Mayoral election in New York, New York (2021)

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2017
2021 New York elections
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Election dates
Filing deadline: March 25, 2021
Primary election: June 22, 2021
General election: November 2, 2021
Election stats
Offices up: Mayor
Total seats up: 1 (click here for other city elections)
Election type: Partisan
Other municipal elections
U.S. municipal elections, 2021

Eric Adams (D), Curtis Sliwa (R), and eight other candidates ran in the general election for mayor of New York City on November 2, 2021.[1] Incumbent Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) did not run for re-election due to term limits.

The primary election on June 22, 2021, featured the first use of ranked-choice voting (RCV) for a mayoral primary in the city's history. Click here to read more about how ranked-choice voting works.

The top issues in the Democratic primary were crime, policing, affordable housing, jobs, and healthcare.[2] Click here to learn more about the Democratic primary.

De Blasio was first elected in 2013 and won re-election in 2017 with 66% of the vote. Including de Blasio, four of the previous six mayors were Democrats.

Democratic Party For more information about the battleground Democratic primary, click here.

This election is a battleground race. Other 2021 battlegrounds include:

Candidates and results[edit]

General election
General election for Mayor of New York

The following candidates ran in the general election for Mayor of New York on November 2, 2021.

Candidate
%
Votes

Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Eric_adams.JPG

Eric Adams (D)
 
72.8
 
271,834

Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/CurtisSliwa.jpg

Curtis Sliwa (R / Independent Party)
 
22.6
 
84,526

Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/CatherineRojas.jpeg

Catherine Rojas (Party for Socialism and Liberation)
 
2.6
 
9,638

Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/William_Pepitone.jpg

William Pepitone (Conservative Party) Candidate Connection
 
0.9
 
3,338

Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/QuandaFrancis.jpg

Quanda Francis (Empowerment Party) Candidate Connection
 
0.4
 
1,351

Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/StaceyPrussman.jpg

Stacey Prussman (L) Candidate Connection
 
0.3
 
1,048

Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/rflores.jpeg

Raja Flores (Humanity United Party)
 
0.2
 
889

Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/FernandoMateo.png

Fernando Mateo (Save Our City Party)
 
0.2
 
706

Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/SkibokyStora.png

Skiboky Stora (Out Lawbreaker Party)
 
0.0
 
99

Total votes: 373,429
(30.00% precincts reporting)
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic Primary for Mayor of New York

The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: Eric Adams in round 8 . The results of Round are displayed below. To see the results of other rounds, use the dropdown menu above to select a round and the table will update.


Total votes: 942,031

Republican primary election

Republican Primary for Mayor of New York

The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: Curtis Sliwa in round 1 .


Total votes: 46,785

Conservative Party primary election

The Conservative Party primary election was canceled. William Pepitone advanced from the Conservative Party primary for Mayor of New York.

Working Families Party primary election

The Working Families Party primary election was canceled. Deborah Axt advanced from the Working Families Party primary for Mayor of New York.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Candiddate profiles[edit]

William Pepitone[edit]

Image of William Pepitone

WebsiteFacebookTwitter

Party: Conservative Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography "My name is Bill Pepitone. I am the Conservative Party candidate for Mayor of New York City. I am a retired New York City Police Officer, Tactics Instructor and Training Coordinator, with over thirty years of law enforcement, public safety and operational management experience. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, I have served on many public committees and in leadership roles for both private entities and non-profit organizations. I will bring New York City back through strength, stability and solidarity."


Key Messages

The messages below are the candidate’s own.


We will restore public safety by returning to fair, proactive policing that concentrates on reducing violent crime and addressing quality of life issues.


As Mayor I will repeal all COVID related mandates and put people back to work.


We must overhaul our failing education system by returning to basic academics and a legitimate grading and honors system while eliminating radical social agendas.

This information was current as of the candidate's run for Mayor of New York in 2021

June 22, 2021, Democratic primary[edit]

Mayoral election in New York, New York (June 22, 2021, Democratic primary)

Ballotpedia identified the June 22, 2021, Democratic primary as a battleground primary. For more on the Democratic primary, click here.

Eric Adams (D) defeated 12 other candidates in the Democratic primary for mayor of New York City on June 22, 2021.[3] Incumbent Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) did not run for re-election due to term limits.

The primary election featured the first use of ranked-choice voting (RCV) for a mayoral primary in the city's history. Click here to read more about how ranked-choice voting works.

The following six Democratic candidates received the most media attention and noteworthy endorsements:[4][5][6]

Click here to read more about each candidate's professional background and key messages.

Major endorsements for Adams included Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr.. The New York Times, New York Daily News, and the New York League of Conservation Voters endorsed Garcia. McGuire was backed by Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) and state Sen. Leroy Comrie (D).[7][8]

The top issues in this race were crime, policing, affordable housing, jobs, and healthcare.[2] Click here to compare each candidate's policy proposals on these issues.

De Blasio was first elected in 2013 and won re-election in 2017 with 66% of the vote. Including de Blasio, four of the previous six mayors were Democrats.

Candidate profiles[edit]

This section includes candidate profiles created in one of two ways. Either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey or Ballotpedia staff created a profile after identifying the candidate as noteworthy.[9] Ballotpedia staff compiled profiles based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements. Candidate cards are listed in alphabetical order by last name.

Eric Adams[edit]

Image of Eric Adams

WebsiteFacebookTwitter

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: 

Biography:  Adams received a B.A. in criminal justice from John Jay College of Criminal Justice and an MPA from Marist College. After graduating from the New York City Police Academy in 1984, Adams spent 22 years in law enforcement. He co-founded 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care. He chaired the Veterans, Homeland Security, and Military Affairs Committee and the Racing, Gaming, and Wagering Committee while in the state Senate.


Key Messages


Adams discussed how being assaulted by police as a teenager led him to serve in the New York Police Department for two decades. His campaign website said that "instead of giving into anger, Eric turned his pain into purpose and decided to change the police department from within."


