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Benjamin is originally from the Upper East Side of Manhattan. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Johns Hopkins University. He attended Riverdale Country School for high school. He lives in Stuyvesant Town with his partner.

Benjamin currently works as the assistant director for policy and program analysis at New York State Homes and Community Renewal. He previously served as a senior policy specialist and analyst in the same agency and worked as an analyst for the New York State Governor’s SAGE Commission.

Benjamin Wetzler previously served as the Democratic Party District Leader for the 76th Assembly District, Part A, from 2017 to 2023.

Supports requiring online platforms to report resellers of stolen goods.

Supports rescinding city tax breaks for companies enabling illegal resale.

- Supports requiring online platforms to report resellers of stolen goods.
- Supports rescinding city tax breaks for companies enabling illegal resale.

Economy

Supports improving sanitation pick-up through containerization.

Supports implementing speed limits for motorized bikes in parks.

Supports creating task forces to address graffiti and sidewalk disrepair.

Supports introducing food and drink concessions at waterfront sites.

- Supports improving sanitation pick-up through containerization.
- Supports implementing speed limits for motorized bikes in parks.
- Supports creating task forces to address graffiti and sidewalk disrepair.
- Supports introducing food and drink concessions at waterfront sites.

Public Services

Supports expanding classroom capacity and upgrading school buildings.

Supports protecting arts and music education from budget cuts.

Supports establishing high-quality computer labs in every East Side school.

Supports fully funding special education resources and ensuring Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) are done collaboratively.

- Supports expanding classroom capacity and upgrading school buildings.
- Supports protecting arts and music education from budget cuts.
- Supports establishing high-quality computer labs in every East Side school.
- Supports fully funding special education resources and ensuring Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) are done collaboratively.
- Supports expanding mentorship programs.

Education

Supports "Housing First" strategies for homelessness.

Supports reforming building codes for mid-rise, family-friendly buildings.

Supports converting office space into housing and childcare centers.

Supports policies that will help seniors "age in place."

Supports streamlining outreach and intake for supportive housing.

Supports fully funding the Right to Counsel, which provides legal representation to tenants facing eviction.

Supports reforming the Rent Guidelines Board to reflect community needs.

Supports strengthening rent stabilization enforcement.

Wants to lower insurance costs for co-ops and condos through risk pools.

Supports providing tax credits for Local Law 97 compliance, which mandates reductions in greenhouse gas emissions for large buildings.

Supports raising and indexing the income cap for the Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) and Disability Rent Increase Exemption (DRIE) programs.

- Supports "Housing First" strategies for homelessness.
- Supports reforming building codes for mid-rise, family-friendly buildings.
- Supports converting office space into housing and childcare centers.
- Supports policies that will help seniors "age in place."
- Supports streamlining outreach and intake for supportive housing.
- Supports fully funding the Right to Counsel, which provides legal representation to tenants facing eviction.
- Supports reforming the Rent Guidelines Board to reflect community needs.
- Supports strengthening rent stabilization enforcement.
- Wants to lower insurance costs for co-ops and condos through risk pools.
- Supports providing tax credits for Local Law 97 compliance, which mandates reductions in greenhouse gas emissions for large buildings.
- Supports raising and indexing the income cap for the Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) and Disability Rent Increase Exemption (DRIE) programs.

Housing & Urban Development

Supports establishing a zero-tolerance policy for firearms in public spaces.

Supports creating a dedicated NYPD-DA task force for gun violence response.

Supports providing city support for security at religious institutions and enforcing hate crime laws while improving reporting mechanisms.

Supports coordination between precincts to prevent crime spillover.

Supports establishing a mobile command center for East 14th Street and 1st Avenue.

Supports increasing patrols at crime hotspots like East 14th and 86th Streets.

Plans to "require data-sharing by corporate-owned e-bike fleets" and "crack down on ghost license plates."

- Supports establishing a zero-tolerance policy for firearms in public spaces.
- Supports creating a dedicated NYPD-DA task force for gun violence response.
- Supports providing city support for security at religious institutions and enforcing hate crime laws while improving reporting mechanisms.
- Supports coordination between precincts to prevent crime spillover.
- Supports establishing a mobile command center for East 14th Street and 1st Avenue.
- Supports increasing patrols at crime hotspots like East 14th and 86th Streets.
- Plans to "require data-sharing by corporate-owned e-bike fleets" and "crack down on ghost license plates."

Public Safety

Plans to build a network of pedestrian-friendly open streets on the East Side and complete the East River Greenway.

Plans to transform the waterfront areas beneath the FDR viaduct into community space, take a holistic approach to flood management, and improve traffic and pedestrian safety along First Avenue.

