Listener supported WNYC Studios.

It's the Brian Lear Show on WNYC.

I'm Bridget Bergen from the WNYC and Gothamist Newsroom.

Now we'll continue our coverage of the New York City mayoral election with our second candidate interview.

Joining me now is State Senator Zellner Myrie, a Democrat from District 20,

which includes parts of Brownsville, Crown Heights, East

Flatbush, Gowanus, Park Slope, Prospect Heights, Prospect Lefford Gardens, South Slope, and Sunset Park

in Brooklyn. He's also chair of the Coates Committee in the Senate, a new role for him.

In addition to discussing his run for mayor of New York City, we'll talk about his work at

his day job,

representing his constituents in Albany, and get his reaction to Governor Hokel's State of the State

Address and Mayor Adams' preliminary budget from this week. Senator Myrie, welcome back to WNYC.

It's very good to be here, particularly to be here in studio. Yeah, pretty fun. It's exciting. Yes,

I love it. So, Senator Myrie It's exciting. Yes, I love it.

So, Senator Myrie, we know each other, but why don't you start by introducing yourself to New Yorkers who you're meeting for the first time? Who are you?

And why should you be running their city?

I would not be who I am today without this city. I'm a born and raised New Yorker.

I'm the son of two immigrants who came to this city about

50 years ago. Both of them worked in factories. My parents came from Costa Rica. My dad actually made

more as a minimum wage worker in a factory here in Brooklyn than he would back home with a college

degree back in Costa Rica. Came here for opportunity.

My mom worked in a linen factory, became a nurse, and then she opened up a small business,

...