In East New York, Brooklyn, signs of pride and progress are unmistakable.

Rev. David Brawley of St. Paul Community Baptist Church believes the neighborhood has been able to turn around because “leaders, citizens, have imagination and are willing to do the work.


Once known as the murder capital of New York City, the 75th police precinct had 126 murders in 1993. Last year, there were 12.

For many residents, signs of economic development have brought new optimism. Now they hope the neighborhood’s comeback will continue under the next mayor.


“As a pastor here in the East New York section of Brooklyn, every week it feels like I’ve got to say goodbye to members that I love because they can’t afford to live here,” Brawley told NY1.


When he’s not in the pulpit, Brawley is focused on his other calling, building affordable housing in East New York. For 40 years, St. Paul has worked with East Brooklyn Congregations to transform parts of the community like Spring Creek.


“This was a former landfill,” Brawley said. “Our leaders and our people saw more than garbage. We saw an opportunity to build affordable housing for the city of New York. There are 2,600 units here in this area.”

Brawley hopes the next administration in City Hall comes in with a bold vision to build new homes that doesn’t leave longtime East New York residents priced out.


“I would say to the next mayor that this is an urgent existential crisis that demands an urgent response,” he said.

Along the New Lots Avenue corridor, residents Erica Townsend and Eleanor Pinckney shared their concerns about sanitation.


“People are dumping,” Townsend said.


“If you look down the street, you’ll see it’s bundles of garbage all along here, why?” Pinckney added.

City Councilmember Chris Banks believes it’s important to continue “the upward trend in addressing quality-of-life issues.”

Banks believes the next administration in City Hall should be attentive to the needs of NYCHA residents and public transportation in East New York.