Wants to modernize subway turnstiles and install platform barriers.

- Plans to build a network of pedestrian-friendly open streets on the East Side and complete the East River Greenway.
- Plans to transform the waterfront areas beneath the FDR viaduct into community space, take a holistic approach to flood management, and improve traffic and pedestrian safety along First Avenue.
- Wants to modernize subway turnstiles and install platform barriers.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Wants to increase long-term care beds by repurposing underutilized facilities.

- Wants to increase long-term care beds by repurposing underutilized facilities.

Healthcare

As of April 24, 2025, Ben Wetzler’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Energy & the Environment

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Ben Wetzler

Buket Urgen

Supports creating a Tenant Protection Fund for community legal action.

Supports increasing long-term care beds by repurposing underutilized facilities.

Supports requiring online platforms to report resellers of stolen goods and rescinding city tax breaks for companies enabling illegal resale.

Wants to establish a "zero-tolerance policy for firearms in public spaces."

Supports providing city support for security at religious institutions.

Wants to create a dedicated New York Police Department-District Attorney (NYPD-DA) task force for gun violence response.

Supports the installation of mobile command centers to enhance public safety.

Wants to increase patrols at crime hotspots like East 14th and 86th Streets.

Plans to enhance waterfront areas, implement holistic flood management at Waterside Plaza, and improve traffic and pedestrian safety along First Avenue.

Faith holds degrees from Binghamton University and the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. A lifelong New Yorker, she lives in East Midtown with her husband and two daughters.

Faith has worked as a litigator for over 25 years. She also serves as a legal advisor to the Sutton Place Parks Conservancy.

Faith Bondy's run for New York City City Council in District 4 is her first run for public office.

As of April 24, 2025, Faith Bondy’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports beautifying, maintaining, and expanding parks and green spaces by increasing funding, supporting organizations, and ensuring the Parks Department is fully staffed.

- Supports beautifying, maintaining, and expanding parks and green spaces by increasing funding, supporting organizations, and ensuring the Parks Department is fully staffed.

Supports increasing funding to expand the number of local K-12 public schools in the district.

Supports increasing funding to expand local K-12 public schools in the district to ensure they can serve all students and offer robust arts and enrichment programs.

- Supports increasing funding to expand local K-12 public schools in the district to ensure they can serve all students and offer robust arts and enrichment programs.

Advocates for rent stabilization and affordable housing.

- Advocates for rent stabilization and affordable housing.

Supports increasing funding for local police, enhancing foot patrols, and community policing initiatives.

- Supports increasing funding for local police, enhancing foot patrols, and community policing initiatives.

Supports stricter laws and enforcement for mopeds and e-bikes.

Supports reducing traffic, improving street safety, and better funding transit systems, but believes any congestion pricing plan needs a resident exemption and to consider its impact on communities.

- Supports stricter laws and enforcement for mopeds and e-bikes.
- Supports reducing traffic, improving street safety, and better funding transit systems, but believes any congestion pricing plan needs a resident exemption and to consider its impact on communities.

Faith Bondy

Faith holds degrees from Binghamton University and the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. She serves as President of the Samuel J. Tilden Democratic Club and has previously served on Community Board 8's Street Life Committee and the Executive Board of the PTA at PS 59. A lifelong New Yorker, she lives in East Midtown with her husband and two daughters.

As of May 5, 2025, Faith Bondy’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports rent stabilization and affordable housing.

Supports reducing traffic, improving street safety, and better funding transit systems, but believes any congestion pricing plan needs a resident exemption and should consider its impact on communities.

Wants to plan for future city expansion responsibly and with community input.

Supports beautifying, maintaining, and expanding parks and green spaces by increasing funding for the Parks Department, supporting organizations that maintain parks, and securing private funding for public green spaces.

Lukas Florczak - Ballotpedia

Luke earned a bachelor’s degree in music composition from the University of the Pacific and studied political science at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. He volunteers with the Eleanor Roosevelt Independent Democrats. He lives in New York City.

Luke currently works in the Office of Military and Veteran Services at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. He previously served in the United States Marine Corps as a musician.

Luke Florczak’s campaign for New York City Council is his first run for public office.

As of April 24, 2025, Lucas Florczak’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Plans to use discretionary funds to survey neighborhood associations and community boards to create a prioritized list of street improvements.

Supports increased importance in local art and supporting local artists.

- Plans to use discretionary funds to survey neighborhood associations and community boards to create a prioritized list of street improvements.
- Supports increased importance in local art and supporting local artists.

