Sachi's NYC Voter Guide
Here’s how I’m voting in the primary.
Local elections might not get as much attention as national ones, but they shape the daily realities of our lives- everything from how much we pay in rent, to how safe our streets feel, to whether we can find a public bathroom while we’re out and about. City Council Members, Borough Presidents, the Comptroller, and of course, the Mayor, make decisions that ripple through our neighborhoods. Your vote carries real weight in these races, especially since turnout is often low.
Early voting started today, June 14 and runs through June 22. Election Day is June 24. So make a plan: check your polling location, know the hours, and decide when you're going. Whether you're voting early or on Election Day, locking in your plan makes it far more likely you'll follow through- and it gives you a chance to remind friends to do the same.
If you’re still undecided on any local races, here’s how I’m voting, and I’m happy to share more about why I think these folks are the best candidates.
Mayor
Zellnor Myrie
Brad Lander
Adrienne Adams
I’m excited about all three of these candidates, and here’s where I’m coming from:
Housing is my top issue. I’ve seen how land use restrictions and lengthy approval processes limit the kinds of housing we can build and the amount we can supply- driving up prices and displacing communities. We need to build housing at all levels of affordability– and building market-rate housing makes it easier to build affordable housing. If we build more housing in NYC, we also get closer to our goals supporting a healthier climate, more economic opportunity, and more vibrant, diverse, inclusive communities.
I believe that the private sector and the public sector need to work together in order for our city to thrive. Businesses are a critical partner to government. Companies are often better positioned than government to move quickly and meet changing needs—and that kind of innovation is essential. And government plays a vital role too: in producing public goods, in protecting communities from harm, making sure the rules of the game are fair, and holding everyone accountable to following those rules. I support a capitalist, market-based economy that drives innovation and growth, while also ensuring we have a strong social safety net to share those gains more broadly.
We shouldn’t freeze the rent, we should build more housing.
We shouldn’t make buses free, we should make them better (I’ve been writing about this since 2020- here’s my 2020 op-ed in the SF Chronicle).
I won’t be ranking either Andrew Cuomo or Zohran Mamdani.
Cuomo has a history of sexual harassment and corruption allegations. His top-down management style makes it very hard for public servants to do their jobs. He opposes upzoning in low-density neighborhoods. On paper, it might sound like Cuomo’s approach to regulation and innovation would be aligned with my values, but unfortunately he’s just not an ethical actor.
Mamdani has very different views than I do on the role of government. His proposals are charming sound bytes, promising New Yorkers that we can have cheaper goods and services and that there won’t be any downstream negative impacts. As such, his proposals often fail the basic question: “Who’s going to pay for that?”. At least Mamdani has changed his mind over time about the role of the private market in housing construction. That’s a good sign that Mamdani can admit he was wrong and learn.
In contrast to Andrew Cuomo and Zohran Mamdani, Zellnor Myrie, Brad Lander, and Adrienne Adams have demonstrated strong ethics, bravery to stand up for progressive values, and pragmatic policy agendas.
Comptroller: Mark Levine
It takes real bravery for elected officials in NYC to stand up for housing over parking. To stand up for train commuting over car commuting. To stand up for change over the status quo. Mark Levine has been taking brave stances from the beginning and will continue to champion sound policy as NYC Comptroller.
Brooklyn Borough President: Antonio Reynoso
A large part of the Borough President’s role is the bully pulpit, using their powerful platform to speak out and influence public opinion or policy. Antonio Reynoso has used the bully pulpit effectively— he’s been a vocal supporter of congestion pricing and building more housing at all levels of affordability. He backed the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity rezoning, recognizing it as a necessary first step toward legalizing more housing in every neighborhood.
Manhattan Borough President: Keith Powers
Okay, I can’t vote in Manhattan anymore. But I feel really strongly about this one. Keith has been a principled, consistent advocate for housing—not just when it’s easy or popular, but when it counts. I saw this firsthand through his regular check-ins with our community board, where his bold leadership helped us and city planners think bigger.
He supported building more housing before it was politically trendy. Thanks to his backing, the Midtown South rezoning- transforming a job-rich, transit-rich area into a 24/7 neighborhood- is moving forward. It’s not just a win for his district, but a model for the rest of the city. Keith has always stood firm in the face of privileged opposition, and he’s been ahead of the curve in pushing for real solutions to our housing crisis.
City Council District 35: Crystal Hudson
I feel lucky to live in a district where the incumbent represents my values. Crystal Hudson advocates for more homes at all levels of affordability, to welcome new New Yorkers and to reduce displacement. Crystal championed the Atlantic Avenue Mixed Use Plan, which will add 4600 new units of housing in our district. This video says it all:
City Council District 4: Ben Wetzler
I've also been actively working on Ben Wetzler’s campaign. As a former resident of this district, I know firsthand how dynamic the East Side and Midtown are- and Ben is the best choice to represent them. The East Side needs a Council Member who can deliver real progress on housing, public safety, and transit and bike infrastructure, and Ben is ready to lead on all fronts.
Here’s two voter guides to read for info on other Council districts:
Whichever way you do it, VOTE and encourage your neighbors, friends, and family to vote, too!
Agreed on your mayor rankings, but I think it’s a mistake to not rank Zohran. He’s the other polling leader and is at least better than Cuomo on ethics, enthusiasm for nyc, and street use policy.
Great list! I also considered not ranking 4 and 5, interesting to see someone do that. Thanks for sharing.