Dear Friends:

I’m running for City Council to ensure an economic recovery that benefits all New Yorkers, not just those who were doing well before this crisis.

If elected, I will work with local partners to create a West Side Employment Network that will connect residents with job opportunities in Council District 3.

Recent years have seen the arrival of many large employers in our district, from Google to Spotify to Coach. More are on the way, such as Disney. There are hundreds of smaller employers in our community, from hospitality to culture to retail. We need growth and economic development, but we must ensure that growth benefits everyone, including the residents of our local public housing developments and those living near or below the poverty line.

For too long, many New Yorkers have been left behind. That must change, and a West Side Employment Network will help us lift up everyone and help make a brighter future for all.

Thank you,

Erik

The West Side Employment Network

The West Side Employment Network will help ensure that employers in Council District 3 are hiring locally. It will match local jobseekers with employment opportunities in our district, and help prepare jobseekers to obtain and thrive in those jobs. As a member of the City Council, I will work with local partners to create this network and ensure that it has the funding and staffing to succeed.

The West Side Employment Network will have four key features:

A ‘resume bank’ of local residents seeking employment

Companies in our district may want to hire local talent, but they don’t always know where to start. We can make this process simpler by developing a listing of local residents who are ready, willing and able to work. This will be an asset to local employers who are in need of talent, and it will be a place for local job seekers to submit their resumes.

A ‘jobs bank’ of employment opportunities at local employers

There are many job opportunities locally, but residents frequently don’t have access to them. Companies that participate in the West Side Employment Network will make job listings available, with criteria to assist in job placement. This network will assist us in asking companies to meet local hiring goals. Additionally, apprenticeship and career opportunities via unions and construction trades could be made available via the West Side Employment Network. 

Staff to match job local seekers with local jobs

Staff and volunteers will help match job seekers with jobs. Pre-interview assessments will help job seekers identify job opportunities that are the best fit for them. To perform these crucial functions, the network will require resources and staffing. 

Programs to prepare job seekers to apply for and keep jobs

Just as it is important to provide jobseekers with opportunities, it is important that they have the tools to obtain those jobs and thrive in them. The West Side Employment Network will provide local residents with access to resume writing assistance, interview preparation, and skills training. Organizations such as Nontraditional Employment for Women could be partners in these efforts. Local employers can also make training opportunities available to local residents. 

This ‘employment network’ model has been used successfully elsewhere. The program could be administered by a local non-profit organization such as Hudson Guild, which is co-located with the NYCHA Elliott-Chelsea Houses and Fulton Houses, supported by a coalition of public and private partners.

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