Jabari Brisport: Quotes and Statements
Brisport has spoken publicly about how his experiences as a middle school math teacher shaped his political commitments. He has described witnessing students struggling with housing insecurity and a lack of resources as a direct motivation for running for office, noting that the chronic underfunding of public schools and the expansion of policing created compounding injustices for New York's students . In an interview with Prep for Prep, he stated that he never wanted to forget that he was a teacher when serving in office, and that education remained one of his highest priorities .
Brisport has described himself as a proud socialist and a member of the Democratic Socialists of America since 2017 . He has praised the DSA's approach to local organizing, saying the organization was particularly effective at supporting the struggles of other groups without making it about itself . After the 2017 City Council race, Brisport wrote to supporters that their campaign had sent a clear message that socialism was rising in New York City .
Brisport has drawn connections between his theatrical training and his political career. In a Yale School of Drama alumni newsletter, he described his acting training in listening, empathizing, and collaborating as preparation for his political work, adding that artists are changemakers . He has said that his favorite times on stage were always when he was making a strong political statement .
In response to Governor Hochul's 2025 State of the State commitment to universal child care, Brisport expressed skepticism, saying that he did not blindly trust the governor to follow through on the policy . He has stated publicly that he was concerned Hochul might redefine universal child care in a way that fell short of truly universal coverage .
After Mayor Zohran Mamdani endorsed Governor Hochul for reelection in 2026, Brisport endorsed Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado instead, telling City and State that even Zohran gets it wrong sometimes . He added that the movement they had built was not controlled by any one individual and that Hochul would still have to listen to the people if she wanted their votes .
In response to a New York Times article about the DSA's efforts in communities of color, Brisport told the media watchdog organization FAIR that it was racist to suggest that a Black leader like himself was secretly operating on the whims of white people, saying it implied that Black socialist politicians do not have agency .
Brisport has described how growing up in Brooklyn gave him a firsthand view of how the real estate industry displaced longtime residents through aggressive development and speculation . He has called housing a human right and has described market-driven housing policies as producing predictable results: Gentrification and tenant exploitation .
After declaring victory in the July 2020 Democratic primary, Brisport's campaign emphasized the grassroots nature of his support, with the Working Families Party describing him as someone who had committed to a transformational platform from the beginning and had organized in the streets during the twin crises of COVID-19 and the George Floyd protests .