Real Housewives of New York’s, Barbara Kavovit is running for governor of NYC. Way to aim high, Barbara! Here is what Barbara has posted on her official campaign website.
About Her Parents
Growing up in the Bronx and public schools taught me invaluable life lessons that influence me to this day. If you wanted something–anything–you’d have to fight for it. That mentality cultivated an entrepreneurial spirit from a young age, and by the time I was seven, I was selling snorkels and masks at our neighborhood pool. My Mom, a history teacher and later an assistant principal in public schools throughout the Bronx, insisted on academic excellence, which ultimately molded my character and work ethic.
My Dad, a mechanical engineer, also had a hand in my future. He was good at building things and always included me in his projects. He enlisted my help to build me and my sister’s bunk bed and I can still remember the awkward feeling of the heavy hammer being dwarfed in comparison to the great sense of accomplishment when finished. It’s a feeling I still remember and cherish to this day.
Education & First Business
I graduated with a double major in Economics and Finance from SUNY Oswego and tried my hand on Wall Street. During this time, there was a construction boom in New York City and my Mom and her friends complained about contractors and repairmen who didn’t show up. A lightbulb went off in my head and I thought, “What about a woman in construction?”
So I put on a tool belt, worked alongside an experienced carpenter, and took construction courses at BOCES and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. I learned how to build, read and estimate blueprints, order materials, and soon enough I was landing meetings with large corporations such as IBM, Bloomingdales and Carnegie Hall.
Overcoming Adversity
Being in a tough male-dominated industry had many challenges, especially not being particularly welcoming to females, but growing up in the Bronx taught me to fight hard and never stop for what I’m really passionate about. I was slowly chipping through the “glass ceiling,” and Crain’s Business even cited me as being one of the most “100 Most Influential Women in Business in New York City.”
Just like every New Yorker, my life completely changed after 9/11, and both my business and marriage came to a screeching halt. As a single Mom, I picked myself up, created a line of tools for women, authored three books and launched a new construction firm. You might also recognize me from The Real Housewives of New York City.
As a Bronx girl who’s paved her way in the male-dominated world of construction, I know something about overcoming adversity, creating opportunity and building something out of nothing–both for myself and those around me. And that’s why I’m running for Mayor of New York City.
The primary is in June. Her opponents thus far are Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, former presidential candidate and businessman Andrew Yang, New York City’s former sanitation commissioner Kathryn Garcia and former Citigroup executive Ray McGuire.
I guess if Andrew Yang can run, why not Barbara K?
(Honestly, I’m not sold yet on either one of them. And since I’m not a NYC voter, at least I don’t have to make that choice.)
Really? I really liked Yang during the debates. I found him to be really intelligent and actually kind of funny especially for a politician. But I’m also not in New York , so my opinion is of no importance either.
I was fine with Yang too. I voted for Buttigieg in the primary. I’m happy he is going to do something about this country’s infrastructure (or lack thereof).
I like Pete B. too.
Oh God Platitude Pete. Every time he opened his mouth to spreat another platitude I groaned. He wasn’t the worst candidate but he was close to it.
Could not stand Pete B! His health care plan was crap. Great health care for those that can afford it and for those that can’t, they get stuck with bottom of the barrel. I was hoping Bernie or Elizabeth Warren would have won. I am tired of centrists! Health care should be a right, especially in a pandemic.
I swear every time I saw him I was like STFU literally. I liked nothing about that dude.
I think ForumDude is my mother. I’m serious. Whatever I like he hates. Every.Single.Thing.
Just like my mama. 🙂
I have to go for a Covid test tomorrow & this is the first thing today that made me laugh!
Lol Terri do not encourage her!!!!!!! Although to be frank she cracked me up with that comment too.
Well, I loved my mama… so …you know… you’re probably an alright guy.
;0)~
I’m also not from NYC but heck…she absolutely sounds more than qualified! I wasn’t sure how I felt about her on Real Housewives of NYC – just not sure she got a fair shake towards the end of her season but maybe that was for the best.
I agree about her stint on RHONY. But wish her the best as a mayoral candidate. She has accomplished much in her life/career. Imagine how the housewives would kiss her butt if she wins.
But seriously, good for her – reaching for more!