Adams said he would reinstitute the anti-crime unit and focus on education to decrease gun violence. "The real crime in this city is our department of education. If we don't educate, we're going to incarcerate," Adams said.


Adams said he wanted to address affordable housing by increasing the zoning density in affluent neighborhoods. He said, "I have witnessed, and I have been saying this for years, that the city has been leaving behind people of color and low-income New Yorkers for decades."


This information was current as of the candidate's run for Mayor of New York in 2021

Kathryn Garcia[edit]

Image of Kathryn Garcia

WebsiteFacebookTwitter

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: New York City Commissioner of Sanitation (2014-2020)

Biography:  Garcia graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1992 with a B.A. in economics. She worked as a deputy commissioner in the NYC Department of Environmental Protection. From 2012 to 2014, she was the chief operating officer of the department. Garcia then served as the commissioner of the NYC Department of Sanitation from 2014 to 2020.


Key Messages


Garcia described herself as "a lifelong New Yorker and a public servant" who has "14 years of government experience delivering services that New Yorkers rely on every day."


Garcia said she wanted to restart New York's local economy by creating a simple, streamlined permit process for businesses with fewer than 100 employees and launching a zero-interest microloan program.


Garcia led the city's emergency food program during the COVID-19 pandemic and became an incident commander during Hurricane Sandy. She said, "Spanning two mayoral administrations, I have become the go-to problem solver, someone with foresight and leadership ability to take on projects that seem impossible to others."


This information was current as of the candidate's run for Mayor of New York in 2021

Raymond McGuire[edit]

Image of Raymond McGuire

WebsiteFacebookTwitter

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Biography:  McGuire received his B.A., J.D., and MBA from Harvard University. He worked in mergers and acquisitions at Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley. From 2005 to 2020, he worked at Citibank. He became the vice chairman of Citigroup in 2015.


Key Messages


McGuire said he went from poverty to Wall Street through education. "I was the longest-standing head of my business in the history of Wall Street. ... So that means I had to manage my data, set goals, empower my team and hold myself and them accountable," he said.


McGuire's Comeback Plan would include financial support for small businesses, a wage subsidy to bring back jobs, and major infrastructure improvements.


McGuire said one of his top three priorities in office would be public safety. "I do not support the language of defund. ... I want the police to have a culture of what I call RAP: respectful, accountable and proportionate. And we need to return to community policing, so that that relationship of trust can be restored," he said.


This information was current as of the candidate's run for Mayor of New York in 2021

Scott Stringer[edit]

Image of Scott Stringer

WebsiteFacebookTwitter

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: 

  • New York City Comptroller (Assumed office: 2014)
  • Borough President of Manhattan (2006-2013)
  • New York State Assembly (1993-2005) 

Biography:  Stringer graduated from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice. He worked as a tenant organizer and aide to Assemblymember Jerry Nadler (D) before being elected to the New York State Assembly in 1992. He was elected borough president of Manhattan in 2005 and city comptroller in 2013.


Key Messages


Stringer said his 30 years of experience in New York politics would enable him to deal with economic recovery and disparities in access to healthcare. “Post-COVID New York City is going to require a leader with skill and vision and a real record," Stringer said.


Stringer called for universal affordable housing. He said his plan would "require any new building that gets built with more than 10 apartments — anywhere in the city — to make 25% of those apartments actually affordable to middle- and low-income families."


Stringer said that he challenged the fossil fuel and private prison industries as city comptroller to promote climate justice and decarceration.


This information was current as of the candidate's run for Mayor of New York in 2021

Maya Wiley[edit]

Image of Maya Wiley

WebsiteTwitter

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Biography:  Wiley graduated from Dartmouth College in 1986 and Columbia Law School in 1989. She worked as a staff attorney at the NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund and president of the Center for Social Inclusion. From 2014 to 2016, she was counsel to the mayor of New York City. She began working at the New School in 2016 as a senior vice president.


Key Messages


Wiley proposed a $10 billion, five-year spending plan that she said was inspired by the New Deal. She said the plan would create up to 100,000 new jobs and support climate resilience projects and public housing.


Wiley proposed creating universal community care by spending $300 million on more than 100,000 informal caregivers. The initiative would be partly funded by reducing the number of New York Police Department and Department of Corrections officers.


Wiley described herself as a changemaker. She said, "We now have an historic opportunity at the same time, which is not just to recover from COVID, which we will, but actually reimagine the city so that we can all afford to live here with dignity."


This information was current as of the candidate's run for Mayor of New York in 2021

Andrew Yang[edit]

Image of Andrew Yang

WebsiteFacebookTwitter

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Biography:  Yang graduated from Brown University in 1996 and Columbia Law School in 1999. He briefly worked as a corporate lawyer before launching several startups, including Manhattan Prep. He founded the nonprofit Ventures for America in 2011. He ran for president of the United States in 2020.


Key Messages


Yang proposed a basic income program of, on average, $2,000 per year for 500,000 New Yorkers living in extreme poverty. He said, "Second only to housing subsidies, direct cash transfers and tax credits are the most critical components in helping families make ends meet."


Yang said he would focus on small business recovery, including enacting a one-year moratorium on fines for code violations and passing the Small Business Jobs Survival Act.


Yang said he wanted to increase community trust in the New York Police Department, focus resources on gun violence, and appoint a deputy mayor for public and community safety.


This information was current as of the candidate's run for Mayor of New York in 2021

Election updates[edit]

2021[edit]

See more[edit]

See more here: Mayoral election in New York, New York (June 22, 2021, Democratic primary)

Campaign themes[edit]

Eric Adams[edit]

Campaign website[edit]

Adams' campaign website stated the following:

Government

New York City’s government is not just in crisis — it often is the crisis. COVID-19 has exposed the City’s mismanagement in stark detail. And it is Black and Brown communities who suffer the most from its dysfunction.

I know because I lived it. As one of six children with a single mother who struggled to make ends meet, I have committed my life to making the City work better for those who need it the most.