Supports finding "efficient ways to invest in public schools."

Supports working with teacher's unions and administrations to craft "meaningful, long-lasting contracts."

Believes access to quality high school education should not compromise teen mental health or safety, and that policymakers should work to make more schools competitive.

- Supports finding "efficient ways to invest in public schools."
- Supports working with teacher's unions and administrations to craft "meaningful, long-lasting contracts."
- Believes access to quality high school education should not compromise teen mental health or safety, and that policymakers should work to make more schools competitive.

Supports expanding affordable housing by using efficient construction technology and expanding laws like Section 8 and Mandatory Inclusionary Housing.

Believes efforts should be made to address landlords who increase yearly rental costs by extreme percentages.

Believes in creating new pilot projects and policies aimed at investment opportunities for low and medium income families and individuals.

Believes homelessness and mental illness, particularly among veterans, is a critical issue that needs reform in shelter trust and rehabilitation centers.

- Supports expanding affordable housing by using efficient construction technology and expanding laws like Section 8 and Mandatory Inclusionary Housing.
- Believes efforts should be made to address landlords who increase yearly rental costs by extreme percentages.
- Believes in creating new pilot projects and policies aimed at investment opportunities for low and medium income families and individuals.
- Believes homelessness and mental illness, particularly among veterans, is a critical issue that needs reform in shelter trust and rehabilitation centers.

Plans to develop solutions for e-bike issues, including amending battery registration, updating traffic laws, and brightening crosswalks at night.

- Plans to develop solutions for e-bike issues, including amending battery registration, updating traffic laws, and brightening crosswalks at night.

Supports adding street lights to crosswalks and enforcing traffic violations to improve pedestrian safety.

- Supports adding street lights to crosswalks and enforcing traffic violations to improve pedestrian safety.

Supports reopening the mental health facility on Randall's Island.

- Supports reopening the mental health facility on Randall's Island.

Supports using designs that prioritize environmental responses to regulate heating and cooling.

- Supports using designs that prioritize environmental responses to regulate heating and cooling.

Lucas Florczak

- Plans to host public recitals and artistic salons featuring local musicians, artists, and authors.

- Wants to "explore efficient ways to invest in public schools."
- Wants to work with teacher's unions and administrations to craft a "meaningful, long-lasting contract."
- Wants to reform the Specialized High School Admissions Test (SHSAT).

- Believes efforts should be made to address landlords who increase yearly rental costs by "extreme percentages."
- Supports creating new pilot projects and policies aimed at investment opportunities for low and medium-income families and individuals.
- Supports increasing access to affordable housing to address rising homelessness.
- Supports expanding and enhancing laws providing affordable housing units like Section 8 or Mandatory Inclusionary Housing.
- Supports modern construction techniques, such as industrial 3D printing, to save costs, time, and materials.

- Plans to submit policies addressing e-bike traffic violations, including adding infrared reflectors to registered e-bikes.
- Supports adding street lights to crosswalks and pushing the NYPD to enforce traffic violations to improve safety.

- Supports the reopening of the mental health facility on Randall's Island.

- Supports innovative building practices and materials that prioritize environmental responses and natural heating and cooling regulation.

Luke Florczak

Believes efforts should be made to address landlords who increase yearly rental costs by "extreme percentages."

Said, "Policies and practices within the city's departments could be improved. These improvements are only effective if the community understands what is going on. This starts with transparency between the People and a police and sheriff's department that works tirelessly to improve public safety."

Supports regulating batteries on E-bikes, enforcing bike lane infractions and issuing biking licenses.

Said, "I don't have any illusions that in office I could solve all crime. But leaders in the community and elected officials are in a unique place to implement policies that might prevent certain crimes and promote public safety."

Plans to submit policies addressing e-bike traffic violations, including adding infrared reflectors to registered e-bikes for identification.

Rachel is originally from Manhattan. She earned a bachelor’s degree in government from Harvard College and a law degree from Washington University School of Law. She lives with her husband, Barry, and their 4 children on the Upper East Side.

Rachel currently works as the chief operating officer of the Fifth Avenue Synagogue. She previously worked at the 92nd Street Y, served as state director for Hillary Clinton’s 2008 presidential campaign, and was deputy chief of staff to U.S. Senator Jean Carnahan. Earlier in her career, she worked as an AmeriCorps VISTA attorney and as an attorney at Legal Aid.

Rachel Storch previously served as a state representative in the Missouri legislature. She served 3 terms from 2004 to 2010. Her campaign for City Council Member in NYC's District 4 is her first campaign for public office in New York.

