Maya Kornberg | Brennan Center for Justice

Maya is originally from Brooklyn. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Stanford University, a master’s degree in public administration from Columbia University, and a doctorate degree in politics from Oxford University. She lives in Brooklyn with her spouse and their child.

Maya currently works as a senior research fellow and manager in the Brennan Center for Justice’s elections and government program. She previously held positions at the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the United Nations Development Program, NYU GovLab, and Public Agenda. She has taught political science at New York University, Georgetown University, and American University, and is the author of Inside Congressional Committees.

Maya Kornberg - Ballotpedia

Maya Kornberg's run for City Council in NYC District 39 is her first campaign for public office.

Supports mixed-use developments that include below-market retail space for local small businesses.

Supports streamlined permitting processes for low-risk small businesses.

Supports pilot programs for commercial and retail rent stabilization for small businesses.

Supports increasing transparency in the commercial leasing process.

- Supports using union labor on projects.
- Supports mixed-use developments that include below-market retail space for local small businesses.
- Supports streamlined permitting processes for low-risk small businesses.
- Supports pilot programs for commercial and retail rent stabilization for small businesses.
- Supports increasing transparency in the commercial leasing process.

Economy

Supports streamlining the process of disbursing city funds to non-profit organizations that provide services to the LGBTQ+ community.

Supports preserving the Medicare plans promised to public sector union retirees.

- Supports streamlining the process of disbursing city funds to non-profit organizations that provide services to the LGBTQ+ community.
- Supports preserving the Medicare plans promised to public sector union retirees.

Public Services

Supports universal free childcare and city investment in infant care centers.

Supports increasing resources for parents to navigate the application and enrollment process for Pre-K, 3-K, and 2-K programs.

Supports implementing a universal 2-K system citywide.

Supports increasing oversight of class size reductions in School District 15 and citywide to ensure efficient and equitable implementation.

Supports the efficient implementation and evaluation of the D15 Diversity Plan and continued recruitment of culturally responsive and talented teachers.

Supports increasing funding for English Language Learner (ELL) and special education programs.

Supports policies that ensure all students feel safe on campus.

Supports preventing students and faculty from being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on campus.

Supports fair pay and working conditions for City University of New York (CUNY) employees.

Supports paying childcare workers in city-run or subsidized daycares and pre-schools equitable wages with benefits.

Supports transgender children participating on athletic teams that align with their gender identity, in accordance with Department of Education policy, city and state human rights laws, and the New York State Constitution.

Supports transgender children participating on athletic teams that align with their gender identity.

- Supports universal free childcare and city investment in infant care centers.
- Supports increasing resources for parents to navigate the application and enrollment process for Pre-K, 3-K, and 2-K programs.
- Supports implementing a universal 2-K system citywide.
- Supports increasing oversight of class size reductions in School District 15 and citywide to ensure efficient and equitable implementation.
- Supports the efficient implementation and evaluation of the D15 Diversity Plan and continued recruitment of culturally responsive and talented teachers.
- Supports increasing funding for English Language Learner (ELL) and special education programs.
- Supports policies that ensure all students feel safe on campus.
- Supports preventing students and faculty from being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on campus.
- Supports fair pay and working conditions for City University of New York (CUNY) employees.
- Supports paying childcare workers in city-run or subsidized daycares and pre-schools equitable wages with benefits.
- Supports transgender children participating on athletic teams that align with their gender identity.

Education

Supports protecting and expanding free legal services for those facing eviction.

Supports protecting and expanding NYC shelters and supportive housing, including investment in programs for those living with disabilities or physical illness, mental illness, and other vulnerable groups.

Supports expanding rent stabilization protections.

Supports incentivizing landlords to offer longer lease terms.

- Supports protecting and expanding free legal services for those facing eviction.
- Supports protecting and expanding NYC shelters and supportive housing, including investment in programs for those living with disabilities or physical illness, mental illness, and other vulnerable groups.
- Supports expanding rent stabilization protections.
- Supports incentivizing landlords to offer longer lease terms.

Housing & Urban Development

Supports investing in more deescalation, anti-racism, and sensitivity training for NYPD officers and increasing accountability for officers who commit misconduct.

Supports fostering positive interactions between police officers and the communities they serve through active community engagement and more accessible, frequent police precinct community meetings.

Supports closing Rikers Island by 2027 and building more humane and accessible borough-based city jails.

Supports providing funding for increased training in mental health and deescalation for corrections officers, as well as increased support for mental and behavioral health services in city jails.