Inefficiency and inequality lead to injustice. How? New York has tremendous resources — but it often wastes them on programs that do not deliver the desired result or spends them in ways that do not help the New Yorkers who need them the most. I will make our City government more efficient, effective, and equal. Here’s how.

A more efficient city Today, the City governs from crisis to crisis — always dealing with the immediate problem and never the cause. Structural changes and smart management are necessary to create efficiency and reduce inequality.

I will do that by: Closing the budget gap without affecting public services Instituting real-time governing Finding the waste

A more effective city City agencies each keep their own records and data, with very little productive interaction — and New Yorkers who need help fall through the cracks. Using technology, we can focus on making government more effective by tailoring New Yorkers’ interaction with the City down to the person.

My plan includes: Building one digital platform for New Yorkers to access all City services Bringing the City to the community by delivering services in storefronts and in-person in lower-income neighborhoods Creating a Recovery Score to track our progress with analytics

A more equal city Finally, the City must do a far better job of maximizing its resources and using its regulatory powers to help deal with structural economic and social issues. That includes prioritizing spending on programs, services, and contractors that reduce inequality. It also means revisiting regulations that discourage growth, particularly of our Black and Brown owned small businesses.

My plan includes: Prioritizing minority- and women-owned businesses for City contracts Eliminating the fees for starting a small business Instituting a warning system for violations that do not pose immediate danger Maximizing the use of City assets — particularly office buildings for affordable housing

Economy

Our city is in serious economic trouble. The pandemic has cost us hundreds-of-thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in revenue.

And the deep hole we find ourselves in is not entirely due to COVID-19. Our economy was built on uneven ground: pervasive inequality, with just a few sectors accounting for most jobs, and vast wealth disparities. Before the pandemic, Latino and Black households in the city averaged approximately half the income that white households did.

Eric Adams Speaking Infront of Outdoor Dinning Area Our recovery starts with public health and public safety. But there are other things we can and must do immediately to save our economy. Some things will take years. Some things will take a generation. But we must get started now on all. Here’s how we bring back New York better than ever.

Step 1 - Protect what we have built and who built it Since the pandemic and its disastrous impact on this country’s economy, we have seen a significant downturn that is far worse than most American cities’. Estimates are that, even after the COVID crisis is somewhat under control, New York City will have half-a-million fewer jobs than before the pandemic. We have to right the ship, fast.

Step 2 - Create a stronger, deeper, fairer 21st Century economy New York City must position itself to lead in the industries of the future: the green economy, healthcare/biotech, digital technology and cybersecurity. Our workers were unprepared for this even before the pandemic. Invest in green infrastructure projects through a municipal bond program.

Step 3 - Create an equitable economy that gives everyone the opportunity to thrive Black and Brown communities were sidelined as the New York City economy flourished. For instance, the communities I grew up in — Brownsville and South Jamaica — continue to experience significant unemployment while massive development and economic expansion occurred in other parts of the city. Those communities have waited long enough — now we will build an inclusive economy for them that is equitable and enduring.

Education

The quality of a child’s public education in New York is unfortunately and unnecessarily often determined by what neighborhood they live in and how much money their family has. This leads to unforgivable racial disparities that limit the futures of thousands of our kids, year after year.

Now COVID-19 threatens to deepen those disparities even more, as lower-income families without adequate internet access and childcare options struggle with blended and remote learning.

But we also now have a chance to completely reimagine our education system. I believe the key to improvement is opening as many paths to success for our students as we can, and to focus much more on how they learn—not just what they learn.

To do that, I will desegregate our schools, institute a year-round school year, significantly expand school and instruction options, prioritize universal access to both online and in-person classes, feed our kids only healthy food in schools, and focus on the holistic growth of every student.

Our immediate focus should be on improving remote learning, which has been a disaster for thousands of families. This is both a failure of our City government and the internet providers who have been promising for years to improve access to lower-income New Yorkers and have not delivered. We can and must do something to correct this injustice. Internet providers need City approval to operate in New York. We should be using that leverage to force them to connect the families of schoolchildren and offer free service.

We must also offer clear paths to college and careers through our schools. For instance, I am very proud of the Brooklyn STEAM Center, a first-of-its-kind facility that offers high school students real-world work experience in emerging professions.

Poor education and lack of preparation leads to incarceration. As many as 80 percent of Rikers Island inmates do not have a diploma or GED and a third of college-aged inmates read below a fifth-grade level. The vast majority of those New Yorkers are Black and Brown.

We can fix this and close the racial performance gaps by greatly improving the educational options for parents and students so that each child gets a quality education that is right for them.

In the coming weeks, I will lay out my full vision for reimagining our public education system. I look forward to sharing it with you so that we can begin to build brighter futures for our children.

Health

OVID-19 tore through New York City when it first hit the United States, leaving unimaginable death and suffering in its wake. And the fight is far from over.

Although we have made great strides in understanding, treating, and tracking the virus, our planning is flawed and inconsistent — and it is costing us lives. At the same time, COVID-19 hit us as hard as it did because our public health system was — and still is — woefully inadequate, especially for communities of color.

Like a patient with a weak immune system, the underlying condition that has allowed COVID-19 to kill so many Black and Brown New Yorkers is inequality. We cannot hope to control the coronavirus without also curing that disease.

People of color in our city have far-higher rates of chronic illness and the comorbidities that make people vulnerable to COVID-19 and other viruses. Black New Yorkers’ life expectancy is a full four years lower than the citywide average. That is the result of poor healthcare, lack of healthy food options, and unhealthy living conditions.

I was one of those people of color living with a chronic illness that could have been prevented. I was diagnosed with diabetes and lost sight in my eye. My doctor told me I was facing blindness and amputations. So, I switched to eating only healthy foods and began practicing mindfulness. Within weeks, I was feeling better. Within months, I had sent my diabetes into remission.

