DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY
Julie Menin ★ Preferred Candidate
Age: 53 Occupation: Former NYC Census Director, former Commissioner for the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment Education: Columbia University (Bachelor’s), Northwestern University School of Law (J.D.)
To read this candidate’s responses to CU’s questionnaire, click here.
Julie Menin enters this race with substantial experience in city government, most recently serving as Director of the Census for NYC, and Executive Assistant Corporation Counsel for Strategic Advocacy in the de Blasio administration. Menin previously served as Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, where she launched a five-part initiative to support women in film and television. Menin also founded the non-profit Wall Street Rising, which worked to give small businesses access grants, insurance, and other monetary aid, helping revitalize Lower Manhattan after 9/11. In her recent position, she led the country’s largest city-led effort to ensure an accurate census count. Menin’s foremost priority as a City Council Member is to increase transparency and accountability, pledging to respond to all constituent inquiries within 24 hours. Another top priority is revitalizing the post-pandemic economy by ramping up vaccinations, removing obstacles and fees for small businesses, and supporting the tourism industry. Although this crowded race includes many talented candidates, Menin stands out among this group. She cannot be beaten in terms of experience, knowledge, and capability. She demonstrated clear and concrete plans for a reform agenda. She would seek to chair the Oversight and Investigations Committee, and empower it with a robust legal staff to exert close oversight over agencies like the Police Department and the Board of Elections. She wants a speaker who believes in the Council’s accountability mission. For these reasons, Citizens Union believes she would be an effective lawmaker and supports her candidacy.
Billy Freeland
Age: 33 Occupation: General Counsel for fitness business Education: Columbia University (B.A. Master of International Affairs), NYU School of Law (J.D.)
To read this candidate’s responses to CU’s questionnaire, click here.
Billy Freeland is an attorney and community activist who currently works as general counsel for a small business, and serves as Officer and Secretary of Community Board 8.
In this role, Freeland has fought for public transit, safe streets, open space, and criminal justice reform and he co-chaired the Community Board’s Charter Revision Task Force. During the pandemic, Freeland volunteered in his community to deliver meals throughout the district and founded an online support group for people in need of mental health care. As an attorney, he was a member of the LGBTQ rights team that sued Mississippi to block an anti-marriage equality and transphobic law. If elected, Freeland’s top priority is to combat racial disparities in the economy, schools, and healthcare system by revamping public services and incentivizing the construction of affordable housing. Freeland is also committed to fighting climate change through decarbonization policies and further demonstrated detailed proposals on criminal justice reform and police accountability.
Rebecca Lamorte
Age: 29 Occupation: Legislative & Communications Coordinator Education: Fordham University (B.A. Political Science)
To read this candidate’s responses to CU’s questionnaire, click here.
Rebecca Lamorte is a community activist and currently works as the Legislative Communications Coordinator for the Greater New York Laborers-Employers Cooperation and Education Trust, a coalition of construction workers unions. Previously, Lamorte worked as a Public Affairs Associate with Metropolitan Public Strategies and as a Senior Associate with Beaudoin & Co LLC. Through her work with city unions, Lamorte has championed issues such as land use, housing, wages, and workforce safety and training. Lamorte is also a prominent community activist, serving on Manhattan Community Board 8 since 2017 where she works as secretary and is a member of the Transportation and Housing committees. Further, she is a member of the East River Democratic Club, through which she has helped spearhead public events and policy work. Lamorte’s top priority is increasing accessibility in the district by investing in strong infrastructure and public works programs. Lamorte also seeks to support more affordable and supportive housing in the neighborhood by sponsoring legislation to create an equitable development plan for the district. She demonstrated support for all of Citizens Union’s reform positions and offered comprehensive proposals for increasing transparency in city government, particularly on the issue of police accountability.
Kim Moscaritolo
Age: 42 Occupation: Technical Production Manager for Bloomberg Television Education: University of Florida, School of Journalism and Communicator (B.S. Telecommunication)
To read this candidate’s responses to CU’s questionnaire, click here.
Kim Moscaritolo is a journalist and community activist who has spent nearly two decades working in television. She began her career working in television news as a videojournalist
at CNN, where she was granted an Emmy award for her coverage of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Currently, she works as a Technical Production Manager for Bloomberg Television. As an activist, Moscaritolo has fought for Marriage Equality and was a founding board member at an environmental nonprofit aimed at combating climate change. Moscaritolo also served as the Legislative Committee Chair of New Yorkers Against Gun Violence. In an effort to increase political engagement in her neighborhood, she co-founded the Four Freedoms Democratic Club. She also ran and won for Democratic District Leader, fighting for stronger ethics rules and pushing for a ban on paid lobbyists in party leadership positions during her tenure. Moscaritolo’s foremost priority is supporting small businesses in the post-pandemic economy by co-sponsoring the Small Business Jobs Survival Act. She also pledges to fight for climate resilience and introduce legislation aimed at cutting carbon emissions city-wide. Moscaritolo also promises to increase investment in public goods such as parks and libraries.
Tricia Shimamura
Age: 32 Occupation: Director of Government Relations at Columbia University Education: Kenyon College (B.A. Sociology), New York University (Master of Social Work)
To read this candidate’s responses to CU’s questionnaire, click here.
Tricia Shimamura is a social worker and former Deputy Chief of Staff for Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney. Shimamura currently serves as the Vice Chair of Manhattan Community Board 8 and Co-Chair of the Parks and Waterfront Committee, where she has advocated for the revitalization of the East River Esplanade. Additionally, Shimamura has worked to improve pedestrian safety measures and increase affordable housing. During her time in Congressman Maloney’s Office, Shimamura worked to hasten the opening of the Second Avenue Subway Station and opposed the construction of the Marine Transfer Station. She also serves on the Democratic County Committee and is the Chair of the Diversity and Outreach Committee of Four Freedoms Democratic Club. In 2017, Shimamura founded She Will Rise NYC, an organization dedicated to supporting New York women leaders in government and the private sector. Shimamura’s primary priority as Councilmember would be to provide Universal Childcare to New Yorkers. Her campaign has also emphasized its focus on climate justice, advocating for the transition of renewable energy, as well as the creation of a renewable municipal public power system to provide all New Yorkers with green energy. Shimamura has also proposed addressing the needs of New York’s homeless by increasing funding to NYCHA, and introducing tenant protection measures including access to legal counsel, housing resources, and passing good cause eviction legislation in New York State. Citizens Union was impressed by her experience and a record as an effective collaborator.
Christopher Sosa
This candidate was not available for an interview
Marco Tamayo
This candidate was not available for an interview