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City/Town of Residence
New York
Education
Graduated Manhattan Center for Science and Mathematics, Attended BMCC
Experience and Qualifications
Chief of Staff to deputy speaker Diana Ayala, Prior Director of Youth Services for Council Speaker Melissa Mark-viverito, Delegate to the National Convention
Community Involvement
Community Board 11 member
Party Affiliation
Democratic Party, Working Families Party
Key Endorsements
Congressman Adriano Espaillat, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, NYC Council Deputy Speaker Diana Ayala, Bronx Democratic Party, 1199 SEIU, 32BJ SEIU, NYC CLC, DC 37
Campaign Telephone Number
3472599208
Campaign Office Address
2164 2nd Ave New York, NY 10029
CampaignWebsite
www.elsieforcouncil.com/
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/elsieforcouncil/
The top three issues facing District 8 are housing affordability and displacement, youth development, and overall quality of life. Residents are being priced out of their neighborhoods as truly affordable housing disappears and rents rise. At the same time, our young people face limited access to enrichment, mentorship, and college or career pathways. Lastly, quality of life and public safety concerns are caused by insufficient access to healthcare and mental health services as well as aging infrastructure. All three of these issues are linked and tackling them requires a holistic approach.
To address housing affordability and displacement, I will fight to protect existing affordable units, strengthen rent protections, and ensure new developments serve community needs. For youth development, I will advocate for expanded after-school programs, mentorship, and college and career readiness initiatives. To improve quality of life, I will push for better access to healthcare and mental health services, cleaner and safer streets, and job training programs that connect residents to stable, well-paying employment.
In my first 100 days as Council Member, I will hire a community-centered staff with deep experience in grassroots organizing and strong constituent service skills. I will launch a public calendar of community town halls and listening sessions, and begin forming task forces to address the core platform issues raised throughout this campaign. These task forces will help shape legislative proposals rooted in the community’s needs. At the end of this period, I will publish a 100-Day Accountability Report to show real progress on the promises we made together.
The most ambitious goal I’d like to achieve is to build a truly community-led legislative agenda, one where the voices of East Harlem and the South Bronx directly shape the laws and policies that impact our lives. That means not only passing meaningful legislation on housing, youth services, and cultural equity, but also changing how the city government listens, responds, and delivers for our people.
The largest impediments to building a truly community-led legislative agenda in my district include bureaucratic resistance to participatory governance and persistent access gaps in technology and information. The situation is further complicated by the public’s mistrust, rooted in long term government neglect. Overcoming these obstacles requires systemic reforms that improve resource equity and visibly improve the lives of New Yorkers, ultimately rebuilding their trust in the civic process.
City/Town of Residence
Bronx
Education
JD from Pace Law; BA in Political Science from College of the Holy Cross
Experience and Qualifications
Former Prosecutor in Kings County; Former Legislative Director and Counsel for Former NYC Council Member Ben Kallos; Former Senior Director of Government Affairs for the Urban Resource Institute, the largest DV Services provider in the US.
Community Involvement
Member of the Board of Directors for Union Settlement; Member of the Metropolitan Hospital Community Advisory Board; Member of Community Board 11's Housing Committee
Party Affiliation
Democrat
Key Endorsements
CWA District 1; Citizen Action, Community Voices Heard, former Council Member Ben Kallos, East Harlem Committee for Good Government Democratic Club
Campaign Telephone Number
7184271132
Campaign Office Address
2455 Third Avenue, apt. 6N Bronx, NY 10451
CampaignWebsite
www.LopezforNYC.com
Instagram
www.instagram.com/lopezfornyc/
The top three issues facing New York City Council District 8 are:
1. Truly Affordable Housing & Housing Stability: With a majority of residents rent-burdened and only a small percentage owning homes, housing affordability remains the most urgent crisis. Many families face eviction, live in deteriorating NYCHA developments, or are excluded from new housing due to high Area Median Income (AMI) thresholds that don’t reflect local incomes.
2. Public Safety Rooted in Community Investment: Residents want to feel safe, but they also understand that safety comes from opportunity. There is strong support for investment in youth programs, mental health services, community-based crisis response, and well-maintained public spaces, rather than relying solely on policing.