Now I want to do the same for all New Yorkers who just need access to quality healthcare and food to improve their health and protect themselves against illness and this deadly virus. I am certain we can. What it will take is an unprecedented commitment to public health from City government.

Turning around this city starts with taming COVID. We need an all-in effort that restores public confidence as it protects public health, undoes the deep racial health disparities in our city, and reduces inequalities by increasing delivery of services.

I have already released a number of proposals that should be implemented immediately, including: instituting a color-coded vaccination program to ensure we reach herd immunity and vaccinate the most vulnerable New Yorkers as quickly as possible; ; sending community health workers directly into neighborhoods with high morbidity rates; expanding access to telehealth; building out a robust rapid-testing program, and setting up COVID care centers in NYCHA complexes and in vacant storefronts in lower-income communities.

In the coming weeks, I will lay out a detailed plan for how to improve our public health system, the health of New Yorkers, and our success against the coronavirus.

Safety

Today our city faces an unprecedented crisis that threatens to undo the progress we have made against crime. The shootings and deaths are startling. And communities of color are the hardest hit.

People do not feel safe in their homes or on the street. We cannot go back to a New York that is unsafe for New Yorkers—especially our children. We won’t go back.

As a former police officer who patrolled the streets in a bulletproof vest in the 1990s, I sadly know what I am talking about. Lawlessness spread through our city like a disease then, infecting communities with the same terrible swiftness that coronavirus threatens today.

At the same time we face a crisis of confidence in our police. And we cannot have lower crime without greater trust.

I personally understand the distrust and anger with the NYPD. As a young man, my brother and I were beaten by police at a precinct house, and we carry the psychological scars of that to this day.

That is why I called out racism in the department as an officer and formed 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement to push through reforms. And why I continued to call for change throughout my career, including the successful effort to stop the unlawful use of Stop-and-Frisk.

But the debate around policing has been reduced to a false choice: You are either with police, or you are against them. No. That cannot be true. Because we are all for safety. We need the NYPD — we just need them to be better.

We also need a plan of action. When I was a police officer, I was part of the team that developed what is now COMPStat. That system of tracking crime and analyzing data allowed us to take crime from historic highs to historic lows.

There is a way forward. With all stakeholders at the table and a laser-like focus on addressing the reasons behind our spike in shootings, we can put this fire out before it consumes entire neighborhoods and torches our reputation as the safest big city in America.

With a commitment to justice that is felt in the heart of officers, new technologies, clear objectives, better organization, good old fashioned police work and better relations with the communities they serve, we can have both safe and fair.

In the coming weeks, I will share with you my detailed plan for tackling crime, reforming policing, and bringing justice to our criminal justice system.

Housing

New York City is always changing — but every once in awhile, there is a sea change. At these pivotal moments, New York’s strength has always been its resiliency and its ability to adapt. After 9/11, we remade downtown Manhattan into a live/work community that prioritized livability and did not depend completely on the 9-to-5 workweek. After Sandy, we rethought our shoreline.

Now we face perhaps our greatest test: COVID-19. The effect of the virus on the way our city works — or doesn’t — is apparent. For instance, suddenly places like Midtown that generated so much economic activity for New York seem built for another era. But we can also see much more clearly now how the design of our city was already flawed — and often how those flaws perpetuated inequality.

New York may be a group of communities, but it is also one city, and we should all be in this recovery together. Let’s start acting like it. To see ourselves as walled-off enclaves is an old, and frankly biased, way of thinking. Housing — including affordable housing — can be and should be put anywhere it can go, as long as it benefits those who need it. And the infrastructure and space for jobs that support the city must also go where it is smartest to build — not just easiest.

An aggressive affordable housing plan To deal with our housing crisis in New York, I believe the city must rapidly build new affordable housing while protecting existing apartments anywhere and everywhere we can. That means bold, aggressive measures that are even more necessary now as we simultaneously fight a pandemic and an economic crisis.

More options for New Yorkers to live and work Much of our city is zoned for another era, when all New Yorkers lived in one area and worked in another. When COVID-19 hit, it economically decimated neighborhoods dominated by tall office towers, where retailers, restaurants, and other businesses relied almost entirely on 9-to-5 workers. The city also relies too heavily on office workers and the service economy overall, when it could and should be expanding employment options in areas like life sciences, urban agriculture, and manufacturing.

The investments NYCHA tenants deserve Even before the pandemic, we knew that tens-of-billions of dollars was needed to make basic improvements to NYCHA homes and complexes throughout the city. Now the virus has exposed even more issues that need immediate attention. I believe we need an all-in approach to raise enough funds and make the most use of them in order to save NYCHA tenants from dilapidated buildings and deteriorating apartments.[59]

—Eric Adams for Mayor[60]

Vitaly Filipchenko[edit]

Campaign website[edit]

Filipchenko's campaign website stated the following:

I am focused on cleaning up the streets and reimagining shared roadways. Fighting age, wage, gender and racial discrimination in the workplace. Support small businesses with rent law changes. Root out fraud and wasteful spending in city agencies. Build back a greener, fairer city for low and middle class income families. And I do not want to defund police - but retrain and demilitarize. I am here to represent the concerns of the immigrant community to show they have a voice in New York politics & not just the elite. My English may not be perfect - but my platform is.

