DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY
City Council District 29 – Forest Hills, Kew Gardens, Richmond Hill
Lynn Schulman ★ Preferred Candidate
Age: 65
Occupation: City Council Member (District 29)
Education: NYU (B.A.), Brooklyn Law School (J.D.)
To read this candidate’s responses to Citizen Union’s questionnaire, click here.
Lynn Schulman has been involved in the civic affairs of her community for more than a quarter century, serving on the local community board, precinct community council, community education council, chamber of commerce, as well as working for several council members, including former Speaker Corey Johnson.
She ran for this City Council seat three times – Citizens Union supported her in 2009 – until winning a competitive election in 2021. Schulman, who previously held posts at the Woodhull Medical Center and the Gay Men’s Health Crisis, chairs the Council’s Health Committee and focuses her legislative work on healthcare issues. She passed legislation establishing a citywide diabetes reduction plan and helped to pass the Council’s response to the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, which added protections for abortion access.
If elected, her top priorities include protecting hospital capacity, improving education by fast tracking and expanding the 3-K program, and developing in-district senior housing. Schulman supports most of Citizens Union reform agenda though she has reservations and wants more analysis done on implementing even-numbered municipal elections and open primaries. She stressed the importance of conducting oversight and seems to have taken a real interest in seriously reviewing nominations before the Council.
Her interview reflected her deep knowledge of policy issues and commitment to upholding the high standards of the office. Citizens Union prefers Lynn Schulman in this race due to her established track record as a public servant and strong support of reform.
Ethan Felder
Age: 35
Occupation: Labor Lawyer
Education: Cornell University (B.A.), Washington University in St. Louis (M.B.A. & J.D.)
To read this candidate’s responses to Citizen Union’s questionnaire, click here.
Felder is a union lawyer and district leader born and raised in Forest Hills. After completing law school, he began working in the financial sector. Shortly after beginning his career, he had a change of heart and pivoted to practicing as a labor attorney. He worked at Koehler and Isaacs LLP, and later moved to 32BJ SEIU, the powerful service workers union, where he is currently Assistant General Counsel.
As a lawyer, he has also worked on voting rights issues, representing pro bono the LeFrak City Tenants Association, which sued the NYC Board of Elections to prevent a local polling site from being moved just prior to an election. In a rare upset, he defeated an incumbent district leader in the 2020 primary and has served in the position since. He then went on to challenge Assembly Member Andrew Hevesi in the 2022 primary but fell short of winning.
If elected, his top priorities include reversing educational budget cuts and reducing class size, advancing climate action, and improving public safety. He supports Citizens Union’s reform agenda and said his top priority would be to work towards an “inclusive democracy,” including by dismantling barriers to community participation in politics and decision-making. He stressed the Council needs to be firm on ethics oversight and said corruption is still very much endemic in municipal government.
Citizens Union felt Felder was an impressive candidate who has the potential to go far in city politics and greatly appreciates his willingness to represent the people of his district.
Sukhjinder Nijjar (Sukhi Singh)
Age: 44
Occupation: Trader
Education: LaGuardia Community College (B.A.)
To read this candidate’s responses to Citizen Union’s questionnaire, click here.
Sukhjinder Nijjar, a small business entrepreneur focused on financial consulting, has been active in the civic affairs of the Southeast Asian community for decades. He is currently a member of the Queens District Attorney’s South Asian Advisory Council and was the Media and Public Relations Chairperson for the Sikh Cultural Society from 2016 to 2019.
Nijjar says he became involved in local politics following a spike in hate crimes against the Asian community. His top priorities include resisting budgetary cuts to education and promoting public safety through the implementation of after-school programs, as well as recalling bail reform. If elected, he pledges to give half of his first-year salary to local schools and community centers.
Nijjar supports most of Citizens Union’s reform issues, particularly those regarding expanding voting rights. Citizens Union appreciates Nijjar’s commitment to serving his community.