Erik Bottcher is the District Chief of Staff for City Council Speaker Corey Johnson. He had previously worked for former Speaker Christine Quinn and for Governor Andrew Cuomo, which adds up to 12 years of government and constituent work. He played an essential role in getting marriage equality passed in Albany. Bottcher is well familiar with the district, and acts as Johnson’s representative while the Speaker is at City Hall. His top priorities include COVID-19 recovery, and addressing homelessness and affordable housing. He wants to extend the evictions moratorium and expand rental assistance programs, and plans to establish a West Side Employment Network to ensure that the companies relocating to the district are hiring local. Bottcher demonstrated an impressive knowledge of the position and an honest commitment to public service. Given the inexperience of the incoming City Council, Citizens Union believes Bottcher’s experience and readiness would be of use for New Yorkers.

Phelan Dante-Fitzpatrick, who describes himself as a gay black single father, is a local business owner hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic. A 20-year resident of the district, he had to close three locations and furlough 36 employees, forced to navigate between social services for himself and his employees. If elected, he would prioritize creating safer streets in the district, including achieving greater accountability for the NYPD. He also wants to ensure equal opportunity in access to social programs like school funding and housing benefits. Citizens Union encourages him to continue staying involved in civic affairs in his community.

Marni Halasa is a small-business owner who was a gold medalist figure-skater. Halasa has experience as a lawyer fighting for tenant’s rights and owns a small company while working as a figure-skating instructor at Chelsea Piers. Halasa, who has been described as a “professional protester”, began working on local causes during the Occupy Wall Street movement in 2013. She then wrote a guidebook for protestors and is known for her creative and eyecatching protesting tactics. If elected, Halasa plans to prioritize affordable housing by protecting tenants’ rights, transforming NYCHA, and keeping rents low. She also aims to invest in small businesses and community projects to help the local economy recover after COVID-19. Marni Halasa is a true activist,engaged in many important fights over land use and services in the district. Despite being an outsider, she has a good understanding of how to build coalitions in the Council. Such qualities serve New York well in driving policy forward, and Citizens Union hopes Halasa would continue to follow them.