Assemblyman Lester Chang (R,C-Brooklyn) announced today the staff members who will be crucial in the development of his communications directive, constituent services team,event coordination and general outreach plan. His staff will serve in Chang’s district office in Brooklyn and his legislative office in Albany. His team includes:

Soya Radin

Chief of Staff

Radin emigrated to the U.S. as a young child and has raised four children as a single mother. She currently hosts her own radio talk show known as "Soya's World," which discusses social, political and philosophical issues. She serves as chairwoman of the Brooklyn Chapter of Americans Against Antisemitism, a national grassroots organization. She has volunteered and worked throughout her life with individuals with special needs. She grew up above her parents' grocery store. She appreciates hard work and the problems facing the average New Yorker and is proud to be part of the American dream.

Yiatin Chu

Communications Director

Chu is an immigrant New Yorker and has called the city home since the 1970s. She entered the NYC public schools as an ESL student and graduated from the Bronx HS of Science before going on to earn her MBA. She co-founded and leads PLACE NYC, a volunteer education advocacy group and Asian Wave Alliance, a political club for the Asian community. Professionally, she held senior marketing roles in the biotech, medical and health care media industries.

Dmitriy Kugel

Director of Intergovernmental Relations and Legislative Advisor

Kugel is a business leader and philanthropist based in Brooklyn, NY. He has over 20 years of experience in government relations, non-profits and legislative processes. He currently serves as president of New Americans Civic League.

Vito LaBella

Director of Community Relations

LaBella is a retired NYPD lieutenant who spent most of his 32-year career keeping subway passengers throughout the city safe. After he retired in 2017, he became increasingly involved in education. He was elected to leadership teams in his children’s elementary, middle and high schools, served as PTA president at the Christa McAuliffe Middle School for five years and is currently on the executive board at Brooklyn Tech. He co-founded PLACE NYC and continues to advocate for transparency and accountability in the Department of Education.

George Sarantopoulos

Director of Community Relations

Sarantopoulos is a Brooklyn-based entrepreneur with experience in the payments and ATM business, as well as the restaurant and hospitality industry. He currently serves as chairman of the National ATM Council, an industry trade association, and is a consultant to companies in the payment industry.

ChingKit (Jack) Ho

Community Liaison Director

Ho worked in education early in his career. He has been in the media industry since 2007 and hosted a long-running radio broadcasting program for the Asian community for 15 years and a TV program for 5 years. He has been working at a nonprofit organization to serve his community for the last few years.

Xuhui (Sam) Ni

Community Liaison Director

Ni is a first-generation immigrant who completed a college degree in China. He is now a small business owner in South Brooklyn. He is a co-founder of New York City Residents Alliance (NYCRA/NYRA) and Asian Wave Alliance. Ni is committed to serving the community to achieve safety, education and equality.