Election Q&A: Meet Priscilla Ghaznavi, Independent Candidate For NY-7

BROOKLYN, NY— Priscilla Ghaznavi was born in Washington, D.C., and has been visiting New York since she was 4 years old, she said.

A graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology, Ghaznavi built a career in the fashion industry, working for companies including Gap Inc., Banana Republic, J. Jill, Ralph Lauren and Walmart, specializing in color forecasting and design.

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She later purchased a two-family home in South Williamsburg through a city affordable housing program.

Ghaznavi is running as an independent candidate for New York's 7th Congressional District, which includes neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Queens, such as Williamsburg, Greenpoint, Bushwick, Brooklyn Heights, Sunset Park and parts of western Queens.

Her campaign focuses on affordable housing and greater government accountability, she said.

For information on voter registration, eligibility and deadlines, visit the New York State Board of Elections.

Editor's note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Here's our conversation:

Q: What made you decide to run for Congress?

Ghaznavi: Over the years, members of my community repeatedly encouraged me to run for office. I had been organizing town halls, inviting elected officials and helping neighbors find resources, including grants for homeowners struggling during COVID-19.

In December, we held a meeting with elected officials to discuss rising property taxes and the challenges facing homeowners who purchased their properties through affordable housing programs. Many of these residents are now retired or living on fixed incomes, and rising taxes threaten their ability to remain in their homes.

After that meeting, people encouraged me to run because they wanted someone who understood their experiences and would advocate for them. I researched what running would involve and decided to take the leap.

I felt that I could apply what I had learned in corporate America to serving my community.

Q: Affordable housing is a major part of your platform. What changes would you like to see?

Ghaznavi: Housing is the number one issue on my platform. I believe we need to rethink how the city incentivizes developers and holds them accountable for delivering affordable housing.

In corporate America, contracts have milestones, and companies are held accountable for meeting their commitments. I believe government incentives should work similarly. If a developer receives tax breaks or other benefits in exchange for providing affordable housing, those incentives should be tied to performance.

For example, if a developer meets a specific milestone, they receive an incentive. If they exceed expectations, they could receive a bonus. If they fail to deliver, there should be consequences.

I would also like to see more partnerships between the government, community organizations and builders, with greater emphasis on protecting the public.

We need to ensure that the benefits of development go to the people who live in these communities, rather than placing most of the emphasis on incentivizing builders.

Q: Why are you running as an independent rather than as a Democrat or Republican?

Ghaznavi: I have always been independent, going back to when I was a child. I am half Persian and half Bolivian, and I grew up navigating different cultures and religions. My mother is Roman Catholic, and my father is Muslim. Those experiences taught me that people can have different beliefs and still respect one another.

I believe that is missing from politics today. Everything has become about choosing one side or the other, when people are multidimensional. You do not have to be exclusively left or right, Democrat or Republican.

Being independent gives me the ability to work with either party, neither party or both, depending on the issue. My commitment begins and ends with New York's 7th Congressional District and the people who elect me.

I do not have to agree with everyone I represent, but I do have to respect them, listen to their concerns and make sure their voices are heard.

Q: How do you distinguish yourself from the other candidates in the race?

Ghaznavi: My approach is not about negativity or fighting with other candidates. It is about championing the community and delivering results.

I believe people should have the opportunity to hear directly from the candidates and ask questions about how they would approach the challenges facing the district. Even if someone does not have an immediate answer, I think it is important for voters to understand their reasoning and how they would work through a problem.

I have reached out to the other candidates about having a conversation with the community at the Williamsburg Library. I believe residents deserve an opportunity to hear from everyone who wants to represent them.

Q: What challenges have you faced campaigning as an independent?

Ghaznavi: It has been an uphill battle. The rules and timelines for independent candidates are different. For example, independent candidates cannot begin collecting petition signatures until later than major-party candidates, and they must collect more signatures.

There are also fewer opportunities to participate in public forums and debates. I approached an organization about participating in a debate in Sunnyside, but I was told it was only for Democrats, even though the same organization had allowed an independent candidate to participate in a discussion in another race.

I do not think the general public always understands how difficult it can be for independent candidates to participate in the political process. I have persevered, and I hope voters will take the time to learn about me and make an informed decision.

Q: What would you like voters to know before Election Day?

Ghaznavi: I would encourage people to learn about me rather than vote blindly. Visit my website, listen to what I have to say and make an informed decision.

I am a designer and artist by trade, and I believe the creative industry deserves a seat at the table. We need diversity of thought in government, with people who are willing to champion the communities they love and have lived in.

I want to continue building relationships with residents, holding town halls and making government information more accessible. People should understand how policies affect them today, tomorrow and in the future.

Ultimately, I want to represent the community in a way that is respectful, thoughtful and focused on delivering results.

To learn more about Melvin Rivera, NY-7 Republican candidate, click here.

Democratic candidate Claire Valdez was contacted for an interview, but has not responded by the time of publication.