Benefits of an accent and support for immigrants: how a Russian plans to win the mayoral elections in New York

Vitaly Filipchenko, a candidate for mayor of New York, an immigrant from Russia. He was born in Tomsk and recently announced that he considers his emphasis not a hindrance, but an advantage in the elections. Writes about it RIA News".

Filipchenko moved to the United States over 10 years ago. Now he already has his own shipping company. He decided to run for mayor of New York as an independent candidate.

The primary elections are scheduled for June 22, the general elections will be held on November 2. Now the post of mayor of the city is held by the Democrat Bill de Blasio.

“I still have a Russian accent. When people hear my speech, they understand where I am from. I'm not ashamed of that. I am going to the mayor of New York with my accent, and for me this is not a limitation. On the contrary, I think it is a plus, ”Filipchenko said.

He says that when people hear his accent, they respect him.

On the subject: What New York Mayor Candidates Promise Immigrants

“People see: he has an accent, and he is still trying to change something, he is cooler than the others, because he is not afraid, he is not shy. If during the debate someone misunderstands something from my words, I am not ashamed, I just repeat it a second time, ”the candidate added.

Filipchenko said that when he first moved to the United States, he tried to receive all the information only in English in order to adapt faster.

“One of the problems of immigrants is that they continue to live in the same world, parents continue to watch the news of the country from which they came, children continue to communicate with them in Russian. But children begin to lose their accent faster if they communicate with them in English. By the end of school, my daughter no longer had an accent, ”he said.

He says he expects support from all immigrants.

“I'm counting on immigrants. Not only Russians - all immigrants who have gone through a hard working path. They understand the problems - supporting the family, paying taxes, paying for housing, food, children need to be helped. Accordingly, they see me as a candidate who really lives in this reality, and not on some pink cloud, trying to promise everyone big money, "the candidate notes, writes RIA News".

“50% of New York is immigrants. When they see in me their parents, grandmothers, grandfathers who came, sought, worked from morning till night, tried to save money, tried to provide for the family, tried to put the children on their feet, they understand: this guy knows our problems, he really is our guy ... Not only Russian immigrants - they all see themselves in me, ”Filipchenko says.

Filipchenko names roads and racial injustice as one of the key moments of the election campaign.

“Firstly, women earn less than men. Let's say you are a reporter and receive a certain amount. If a woman comes to the same position, she will receive less, - he noted. - In addition, there is such a phenomenon of age discrimination - age restriction. Typically, if a person over 50 applies for a job, they hire younger people. Because young people ask for less money. This problem needs to be addressed. Many people have lost their jobs just because of their age, because of the pandemic, because of business problems. "

On the subject: What houses do the main candidates for the post of mayor of New York live in?

He calls the construction of roads his first step as mayor.

“The first is repair and construction of roads. If the roads are made correctly, there will be less traffic jams and less gas pollution. Building houses for the middle class, for rich people. Hospital construction. Solution of educational issues. In Manhattan, the richer the neighborhood, the better the budget for the school. The poorer the area, the less the provision. This must be eradicated, ”says the candidate.

According to Filipchenko, his American wife also learned a few words in Russian.

At the same time, the candidate admitted that he sometimes resorts to profanity in Russian. When asked which one is stronger, Tomsk or New York, Filipchenko remarked: “Of course, Russian. In the US, they have 100-300 words. And in Russia you can write poems. "

As ForumDaily New York wrote earlier:

• Read the story of Vitaly Filipchenko, how he came to the USA and achieved success, in our material.