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Dear John,I’m sick to my stomach thinking about tomorrow’s inauguration – and committed to keeping my focus for the day on honoring the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr, and how we fight to protect it in the challenging days to come.

But on Friday, I was thrilled to attend a very different inauguration, one that was very much in the spirit of Dr. King. It helped me feel hopeful. So I wanted to share it with you.

Kwani B. O’Pharrow was sworn in on Friday in Amityville, Long Island, by New York Attorney General Letitia James, as the Assemblymember for New York’s 11th Assembly District (including Babylon, Lindenhurst, Amityville, and parts of Wyandanch).

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You might wonder why I’d be in Amityville for his swearing-in, when I’ve got a lot to do in New York City. I’ll get to that in a moment.

But first, let me introduce you to Kwani. He is all about service. He served in the U.S. Navy for four years, and then had a 25-year career in the New York Police Department. In the NYPD, he worked as a school safety officer, a community patrol officer, a domestic violence officer, a gang investigator, and a detective. In other words: he did hard and dangerous work to keep New Yorkers safe.

His service has extended far beyond his job. Kwani’s grandfather founded Starrett City Boxing to equip young people with the skills they need in life, and Kwani continues that tradition coaching there. He founded Cops N’ Kids Long Island to mentor youth – including “know your rights and responsibilities” workshops, financial planning, entrepreneurship, and much more.

Kwani’s last assignment at the NYPD was in the Intelligence Bureau, as part of protective details for the President, for heads of state, and for… the New York City Comptroller.

That’s right, for most of my first year in office, Kwani (or “Q,” as we call him) was part of my detail.

So I know firsthand what an incredible mensch he is, and what a great assemblymember he will be. Three quick stories illustrate it well:

On my very first day in office, January 1, 2022, Q’s very first assignment was to protect me at the Coney Island Polar Bear Plunge (which I have done for many years)! Now, I know in his head he must have been thinking: “C’mon, what kind of ridiculous assignment is this?” But he kept his smile wide, and his eyes attentive.

Just a few days later, after the horrific fire at Twin Parks Houses in the Bronx took the lives of 17 people, Kwani was with me at their funeral. The crowd was large and bereft, and the atmosphere grew intense, almost becoming a stampede at one point. I said I was fine, not-to-worry, but Q took hold of me, and made clear that in times of danger, it was his judgement that mattered.

Then, a few months later, my sister Rachel called me. The son of a friend of hers had gone missing, in a mental health episode. Although it wasn’t his job at all, Q took Rachel’s number, followed up with her after he was off duty, and didn’t stop keeping her informed until her friend’s son was found.

Kwani is a warm and loving person, with a beautiful family. His mom, a minister, gave the benediction at the inauguration. His dad tried to keep her remarks brief, and had a handkerchief for when Kwani teared up. His wife was busy organizing the whole thing, and they have four wonderful kids. He’s a tireless worker on behalf of his community, and a leader in times of crisis.

That enabled Kwani to win a very tight election – 50.5% to 49.5% – against a MAGA Republican, in a Long Island area that voted for Trump.

Kwani’s inauguration captured his warmth, joy, and hard work. And to me, on this challenging weekend, as we observe MLK Day and Trump’s hideous inauguration, it captured something even more.

At a time when polarization and racism are dividing our country, when relationships between communities and law enforcement feel strained, when it’s hard to see the path forward for Dr. King’s dream, Kwani’s inauguration helps point the way. Needless to say, it was a much better inauguration than the one taking place tomorrow.

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Assemblymember O’Pharrow is the kind of leader who might help heal some of our wounds, find new ways to keep our communities safe in a way that expands opportunity and brings people together, bridge some of our divides, and give people hope — much the kind of model that Dr. King fought for.

Congratulations, Assemblymember Kwani B. O’Pharrow!

Your grateful friend,

Brad

P.S. To focus on Dr. King's legacy, instead of Trump's inauguration, I'll be following along with the National Action Network's MLK Day Celebration, and I hope you do, too. Learn more here. [[link removed]]
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