Public Safety
When Fernando Cabrera took office as a Councilman in 2010, District 14 was severely affected by crime. During his tenure until 2021, crime in his district declined by 66%. As the co-chair of the Gun Violence Task Force, Fernando launched a new Council initiative to establish the most successful Cure Violence program in the U.S. He also allocated more funding for safety cameras in his district than any other NYC council district. As the Chair of the Juvenile Justice Committee, he initiated a pilot program with Good Shepherds to provide mentoring for youth coming out of detention centers. Additionally, he funded a state-of-the-art music studio as a positive alternative to crime. Fernando also passed the Crime Map Bill, which provided constituents access to a citywide interactive mapping website.
Housing
As a Council Member, Fernando Cabrera passed the Tenant Bill of Rights in 2014, providing a vital legal tool for tenants. He also introduced legislation requiring the Department of Buildings to notify Community Boards and Council Members of applications filed and rejected. Fernando provided funding for a Tenant Help Hotline, grassroots affordable housing advocacy, tenant organizing training, outreach, and direct housing assistance through various organizations, including the Met Council Research and Educational Fund and the West Bronx Housing and Neighborhood Resource Center. He also hosted a housing lawyer in his district office to offer free legal assistance to constituents.
Education
Fernando passed the School Environmental Bill, which requires the reporting of any toxins found in schools to parents and students. In higher education, he secured funding for infrastructure repairs and campus-wide utility upgrades at Bronx Community College and Hostos Community College. Fernando also secured over $175 million to improve facilities in more than 30 schools, including auditoriums, technology, gyms, pools, and other resources, to help students succeed.
Youth
Fernando Cabrera secured over $4 million for extracurricular and enrichment activities, mentoring programs, and other youth-centered projects implemented by organizations such as Vision 2020, Learning Leaders, Inc., NYC Mission Society, Urban Youth Alliance International, Power Play NYC, Garifuna Coalition USA, READ Foundation, Big Brothers Big Sisters NYC, and Davidson Community Center. He also personally distributed bookbags to students from local schools.
Senior Centers
Fernando passed Intro 1024-A into law, requiring NYC agencies to provide information on SCRIE (Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption) to all residents aged 62 or older. This ensures more seniors can apply for SCRIE and remain safely in their homes. Fernando successfully kept RAIN Tolentine and RAIN Bailey Senior Centers open during the recession and consistently allocated over $1.3 million for programming in senior centers, including ESL classes, Spanish classes, computer classes, physical fitness classes, and cultural arts classes. He has also hosted senior proms, holiday celebrations, and funded group tours for seniors at the New York Botanical Garden.
Veterans
As a former member of the Veterans Affairs Committee, Fernando Cabrera advocated for and supported the creation of the newly established Department of Veterans Affairs in NYC. He secured funding for groundbreaking research on Dominicans who fought in the U.S. military during WWII and provided the necessary funding for the first and only Dominican WWII Memorial in the nation, located at Bronx Community College. Fernando also passed legislation to honor Tuskegee Airman Roscoe C. Brown Jr. with a street naming near Bronx Community College, where Brown served as president, and funded a memorial dedicated to him.
Jobs
When Fernando became a NYC Council Member in 2010, his district had the highest unemployment rate in NYC at 23.5%, according to the NYU Furhman Center. Through his leadership, the unemployment rate decreased to 5.7% over the next ten years. Fernando secured funding for job development in District 14, resulting in many constituents finding employment. He also passed a bill requiring Community Boards to receive an annual report submitted to the Mayor on projected and actual jobs created and retained through projects undertaken by contracted entities.
Disaster Relief
Fernando Cabrera led disaster relief operations out of the Kingsbridge Armory during Superstorm Sandy, coordinating over 700 volunteers to distribute over $8 million worth of donations to the most affected areas of NYC. He also directed numerous disaster relief efforts in Puerto Rico and Haiti.
Transportation
As part of Vision Zero, Fernando passed a bill requiring the City of New York to repair traffic control signals within 24 hours of notification of malfunction. He also allocated funding for state-of-the-art countdown clocks at MTA bus stations throughout the district.
Women’s Issues
Fernando Cabrera provided funding to organizations such as the Center for Hispanic Families & Children, Battered Women’s Resource Center, the DoVE Initiative, Legal Aid Society, and Sanctuary for Families to assist in efforts to prevent domestic violence and child abuse, provide comprehensive aid and services for survivors, and build strong, cohesive families. He also hosted a lawyer in his district office to provide free legal assistance on family issues. Fernando passed Resolution 104 to increase accountability for batterer intervention programs by requiring that their effectiveness be measured.
Parks
Fernando secured funding to renovate and repair every park in District 14, including St. James Park, Grand Avenue Park, Devoe Park and Mount Hope Park.
Faith
As someone who founded and led a church for 36 years, Fernando understands the challenges facing houses of worship today, regardless of religion. He led and won the fight to allow houses of worship to rent space in public schools, just like other nonprofit organizations are allowed to do so.
