Friend,
I want you to meet one of my biggest heroes, my father, Jonathan.
If you’re anything like I was as a child, you might remember thinking that your dad had all the answers.
But when I was in elementary school, my father faced one of the biggest challenges of his professional life.
You see, he worked as a salesman in the garment industry at a time when these roles were being shipped overseas to countries with cheaper labor. Frankly, he was worried that his job would be next on the chopping block.
What he did next always fills me with pride.
Seeing the writing on the wall, my father left his job and transitioned to a career in data storage sales, an emerging field that he knew nothing about, but spent months studying in order to prepare for the change
So while I was practicing my A-B-C’s, he was developing his technical proficiency so he could land an entry-level job in a new up-and-coming industry that was equal parts exciting and nerve-wracking.
And his hard work paid off. Today, he is going on twenty years in data storage sales and is one of the best in the business!
I think about that story often these days as I meet people across the district who are worried about their own job security as new technology like AI and automation rapidly expand into their everyday lives.
While no one knows for certain how these emerging technologies will affect our workforce, it is the responsibility of our leaders and representatives to make sure our communities have the resources they need to face the challenges ahead.
Whether that means learning a brand new skill, integrating new technology into their current roles, or making an industry-pivot like my father, they need to know that we have their back.
That is why I support investing in people first by raising the minimum wage, expanding tax credits for families caring for young children and seniors, funding emerging industries, and pursuing bold tech regulations. We need to fight hard so New Yorkers have everything they need to succeed in a changing workforce.
That is what our campaign is all about, and I have my dad to thank for showing me how it is all done.
Thank you for reading and being a part of this team.
With gratitude,
Zak Malamed
