The Perez Notes

🎙️ State Senator Gustavo Rivera joins The Perez Notes to discuss the Somos El Futuro Conference, the mayoral race, his endorsement of Zohran Mamdani, and why he says Eric Adams is a one-term mayor. Rivera also shares his candid thoughts on former Governor Andrew Cuomo and the shifting landscape of New York politics.

#NYPolitics #ThePerezNotes #GustavoRivera #ZohranMamdani #EricAdams #AndrewCuomo

🎙️ In this episode of The Perez Notes, I sit down with Brian Romero, who’s filing to run for the open seat in New York State Assembly District 34, aiming to succeed Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas, his former boss now seeking a State Senate seat.

A proud member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), Romero discusses his decision to enter the race, his connection to NYC-DSA, and his vision for building a more equitable Queens. We dive into the issues driving his campaign—from housing and labor rights to public safety and progressive governance.

🎧 Tune in for a thoughtful conversation about politics, policy, and the next generation of leadership in New York.

#NewYorkPolitics #Queens #DSA #ThePerezNotes #BrianRomero #NYAssembly #ProgressivePolitics

🎙️ Ligia Guallpa: Fighting for New York’s Immigrant Workers

In this episode of The Perez Notes, Roberto Perez speaks with Ligia Guallpa, Executive Director of the Workers Justice Project (WJP) — and one of New York City’s most influential voices for immigrant and low-wage workers.

The daughter of a former day laborer and garment worker, Ligia shares how her personal story fuels her fight for justice, dignity, and safe working conditions. Under her leadership, WJP has organized construction workers, day laborers, and domestic workers, built two Brooklyn worker centers, and helped form Laborers’ Local 10, a union empowering immigrant workers across the

In this episode of The Perez Notes, I sit down with Vilda Vera Mayuga, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP). We break down the agency’s wide-ranging work — from enforcing labor laws and protecting workers’ rights to ensuring fair business practices across New York City. Commissioner Mayuga sheds light on policy priorities, how the city approaches enforcement, and the complex issues facing street vendors today.

From wage theft to vendor licensing, this conversation explores how DCWP balances consumer protection, worker justice, and economic opportunity in one of the most diverse cities in the world.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

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In this episode of The Perez Notes, I sit down with New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams for a wide-ranging conversation. We discuss Mayor Eric Adams’ decision not to seek re-election, the state of the Democratic Party in New York, Zohran Mamdani’s endorsement, the impact of Trump-era policies, and the challenges around housing and governance in the city.

In this episode of The Perez Notes, I sit down with Kenny Burgos — former Assemblymember and now CEO of the New York Apartment Association — for a deep dive on housing in New York City. We break down the affordability crisis, the policies that could reshape the city’s future, and how housing will play a decisive role in the upcoming mayoral election. Burgos brings his perspective from the Bronx to the broader citywide conversation on affordability and policy.

The Perez Notes – Interview with Holly Pretsky

This week on The Perez Notes, I’m joined by Holly Pretsky, City Editor at City & State NY, to break down the latest in New York politics. We dive into the fast-moving NYC mayoral race, unpack the week’s biggest political news, and take a closer look at the campaigns of Andrew Cuomo, Eric Adams, and Zohran Mamdani.

Holly brings her sharp reporting and editorial insight from City & State to help us cut through the noise and examine what’s really shaping the race for City Hall and the broader dynamics of New York power.

🎙 Don’t miss this wide-ranging conversation on the candidates, the campaigns, and the stakes for the city’s future.

🎙 The Perez Notes | Richard Carranza: Leading America’s Largest School Systems

In this episode of The Perez Notes, I sit down with Richard A. Carranza — former New York City Schools Chancellor, former Superintendent of Houston ISD, and former Superintendent of San Francisco Unified School District.

Carranza reflects on his three decades in education leadership, from the challenges of running the nation’s largest school system with 1.1 million students, to his proudest moments and toughest decisions as NYC Chancellor. We dive into his tenure in Houston and San Francisco, the lessons he carried across cities, and his perspective on what it means to lead during times of crisis and change.

Now serving as Chief of Strategy and Global Development for IXL Learning and founder of Carranza Educational Consulting, LLC, Carranza looks back on the defining moments of his career and shares what’s next in his journey.

📌 Tune in for a candid conversation on education, leadership, equity, and the future of America’s schools.

In this episode of The Perez Notes, Jagpreet Singh of DRUM joins to discuss Zohran Mamdani’s campaign, the growing political power of NYC’s South Asian community, and their fight for immigrant rights, voter registration, and representation ahead of November’s general election.

Dr. Ashwin Vasan: Public Health, Mental Health & NYC’s Recovery

In this episode of The Perez Notes, former NYC Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan joins Roberto Perez for a deep dive into the state of public health in New York City. We discuss the city’s mental health crisis, its ongoing recovery from COVID-19, and the lessons learned from leading the Department of Health through unprecedented challenges. Dr. Vasan reflects on his career in public service, shares insights on strengthening community health, and offers his perspective on the future of public health in a post-pandemic world.