Election Q&A: Meet Melvin Rivera, Republican Candidate For NY-7

BROOKLYN, NY— Melvin Rivera, a Bushwick native, said he has been housing advocate for more than two decades.

The 47-year-old has worked for the City's Mayor's Public Engagement Unit for more than six years.

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Now, Rivera is running as a Republican for New York's 7th Congressional District, which includes Bushwick, Greenpoint, Williamsburg and parts of other Brooklyn neighborhoods and parts of western Queens.

He said he centers his campaign on affordable housing, expanding homeownership and building generational wealth for longtime residents.

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: How has it been going on the campaign trail?

Rivera: It's an uphill battle. I'm a first-time candidate, and I decided to run in February of this year. I didn't plan it out like people with political ambitions usually do. I'm learning a lot, including how your own party can work against you and how people you've worked with all your life can turn against you because of party affiliations.

I'm still the same person who risked my life organizing and risked my freedom. Because I changed party affiliation, some people have turned their backs on me. It's discouraging and upsetting, but at the same time, it's a blessing because it teaches you who your real friends are. You shed some dead weight.

Some people I've worked with no longer want to be associated with me because of MAGA and other political affiliations, even though they know I'm not a MAGA guy.

I don't support everything Donald Trump has done, but in a short amount of time in office, he has done a lot, and we can't overlook that. We also can't overlook decades of neglect under previous administrations. I walk the walk; I don't just talk about it.

Q: Can you tell me more about your housing advocacy and your work organizing rent-stabilized tenants?

Rivera: I went to every elected official and asked for support, and they told me it couldn't be done. I refused to accept that. I organized until we were able to keep the rents the same.

Unfortunately, the buildings' deeds had already been transferred. One of my goals is to reverse those kinds of transactions and return properties to the people. I believe homeownership and home equity are our "40 acres and a mule." They can create generational wealth and give communities a foundation for economic independence.

I'm also concerned that housing subsidies and government programs can leave people permanently dependent on assistance instead of helping them become self-sufficient. We need to create pathways to homeownership and financial stability.

Q: You've mentioned goals and incentives to help people save 30 percent and move into higher income brackets. Specifically, how do you plan to do that?

Rivera: I want to create a Head Start program for adults and families.

If you're receiving public assistance, we shouldn't automatically cut you off as long as you meet certain prerequisites and remain in good standing.

One prerequisite would be saving at least 30 percent. The idea is to help people build an emergency fund and prepare for unexpected expenses. If we're continuing to provide assistance, there should be incentives to help people save and become financially secure.

Another requirement would be financial literacy. People need to understand how money works, how to budget, and how to repair or rebuild their credit.

I believe in leading with tough love. We need to help people level up rather than leave them stagnant. Assistance should be a pathway toward independence, not something that keeps people dependent indefinitely.

Q: What are your thoughts on the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act, and what restrictions would you want regarding financing and property taxes?

Rivera: TOPA should help tenants living in rent-stabilized, rent-controlled, Section 8, and other qualifying housing units purchase their homes. My focus is on large landlords and conglomerates, not mom-and-pop property owners.

The goal is to create generational wealth through home equity. If people can own the homes they live in, they can build wealth and gain greater control over their futures.

I also believe increasing homeownership can help bring property values down to more realistic levels. I want to make it possible for people to purchase their units at prices that are affordable, with part of the purchase price going toward necessary repairs and improvements to common areas.

For example, if a unit costs $400,000, I would like to see $100,000 of that amount allocated toward repairs and commonareas, with federal subsidies covering eligible costs that remain. The exact structure would depend on the size and needsof the property.

We also need to address deed theft and fraudulent property transfers. I've seen how people can lose ownership of their homes through questionable transactions, and I want to ensure that properties are returned to the people when fraud can be established.

Q: You've also raised concerns about nonprofit organizations and the city's housing programs. What changes would you make?

Rivera: I believe there are conflicts of interest when city agencies use their resources to perform work that nonprofit organizations have already been paid to do.

I also want to expand the Freedom of Information Act, or FOIA, so that greater transparency applies to community-based organizations and nonprofits that receive public funding. We need to understand how these organizations spend their money and ensure that public resources benefit the community.

I'm concerned about nepotism, favoritism, and conflicts of interest in both government agencies and nonprofit organizations. Hiring and promotions should be based on qualifications, not personal relationships.

I want to expose these problems because public money should serve the public, not benefit people with political connections.

Q: What are your thoughts on the Taylor Law, and how would you change it?

Rivera: I believe the Taylor Law should be repealed. It prevents public-sector union workers from striking to fight for the wages and working conditions they believe they deserve.

The law allows unions to bargain on workers' behalf, but unions don't always represent everyone's interests. I'm concerned that some unions make deals that benefit one group while leaving another behind.

If workers cannot advocate for themselves through a strike, they're dependent on unions that may not have their best interests at heart.

I also want to expose the contradictions in how elected officials talk about workers' rights while supporting policies that limit workers' ability to demand better wages and conditions.

Q: Would you support prioritizing Native New Yorkers in programs like Housing Connect or other government housing services?

Rivera: I would. I believe we need to prioritize the people who have lived in these communities and have been here forgenerations.

During COVID, when people left New York, we tried to encourage them to return through incentives such as rent-to-own programs. I think we should be offering similar opportunities to our own communities.

Did you know that Section 8 can help pay a mortgage? Many people don't realize that. If a program can help pay someone's rent, we should explore how it can help eligible families invest in homeownership.

We also need to examine how area median income, or AMI, is calculated. In neighborhoods like Bushwick, Bed-Stuy, East New York, Washington Heights, and Crown Heights, including incomes from wealthier surrounding areas can distort the numbers. That can lead to apartments being labeled affordable even when rents are far beyond what local residents can realistically afford.

For example, developers may offer a studio for $4,000 and still call it affordable under the applicable calculations. We need housing policies that reflect the actual financial circumstances of the communities they are supposed to serve.

Q: What else would you like voters to know about your campaign?

Rivera: My campaign is about redemption, breaking generational chains and cycles, and ending blind loyalty to political parties.

I'm not saying the Republican Party is better than the Democratic Party. As a first-time candidate running as a Republican, I've experienced prejudice and a lack of support from within the Republican Party, particularly from Queens.

I want to address those problems and challenge both parties.

My life experience has shaped my perspective. I've been homeless, relied on welfare, and worked to pull myself out oft hose circumstances. I found strength in myself and in God, and I believe accountability played a major role in that process.

As long as we enable people without helping them develop the tools to move forward, we'll never achieve true independence. I want to teach people how to fish rather than simply provide them with a fish.

That's how we build a stronger community. We need to be able to pour back into others, whether through love, financial resources, or support. But we also need healing, and I believe that starts with addressing mental health and the conditions that affect our well-being.

Housing is foundational. Without a roof over your head, it's difficult to focus on your mental and physical health, spirituality, education, or finances. That's why housing is at the center of my campaign.

To learn more about Priscilla Ghaznavi, NY-7 Independent candidate, click here.

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