Tanya Cruz lives in Queens and is a Community Advocate.
Why are you voting this year?
Voting is the most important civic duty for me.
What changes do you want to see in your community?
Better civic engagement events and more participation.
How do you feel about this year’s election and what’s on the ballot?
Disappointing & ballot propositions seem politically motivated.
What would you say to change the mind of someone who doesn’t plan to vote?
I’d focus on the ballot propositions on this year’s ballot because they decide how we will be governed by the State and City of New York since these items will live in perpetuity.
What’s your voting plan?
Early voting.
On Election Day, where do you plan to watch the election results?
Home.
About Tanya:
Tanya Cruz is a longtime community advocate. Originally from Spanish Harlem, Tanya has lived in Southeast Queens for a total of 41 years. She served for 22 years on Queens Community Board 13, including as1st Vice Chair (9 years), Transportation Committee Chair (6 years) and Seniors and Special Needs Committee Vice Chair (5 years). For the past 11 years, Tanya has served on NYC’s Motorcycle Advisory Committee, a diverse group of committed motorcyclists which convenes regularly with NYC DOT to discuss a variety of matters related to safety and sustainable mode use in New York City. She is a staunch transportation advocate who initiated an effort that led to the erection of bus shelters for almost every bus stop in Community Board 13. More than 20 years ago, Tanya partnered with the 105th Precinct in Queens to establish a community-centered National Night Out Against Violence event, still in existence, which rotates through the various neighborhoods covered by the 105th. She was a member of Women Creating Change’s 2023 Workshop Design Team cohort which created and facilitated civic leadership trainings for NYC women. Tanya got her start as a community advocate when she overcame city government’s resistance to removing a tree, whose roots were intruding on the plumbing lines to her house, by filing a complaint that the tree (and thus the city) was trespassing on her property. Her appearances at community meetings to discuss the tree removal and other community concerns were so formidable that the Community Board Chair invited her to join a Board committee; once Tanya learned that only Board members had voting rights, she applied to be a member of the Board and was appointed by the Borough President 60 days later.
