Assembly Candidate Charles Fall Pumps up Supporters on North Shore of Staten Island

Photo: Charles Fall speaks to supporters of his candidacy for a North Shore State Assembly seat. Credit: Ryan Thaxton.

By Ryan Thaxton

Leaders of various immigrant communities in Staten Island gathered on the Borough Hall steps the morning of Sept. 6 to announce their endorsement of Charles Fall for North Shore’s Assembly seat.

Staten Island’s North Shore is known in the borough for its thriving immigrant community. Now this group has declared its intent to help Fall claim the state Assembly seat. Jennifer Gray-Brumskine, a community organizer of the island’s Liberian community, said that “the immigrant leaders have spoken,” listing immigrant communities hailing from Africa to Pakistan, whose community leaders showed up to endorse Fall.

Fall remains a front runner in the race, which was triggered by the incumbent Matt Titone’s announcement that he would not seek reelection. He said he will instead run for a Surrogate Court judgeship. Fall’s opponents include small business owner and community leader named Bobby Digi Olisa and a union leader and open heart surgery nurse Patricia North.

All three candidates have deep ties to the North Shore, but Fall has the most government experience having worked for Mayor Bill de Blasio on initiatives such as universal pre-K and paid sick leave before becoming a chief-of-staff in the city’s Parks Department.

Fall said Thursday’s endorsement “tells [him] that folks are looking for a new generation of leadership. They’re tired of rhetoric and no action.” Fall is also endorsed by the New York State United Teachers, the Civil Service Employees Association, the United Federation of Teachers, and others.