POLICE REFORM HOUSING REFORM STOREFRONT VACANCY REFORM EDUCATION REFORM STREET SAFETY AGE DISCRIMINATION WASTE & FRAUD IN CITY AGENCIES SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT GREEN JOB TRAINING ARTS - NUTURE & GROW[59]

—Vitaly for Mayor[61]

Quanda Francis[edit]

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

Quanda Francis completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Francis' responses.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

My name is Quanda Francis, and I am running for New York City mayor. Not because of my desire to ascend to the mayoralty because its part of my political trajectory. Not because I have wealthy patrons on Wall Street and in finance who support me under the pretense of quid pro quo. Not because I am a former candidate seeking to run for another high-profile office without even knowing the city. And not because there’s never been a woman as mayor of this great city of ours. I am running because New York City is suffering from a leadership deficit, and it is time to have someone in City Hall who has the capability, competence, and integrity. I am an entrepreneur, accountant, data scientist, consultant, community organizer, youth advocate, Ph.D. candidate, wife, and mother of three wonderful children. That would suggest that I know a thing or two about time management. I am a born and bred New Yorker who can deliver. How do I deliver? Simple. I hire the best people, provide them with the necessary resources, give guidance, and get out the way—unless I’m needed. That’s it. No ego. No funny business. Just good old-fashioned leadership and management. I listen. I analyze. I plan. And then I act.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

  • PRE-K-12 EDUCATION (EDUCATION & RESEARCH INFORMATION SYSTEMS)Our digital revolution will aim to implement modern digital technology more efficiently and effectively in learning, teaching, research and to improve the digital skills of the entire nation. For example, it will ensure that every student receives the necessary knowledge and skills to access modern digital infrastructure for future use
  • REDUCE CRIME- I have a new vision for public safety. During my tenure as a NYPD Crime Analyst, I noticed several key redundancies and outdated processes that reduced the effectiveness of the NYPD’s overall organizational operational apparatuses and investigative capabilities. Information and organization are our greatest tools to ensure we keep all New York City residents safe from harm, especially given the recent increases in Anti-Asian hate crimes and the explosive increase in gun violence. With more accurate identification and actual communication between agencies, we can protect a lot more… with a lot less. I intend to Improve efficiencies in high frequency workflow tasks, deploy needed technology in areas previously impossible, solve
  • E-GOVERNANCE & DIGITALIZATION New York City can become the pioneer and convert public services into flexible e-solutions for our residents. The implementation of a NYC-Government Cloud solution can provide an excellent foundation for public e-services and solutions, which can make New York City the most digital city in the world.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Crisis tests leadership and Adversity tests character. Unfortunately, many of those in leadership positions failed to be visionaries, competent decision-makers, and strategic planners. The fate of our city rests not only in the will of the people but in the competency and integrity of our leaders, especially our elected officials. My platform is dedicated to our youth, many who are foreigners in their own city. I’ll repeat it. Many of our young people are foreigners in their own city. Their travel is limited to a three to four-mile radius. How can they give their best to a City they don’t even know? How can their potential be reached if they are not exposed? How can their potential be reached if they are not given access? How can their potential be reached if they’re not heard—if they’re ignored—if they’re disregarded? You tell me how. Education is important, and we have a plan. So is employment, and we have a plan. But so is our young people’s safety. So is their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Therefore, nurturance and guidance from elected officials and government; from businesses and agencies; from community-based organizations; and from our educational apparatuses are all duty-bound as a collective to ensure that our young people become intelligent, emotionally-balanced, and productive members of our city.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I am the first African American woman in history to gain access to the ballot in a general election as a New York City Mayoral candidate. Regardless of what happens in the democratic primary, I, as an Independent gained access to the ballot in the general election first. #tellyourstory #inspire #representationmatters #leadershipmatters #newyorkcity

A mayor is a leader in his or her city. What does that mean to you?

Last March, we were tested as a nation and as a city like never before. Our healthcare system, retailers, transportation operation, financial sector, education apparatus, sports & recreation centers and tourism and etc., all felt the full brunt of an unrelenting and unforgiving pandemic. Unfortunately, there was a certain degree of governmental ineptitude which compounded the problem. Many lives were lost unnecessarily due to bureaucracy, in-fighting, egomania, and incompetence. As New Yorkers, we deserve better. In times of crisis, the government will be exposed. However, exposure is not the issue. If the government is running effectively, exposure does not cast a negative light on those who run the municipality. In fact, exposure is a friend. Conversely, when the government is failing and there is a seeming incapacity to mitigate mayhem and disarm dysfunction, exposure becomes a foe. To get New Yorkers back to work, it is important to ensure that every city agency is run by professionals that are capable, compassionate, and competent. I will appoint diverse new leadership to run key New York City agencies and all of my appointments would be based on the talent of the individual relative to other prospects. In short, “the best person for the job” is my mantra.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Campaign website[edit]

Francis' campaign website stated the following:

I am running as an Independent and I envision a ‘New’ New York City.

A New York that works for all every resident, regardless of their zip code.

A New York that educates ALL children and young adults comprehensively.

A New York that prioritizes educating students with disabilities comprehensively.

A New York that prioritizes equity in education and improving educational outcomes for students with disabilities.

A New York addresses employment and gender discrimination within city government and ensures that hiring and promotional practices are fair and transparent.

A New York that ensures equal access to employment opportunities for ALL New York City residents.

A New York that prioritizes digitalization and invests in building an efficient, secure and transparent ecosystem in which a minimum of 75% of the city’s government services can be offered online.

A New York that values and listens to the concerns of its youth and invests in entrepreneurship training programs that can inclusively train them to become business owners that can contribute to a robust NYC economy.

A New York that commits to rebuilding its infrastructure.

A New York that prioritizes sustainability and reducing waste.

A New York that addresses healthcare disparities.

A New York that makes housing affordable.

A New York that ensures equal access to employment opportunities for ALL New York City residents.

A New York that will prioritize improving the quality of life of all New York City residents.

A New York that cherishes and cares for its seniors.

A New York that protects ALL residents of NYC from harm.

A New York that supports small businesses, so they thrive, not just survive.[59]

—Quanda Francis for Mayor NYC[62]

Christopher Krietchman[edit]

Campaign website[edit]

Krietchman's campaign website stated the following:

The Future Vision of NYC

We know that we can’t have more of the same. We know that our society and the systems which govern it have been falling short with empty promises, corruption, inefficiencies, and lack transparency, communication, empathy and hope. We need a new, fresh, youthful, willing, and optimistic approach with ideas of how to look at the city, the country, and the world, while still accounting or our unique and nuanced history. We have to harness all the obstacles, trials, tribulations, adversities, and accomplishments to piece together a realistic, sustainable, integrated, and unified foundation for the future. A future based on hope, humanity, public health and well-being, and growth. A future where new ideas outside of the ‘tried and true’ way can be tested and given the nourishment to possibly flourish, and ‘take hold.’

