Longtime City of Newburgh resident Gabrielle Hill announced her candidacy for the Orange County Legislature on Monday, February 3. She will be running for the District 6 seat which includes downtown Newburgh and parts of Balmville. Hill will be challenging Orange County Legislator Kevindaryán Luján for the seat.

“My core belief is that change comes from the power of the people. And we need it more than ever. Working class Newburgh families struggle every day to make ends meet while oligarchs make money off our hard work, and xenophobia and racism targeting our Latino and Black communities is becoming normal again. Only by standing in solidarity with each other can we turn back these forces of greed and hatred. When we listen to each other and not well connected elites, we can decide what’s best for our city,” Hill said in a statement. “I’m running to put the County’s focus back on the working families that make up Newburgh’s vibrant neighborhoods. We know that Newburgh can be an affordable and healthy city. Our residents deserve a government that provides good public transportation, clean water, and quality housing. Orange County can help promote Newburgh’s renaissance by partnering with city and state officials to expand services and fulfill basic needs.”

“We need real representation in the County Legislature by someone with deep roots in our community. Many of us have already sat together at kitchen tables and community events discussing our history, sharing our love for our families, and upholding human rights. We need to continue those conversations and talk to each other. That’s how we, as neighbors, will find collective solutions to collective problems,” Hill continued.