isaac is proud of his Indian-American heritage, that is not the primary reason he is running for Assembly. “I am not a career politician. I think Albany is broken, and the policies that we have been getting from the democratic supermajorities are making it harder for all of us to raise a family. We can’t afford the spending and some of the policies that my opponent has rubber stamped. We can do better.
Isaac came to America at the age of 19. He has lived in Yonkers for 17 years and has two grown children. Isaac is a financial planner in Westchester.
Some of the issues that Isaac will highlight in this campaign include:
1- Opposition to New York State, and the taxpayers, spending $5 Billion on services for migrants who have entered the country illegally and are now seeking asylum. “We are paying for hotels, meals and debit cards for people who did not come here legally. I came to this country legally -I came here as a legal immigrant, and I think everyone should come here legally
2-Opposition to Proposition One, and to a proposal to allow high school boys to play on girls high school teams. “I support saving Girl Sports, and I agree with the state Athletic Administrators Association who are “adamantly opposed and rightfully concerned about the potential physical, mental, and liability implications for school districts, community members, families, and specifically, female athletes. These implications could include increased risk of injury, unfair competition, and potential loss of opportunities in their respective sports,” regarding Mixed Competition.
“Our athletic directors know what is best, and they believe that sports are being invaded by politics. Let’s forget the politics, this election is all about the people.”
3-More support for the Police and ending cashless bail. “While crime remains under control in Yonkers, we need to back law enforcement more so that we can lower crime. I also want to repeal the Bail Reform Law that has created a revolving door for repeat offenders walking in and out of court.”
4-Opposition to congestion pricing: “I stand with the vast majority of Westchester voters in strong opposition to the Congestion Pricing Tax. Residents of the 90th Assembly District are overburdened by the highest taxes in America and a sky-high cost of living, and further punishing thousands of Yonkers commuters for simply going to work is outrageous.”
“In one of his very first votes, my opponent Nader Sayegh rubber-stamped this punitive, regressive tax. This June, Governor Hochul canceled the implementation of the tax in order to protect him from this unpopular scheme. Now we hear she may reimpose this tax after the election, but Nader Sayegh can’t have it both ways. He owes the voters an explanation: does Nader Sayegh support the Congestion Pricing Tax or not?”
Isaac also denounced an honor given to Jim Wise, a Carmel School Board Trustee, by Senator Pete Harckham. Wise has consistently used the antisemitic phrase, from the river to the sea, at school board meetings. “I don’t know what Senator Harckham was thinking when he chose to award the leaders of an anti-Israel organization. The fact that one honoree is a school board trustee who chants antisemitic slogans makes this even more egregious and offensive to the thousands of our Jewish sisters and brothers in Yonkers and beyond. Assemblyman Nader Sayegh must immediately call upon his colleague Senator Harckham to apologize for his awful lapse in judgment.”
Isaac is running based on an overall theme that Yonkers residents can’t afford the failed politics coming from Albany for another 2 years. “My opponent has been a rubber stamp in Albany for all of these policies that are hurting our communities. I don’t think a lot of voters know how this is happening, but they want it to stop. I won’t be a rubber stamp.”
The question that voters will answer when they go to the polls on November 5 is do they want to vote for change-and take a different path? “Based on my experiences in Yonkers, there is no real sense in Albany about what is going on here and what everyday New Yorkers are going through.
We can do better. That is why I’m running for Assembly. I want to go to Albany and make a change. I’m not a career politician, and I don’t want to be one. And I can’t be a rubber stamp, I care too much about my community.
Isaac, a member of the Asian American Republican Committee and the Indian-American Chamber of Commerce, wants the 30% of Independent voters in the district to take notice. “I want to be a voice of reason for them. I think a lot of voters are tired of the same old democratic supermajority in Albany. We can’t afford it anymore.
“I’m worried that my children and grandchildren won’t have the same opportunities I had. I want everyone to have a chance at the American dream.
One thing is certain. John Isaac is giving the voters in Yonkers a choice when they go to the polls. We congratulate him for stepping forward to run for office. Too many people complain but won’t throw their hat into the ring. If elected, Isaac, who has raised his family in Yonkers, would become the first elected Indian-American from Yonkers and Westchester.
Two years ago, Sayegh defeated Yonkers Councilman Mike Breen by a narrow 52%-48% vote.
If you want to learn more about Isaac, he will be holding a fundraiser on Monday September 16 at Reno’s Trattoria in Yonkers.