It’s time for a more binding NYC ideology – one that can inspire a period of growth and transformation towards a beautiful future. We can have a better city sooner than we think, but we need a unifying belief or philosophy to get there. We also need to stay open minded. Part of NYC’s brilliance has been putting to use the collective cultural intelligence of all our people. If we need to learn and implement best practices from other regions and countries, we should. We must stay inspired and open to new ideas for development – this is what will keep our city fresh, dynamic and adaptive for the future. I am willing to do what no one has done, but only speaks about. I have, and will continue to be the person who will ‘put my money where my mouth is,’ and will be relentless and resilient as I’ve always been.

My Plan is to take NYC from Cruel to Kind. I want to implement Emotional & Economic Reform to create a Healthy City. This healthy mindset will create the environment for collaboration & innovation.

We’ll have humanities & cultural training along w/ city-wide communication focused on empathy, so that NYers can understand NYers.

Furthermore, we’ll focus on economic innovation for all our communities (BIPOC, LGBTQ, creative, startup, tech, finance, nightlife, etc) by implementing programs focused on ‘For People, For City, For Profit’ neighborhood innovation.

We’ll improve education by teaching wellness, financial, entrepreneurial, tech, creative & political literacy. We’ll reduce class size to 1 teacher for every 5 students, which will require the launching of a retraining program that’ll create more jobs for tutors & teachers to work digitally.

We’ll make NY attractive for artists by having subsidy programs. We’ll also create an exchange system of ‘work for equity’ via blockchain technology.

We’ll make NY green by reimagining buildings with gardens & parks integrated. We’ll update neighborhoods by building with communities, & help them prepare for future market shifts. NY will be attractive again.[59]

—CSK for NYC Mayor[63]

Fernando Mateo[edit]

Campaign website[edit]

Mateo's campaign website stated the following:

Jobs & Safety Agenda

Everyday we learn about another person shot, stabbed, or something stolen in New York City. The crime and grime is reaching all time record highs due to lack of strong leadership in City Hall. It is crystal clear that divisive Democrats made New York City dirty and dangerous again.

The strongest candidate for New York City Mayor Fernando Mateo believes that "Big Government Policies" are the BIGGEST problem preventing progress. As the next Mayor of NYC, Mateo will roll back defeatist policies that ruined New York City. Further, Mateo believes in taking "Positions" on issues and implementing proven plans to accomplish key objectives and results.

The primary objective for New York City is JOBS and SAFETY.

A Mayor Mateo will make New York City SAFE again!

A Mayor Mateo will make New York City CLEAN again!

A Mayor Mateo will make New York City WORK again!

Safe Haven Subways Plan

Place 2 Cops on every platform

Deploy “Specialized Safety Teams” to ride trains to engage homeless & mentally ill

Remove emotionally disturbed persons from Subways to get appropriate help

Crack down on loitering, litter, graffiti, and stop fare evaders in the Subways

Expand cleaning efforts to make Subways cleaner and smell fresh

Add more lights to cast out dark areas in and around Subways

Install more safety buttons with high-definition video cameras throughout the system and partner with local businesses to provide “Safe Havens” for those under attack

Mayor to invoke maximum Charter Power to arrest and detain dangerous individuals, bypassing the broken Bail Reform System and not waiting for Albany to act on Kendra’s Law.

REPEAL RADICAL COVID REGULATIONS

The Only Republican Mayoral Candidate Fernando Mateo Calls for the REPEAL of RADICAL LEFT COVID REGULATIONS to PROTECT BUSINESSES from the RISK OF ENDLESS LITIGATION!

EVICT CITIBIKE STREET DOCKS! RESTORE PARKING!

The Only Republican Mayoral Candidate Fernando Mateo Calls for the REMOVAL of CITIBIKE STREET DOCKS to BRING BACK PARKING and MAKE ROOM for OUTDOOR DINING

REPAY NYC YELLOW TAXI’S & REBOOT ENTIRE INDUSTRY

GOP Mayoral Favorite Fernando Mateo Calls for Bold Prescriptions to Fix the Broken Taxi System including Charging Ride Share their Fair Share

Action Plan to Revive NYC Hospitality Industry

As Mayor, I will do everything in my power to keep restaurants, bars, hotels open for business by providing:

1. rent relief, 2. tax debt relief, 3. payroll assistance, 4. protection from evictions, 5. reduced assessments, and 6. a robust vaccine and COVID testing strategy to support a legal fight against closures and shutdowns by detached bureaucrats.”

NYS Must Cancel New Taxes & Cut Red Tape to Create Value

Keep JetBlue in NYC

Pre-pandemic, the tourism industry brought 65 million visitors to NYC. Those tourists generated $44 billion in business for restaurants, hotels, sports, and entertainment industries. These people and the revenues they contribute to New York City would never get here without companies like JetBlue.

While COVID set NY back, Mateo is urging that we use lessons learned to set NY up for the biggest comeback ever! He is urging action on retaining and growing the business community in New York City by making reasonable accommodations to incentivize them stay home in the Big Apple.[59]

—Mateo the Mayor[64]

William Pepitone[edit]

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

William Pepitone completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Pepitone's responses.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

My name is Bill Pepitone. I am the Conservative Party candidate for Mayor of New York City. I am a retired New York City Police Officer, Tactics Instructor and Training Coordinator, with over thirty years of law enforcement, public safety and operational management experience. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, I have served on many public committees and in leadership roles for both private entities and non-profit organizations. I will bring New York City back through strength, stability and solidarity.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

  • We will restore public safety by returning to fair, proactive policing that concentrates on reducing violent crime and addressing quality of life issues.
  • As Mayor I will repeal all COVID related mandates and put people back to work.
  • We must overhaul our failing education system by returning to basic academics and a legitimate grading and honors system while eliminating radical social agendas.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Public Safety, Education, Freedom of Medical Choice.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

My father has always been my role model. He has always done what is necessary to protect and provide for his family through difficult times as a New York City Police Officer and Firefighter. Politically, my role model is President Ronald Reagan, a great leader and communicator who guided the United States through strength.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Integrity, honor and honest leadership.