Supports programs that provide coaching in financial literacy, conflict mediation, and other skills for incarcerated individuals.

Supports eliminating unnecessary court-related fees that create debt and exacerbate poverty.

Supports eliminating unnecessary court-related fees that create debt and increase poverty.

Supports police presence at subway stations, focusing on areas with the highest incident reports and above-ground hotspots.

Supports increasing Mobile Crisis Team patrols of subway stations, in coordination with the NYPD, to respond to nonviolent mental health crises.

Supports state efforts to require installing Intelligent Speed Assistance devices in the cars of prolific repeat speeding and reckless driving offenders.

Supports installing Intelligent Speed Assistance devices in cars of repeat speeding and reckless driving offenders.

Plans to work with the NYPD to increase investigative and enforcement efforts on dangerous driving behaviors like hit-and-runs, drag racing, and drunk driving.

Believes the NYPD should have more investigative and enforcement powers over dangerous driving behaviors, including hit-and-runs, drag racing, and drunk driving.

- Supports investing in more deescalation, anti-racism, and sensitivity training for NYPD officers and increasing accountability for officers who commit misconduct.
- Supports fostering positive interactions between police officers and the communities they serve through active community engagement and more accessible, frequent police precinct community meetings.
- Supports closing Rikers Island by 2027 and building more humane and accessible borough-based city jails.
- Supports providing funding for increased training in mental health and deescalation for corrections officers, as well as increased support for mental and behavioral health services in city jails.
- Supports programs that provide coaching in financial literacy, conflict mediation, and other skills for incarcerated individuals.
- Supports eliminating unnecessary court-related fees that create debt and increase poverty.
- Supports police presence at subway stations, focusing on areas with the highest incident reports and above-ground hotspots.
- Supports increasing Mobile Crisis Team patrols of subway stations, in coordination with the NYPD, to respond to nonviolent mental health crises.
- Supports installing Intelligent Speed Assistance devices in cars of repeat speeding and reckless driving offenders.
- Believes the NYPD should have more investigative and enforcement powers over dangerous driving behaviors, including hit-and-runs, drag racing, and drunk driving.

Public Safety

Supports expanding sidewalk daylighting (prohibiting parking adjacent to cross walks) and extended curbs at high-traffic intersections to improve pedestrian visibility.

Supports prohibiting parking next to crosswalks and extending curbs at high-traffic intersections to improve pedestrian visibility.

Supports upholding and expanding congestion pricing to fund additional MTA improvements and further reduce traffic congestion.

Supports creating a busway transit corridor along Atlantic Avenue, similar to the successful 14th Street busway in Manhattan.

Supports restoring the B71 bus line along Union Street and creating a more accessible bus network with connections to the subway and CitiBike hubs.

Supports making more subway stops accessible by installing elevators and escalators.

- Supports prohibiting parking next to crosswalks and extending curbs at high-traffic intersections to improve pedestrian visibility.
- Supports upholding and expanding congestion pricing to fund additional MTA improvements and further reduce traffic congestion.
- Supports creating a busway transit corridor along Atlantic Avenue, similar to the successful 14th Street busway in Manhattan.
- Supports restoring the B71 bus line along Union Street and creating a more accessible bus network with connections to the subway and CitiBike hubs.
- Supports making more subway stops accessible by installing elevators and escalators.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Supports holding "fake abortion clinics and crisis pregnancy centers" accountable for spreading misinformation on reproductive care.

Supports increasing investment in both in-patient and out-patient mental health services at H+H facilities and lobbying the state for more funding.

Supports increasing investment in both in-patient and out-patient mental health services at H+H facilities.

Supports ramping up the Mobile Crisis Team program and increasing the number of Crisis First Responders.

Supports investing in more Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Programs to provide emergency psychiatric services and crisis care to New Yorkers.

- Supports holding "fake abortion clinics and crisis pregnancy centers" accountable for spreading misinformation on reproductive care.
- Supports increasing investment in both in-patient and out-patient mental health services at H+H facilities.
- Supports ramping up the Mobile Crisis Team program and increasing the number of Crisis First Responders.
- Supports investing in more Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Programs to provide emergency psychiatric services and crisis care to New Yorkers.

Healthcare

Supports increasing funding for the CoolRoofs Program to train New Yorkers in installing solar reflective coatings on rooftops, aiming to reduce cooling needs.

