Benjamin Chou is an 11-year veteran of the New York City Fire Department. As a firefighter, he also serves as President of the FDNY Phoenix Society, which supports Asian community members of the department. Chou supports most of Citizens Union’s priorities except for moving local elections to even years citing, “concerns that it could diminish focus on local issues.” It’s clear from his dedicated career in public service, his candidate interview, and his questionnaire that Chou’s campaign is guided by principled calling for public service and the best interests of his constituents. Citizens Union endorses him in the race for City Council District 19.

Council Member Vickie Paladino is finishing her first four years in office. In 2021, Citizens Union wrote that Paladino “should not be elected for this position,” and we still believe that today. During her time in office, she has compared vaccine mandates to Nazi Germany, said protestors should be “slayed,” suggested that a journalist be punched in the face, and called for Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani, an American citizen, to be deported. We could not consider her for an endorsement as she declined to participate in our process but find her divisive, disparaging demeanor antithetical to public service and detrimental for civic life in New York City. We encourage voters to support her opponent.