The American Dream lands in Queens, and New York State Assemblymember Steven Raga has a hand in facilitating that for underserved communities in the richly diverse neighborhoods of Woodside, Elmhurst, Maspeth, Jackson Heights, Astoria, and Middle Village. Always the centerpiece of that dream is affordable housing; safe, comfortable shelter that reflects the drive and passion of local citizens to work hard and remain upwardly mobile, all the while being able to come home to a place that they can call just that – home.
“My drive to run for legislative office stemmed from years of local community organizing and a desire to make a tangible impact on the policies affecting the communities that I grew up in and around,” says Raga. “One of the key policies I championed includes securing substantial funding for Mitchell-Lama housing improvements, which ensures affordable housing and quality of life for our residents.”
Raga, who prior to becoming the first Filipino-American to hold a seat in Albany as an Assemblymember in New York State, helped spearhead efforts put forth by Woodside on the Move, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to “create a stable and thriving community for vulnerable residents of Woodside and Western Queens.” As Executive Director for Woodside on the Move, his focus always remained on affording any and every opportunity to help underserved communities obtain a quality of life that they could thrive in, raise their families with and be proud of. In only a year and a half of service in the New York State Legislature, Raga secured $80 million in funds for Mitchell-Lama capital improvements, a landmark achievement that significantly impacted his constituents by enhancing their living conditions, cementing housing protection.
It took very little time for Raga to realize that as a state legislator he would always have to have one foot in state interests and the other in local interests, where it had always been firmly planted from his roots growing up. Collaboration was always key and he readily extended his hand across the aisle to address common concerns, such as housing and public safety, which are critical for all New Yorkers.
With spirited teamwork remaining a constant, joint efforts with fellow Assemblymembers such as Catalina Cruz and Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas helped Raga further quality of life initiatives that impact their districts and broader state.
“My focus for the upcoming legislative session includes strengthening housing policies, healthcare access, and improving our district’s infrastructure to prevent flooding,” adds Raga. “Moving forward, I envision enhancing the resilience and wellbeing of our district through proactive legislation and community engagement, ensuring a sustainable future for all residents.”
Striking a balance amongst the diverse needs of his constituents remains a constant in Raga’s political life, addressing the challenge by maintaining an active engagement with the local community to ensure their needs inform his legislative priorities. Raga frequents community events and festivals where he and his team have found much success creating a dialogue between local businesses and city officials, leading to impacted local regulations that benefitted small businesses. His office stays connected with constituents through official communications channels including community advisory councils, celebratory events and monthly mobile office hours all throughout the district, ensuring ongoing dialogue and responsiveness to their needs.
The Assemblymember credits mentors in both community organizing and legislative leadership for imparting invaluable guidance that shaped his approach to serving his constituents. From holding leadership roles at AARP and Susan G. Kamen for the Cure, to serving as the Chief of Staff for Assemblymember Brian Barnwell, Raga carries the guidance from those who came before him into his own daily civil service efforts. While still in the infancy of his political career with much more ahead to accomplish, Raga thinks to the future and what kind of torch he looks forward to handing to those who will eventually come in his stead.
“I aspire to continue my growth as a community leader and representative of the constituents of 30th Assembly District,” reflects Raga. “My aim is to guide the next generation of public service leaders and make long-lasting, positive changes in our communities.”
