Mikhail Novakhov: I am against racism and Nazism in any form

Hello, Mikhail! I'll start this conversation with surprise. You are a famous radio host, a successful media manager, and your radio station Freedom-FM 104.7 broadcasts not only in New York, but also in Miami. That is, it would be logical to expect that you will continue to develop the radio business. And suddenly politics, elections, victory and the seat of a member of the New York State Assembly. But why?

Good afternoon, Irina! In fact, everything is logical and any radio professional knows the answer to your question. When you broadcast a program live, hundreds of people call and write to you. Someone answers, as they say, on topic, but a lot of people call to talk about their problems. People demand to sort out utilities and roads, influence the authorities, and try to reach high offices. Dozens, hundreds of calls and texts weekly! At some point I realized that I wanted to help these people. But it’s not just to discuss the issue on the air of Freedom FM, but to actually help. In 2021, after my team and I ran a successful campaign for the Brooklyn Republican Party, I received a call from party chairman Ted Gorra asking if I would be interested in running for state assembly. At that time I was not ready for this yet, but the idea seemed interesting to me. After this call, I discussed the possibility of a political career many times with other people from that sphere, and over time, the realization came that I wanted to participate in the life of our city. 

Let me remind you of 2020. Then you actively supported Democrats, but now you are a Republican. What caused this change in political views?

Let's talk about an important difference. Before 2020, I was a voter who openly and loudly supported the Democratic Party. You could say I was an active supporter of the Democrats. I was honestly impressed by the views of the Democratic Party, but over time I began to notice that they were changing significantly. The key moment for me was supporting the protests related to the death of George Floyd. This is what led to the incitement of interracial confrontation and hatred. I do not participate in such dirty games and I have moved to the conservative bloc of Republicans. And here, as a Republican, I began my political career. Despite the fact that the “elephants” in the New York State Assembly today are in the minority, I am impressed by the principles of Republican ideology. For example, the belief that politicians should intrude as little as possible into the lives of ordinary people and at the same time be a significant support to voters.  

Speaking of support, when you ran for the State Assembly, you announced support for small businesses as one of the key points of your election program. Why do you think this problem is so acute?

Because I myself, like many members of the Republican Party, am a representative of small business. There are few career politicians among us, but we are familiar first-hand with the problems and limitations that exist in New York in this area. Entrepreneurs feel absolutely no support from the city and state governments, but quite often face sanctions and restrictions that negatively affect their work and hinder small businesses. The question is large and systemic. For example, I plan to prescribe and fix measures to support small businesses at the legislative level. This is especially important to do now against the background of mass bankruptcy of small businesses due to the consequences of the pandemic. 

Another high-profile topic of your election campaign is strengthening security measures for citizens. The topic is very relevant now, given the increase in crime in New York, which has been noted in recent months. How do you intend to deal with this?

It seems to me that the primary task in ensuring law and order in the city is to restore the authority of law enforcement agencies. Due to the large number of protests that were supported by the former leadership of New York after the events of 2020, the role of the police in maintaining order has significantly decreased. I am currently in discussions with the commander of the 61st police precinct in Brooklyn to discuss the most pressing issues. An important issue is cancellation practices of mass release “on bail”. Today, this practice extends even to socially dangerous, uncontrollable and daring criminals. Finally, I do not agree with the Clean Slate Law and the idea of ​​universally releasing criminals over 65 from prison. A lot of work. 

Almost every Russian-speaking New Yorker knows your original broadcasts on Freedom FM 104.7 radio. Do you now find time for radio or did you have to give up in favor of working in the Assembly?

When I first started discussing my political career with my future party comrades, I was pleased with the fact that I would be able to continue working in radio. Now I understand that this is not easy. After being elected to the Assembly, I had to reduce the number of programs I present. Today there are two of them left:

• “H Time” airs Thursdays at 4 p.m.
• “Listen to the beer show “Foaming at the Mouth” on Fridays at 4 pm.

My original project “Durasik Park”, which I run together with Galya Goldberg on Thursdays and Fridays, has also been preserved. I think that despite my new political status, it is important for me to remain human, communicate with people, discuss pressing issues and sometimes fool around a little. Naturally, sometimes things can change. Assembly sessions are held from January to June 2-4 times a week, and in some cases there is simply not enough time on the radio.  

You were born in Baku, Jewish by nationality, but live in the USA. Do you think that in our time ethnicity and race have become a conventional concept, or are there still contradictions in society related to where a person was born and what color of his skin?

I am categorically against racism and Nazism in any form. It does not depend on a person what country he was born in and what color his skin is. The main thing is personal qualities and the ability to influence your own destiny, and not wait for support from the government while sitting on the couch. Sadly, in modern society, even in such a multinational city as New York, radical trends of racism, Nazism and anti-Semitism still exist. Using my own example as an immigrant who came from Russia 23 years ago, I can say that the United States of America provides equal chances for development for everyone. The main thing is to work and take responsibility for your life and the life of your family.  

You became a member of the Assembly not so long ago. What have you already accomplished in this position and in what direction do you plan to move in the future?  

Yes, I took the oath on January 4, and in our district my official presentation to voters, the inauguration will take place on April 2. I invite you too, Irina. If we talk about work, today my colleagues and I have focused on a package of bills related to the local development of the state. Among them:

• the introduction of mandatory certification of electric batteries for bicycles and mopeds due to the large number of cases of their spontaneous combustion;
• organization of a small paid beach on Brighton Beach, the funds from which will be used to pay for the work of the lifeguard service;
• restoration of the ability to disembark and embark passengers of small and medium-sized vessels on Sheepshead Bay. Ideally, we want to have regular ferry service from Sheepshead Bay to Manhattan, 20 minutes and you're in the center of New York. 
• traffic optimization;
• construction of a casino on Coney Island. I will take control of this, since I have a number of conditions under which I, as an assemblyman, can agree to the opening of a gambling zone. All of them are related to improving the lives of residents of the neighborhoods surrounding Coney Island Park. In addition, we are currently negotiating with the pharmacists association on the possibility of receiving funds from Medicaid directly without the mediation of insurance companies. I also regularly vote on various issues that affect the lives of the citizens of New York State. Given my past as a radio host, I am now actively building a dialogue with my voters. On my personal page on social networks (Misha Novakhov), on my official account (Assemblyman Misha Novakhov) on Facebook, I post the hottest topics. Now, my Assembly colleagues and I need to know what South Brooklyn residents think about the MTA's stop cuts and how they feel about the idea of ​​building a casino in Coney Island. So there are many plans, we discuss them publicly and they all relate to our everyday real life. 

Author: Irina Proskurina