On Election Day, November 8, 2022, New Yorkers voted to adopt all three ballot proposals putting racial equity at the center of New York City’s government. Pesach Osina, an outspoken Far Rockaway resident and former New York City Council candidate, has shined in his current role as a Senior Community Liaison to Adrienne Adams, the Council’s Speaker. Last week, Osina was assigned a commissioners role representing Queens County on the Commission on Racial Equity (CORE). Pesach has constantly demonstrated exemplary leadership qualities throughout his career in Public Service, as his experience in government has included the roles of community liaisons for members of the New York State Assembly, New York City Council, Queens Borough Director for the New York City Comptroller’s office, and most recently to the Speaker.
Following 9/11, Osina worked with Community Board 14 and other community stakeholders to establish the area’s first Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) to ensure that the community stayed prepared for any future adverse events, primarily focusing on the safety, security, and quality of life issues, and is currently a community partner within the NYPD’s 101st Precinct.
Pesach has a passion for helping others, which has been most evident during Superstorm Sandy and most recently during the pandemic. Prior to Superstorm Sandy, he worked with government officials and community leaders to prepare the community as much as possible for the impending storm. As the storm was raging, he worked throughout the night with local organizations to communicate with and to meet the needs of stranded families. In the days and nights following the storm, Pesach travelled throughout the community visiting relief sites and working with community leaders to ensure that all the community needs were met. During the pandemic, Pesach was instrumental in setting up numerous pop-up food distributions sites, ensuring there were equitable Covid-19 testing and vaccination sites, and in securing thousands of PPE for marginal communities.
CORE’s commission consists of 15 members, including the chair, and is set to bring racial equity and accountability in unity with the community, bringing a new opportunity for change across NYC. The commissioners will play a pivotal role in advancing racial equity and increase community voices in government decision-making and operations. CORE is an independent commission responsible for working with communities to identify and propose priorities to inform the racial equity planning process and action, review and publicly comment upon agency and citywide racial equity plans, while publicly tracking agency compliance with each including its processes, and will receive complaints about agency conduct that may be exacerbating racial disparities.
Pesach currently resides in Far Rockaway with his wife Fraidy and their six children.
By Shabsie Saphirstein
