By Dan Murphy
On June 22, 2021, Lakisha Collins-Bellamy shocked the political world in Yonkers when she defeated incumbent Council President Mike Khader in the democratic primary. Now as Collins-Bellamy moves on to the general election for Council President, she brings a unique, inspirational message of hard work, living the American Dream, and a desire to help every resident in Yonkers if elected.
“I’m running for Council President to show young boys and girls that they can be lawyers and the next Council President. I came from humble beginnings, so this election is bigger than me. It’s about how, if I can do it, anybody can.”
Lakisha Collins-Bellamy is a lifelong resident of Yonkers. Born to teenage parents, she grew up in the Cottage Place Gardens housing complex. “We moved into Cottage Place Gardens in 1985. I remember having to walk over crack pipes in the hall and the smell of drugs, but it was my home. I was sad to see it come down.”
In 1992, Collins-Bellamy’s mother won a lottery in Yonkers for one of the townhouses built on the east side of Yonkers as part of the desegregation settlement with the Federal Government. Before the family moved in, a bus took them over to Gaffney Place to take a look. At the entrance, a large rock has spray painted on it “go home -N-word.”
“I remember not feeling at home at first, but we had great neighbors and never felt out of place. But some of my experiences are like in the movie Show Me a Hero. I lived that reality. “
Even after moving to the east side, Collins-Bellamy’s still felt like Cottage Place Gardens was home. “I’m still in touch with some friends from Cottage. There was a sense of belonging, and community, and a big family. My mom got me out because she wanted something different and something more for me.”
Lakisha attended catholic schools in Yonkers and then Roosevelt High School. Since her HS graduation, her life has been a non-stop work ethic to gain an education and better herself for her son and to live out her dreams.
She then attended SUNY New Paltz for her undergraduate degree, and then received her master’s degree in Public Administration from Marist College. We had a sorority sister from Vassar College, that I got to know while I was at New Paltz. We both wanted to be paralegals, but the Vassar graduate got a job while I was told I needed experience. That taught a lesson that I tell everyone. How well you do in high school will determine the college you attend, and the college you attend will determine the rest of your life. I have emphasized this lesson to my son.”
Collins -Bellamy returned to Yonkers after college and has never left. Her first job in Yonkers was for YCAP helping students get their GED degree. She then worked for the Board of Elections before moving to the Municipal Housing Authority, where she still works as an attorney after graduating from New York Law school, part-time at night school, with a young son at home.
“I am showing my son by example that you will see a reward from working hard and doing well in school. I’m so proud of him.” The Collins-Bellamy family consists of Justin, fifteen who attends Stepinac High School and is in the honors program, and her husband Damian, who is a corrections officer in Valhalla, and her parents.
Lakisha has dabbled in Yonkers politics over the years but said that everything fell into place for her City Council run. “Watching the last four years of politics in our country, like all of us, I saw how Stacy Abrams put the State of Georgia on her back to flip that state blue. I saw George Floyd happen. I saw the first Black female Vice-President get elected. I saw all of this and said, Why Not Today?”
The Democratic Primary campaign against Khader, “prepared me for war. That was the toughest battle because I was up against the incumbent who had name recognition. I was the underdog, but we won, and now going into the general election, people know who I am when I knock on their door and ask for their vote. I know that if I put in the same work and effort that I did in the primary we will win.”
Collins-Bellamy brings a rags to riches story and an American Dream message to her city council president’s race. “It’s kind of a rags to riches story, without me being rich. I’m hoping to be able to buy a home someday here in Yonkers. I will never leave this city.
“But I want the voters to know that I’ve come a long way from a family that received public assistance to being able to provide for my son to go to private school. “My campaign is about someone who comes from humble beginnings and then gains the world. I’m a testament about what can happen when you work hard and believe in yourself. Even when the deck is stacked against you, you can succeed.”
On the campaign trail, what issues are voters talking about? “The need for more affordable housing has been the one big issue that I hear repeatedly, and the uptick in violence in our city. I’m also hearing about problems with water meter readings from east side homeowners.”
Education, Public Safety, quality of life issues, and Affordable Housing are Collins-Bellamy’s four key campaign issues.
Lakisha criticized her opponent for trying to discredit her candidacy instead of focusing on the issues. At issue was whether she was violating federal law by running for office while still working for the housing authority. An opinion from the Federal Office of Special Counsel found no violation.
Ron Matten is her republican opponent for Council President. “He (Matten) is digging around for something and feeling desperate as he should. I’m confident that he won’t get more than 35% of the vote. It’s been a while since a republican has won a citywide race in Yonkers. Astorino didn’t get 50% in Yonkers, and Trump didn’t get 50% in Yonkers. “
Collins-Bellamy added that she is vaccinated, for the safety of her family and those she meets during the campaign. “I have to protect my family, myself and my community. I’ve been vaccinated since February.”
“I would like the voters to know that I’m a lifelong resident of Yonkers. I am ready to roll up my sleeves and do the job of Council President, to pass legislation and better the lives of all of the people. I believe that I am the best and most qualified candidate, but I take nothing for granted. I ask for your vote and want everyone to help make history with me on election day. If elected, I will use my position to serve all the people of Yonkers and not to serve myself. And to give a light of hope that you can come from humble beginnings and become everything.”