3. Job Access & Economic Opportunity: District 8 has the highest unemployment rate in New York State. There is a need for workforce development programs, union apprenticeships
To address the top three issues in District 8 I will take the following actions:
Housing: I’ll fight for deeply affordable housing by pushing to tie affordability to actual neighborhood incomes, not inflated AMI levels. I’ll oppose privatization schemes like RAD/PACT that jeopardize public housing and instead demand full capital investment in NYCHA. I’ll also expand tenant protections by strengthening Right to Counsel and rent assistance programs, and support legislation like TOPA to give tenants the first right to purchase their buildings.
Public Safety: I believe safety comes from stability and investment. That means funding youth employment, after-school and mental health programs, and ensuring our neighborhoods are clean, well-lit, and cared for. I’ll also expand crisis response models that send trained professionals instead of police to respond to mental health calls, and hold city agencies accountable for addressing environmental and infrastructure issues that impact public safety—like broken streetlights and poor air quality.
Economic Opportunity: My Future Works Plan would create 10,000 jobs in the district through public-private partnerships, city-funded infrastructure and clean energy projects, and targeted workforce programs like union apprenticeships and second-chance hiring. I’ll fight to expand access to vocational training in public schools, support local small businesses, and ensure all investments include local hiring and equity standards so that the jobs we create stay in the community.
In my first 100 days, my top three priorities will be:
Heal the political divide in District 8 by bringing together leaders, organizations, and neighbors from both East Harlem and the South Bronx to build partnerships rooted in trust, transparency, and shared purpose. We cannot move forward divided—we need unity to win the resources and respect our communities deserve.
Deliver world-class constituent services by launching a fully accessible, multilingual office with evening and weekend hours, mobile office sites across the district, and a trained team, including social work externs, to help residents navigate housing, benefits, legal services, and more. Everyone in District 8 will know where to turn for help.
Lay the groundwork for policy wins by introducing legislation to increase access to affordable housing, expand youth programs, and demand transparency and investment in NYCHA. At the same time, I’ll push for a full audit of city services in our district so we can hold agencies accountable and make sure resources are being distributed fairly.
The most ambitious goal I’d like to achieve is ending homelessness in District 8 and across New York City. That means investing in truly affordable housing, expanding wraparound services like mental health care and job training, and creating a system where no one is left behind, because housing is a human right, and no New Yorker should be forced to sleep on the streets or in a shelter.
The largest impediments to ending homelessness are the lack of deeply affordable housing, chronic underinvestment in supportive services, and a shelter system that prioritizes temporary solutions over permanent stability. Additionally, bureaucratic delays, insufficient funding from city and state budgets, and policies driven by real estate interests rather than community needs have made it difficult to implement long-term, transformative change. Overcoming these barriers will require political will, cross-agency coordination, and centering the voices of those most impacted.
City/Town of Residence
East Harlem
Current Political Office (if applicable)
Democratic State Committee Man of 68th District
Education
Masters Degree
Experience and Qualifications
Bachelors in Political Science, Masters in Political Science with a concentration in Public Policy,
Community Involvement
Community Board 11 housing committee, licensing and permits, Democratic State Committee Man of 68th District 2022-present, Constituent Services Liaison for Assemblyman Robert Rodriguez, Special Assistant to New York City's Public Advocate, Adjunct Professor at City College
Party Affiliation
Democrat
Campaign Office Address
97-15 Albert Rd
CampaignWebsite
https://nicholasworksforyou.org/
The top three issues facing District 8—covering East Harlem and the South Bronx—are:
Lack of Truly Affordable Housing: There is a critical shortage of housing that matches the actual income levels of local residents. Many developments labeled as “affordable” remain out of reach for most families in our community. We need stronger policies to create and preserve housing that is genuinely affordable.
Limited Access to Healthcare and Mental Health Services: Many residents, especially the uninsured, struggle to access basic healthcare, mental health support, and wellness programs. Expanding community-based, culturally competent services is essential to improving long-term health outcomes.
Insufficient Youth-Centered Educational and Extracurricular Programs: Our youth need more robust, accessible opportunities outside the classroom—especially in areas like STEM, the arts, and college readiness. These programs are vital for keeping young people engaged, empowered, and on a path to success
As City Council Member for District 8, addressing the lack of affordable housing in East Harlem and the South Bronx will be a top priority. Our community has a critical yet underutilized resource—vacant buildings and rent-stabilized apartments—that must be converted into housing aligned with local income levels.