Supports increasing funding for the CoolRoofs Program to train New Yorkers in installing solar reflective coatings on rooftops.

Supports investing in anti-flooding infrastructure like underground storage tanks, bioswales, permeable pavement, and rain gardens, focusing on the most flood-prone areas.

Supports investing in anti-flooding infrastructure like underground storage tanks, bioswales, permeable pavement, and rain gardens.

Supports upgrading sewage infrastructure to prevent combined sewer overflows from dumping unregulated contaminants into waterways.

Supports codifying and funding the City’s Cooling Center Program, prioritizing the most vulnerable communities.

Supports increasing NYC's tree canopy coverage from 22% to 30%, prioritizing communities with low tree coverage.

- Supports increasing funding for the CoolRoofs Program to train New Yorkers in installing solar reflective coatings on rooftops.
- Supports investing in anti-flooding infrastructure like underground storage tanks, bioswales, permeable pavement, and rain gardens.
- Supports upgrading sewage infrastructure to prevent combined sewer overflows from dumping unregulated contaminants into waterways.
- Supports codifying and funding the City’s Cooling Center Program, prioritizing the most vulnerable communities.
- Supports increasing NYC's tree canopy coverage from 22% to 30%, prioritizing communities with low tree coverage.

Energy & the Environment

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Maya Kornberg

As of May 7, 2025, Nickie Kane’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Nickie Kane is running for New York City Council. She previously attempted to run for City Council in 2023 but was removed from the ballot due to a petition formatting error and did not appear on the ballot.

Opposes Social Security cuts and supports expanding the program to protect seniors and disabled individuals.

- Opposes Social Security cuts and supports expanding the program to protect seniors and disabled individuals.

As of June 7, 2025, Nickie Kane’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Opposes federal efforts to defund the Department of Education and supports increased public school funding.

- Opposes federal efforts to defund the Department of Education and supports increased public school funding.

Criticized income thresholds in NYC’s affordable housing lottery, stating they exclude low-income residents.

- Criticized income thresholds in NYC’s affordable housing lottery, stating they exclude low-income residents.

Criticized the city’s handling of pedestrian signal changes that created safety risks.

- Criticized the city’s handling of pedestrian signal changes that created safety risks.

Supports Medicaid and opposes funding cuts, emphasizing its role for low-income individuals.

- Supports Medicaid and opposes funding cuts, emphasizing its role for low-income individuals.

Nickie Kane

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Shahana is originally from Brooklyn. She earned a bachelor’s degree in women's and gender studies and TV/radio from Brooklyn College. She lives in the Kensington neighborhood of Brooklyn.

Shahana previously worked as director of organizing and community engagement and as a Bangladeshi community liaison for Council Member Brad Lander. Before that, she worked as a public housing tenant organizer with CAAAV: Organizing Asian Communities.

Shahana Hanif - Ballotpedia

Shahana Hanif currently serves as the New York City Council Member for District 39. She was first elected in 2021 and is serving her 2nd term.

Supports unionization and striking workers.

Introduced the Tip Theft Prevention Act to ensure food service workers receive their earned tips.

Advocates ending 24-hour shifts for home care workers.

Supports increasing subsidized artist studios, dedicated artist housing, and the federal Living Wage for Musicians Act.

Supports reducing commercial vacancies, unnecessary fines, and improving multi-lingual services for immigrant-owned establishments.

- Supports unionization and striking workers.
- Introduced the Tip Theft Prevention Act to ensure food service workers receive their earned tips.
- Advocates ending 24-hour shifts for home care workers.
- Supports increasing subsidized artist studios, dedicated artist housing, and the federal Living Wage for Musicians Act.
- Supports reducing commercial vacancies, unnecessary fines, and improving multi-lingual services for immigrant-owned establishments.

Supports the 1% for Parks campaign, which would allocate more funds to green spaces.

- Supports the 1% for Parks campaign, which would allocate more funds to green spaces.

Supports a universal childcare program to provide access to high-quality early education for children from 2 years old to Pre-K.

Supports expanding the "Promise NYC" program, which provides childcare for immigrant families.

Advocated for culturally responsive meal options, including kosher and halal meals, in local schools.

Supports the Green Healthy Schools campaign to make renewable energy upgrades to school buildings.

Supports efforts to combat hate in public schools, including restorative justice programs and curricula that emphasize diversity and inclusion.