Supports cutting red tape and streamlining the permitting process for small businesses.

Supports establishing a Small Business Ombudsman to assist business owners with labor law compliance.

- Supports cutting red tape and streamlining the permitting process for small businesses.
- Supports establishing a Small Business Ombudsman to assist business owners with labor law compliance.

As of April 24, 2025, Rachel Storch’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports investing in upgrading school facilities, reducing class sizes, and supporting teachers.

Supports expanding access to early literacy interventions in under-resourced communities.

- Supports investing in upgrading school facilities, reducing class sizes, and supporting teachers.
- Supports expanding access to early literacy interventions in under-resourced communities.

Supports building more housing to reduce costs, protecting tenants, preserving rent-stabilized housing, expanding homeownership for working families, and preventing homelessness.

- Supports building more housing to reduce costs, protecting tenants, preserving rent-stabilized housing, expanding homeownership for working families, and preventing homelessness.

Supports transforming Second and Third Avenues into safer corridors by adding bus and bike lanes, widening sidewalks, and reducing traffic speeds.

Supports stricter enforcement against reckless e-bike riders and developing strategies to manage delivery vehicles and e-bikes to reduce street congestion and safety risks.

- Supports transforming Second and Third Avenues into safer corridors by adding bus and bike lanes, widening sidewalks, and reducing traffic speeds.
- Supports stricter enforcement against reckless e-bike riders and developing strategies to manage delivery vehicles and e-bikes to reduce street congestion and safety risks.

Rachel Storch (District 4 City Council candidate) – Meet the ...

Supports increasing investment in mental health care.

Supports abortion access and opposes legislation allowing pharmacists to refuse emergency contraception.

Supports increasing funding for community-based providers, mobile clinics, and integrating mental health services with primary care.

- Supports increasing investment in mental health care.
- Supports abortion access and opposes legislation allowing pharmacists to refuse emergency contraception.
- Supports increasing funding for community-based providers, mobile clinics, and integrating mental health services with primary care.

Supports greening projects to preserve and beautify the neighborhood.

- Supports greening projects to preserve and beautify the neighborhood.

Rachel Storch

As of May 5, 2025, Rachel Storch’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports regulatory reforms to help small businesses, especially restaurants, thrive.

Supports reducing red tape for businesses and enhancing community engagement.

Supports reducing bureaucratic obstacles and enhancing business visibility to benefit community business owners.

Vanessa Aronson - Ballotpedia

Vanessa lives with her husband, Reid, and their two children.

Vanessa currently works as a nonprofit strategist. She previously worked as a United States Foreign Service Officer, a senior advisor to the president of Hunter College, and a New York City public school teacher.

Vanessa Aronson previously ran for City Council in NYC District 4 in 2017, but did not win.

Supports small business development by removing tax breaks for landlords with vacant properties, eliminating the Commercial Rent Tax, and supporting the Small Business Jobs Survival Act.

- Supports small business development by removing tax breaks for landlords with vacant properties, eliminating the Commercial Rent Tax, and supporting the Small Business Jobs Survival Act.

Supports expanding access, availability, and information about city parks and recreation resources for older adults.

Supports increasing funding for sanitation, including more public waste bins and environmentally-friendly services like recycling and composting.

Supports funding more spay/neuter programs and enabling acceptance of companion animals in rental apartments.

Wants to "strengthen and broaden systems to detect financial fraud and abuse."

Plans to work with local businesses to ensure compliance with sanitation laws.

- Supports expanding access, availability, and information about city parks and recreation resources for older adults.
- Supports increasing funding for sanitation, including more public waste bins and environmentally-friendly services like recycling and composting.
- Supports funding more spay/neuter programs and enabling acceptance of companion animals in rental apartments.
- Wants to "strengthen and broaden systems to detect financial fraud and abuse."
- Plans to work with local businesses to ensure compliance with sanitation laws.

Supports expanding school enrichment programs, such as art, music, or coding, to increase student engagement and cultivate critical skills.

Supports the Lunch4Learning program to provide free and healthy school lunch for all.

Supports prioritizing special education services for both students with special needs and gifted and talented students to ensure compliance with federal law.

Supports increasing training for educators in non-exclusionary discipline methods to decrease suspensions.

Supports increasing Teacher's Choice funding, which reimburses teachers for a portion of what they spend out of pocket on classroom supplies.

Supports making mayoral control of schools permanent.

Supports increasing the number of 3-K and pre-K seats.

Supports expanding LGBTQ+-inclusive curricula in public schools.

Wants to address overcrowded schools by using updated census and demographic data to better plan for the future.

