Pearlene Fields was born in Brooklyn, New York. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Pace University in 2008. Fields’ career experience includes working as Team Assistant at the United Nations Secretariat Department of Peace Operations, Office of Military Affairs.[1]
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There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source
Total votes: 289,477
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
Republican primary election
The Republican primary election was canceled. Menachem Raitport advanced from the Republican primary for Brooklyn Borough President.
Conservative Party primary election
The Conservative Party primary election was canceled. Menachem Raitport advanced from the Conservative Party primary for Brooklyn Borough President.
Pearlene Fields completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Fields' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
Pearlene S. Fields was born and raised in Brooklyn. She grew up in Flatbush where she currently resides and is a member of Community Board 17 where she is on the Land Use committee. She completed undergraduate school at Pace University in New York and graduate school at Middlesex University in London where she studied international Relations. She spent the majority of her career working at various non-profit organizations like The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), UNICEF, and most recently at the United Nations Secretariat in the Department of Peace Operations, Office of Military Affairs where she assisted the Chief of Staff in the front office. Pearlene has been a board trustee to the Sierra House (an organization that assists homeless mothers and their children) for 10 years serving as the President of the Board of Directors for the last 3 years. She believes housing and healthcare is a human right and as a native New Yorker from the same marginalized community as you she is running for Brooklyn Borough President to ensure our public safety, ensure real affordable housing, and support all small businesses.
Affordable Housing: Pearlene believes that housing is a human right and that we need to do more for the residents in our community so that they have access to real affordable housing. That starts by redetermining what affordability really is by only using an AMI (Area Median Income) of the five boroughs and not include areas like Westchester. Also, the Faircloth Amendment of the housing act needs to be repealed. This way more affordable housing for the homeless, veterans, and underemployed can be built instead of all the luxury condos that only the wealthy can afford.
Public Safety: Demilitarize the police. We need to put a stop to the 1033 program which allows local precincts to get surplus militarized equipment. Take away all of the gear that is meant to support our military. The citizens of our state are not enemy combatants and should not be treated that way. The money saved by demilitarizing the police can be used in other much needed community programs.
Small Business/Entrepreneurship: Pearlene believes that small businesses are the back bone to the city and there should be more support to ensure their success and survival especially since the COVID-19 pandemic has forced many of them to close down. Pearlene also believes there should be more programs and financial opportunities encouraging entrepreneurship and encourage more interaction with our silicon alley.
Pearlene is most passionate about policies regarding the homeless and housing them. This is why she has spent the last 10 years sitting on the Board of Directors for the Sierra House, an organization that assists at risk youth and homeless mothers and their children. As someone who was formally homeless Pearlene believes that we need to take a multifaceted approach to the issue instead of a one-size fits all approach. Yes, affordable housing is needed but there is also a need for mental health services, educational and technical training, and employment search and retention programs. She feels we need to stop telling the homeless and underprivilege what they need and start asking them what they need so we ensure they get the services that will actually help them. She also wants to empower the community so they have a say in the process from the beginning (instead of finding out about projects in the middle or when the decision is basically already made) in regards to affordable housing and shelters in order to curb the NIMBY (not in my backyard) mentality. We are all in this together and if we work together, we can make great strides for the betterment of the community.
This position is important within the New York City government because the Brooklyn Borough President gets to oversee the community boards and have input on Land use issues. There is a lot of gentrification happening in Brooklyn and we need to have a say so that we make sure the residents (especially our senior citizens) are not pushed out of the area and housing is affordable and remain affordable while we present some avenues for local residents to go from renters to owners and the community boards that the office of the Borough President oversees is a very big part of that. I don't want to stop the growth of Brooklyn I just think the plans need to be more inclusive, affordable, and consider the residents affected by the dramatic development happening in our communities.
In putting myself out there to run for office I know that I am following in the footsteps of the great Shirley Chisholm who famously said "If they don't give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair". Ms. Chisholm was a great trailblazer. She was the first African-American woman elected to congress and the first woman to run for President in the Democratic Party (truly inspirational). Just like Ms. Chisholm, if elected to office, I would be making history by becoming the first woman to be elected Brooklyn Borough President. I hope that if I were to win that she will be looking down on me from heaven and is proud, after-all it is because of her legacy that so many woman after her are able to make great strides and take their own seats at the table and when there is no room at the table they have their folding chairs at the ready.
I believe I am a good active listener. I've even taken a few courses in active listening in order to shore -up that particular skill-set. This position will definitely need someone who is willing to listen to the constituents in order to get to the root of their issues and help resolve them.
I don't have a favorite book per se. However, there is one that I like a lot and helped to change how I approach certain stressful issues in life. It is called "Way of the Peaceful Warrior" by Dan Millman. It helped me to deal with the noise in my head and learn to just let some things go and not dwell on moments that have already passed.
If I could be any fictional character it would be Velma from the Scooby Doo gang. This way I could solve the "Mystery of the Missing Resources for Marginalized Communities" and help rebuild Brooklyn up to be better and more affordable, add some great STEAM programs to all the schools, and get the homeless, mentally challenged, and veterans the services that they need.
It is always beneficial if someone has specific experience while performing in any position in life but when it comes to local office it is not exactly necessary especially for this office as one is expected to be an advocate and will not be sending troops overseas to fight for our freedom. In life every time you speak up on behalf of yourself, loved ones, or your community you are in essence advocating for specific actions. We are all advocates; it is just that some are able to advocate louder and more public than others are able to or willing to. I would be Brooklyn's biggest and loudest advocate; the cheerleader at the top of the pyramid and I will ensure that Brooklyn gets all of the attention and resources we could muster up because Brooklyn is large, we are growing, and we deserve to be rebuilt stronger and better than ever before. The pandemic showed very little mercy and we will have a long way to go but we can do it. It doesn't take a career politician to advocate for Brooklyn. What is required is passion, dedication and real concern and interest in what is going on in our communities.
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