Assembly Member Landon Dais urges Bronx residents to take action in improving their community during first State of the District address

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Assembly Member Landon Dais gave his first State of the District address on Oct. 17, 2024.
Photo Emily Swanson

Assembly Member Landon Dais, a Democrat who represents the neighborhoods of Concourse, Highbridge, Morris Heights and Mt. Eden, challenged his fellow Bronxites to do their part to improve their community during his first State of the District event, held Oct. 17 at the Andrew Freedman Home.

Dozens of seats were filled — and more chairs brought out — for Dais’ State of the District event, which included food, honors for his staff and community leaders, as well as music performances by a local middle school band. 

Dais is new to public office, having been elected to the Assembly in a February 2024 special election to fill the seat vacated by Assembly Member Latoya Joyner, who resigned in January. Dais went on to beat Democratic opponent Leonardo Coello in the June primary election and is up for re-election to the full term this November. 

In his address, Dais said many Bronxites are “paralyzed by fear” and let bad news about crime and violence overshadow the positive. But if more residents help to clean the streets or otherwise serve the neighborhood, negative attitudes about the Bronx — and from within — can change, he said. 

“It’s about being the captain of your own block,” said Dais. 

Middle schoolers from M.S. 22 performed for the first time for a crowd of close to 100 at Dais’s State of the District event.Photo Emily Swanson

While he said he always takes safety concerns seriously, residents’ perceptions of their own community, and their own role within it, must change. Even his investment of $2 million in District 9 schools doesn’t matter if the Bronx is believed to be overrun with crime and trash on the streets, said Dais. 

Local people hold the power, he said. “We have an opportunity to change what people think about us.”

Dais, who previously worked as an attorney, told the crowd that politics can be “an ugly game” — but he is willing to risk his political career to do what’s best for the community. “I’m not doing this for the paycheck.” 

After the event, the Bronx Times spoke with two neighbors from Morris Heights, Barbara Alford and Jan Bowers, who said it was their first time hearing from their assembly member. 

Having lived in the district for 50 years, “I’ve seen the good, the bad and the ugly,” Bowers said. One of those “ugly” incidents came in March, when an apartment building right near hers and Alford’s partially collapsed, leaving them nervous about the state of their neighborhood. 

Nowadays, Bowers said she has major concerns about neighborhood cleanliness, drugs, gangs and guns. But she was glad to at least have heard Dais’ vision for the community. 

“I got some positive vibes,” said Bowers. 

Photo Emily Swanson

Another audience member, Noel Holliday, was more direct in terms of his praise. “[Dais] has my support and I think he’s doing a wonderful job,” he told the Bronx Times. A leader from his union, Local 79, also spoke in support of Dais at the event. 

Holliday now lives in Manhattan but used to live in District 77 and also in the East Bronx. Although he is no longer in the area, he said he still follows Dais’ progress, especially on affordable housing, school funding and jobs. 

Dais also received praise from fellow partners in government, including Borough President Vanessa Gibson and state Sen. Luis Sepúlveda, who said he has accomplished a great deal in his young political career. 

Gibson — who formerly served in the same Assembly role now held by Dais — said he is “truly dedicated to public service.” Between Dais’ community clean-ups and youth baseball coaching, “He was doing the work even before he got the title,” she said. 

But in the end, Dais said community members must take a more active role in supporting his efforts. “What are you doing to change the perception?” he said. 


Reach Emily Swanson at eswanson@schnepsmedia.com or (646) 717-0015. For more coverage, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @bronxtimes