- Supports expanding school enrichment programs, such as art, music, or coding, to increase student engagement and cultivate critical skills.
- Supports the Lunch4Learning program to provide free and healthy school lunch for all.
- Supports prioritizing special education services for both students with special needs and gifted and talented students to ensure compliance with federal law.
- Supports increasing training for educators in non-exclusionary discipline methods to decrease suspensions.
- Supports increasing Teacher's Choice funding, which reimburses teachers for a portion of what they spend out of pocket on classroom supplies.
- Supports making mayoral control of schools permanent.
- Supports increasing the number of 3-K and pre-K seats.
- Supports expanding LGBTQ+-inclusive curricula in public schools.
- Wants to address overcrowded schools by using updated census and demographic data to better plan for the future.

Supports converting commercial spaces to residential use.

Supports the Small Business Jobs Survival Act, which would provide small businesses with 10-year leases and renewal rights to prevent rent increases.

Supports Housing First policies, which prioritize providing the homeless with permanent housing without preconditions.

Supports creating "vibrant communities where seniors can age-in-place in the neighborhoods they built and sustained."

Plans to preserve affordable housing by auditing rent-regulated apartments and preventing illegal deregulation by landlords receiving tax benefits.

Supports providing legal representation for low-income tenants in housing court to prevent unlawful evictions.

- Supports converting commercial spaces to residential use.
- Supports the Small Business Jobs Survival Act, which would provide small businesses with 10-year leases and renewal rights to prevent rent increases.
- Supports Housing First policies, which prioritize providing the homeless with permanent housing without preconditions.
- Supports creating "vibrant communities where seniors can age-in-place in the neighborhoods they built and sustained."
- Plans to preserve affordable housing by auditing rent-regulated apartments and preventing illegal deregulation by landlords receiving tax benefits.
- Supports providing legal representation for low-income tenants in housing court to prevent unlawful evictions.

Supports establishing a 24-hour hate crimes hotline, expanding hate crimes training for prosecutors and judges, and increasing local support for specialized victim support organizations.

Supports using data-driven programs to combat bullying in schools.

Supports the Sex Worker Protection Act and the removal of the NYPD VICE Squad.

Supports the registration of mopeds, motorbikes, and e-scooters to reduce unlicensed vehicles endangering pedestrians.

- Supports establishing a 24-hour hate crimes hotline, expanding hate crimes training for prosecutors and judges, and increasing local support for specialized victim support organizations.
- Supports using data-driven programs to combat bullying in schools.
- Supports the Sex Worker Protection Act and the removal of the NYPD VICE Squad.
- Supports the registration of mopeds, motorbikes, and e-scooters to reduce unlicensed vehicles endangering pedestrians.

Envisions a "PeopleWay" on 14th street with a pedestrian promenade, bicycle space, and a free shuttle bus when the L train closes.

Supports demanding that the City's contribution to the MTA capital plan includes funds to update the more than 75% of subway stations that currently do not have elevators.

Supports prioritizing the installation of pedestrian ramps and the maintenance and repair of the existing ramps. Install pedestrian countdown timers at dangerous intersections in the city.

Supports prioritizing accessibility in transportation and infrastructure, including updating subway stations, listing elevator outages, and installing pedestrian countdown timers.

- Envisions a "PeopleWay" on 14th street with a pedestrian promenade, bicycle space, and a free shuttle bus when the L train closes.
- Supports demanding that the City's contribution to the MTA capital plan includes funds to update the more than 75% of subway stations that currently do not have elevators.
- Supports prioritizing the installation of pedestrian ramps and the maintenance and repair of the existing ramps. Install pedestrian countdown timers at dangerous intersections in the city.
- Supports prioritizing accessibility in transportation and infrastructure, including updating subway stations, listing elevator outages, and installing pedestrian countdown timers.

Supports preserving and expanding inpatient care for severe mental illness, stopping the closure of Mount Sinai Beth Israel, and expanding the Transition to Home program.

- Supports preserving and expanding inpatient care for severe mental illness, stopping the closure of Mount Sinai Beth Israel, and expanding the Transition to Home program.

Supports New York's goal of reducing emissions by 80% by 2050.

Supports investing in green jobs and industries.

Believes green spaces enhance neighborhoods and protect against heat, flooding, and pollution.

- Supports New York's goal of reducing emissions by 80% by 2050.
- Supports investing in green jobs and industries.
- Believes green spaces enhance neighborhoods and protect against heat, flooding, and pollution.

Vanessa Aronson

Supports increasing funding for special education services.

- 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 4, Democratic Primary

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