It’s going to be an interesting race. She has some things going for her. She was born & raised there and has run successful businesses in NY.
Anyone is better then DeBlasio.
I live here so I know.
The criminals are running free!
He took away certain crime units.
He is a mess.
Crime has skyrocketed, because he jumped on the BLM bandwagon to tell him how to run our city.
I also live here and agree that DeBlasio is horrible. However, don’t give me the bs that it’s because of BLM. That’s ridiculous.
He has always been a mess. Blackout, anyone????
Andrew Yang would be great.
Sorry, Teresa, you had me right up until you threw in the “BLM bandwagon” line.
Right?!? ???
It was so uncalled for.
I hope Teresa has the same disdain for the fact that we have A DOMESTIC TERROISM ALERT for our nation right now. And shockingly, it is not the peaceful BLM folks. Nope it the same idiots that stormed the capitol. TRUMPERS.
I hope so.
Very horrible that we are scared of fellow Americans. But after January 6th, how could we not be??
I know right!
Guess which housewife call Page Six to endorse her within five seconds . DID YOU GUESS BROWN WIND ? Gawd. Apparently they spent “some time together” in The Hamptons over the summer. They met a BravoCon.
Once again, it’s all about Brown Wind. Vicki was right.
I had a feeling it wasn’t Ramona since Barbara is a Democrat, but I wouldn’t have guessed Brown Wind.
I don’t live there (and I don’t want to try to tell New Yorkers what they need), but from an outsider’s perspective, it seems like New York could benefit from a practical, business minded person with her boots on the ground and some real world common sense. It’s not the “in thing” now to want to really deal with crime, but the opposite extreme has hurt New York and so many other cities so badly (I live in one of the murder capitols- Baltimore, and my brother is a cop). We cannot in ANY way tolerate policing the way it’s been (in terms of Black lives and the horrors that have occurred), but what’s happening now that’s supposed to “remedy” to bad policing is clearly not working. The social remedies obviously need to happen, but those can take years to have any real affect. Meanwhile, extremes on either end are never good. Just in the surface, Barbara “seems” promising.
Oh- before I’m jumped on- I am not saying that the sky rocketing crime has ANYTHING to do with BLM, because I do not believe that. It’s that in so many places now, politics and policing is a combination that is clearly not working. My city has always been violent (increasing a lot in the past 10 years), but to see New York go down like this- it’s just so sad.
Hi, I’m a New Yorker. The current “violence” is heavily overblown. New York is very safe, and has been for my entire life (please take that with the context of me being born in ’91.) I understand that you have clarified that you are not blaming BLM for violence, but I’m actually not sure where BLM plays into this conversation at all. NYC had daily BLM protests (usually at least 3 a day) for 6 months straight after George Floyd’s killing, and the only violence related to those events were in the form of trans people getting kidnapped in vans by cops. There’s been some looting (which is not “violence”), but they weren’t happening in the same time/places as BLM protests.
Now that I’ve gotten that out of the way — It’s true that crime rates are up, and the cause is simple: covid. People are poor and desperate right now, leading them to do desperate things. Sparser crowds/fewer people going out means folks have a lot more opportunity to commit crimes without worrying about other civilians intervening. Many of us have been quarantining since March if we have the means to do so. We have experienced a lot of trauma being the first epicenter. I’m not trying to attack you, it just seems like you have some misguided thoughts about New York, and since in your own words, you “don’t want to tell us what we need”, I’d like to let you know. We don’t need a sharp business woman, or another reality TV politician, we need welfare in a time where so many people are forced out of work so that people don’t resort to this kind of behavior. New York is not “going down.” We’re tough, resourceful, and we’ll get through this.
Hi Nina- first, since you are not sure why BLM was brought into it- I mentioned it to distinguish my comment from the previous poster’s (her view was that BLM was related to increased crime). I do not in any way believe in that connection (and stated so) and wanted to make that clear.
I’m not sure if you had followed the trail of posts, or had just read mine. So, while your information about the events that occurred during the BLM protests are very interesting (and are actually along the lines of what I already thought), it wasn’t necessary to point that out to me (although the previous poster might have benefitted).
