Interview with New York State Senator Jamaal Bailey

Participant:

Video transcript:

State Senator Jamaal Bailey represents New York’s 36 State Senate District and believes that increased access to healthy food and giving people greater and affordable access to Quality Health Care So, without further words, welcome to the studio, Jamaal! We’re really, really happy to have you. It’s really such a pleasure and with our opening here, our grand beautiful opening at Emerest Connect. I guess, hopefully, you feel at home because this is part of the community that you serve. It always amazes me how big the Bronx is. It’s huge and your community goes into Westchester.

Interviewer

One of the things about the Bronx that people don’t realize –  the Bronx is the greenest borough. The Bronx has the most parkland in the entire city of New York.

Jamaal Bailey

And that does surprise me.

Interviewer

We might only be 1.5 million strong but the resolve of a Bronxite is well beyond the actual number that we have. We are resourceful people, strong people, prideful people, and powerful people. And I’m glad that we get to partner with great folks like Josh and Emerest Connect to make sure that we’re putting actual care into the word “Care”, right?

Jamaal Bailey

Yeah. I know that’s important to you. I know that you’re passionate about that, and being from here. Where did you grow up? Did you say?

Interviewer

I grew up in the field section of the Bronx, the part that I also represent in the state senate. So, it’s a nice. It’s a nice full circle moment and when you get a chance to represent these same streets that you’ve grown up. It gives you a greater gravity, a greater sense of understanding what it is that you need to do what you’re called to do to make sure that you’re serving those folks that you are employed to serve. And also figuring out not just what you can do in a reactive way but also look forward to the future. What is going to be coming up in our communities that we can make sure that we’re right in front of making sure that we’re taken care of?

Jamaal Bailey

I bet it must be a real challenge because you have that added layer – you grew up there and now you feel that responsibility that you’re representing where you came from.

Interviewer

Absolutely. Like the blocks that I was raised on, I see the courts that I used to play basketball and I get to refurbish.

Jamaal Bailey

Is your family still there?

Interviewer

We’re still there, in the Bronx. And we’re still where we grew up, where I was raised, raising our kids in the Bronx, making sure that we create a better pathway for them and the generations thereafter. It’s not about what you’re doing today. It’s about what are you doing today for those individuals who will come after you tomorrow.

Jamaal Bailey

And it seems like you’re always put in the position where you have to think about the future and the future of your community. Are there some surprises from when you first started? Are there issues that you’re tackling now that you didn’t even know that they existed?

Interviewer

Certainly. So, a couple of things: food insecurity. You never realize how many people don’t eat a well-balanced meal or a meal at all. Sometimes the closest food option is a completely unhealthy option but it’s the only option that some people can afford. I’m a big proponent of urban agriculture and what urban agriculture permits us to do is two things. One, it allows us to feed people which is a basic need, right? But it also allows us to feed people things that are good for them, that can extend and increase their lifetime because we want people to be around for a long time, right? Longevity is critical.

Jamaal Bailey

Absolutely. And I think also because of that when someone’s involved in what they’re growing and eating, it lends a completely different look to it. And for you, that must feel really good when you’re making these changes and it makes a big difference in people’s lives and you see it every day.

Interviewer

Do a sense of pride in the entire world as a garden to use a metaphor. If you think about how seeds are planted and how some people grow, and how some people are watered, some people require full sun and others a little bit of shade, but at the end of the day, we are the gardens of the next generation. And it’s our job to make sure that we literally and metaphorically make sure that the next generation grows. So, it’s about the next generation of kids making sure that they know how to grow food but we know how to grow them. We know how to make sure that they’re taking care of academically, socially, emotionally, in every possible way we are the gardeners today for the future tomorrow and I take that responsibility very seriously.

Jamaal Bailey

And your family is here too. So, as we said, another layer. What do you see as the quality of health care? Are you seeing changes when you’re here, at Emerest Connect and some of the things that we do? Has that been good for you that these changes are coming to healthcare workers, to clients in their homes? Are you surprised? Is this something that you’re passionate about?

Interviewer

I think it’s a great surprise because we’re finally realizing that the social determinants of health are not just simply going to the dentist, going to the doctor, and coming home. That’s not it, right? Those aren’t the things that you need. That’s not all you need if you feel good,  right? You will perform better. Making sure that healthcare workers are taken care of and respected like the heroes that they are critical, that’s done here. Making sure that patient care was prioritized, that patients don’t feel like a number, they feel like an actual patient, that’s done here. So when you’re really prioritizing the social determinants of health and not just “Hey, my arm hurts” or “Hey, I’ve got” or “My head hurts”. It’s not just giving you a pill and saying “Go on your way”. Figure out what’s happening. What are these root causes and how do we familiar? How do we make these root causes better?

Jamaal Bailey

Yeah. And as we were talking about it and it starts from a young too. Sometimes you don’t realize that young kids are not getting food. If you come from a family where you were able to have that, how devastating that can be and affect them as they’re growing?

Interviewer

And quite literally you’re talking about growth as a metaphor and also in reality, if we don’t feed our children well, they’re not eating well-balanced meals. Lunch programs in school are important but it’s not just about lunch programs in school. It’s about making sure that those parents that we can equip to make sure that they’re eating well outside of that school day summer meals but it’s well beyond that. It’s about making sure that every Bronxite, every New Yorker, every person in this state, in this country, has what they need.

Jamaal Bailey

Yeah.

