NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — A Queens man who founded a free website which helped hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers get COVID-19 vaccine appointments is running for New York State Assembly.
Huge Ma, known as “Vax Daddy” to many New Yorkers, announced Sunday that he is running to represent Queens District 37, which encompasses his home neighborhood of Astoria, as well as Queensbridge, Dutch Kills, Long Island City, Sunnyside, Woodside, Ridgewood and Maspeth.
“I’m running to build a State Government that will approach our issues with urgency and creativity,” Ma said on Twitter.
The 31-year-old is best known as the creator of TurboVax, a website – which has since shuttered – designed to help New Yorkers find an appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine.
Roughly 2 million people visited his website in over four months, according to a report from The City, and he helped hundreds of thousands of those find vaccine appointments at a time when there was no clear way to search for one in New York.
“When the Mayor and Governor could not come together to deliver a single website to find a vaccine, Ma used his technology background to deliver a platform that helped hundreds of thousands of teachers, grocery store workers, and other regular New Yorkers get the vaccine,” his campaign said on his website.
He told The City that creating the website helped him think more on what he could do to help more New Yorkers every day.
“I never imagined that I could have that sort of tangible impact on all these people’s lives,” he said. “I only did what I thought was right and what was good for my neighbors … I think [running for office] is an extension of that.”
On his website, Ma noted that he is running to help a diverse group of people living in Queens, who he feels all need help in their own way.
“I am running for the Queensbridge tenant who lives with lead paint, for the Sunnyside resident facing a rent hike and for the frustrated Ridgewood commuter waiting for their bus to arrive,” Ma said. “It doesn’t have to be this way. I will take on the challenges of today with creativity and urgency.”
Ma has announced on Twitter that he intends to run a “grassroots campaign that won’t accept money from corporate interests.”
He also said his main goal is to create a “livable future” with his top issues being: True climate action, housing abundance, transit-first streets, good government tech, universal healthcare and free CUNY.
Ma has already filed paperwork to challenge Democratic incumbent Cathy Nolan, who has served as Assemblywoman for District 37 since 1984.
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