Second, as you are probably aware, crime is a highly complex issue- so complex that even those who study it for a living and teach the “science” of criminal behavior often struggle with it’s causes and solutions. Neither you or I are likely experts in the exact correlations between events and circumstances, and the exact causes of crime. This is a blog where people express their views- I was expressing mine (as others have).
Here are crime statistics, comparing categories of crime between JUne 2019 and June 2020 (my “impressions” are based on statistics):
“For the month of June 2020, the number of people victimized by gun violence and murder in New York City spiked significantly, when compared to the same period in 2019. Between June 1 and June 30, there was a 130% increase in the number of shooting incidents across the city (205 v. 89) as the number of shootings rose in every borough of New York. The number of people murdered citywide increased to 39 v. 30, (+ 30%) for the month, while the number of burglaries increased to 1,783 v. 817 (+118%) and the number of auto thefts increased to 696 v. 462 (+51%) citywide.nd solutions.”
You may note- shootings rose 130% (compared to the same month in 2019). The number of people murdered (comparing the same months) rose 30%.
I suppose one could argue that a 130% increase in shootings, and a 30% increase in murders (which of course, is simply a reflection of the people who were unlucky enough to die as a result of the 130% increase in shootings) was a direct result of COVID.
Perhaps it is, perhaps it isn’t- personally, I’ve been on the planet long enough to believe that those things should be determined by those with far more knowledge than me. ? My personal view is that a 130% increase in shootings is likely to be more complicated than the effects of COVID. But, neither of us are experts, I’m assuming.
Again, on a blog where TT posted that this woman was running, and where people express their opinions, I simply expressed my initial impression that Barbara “seemed” promising (to me). If I were a New Yorker, I’d need to know a whole heck of a lot more about her than I currently know before I’d vote for her. Thank you for expressing your views and your perspectives. Differences are what make the world go round, so I appreciate your views!
Nina- also (I should have cited my source for the stats, since we can’t link here) these were the stats published on the NYPD’s website. I just didn’t want you to think that I’d made them up!
Hi Kat, Thanks for responding, and for taking the time to find those stats! They are interesting to see. I didn’t see the previous comments from anyone saying BLM was responsible, I am reacting to your statement “what’s happening now that’s supposed to “remedy” to bad policing is clearly not working.” If you weren’t talking about the efforts of BLM, what did you mean? No major policy changes or budget cuts to remedy the bad policing have been implemented yet. There will be budget cuts for the NYPD, but those budget cuts don’t take affect until this year.
I standby my opinion that without Covid, there would not be an increase in violence, but yes, none of us are experts. To better clarify my thought process in thinking Covid is such an easy/obvious explanation — aside from crimes being committed out of desperation (which I think explains the heavy majority of robberies, car jacking, and burglaries) I consider someone becoming violent because they are short fused from the stress of isolating, or the trauma of all the lives lost, to be “covid related violence.” I also think that a lot of people who would be criminals regardless of covid are committing more crimes because there’s more opportunity. I’ve mostly lived in very lightly-policed neighborhoods uptown (Harlem/Washington heights) so I’ve never seen police stop a crime from happening, but I have seen civilians step in to stop crime a few times. I don’t think civilians are as willing to help each other right now, because of fear of contact.
Her comment of “you’re not Adele, LuAnn”
would be enough to get my vote. Alas I’m not a. New Yorker
Good for her. I’ve always liked her.
Was born & raised in NYC & many family and friends still reside – however some have already moved to Florida.
ANYONE Is better than DiBlasio & this was said well before the pandemic.
My favorite bud from our NYU days, right before the new year shut down 3 barber shops & 2 pubs in BKLYN.
He held out for assistance, while paying employees – till he had to shut it all down….still waiting for financial assistance.
He left for Florida last week – so sad my city just has been financially dismantled. Understand COVID-19 protocols – he actually spent a great deal to protect staff & employees.
I say she go for it, can’t hurt.
Interested who will run on the Republican ticket there – very curious.
Theory: Andrew Yang is paying Barbara to make him look like a more down to earth candidate.
(no I’m not serious, I just can’t stop ragging on Andrew Yang for thinking it’s cool to say he can’t live like us but still wanting to be our Mayor…. New York, Can we do better please???)