What legacy would you like to leave?

A safe, prosperous and united city that once again stands as the greatest city in the world.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

The Dance by Garth Brooks

A mayor is a leader in his or her city. What does that mean to you?

A Mayor has to lead by example and protect everyone in every community, while providing a quality of life that all residents can appreciate and thrive within.

Mayors have many responsibilities, which vary from city to city. Which of those do you personally consider the most important in your city?

Without question, providing safety and security for all residents in every community is the Mayor's most important responsibility. A Mayor must also ensure the City's children are being afforded a strong and safe education and have all the resources available to grow and succeed.

What do you perceive to be your city's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Our greatest challenge will be recovering from the failed policies of the previous administration. We must restore public safety and rebuild our economy, both severely damaged by the outgoing Mayor. Our education system must be overhauled while Freedom of Medical Choice must be given back to the people.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the mayor's office and law enforcement?

The Mayor's responsibility is to provide law enforcement with the tools, resources and support necessary for them to execute their responsibilities to the citizens of New York City.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Campaign website[edit]

Pepitone's campaign website stated the following:

PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE NYPD

Without public safety, without law and order, a city has nothing to build on. With lawlessness comes a tanking economy, the loss of tourism, unsafe schools, and a mass exodus of families, business owners, and law abiding taxpayers. We become desensitized to daily acts of unimaginable violence, the worst that could happen to a civil society. To combat the anarchy and apathy that hangs over New York City, we must and will return to 'Broken Windows' policing that was successful in the City's transformation in the mid-1990's. We will address quality of life issues such as vandalism, loitering, graffiti, public intoxication and public lewdness. We will return to enforcement of fare evasion and other subway and mass transit violations. There is a direct correlation between the lack of transit enforcement and the horrific attacks we've seen take place on subway platforms. Ignore these issues and they will act as a gateway to more violent crimes. The de Blasio administration has done just that, and the results are clear as day. A one year old is shot and killed in his stroller, a little girl holding her father's hand watches in horror as he is shot crossing the street. Those are just two of the indelible images from this past year. We will bring back proactive policing units that were disbanded by this feckless administration, such as anti-crime units and plain-clothes officers. Shootings have skyrocketed across our city because there is no longer a fear of carrying or using a firearm. Violence Interrupters, social workers and wishful thinking will not stop the gunfire or the death of innocents. Well trained, proactive police officers have and will again, in every community. We will allocate more resources to Counter-Terrorism, Disorder Control and Strategic Response , to identify and apprehend members of ANTIFA or any hate groups that attempt to bring violence and destruction to our city. There will be no replay of last summer. Our police officers will not be ordered to stand down and allow themselves to be targets of anarchists and criminals while our city is looted and burned. We are losing too many highly qualified police officers to other jurisdictions. The NYPD has a morale problem which manifests itself through recruitment and retention. I am the only candidate who can restore pride and morale immediately. I wore the uniform, I lost brothers and sisters who also wore that uniform. I trained thousands of our current police officers. I know what they need to be safe and to be effective. All of this will be accomplished with a REAL coming together of police and community. The painting of streets with slogans was nothing more than a diversion, a divisive act of political grandstanding that served no purpose and solved nothing. My administration will open our doors and our arms to true community leaders who have their neighbors and neighborhood's best interests in mind. We will not pander to or seek approval from racial arsonists such as Al Sharpton, who has done nothing to improve race relations or quality of life in New York City. We will work with all communities and anyone who loves this city and wants the best for its people.

EDUCATION AND COVID-19

The initial step towards rebuilding our crumbling public education system is to immediately replace our ineffective Chancellor. The next chancellor will be someone who has been in a New York City classroom, who understands the daily obstacles teachers and school children face. They will prioritize education over social agendas, and unite a badly fractured system that for too long has been nothing more than a political football for our elected officials. We will streamline the bloated bureaucracy, eliminate ineffective and inefficient political positions and invest those savings into the classrooms and into computers, books and supplies. Parent leaders will have a place and a say in my administration. Their voices have been muted by politicians for too long. They will be incorporated into decision and policy making and work in conjunction with principals and administrators. We must return to a fair and legitimate grading system, and keep in place testing for specialized high schools. Students who are excelling should be rewarded, and those that are struggling need to be supported. We will allocate far more funding and resources into special needs programs. No longer will these children suffer because of governmental incompetence. We will also educate school officials, school safety officers and police officers on how to respond to incidents involving special needs students, something that is long overdue on a wider scale. Charter schools will have a place in our education system, and parents will have a choice. If the abysmal COVID-19 response has taught us anything, it is that parents deserve an opportunity to choose. City Hall has all but ignored Charter Schools, making it almost impossible for them to fully function, yet their success stories continue. It can work. Our children belong in the classroom, with a teacher in front of them guiding their academic and social growth. We can do this safely, with a coherent plan, strict safety guidelines and informed decision making based on science and facts, not politically motivated agendas. Testing and vaccinations should be readily available and administered safely and properly; however, no child should be tested or vaccinated without parental consent, and teachers should not have their livelihoods threatened if they do not submit or comply. This is still America and we still have rights, rights that I as Mayor will protect.

ECONOMY

New York City’s economy has all but collapsed, and is quickly approaching the point of no return. Without question, COVID-19 and the ensuing lockdowns and regulations struck a staggering blow to our businesses, our tourism and overall economy. The reality is that our economy was trending downwards before the pandemic, as years of mismanagement and the overburdening taxation of the working class was beginning to take full effect. The riots of last summer, played out among the backdrop of the pandemic, hastened our economic demise, as elected officials all but abdicated leadership and their responsibility to tax payers and business owners.