To unlock this potential, I would pursue a multi-pronged approach:
I will advocate for increasing the required percentage of affordable units in new developments, and expanding Mandatory Inclusionary Housing (MIH) to apply to more projects in rezoned areas.
I will only support new developments where affordability levels directly reflect the income needs of our community, ensuring they offer real solutions—not displacement.
I will prioritize partnerships and funding for mission-driven non-profits that are committed to long-term affordability and community stability.
I will push for legislation to stop landlords from leaving rent-stabilized units vacant and ensure these homes are made available to people on housing waitlists.
By leveraging existing housing stock and holding developers accountable to community needs, we can create lasting, affordable housing solutions for residents of District 8.
As a city council member, to address the lack of access to health care—particularly mental health services and wellness programs—in East Harlem and the South Bronx, the first step is to expand and properly fund programs like NYC Care, which provides low- or no-cost healthcare to uninsured New Yorkers. Reducing barriers such as travel and stigma is essential, so I would prioritize bringing services directly into trusted community spaces like libraries, churches, and community centers.
These spaces would also offer free wellness programs that support physical, mental, and social well-being, including fitness and nutrition workshops, mindfulness and stress management sessions, peer-led support groups, and mental health awareness campaigns. Additional offerings would include financial literacy classes and partnering with local community gardens to offer gardening programs to promote holistic health.
Finally, mental health crises should be treated as health issues, not public safety concerns. I would ensure the Behavioral Health Emergency Assistance Response Division (B-HEARD) is actively deployed in our communities to provide an appropriate, compassionate response.
I would also prioritize expanding youth-centered initiatives that enrich both educational and extracurricular opportunities. This includes partnering with proven local nonprofits like SCAN-Harbor to provide specialized programs in areas such as technology, law, journalism, and SAT prep—all free and community-based.
One key project would be revamping the Thomas Jefferson Recreation Center. My vision is to dedicate the first floor to health and wellness programming and the second floor to after-school educational enrichment. I will work to secure additional funding to bring this vision to life.
To ensure equitable access across the district, I would develop two additional hubs—one in the South Bronx, potentially at the newly redesigned 40th Precinct, and another closer to Lower Manhattan. These centers would expose youth to high-impact learning opportunities at an early age, which research shows improves long-term outcomes. I will also prioritize funding for schools with failing infrastructure, ensuring students have safe and supportive environments to learn and grow.
In my first 100 days as City Council Member for District 8, my top priorities will be:
Improve Quality of Life and Public Safety: I will prioritize cleaner streets, well-maintained infrastructure, and safer neighborhoods by investing in community-led safety initiatives—like violence interruption programs and mental health response teams—instead of relying solely on policing. I’ll also work to ensure all neighborhoods receive timely, equitable city services, from trash pickup to building repairs.
Advance Environmental Justice: I’ll push for investment in clean energy, green spaces, and environmental infrastructure, particularly in areas hit hardest by pollution and neglect.
Protect and Invest in NYCHA: I’ll oppose privatization and fight for the funding and accountability owed to the residents of NYCHA by New York State, for needed to repair and to preserve public housing.
These priorities address the most urgent challenges facing East Harlem and the South Bronx and lay the groundwork for lasting equity.
The most ambitious goal I have as City Council Member for District 8 is to lead a rezoning effort that truly holds developers accountable by requiring all new housing to align with the Area Median Income (AMI) of the local community—not citywide averages. Too often, “affordable” housing is still unaffordable for residents in East Harlem and the South Bronx. I want to change that by reshaping zoning laws to prioritize deeply affordable, community-driven development that keeps long-term residents in their neighborhoods.
The biggest impediment to achieving this goal is the influence of private interests—particularly real estate developers—who have long shaped local policy through political connections and campaign contributions. In some cases, previous elected officials put plans in place that prioritized developer profits over community needs, allowing projects to move forward without truly affordable housing. Undoing this legacy will require political courage, community-driven planning, and a firm commitment to transparency and accountability in the development process.
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