I'm not about talking and finger-pointing and complaining; I'm about getting things done.

I think it's really important to realize that small businesses are often the portal for immigrants into the New York City economy.

If you don't like me, life goes on, you know what I mean? But I hope you do like me. Because I think that in addition to being pushy, I'm nice.

People used to feel oddly empowered to tell me all the reasons I couldn't win. Because I was a woman. Because I was a lesbian. Because I was from the West Side of Manhattan.

Being an activist is about getting things done. It's not about standing around shaking your fist in anger.

I'm not about talking and finger-pointing and complaining; I'm about getting things done.

My mother would organize huge parties for my elementary school classmates. To prepare, she would go back to the bakery in her old neighborhood of Inwood and get special shamrock cookies. Hawaiian Punch was served and we had shamrock napkins. It was a lot of fun.