From Siberia to New York Mayors: How an Immigrant from Russia Seeks the American Dream

Vitaly Filipchenko came to the United States almost 15 years ago as a tourist and, according to him, immediately fell in love with this country. By that time, he already had a successful experience of setting up his own business in Russia, as well as the costs of the specific “business climate” he had to face in his homeland. Now he is running to mayor of New York. ForumDaily New York I talked to him in order to learn more about the only Russian-speaking candidate for the main post of the metropolis in this campaign.

Photo from the personal archive of Vitaly Filipchenko

Russian business and American love

“In the late 90s, I opened a summer cafe in Russia with an average capacity of 120 people. The business went very well, and the income for one night could sometimes be $ 1000. Immediately after the end of the first summer season, the city mayor's office transferred the land that I rented for the cafe to another tenant - someone who had personal connections with the city administration. A similar story happened with my other business. When I started to deal with metal supplies in my native Siberia, and the business began to gain momentum, Moscow was able to ensure that all logistics from now on would only go through the capital. In a word, I realized that it is very difficult for people who have no connections with high-ranking officials to survive in conditions of such discrimination, ”says Vitaly.

Tired of fighting the system, the entrepreneur decided to check on his own experience whether it is really possible in America to make a dream come true, relying only on his own talent and work, and not on the "necessary" acquaintances.

“I have believed in this since childhood. I remember when I was still in Soviet school and said that I like America, the teacher called my parents to school, ”Vitaly says.

At first, it was very difficult for a Russian to realize his “American dream”. The tourist visa was running out, and Vitaly, who did not want to break the law, was looking for all sorts of ways to get a work visa. Suddenly he was lucky: a friend introduced him to an American woman, and the young people sincerely fell in love with each other. By the way, at the moment Vitaly has been living in a happy marriage with his American wife for over 10 years. In 2009, he started his own travel assistance firm.

“At first I worked at a construction site, I took up any business in order to somehow live. But then I realized that regardless of the situation on the housing market, people in America still move frequently, ”explains Vitaly.

You may be interested in: top New York news, stories of our immigrants and helpful tips about life in the Big Apple - read it all on ForumDaily New York

New York problems

In parallel with his work, Vitaly Filipchenko volunteered as a volunteer assistant to the New York Police. Unlike Soviet ones, American "people's guards" wear uniforms and look almost indistinguishable from police officers from the outside. True, before receiving such a privilege, volunteers have to undergo training and pass the appropriate exam, first of all, having studied the legislation governing the activities of the police.

“We were engaged in patrolling the streets, ensuring security during rallies and marches, protecting individuals or objects. However, unlike the police, we had no right to carry firearms - only batons, ”says Vitaliy.

Photo from the personal archive of Vitaly Filipchenko

With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Vitaly Filipchenko began volunteering to deliver food and medicine to those in need. As the businessman explained, plunging more and more into the city's problems, he began to think about how to solve them. It was then that he had an idea: to try himself in the mayoral elections as independent candidate.

“For example, I am a road builder by education, and I immediately see when, for example, new races or road junctions are being built, mistakes are made. From time to time these mistakes are noticed by the builders themselves, but often too late. In front of my eyes, they once, in a couple of days, turned the road, which they had been paved for a month before. At the same time, money is spent completely irrationally, without any restrictions when using the budget. City officials do not even analyze how exactly last year's budget was used before forming a new one. I'm not even talking about cases of hypocrisy and corruption, when pressing problems are intentionally not solved, because it is not profitable for the local authorities to solve them, ”Vitaliy lists.

Business and pandemic

The Russian-speaking candidate places the main emphasis of his program on supporting small businesses, especially in a pandemic.

“I understand that the safety of people is important, but in practice, entrepreneurs who are forced to close their business are not provided with decent compensation or tax benefits. Moreover, if we turn to the experience of other countries, we will see that they were able to create new jobs even against the background of “covid”. For example, some people checked the temperature of passengers at metro stations, while others cleaned and disinfected the streets. This not only helped people earn money, but also actually reduced the risks of infection. Or, for example, in New York they talk so much about protecting the lives of blacks, but in practice, the city has the worst conditions in affordable housing, where many “colored” Americans live, ”says Vitaly.

Photo from the personal archive of Vitaly Filipchenko

As for the ideological platform, Vitaly Filipchenko prefers not to consider himself a Republican or Democratic.

“I am not a supporter of extremes, which, unfortunately, are present in both parties today. But I have a unique experience: I went through all the steps, from an immigrant tourist to a US citizen and a successful business owner. I understand the problems of different categories of people, ”he explains.

Vitaly admits: as an immigrant, he has a much more difficult time than American-born Americans, many people did not take him seriously when they heard the accent. According to him, mutual understanding occurs when he manages to talk with people, whether they are ordinary employees or big businessmen. However, this method does not bring much fame, and large media outlets, as Vitaly notes, prefer to communicate with already "promoted" candidates.

“Now I am recruiting a team and looking for volunteers. I understand that there are not so many chances, but I have an important advantage: I am not stained with political intrigue and corruption. So, it is important to try to use this chance, ”he is sure.

Recall that the general vote in the election of the mayor of New York will be held on November 2, 2021.

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