Mamaroneck Activist Campaigns For Newburgh City Race

Though he's been a grassroots advocate for change in the Mamaroneck community for years—helping to give a voice to those not accustomed to being heard—Luis Quiros will now be lending his expertise to Cindy Holmes, a candidate for Ward 4 councilperson in Newburgh, NY.

Quiros—who became acquainted with Holmes when she was a student at Fordham University, where he teaches—signed on as Holmes' campaign manager after she approached her former mentor and professor about her first-time race.

Effecting change in this Orange County city of approximately 30,000 residents that has fallen on hard times—foreclosed houses and abandoned buildings are a common sight here—will be no easy task though.  

As a lifetime resident of the city, Holmes paints a grim picture of the city where she was born and raised. She said many residents are on some form of government assistance and that only 30 percent of residents own their own homes, leaving the city with one less source of revenue.

Holmes hopes to "rehabilitate the houses and be the eyes and ears for the taxpayers," with "no increases on property taxes."  She said taxes shot up 70 percent recently, making it difficult for homeowners to stay where they are.

Crime is also an issue in the community.  Dubbed "The murder capital of NY" in 2011 by NY Magazine due to higher rates of violent crime than some NYC neighborhoods, crime stats this year are estimated at 439 incidences of violent crimes and 934 property crimes. Gangs like the infamous Bloods, Crips and Latin Kings along with Southside, Ashy Bandits and Goonies roam the streets.

Holmes attributes the crime spike to the closure of Camp LaGuardia, a nearby men's homeless shelter, in 2006; many of the residents eventually ended up in Newburgh.

She hopes to create jobs for residents and "advocate for those that can't advocate for themselves."  She has worked as a tutor for the school district since 2006 and is currently a commissioner for the Civil Service Department for the City of Newburgh.  She has a B.A. from Fordham University and is the mother of two children.

As a community organizer, Quiros hopes to approach the campaign from the standpoint of change.

"We are concerned that too many of our residents have no voice or a very limited voice. We want to amplify the importance of education and how it is transferred from expectations established at home into the classroom, with its necessary supports for all children. We want to open up dialogue on race relations and culturally competent practices and structures," he said.

With the primary coming up on Sept. 10—she is running on the Democratic platform against Patricia Sofokles—Holmes is hoping to be on the Nov. 6 ballot.

"We will organize forums for political and economic transparency, this will be a priority of the campaign and beyond. 'Fearing no topic' after a November victory will become a staple for Cindy Holmes and our team," said Quiros.