The Nov. 3 election was more than a historic moment; it is a pathway to what we expect to be a brighter future in a time of national crisis.

Throughout the following week, as tens of millions of mail-in and absentee ballots were counted, it was clear that a vast majority of Americans demanded a change. A change from the chaos, division, and strife brought about by a manipulative billionaire, who as President of the United States these last four years, engaged in a relentless assault on our lives while his cronies in the 1% enriched themselves at our expense.

And from the start of this year, Trump failed to protect us when the deadly coronavirus struck our city, and our nation. As our brave frontline workers struggled during the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic, they lacked proper protective equipment and guidance from the Trump Administration. His failure of leadership during this now 11-month long crisis was for all to see and can never be denied. 

President Trump managed this crisis like he did so many of his bankrupt business deals—into the ground.

So, we remembered this in November, and cast the largest number of votes ever in an American Presidential election for Joe Biden, whose proven leadership and skills will guide us through the pandemic and rebuild what was lost in these last four years.

Now, as we move beyond this momentous election, we look forward to solid, steady governance when Joe Biden is inaugurated as President on Jan. 20. From that moment forward, ideas become actions, words take flight, and the process of moving forward begins.

The Biden agenda focuses on our priorities—the priorities that 80 million American people agree with. 

First and foremost is the President-elect’s solid support of a labor agenda, beginning with COVID-19 relief to our frontline workers and our communities. This is the first goal to achieve in order to move a progressive economic agenda that heals our city that has been devastated by the pandemic.

Recently, at an economic forum with top labor and business leaders, the President-elect, along with Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, agreed that Congress must pass a relief package similar to the HEROES Act, assuring us that they intend to make funding the frontlines a top priority.

It is urgent that we do so. With the second wave of the coronavirus upon us, New York City is taking another severe economic hit during the major holidays.

Relief from the incoming administration cannot come soon enough, and we expect our next President to put pressure on the U.S. Senate to pass a comprehensive COVID-19 relief package similar to the CARES Act, which was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives last June but was held up by the Republican-led U.S. Senate. We are confident that things will be different under President-elect Biden, and the outcome of the Georgia Senate runoff races will prove decisive for Democratic control of the Senate.

We expect a rollback of the many anti-union regulations under a Biden administration, and for the labor movement to play a large role in reframing our national economy toward Green initiatives to protect our natural resources and battle climate change.

The expected agenda includes reweaving the social safety net that the outgoing administration shredded, an inclusive immigration policy where no one is turned away because of their national origin, desperately-needed police reform, and above all, a Biden administration that listens to the needs of the voters who elected him and acts on them.

“Build back better” is much more than a slogan. This is what truly makes this country great. We can create a stronger nation under our new national leadership.

We expect that after Jan. 20 under the leadership of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, that despite the tough times we face, we will be stronger in the end.

By rejuvenating our spirit and unity after four hard years of turmoil, in working to heal from this devastating health crisis, we will grow stronger in undertaking the task of a better future.

For all of us.