Interviewer

Sometimes we can’t worry about the luxuries but we should be able to provide people at a very basic level they need to survive.

Jamaal Bailey

And as the New York State Bronx Senator, what are some of your responsibilities? Like I said, that’s a mouthful. That’s a great title but what exactly does that?

Interviewer

Sure. So, in the New York State Senate, I’m the chair of the codes committee and the codes committee deals with issues related to penal law, related to criminal justice, related to policing those bills come through my committee.

Jamaal Bailey

You have your hands full.

Interviewer

There’s a lot to do but it is an honor to represent the 36 senatorial district and the residents of the Bronx. It’s the honor of my life to be able to represent them. It’s critically important from an interpersonal thing like physically being here but also legislating, passing responsible laws to make sure that people’s lives can improve.

Jamaal Bailey

Yeah. And I was curious how did you get started in politics? Was that a passion of your family? Did you see something happen and say: “I have to get involved in this”.

Interviewer

So, a couple of things. My parents were always and my family was always civically engaged. They always said the old adage: be a part of the solution or else you’re part of the problem. So, volunteering at church and being involved with student government in high school but I got my start as a senior in college at the University of Albany.

Jamaal Bailey

Nice.

Interviewer

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie. it was a second-term assembly member. I was his legislative intern and from there I saw the work that he did and it made me really believe in him, in the power of when you have somebody good, somebody that understands their community, that lives and breathes their community, you can not only be an effective representative, you can be a transformative one. So, even in his second term, I was able to see that and I thought: this is something that I want to be a part of. This is something that I wanted to do. Went to law school and after graduating was practicing law for a little bit. An opportunity opened up and then I said: “Why not run?”. And here I am.

Jamaal Bailey

Wow! So, that is some record and I can imagine being an attorney would be very challenging but this even goes a step beyond. What do you see in the future? Or do you have anything new that you want to work on? Is every day something really new?

Interviewer

Every time that snooze button comes up on the alarm clock – it’s a new day and a chance to do something great.

Jamaal Bailey

That is so great!

Interviewer

I mentioned urban agriculture. I mentioned making sure that we’re healthcare. I just came from a hearing about the family court system. How can we make sure that our courts and the systems of Justice are well-equipped to make sure that everybody receives adequate treatment? So, there’s always a lot of things that we can do, and when I hear from my constituents when there are things that are happening…

Jamaal Bailey

Do they tell you?

Interviewer

They stop me in the shop, right? They stop me in the supermarket:  “Senator Bailey, I got an idea.”, “I have a question”, and these are things that we want to encourage. I want you to stop me there. If I have my kids with me, just give me a couple of minutes. Even if I’m eating. But in all seriousness, I want my constituents the people that again they employ me. I want them to be able to come up to me and have confidence that I’m not only going to hear what they have to say but I’m going to act upon it to the best of my ability. Can we solve everything? Absolutely not, right? But I try my best with my staff. Will we try our best? Absolutely!

Jamaal Bailey

I think that’s great! And how does our healthcare philosophy here, at Emerest Connect and Royal Care? How does that fall into what you do, Is it because a lot of the healthcare workers are from your community? And so I’m sure that you are engaged in making sure that they are treated well and like what they are doing. So, hopefully, we offer that as well for you.

Interviewer

It’s very closely in line, right? Those who care for people also deserve to be cared for, right? And if your vocation is making sure that you’re taking care of someone who may be at a low point, who may not be physically well, who may not be at their best, right? You should be at your best to take that challenge on. There’s a reason why when you go on an airplane, they say: “Hey! Before you help someone else, before you put that device on for somebody else, you got to put it on yourself”. If a healthcare worker isn’t good, they can’t take care of people in an excellent manner, right? Emerest is making sure that the healthcare worker is treated well. So, they have that spirit that feels that ability to go out and do something positive, and that positivity is contagious, positive actions are contagious. And then even that patients who were being treated, they’re going to be positive to the next person because their healthcare worker did something nice. When they call their loved one, when they call their family member, they’re going to say: “This person, my worker, she helped me, he helped me”, and that action is contagious like pay it forward. You pay for something that you drive through for somebody else and hopefully, the next 45 or 50 people pay for the next person.

Jamaal Bailey

So true. I mean, it’s just amazing! Any final thoughts? I’m so happy to have you here.

Interviewer

I’m excited to be here. This is a great cross-section of our city, the diversity in here coming to the Bronx to make sure that we’re operating in a borough that has been, quite frankly, it’s been ignored in the past.

Jamaal Bailey

It seems like it really has. I always think I don’t know why “French Connection”… you know the movie “French Connection”? When I come, I see it so vibrant and alive and growing and I think that’s wonderful. It’s people like you who really took a stand and say: “Let’s make changes here!”.

Interviewer

Once you give people the opportunity, it’s like the movie “Miracle” about the 1980 US hockey team. Great moments are born from great opportunities, right? If you allow great folks in this borough to succeed just like anybody else with resources and actual care.

Jamaal Bailey

Yeah.

Interviewer

There’s no limit.

Jamaal Bailey

Thank you so much, Jamal!

Interviewer

It’s a pleasure.

Jamaal Bailey

Thank you so much for being a voice for the community and really caring about it. That’s why it’s such a pleasure to interview you. Because I can feel your passion, and your concern, and your care, and that’s it’s very refreshing from a politician.

Interviewer

I’m just happy to be here. Thank you so much!

Jamaal Bailey