The Democratic primaries in June are about a month away, and one of the races is for New York City Council District 38 representing parts of Red Hook, Sunset Park, Dyker Heights, Borough Park, Bensonhurst and Bath Beach.

Councilwoman Alexa Avilés currently represents that district and is running for re-election.

Avilés says she moved to East New York from Puerto Rico at age 5 after her father was killed in front of her. Years later, she tells News 12 she's turned that pain into purpose and has valued community from a young age.

"I loved growing up there. I loved my neighbors. I love the blocks. People would look out for each other. And if there was food for one, there was food for the whole neighborhood," said Avilés.

Avilés says housing affordability is an important issue.

"We have to increase subsidy from the city government into development and push down the income requirements, pushing projects through. There's a lot of bureaucracy projects that take a long time," said Avilés.

In her time as councilwoman, she says policies she's worked on for clean air, rebuilding playgrounds and her constituent services are just a few of the things she's proud of.

When it comes to future spending for the city's budget, she says she wants to fill in the gaps she claims are at the federal level.

"Here in our district, AmeriCorps has been used often for youth programs, very often for afterschool programming," said Avilés.

The Democratic primaries will be on June 24.