- Supports a universal childcare program to provide access to high-quality early education for children from 2 years old to Pre-K.
- Supports expanding the "Promise NYC" program, which provides childcare for immigrant families.
- Advocated for culturally responsive meal options, including kosher and halal meals, in local schools.
- Supports the Green Healthy Schools campaign to make renewable energy upgrades to school buildings.
- Supports efforts to combat hate in public schools, including restorative justice programs and curricula that emphasize diversity and inclusion.

Advocates for preserving affordable housing and combating deed theft to protect residents from displacement.

Plans to ensure future development prioritizes climate justice by creating green spaces, improving sewage systems, and building resilient infrastructure.

Established the Gowanus Rezoning Oversight Taskforce to hold developers and the administration accountable.

As a city council member, supported the Homes Now, Homes for Generations campaign, which secured $2 billion for housing preservation and development.

- Advocates for preserving affordable housing and combating deed theft to protect residents from displacement.
- Plans to ensure future development prioritizes climate justice by creating green spaces, improving sewage systems, and building resilient infrastructure.
- Established the Gowanus Rezoning Oversight Taskforce to hold developers and the administration accountable.
- As a city council member, supported the Homes Now, Homes for Generations campaign, which secured $2 billion for housing preservation and development.

Supports police reform and accountability, including passing the How Many Stops Act to address discriminatory practices, opposing biased surveillance, and speaking out against corruption.

Supports improving safety for detained people and corrections staff by increasing access to Narcan in jails.

Supports major reforms for the NYPD, including disbanding units like the Strategic Response Group and the Vice Squad.

- Supports police reform and accountability, including passing the How Many Stops Act to address discriminatory practices, opposing biased surveillance, and speaking out against corruption.
- Supports improving safety for detained people and corrections staff by increasing access to Narcan in jails.
- Supports major reforms for the NYPD, including disbanding units like the Strategic Response Group and the Vice Squad.

Supports congestion pricing, believing it will enhance street safety and support vital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) investments.

- Supports congestion pricing, believing it will enhance street safety and support vital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) investments.

Plans to introduce the Affirm Act to protect the safety of patients and staff at healthcare facilities that provide gender-affirming care.

Supports a single-payer insurance system and endorses Medicare for All at the federal level and the New York Health Act at the state level.

- Supports abortion access.
- Plans to introduce the Affirm Act to protect the safety of patients and staff at healthcare facilities that provide gender-affirming care.
- Supports a single-payer insurance system and endorses Medicare for All at the federal level and the New York Health Act at the state level.

As a city council member, introduced and passed legislation instituting New York City’s first Citywide Curbside Composting program.

Launched the City’s first climate justice-focused Participatory Budgeting cycle, investing $1.5 million into resiliency projects in District 39, developed through grassroots input.

As a city council member, pushed for the full and timely implementation of Local Law 97, which mandates emissions reductions for large buildings, and sponsored Int. 1180 to eliminate loopholes in the law.

Worked with the Department of Environmental Protection to hold community town halls on flood mitigation and adaptation strategies, and collaborated with local groups to prevent flooding.

Oversaw the completion of the BED 798 sewer main construction in northern Park Slope, reducing flood risks and supporting green infrastructure initiatives.

Advocates for expanding infrastructure to handle storm surges and increased water runoff.

Exploring legislation to create more green spaces, expand resiliency projects, reduce fossil fuel dependency, and lower urban heat islands.

- As a city council member, introduced and passed legislation instituting New York City’s first Citywide Curbside Composting program.
- Launched the City’s first climate justice-focused Participatory Budgeting cycle, investing $1.5 million into resiliency projects in District 39, developed through grassroots input.
- As a city council member, pushed for the full and timely implementation of Local Law 97, which mandates emissions reductions for large buildings, and sponsored Int. 1180 to eliminate loopholes in the law.
- Worked with the Department of Environmental Protection to hold community town halls on flood mitigation and adaptation strategies, and collaborated with local groups to prevent flooding.
- Oversaw the completion of the BED 798 sewer main construction in northern Park Slope, reducing flood risks and supporting green infrastructure initiatives.
- Advocates for expanding infrastructure to handle storm surges and increased water runoff.
- Exploring legislation to create more green spaces, expand resiliency projects, reduce fossil fuel dependency, and lower urban heat islands.

Shahana Hanif

- City Council Members work together to enact local laws, approve the city budget, and oversee land use and zoning regulations. ​
- Council Members oversee city agencies, ensuring they effectively serve the public and address community needs. ​

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New York City City Council Member, District 39, Democratic Primary

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