So, how do we bring our economy back?

INDUSTRY

New York City must reinvest in industry. We have the necessary infrastructure already in place with commercial buildings, factories and transportation to move products such as shipping (freight and air) along with highway access for trucking. We have the available workforce at every income level, and it will create jobs for teenagers through seniors, entry level through executive. We would fill many office spaces that have been vacated, and bring jobs in the food, garment and film industry back as well. With so many people back to work and commuting again, this would serve as a much needed boost to our financially strapped MTA as well.

REOPEN

With people going back to work, we must then reopen our businesses, attractions and landmarks. We will open our theatres, our museums, and our sports venues. Broadway, Times Square, Madison Square Garden, movie theatres, concert halls, the Barclay Center…they simply can no longer remain dark. Open these venues and you put thousands upon thousands back to work immediately while boosting consumer spending.

SMALL BUSINESS

We must save our small businesses. The ludicrous edicts from Albany and City Hall have destroyed livelihoods and will destroy more. They have infringed upon our rights to earn a living, feed our families, pay our mortgage, rents and tuition, and enjoy the quality of life we deserve. We will open our restaurants, bars, gyms and other small businesses to keep our hard working, tax-paying business owners and employees in the city. Otherwise, those who can flee to other states will do just that, and the exodus from New York will quicken exponentially. Those who cannot leave will be left behind to suffer. It’s un-American and disgraceful.

PROTECT INVESTMENTS

We must and will protect our businesses. Last summer, some of the most expensive commercial real estate in the world was looted and burned with no response from our elected officials. Macy’s of Herald Square, Madison Avenue, Fifth Avenue, all looked and felt like a war zone. In November, in anticipation of violence related to the Presidential election, stores and boutiques closed down, boarded their windows with plywood and utilized private security firms with guard dogs. What message are you sending to business owners, corporations and investors when you refuse to protect their interests and City Hall cowers in fear? Why would anyone looking to invest stay in New York City or come back? Send a message to anarchists and criminals that what occurred in 2020 will never be allowed again, that New York City can and will protect your investments and we are indeed open for business.

DEVELOP AND GROW

During the 1970’s New York City fell into a financial crisis and tried to borrow their way out. That approach failed miserably. Under Mayor Abe Beame we fell into a filthy, crime-ridden mess (‘Fear City’) which led to mass layoffs and a harsh rebuke from President Ford (‘FORD TO CITY: DROP DEAD’ NY Daily News, 10/30/75). There would be no Federal bailout. I remember it like it was yesterday because my father, a New York City Police Officer at the time, lost his job in the layoffs. Suddenly we were uprooted and facing financial uncertainty along with thousands of other families. The City only rebounded when they stopped borrowing, begging and spending recklessly. They invested in development and growth, new construction, infrastructure and industry. We will do the same, while streamlining the government workforce that was increased during the pandemic by the de Blasio administration, an unconscionable act of arrogance, incompetence and failed crisis management.

A SAFE REBIRTH

Of course, all of this has to occur safely as we adjust to life under the cloud of COVID-19. There is a path to do so. Strict HVAC filtration, ventilation and sanitization guidelines must be put in place and enforced fairly. Social distancing, the wearing of masks, temperature checks; all can be implemented in our businesses and venues to ensure the safest reopening possible. We must follow the facts and the science, not political agendas. If we do so correctly, we can revive our economy and restart New York City’s faint heartbeat. If not, we will watch it slide into the abyss.[59]

—Pepitone for NYC Mayor[65]

Stacey Prussman[edit]

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

Stacey Prussman completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Prussman's responses.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Stacey Prussman is a national touring headlining stand-up comic, a radio host, actress, and a public speaker. She decided to run for Mayor of New York City for the Libertarian Party, after witnessing the decline of the city she loves by irresponsible and corrupt elected leaders who have abandoned their constituents. Stacey wants to bring NYC back to its former glory by having residents & communities make their own choices, conduct business and do what’s in their best interests. Stacey has set priorities that will improve the quality of life for New Yorkers and give them a say in how their city government is run. Her platform revolves around police reform, animal rights, restoring the economy, enabling public education reform and transferring power from government to people.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

  • Self Responsiobility

  • Helping small businesses grow with tax breaks and radically reducing and reforming zoning.
  • Restore Power Back to The People.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

As mayor of NYC, I will do the following: Public Safety Promote public safety by supporting police efforts to combat violent crime and protect potentially vulnerable communities by instituting comprehensive police reform. Prussman Plan for Coronavirus Safety Revive New York City’s culture by establishing science based coronavirus mitigation and reopening guidelines, instead of the haphazard regulations crushing our city. Democratize Education End the mayoral control of the Department of Education and allow local elections of education boards. Save CUNY Restore the CUNY budget through elimination of a tax loophole and democratizing its board of trustees, among other critical reforms. Animal Rights Successfully end the horse drawn carriage industry in Manhattan and establish NYC as a no-kill animal shelter zone. Mental Health People in need of mental health treatment need to get access to care without stigma, no matter their socioeconomic background. Coming out of the COVID crisis, this need has become even more urgent. Homelessness Simplify and update zoning laws which have kept us from developing housing for lower income people and families. Additionally, the ability to build inexpensive housing through technologies like 3D printing must be pursued so that we can end homelessness in New York City. NYCHA Expand the rent to own program to include all interested NYCHA residents. Homeownership is an important way to help people out of poverty

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Campaign website[edit]

Prussman's campaign website stated the following:

Stacey Prussman’s platform is based on giving power back to the people.

As mayor of NYC, Stacey will do the following:

Public Safety

Promote public safety by supporting police efforts to combat violent crime and protect potentially vulnerable communities by instituting comprehensive police reform.

Prussman Plan for Coronavirus Safety

Revive New York City’s culture by establishing science based coronavirus mitigation and reopening guidelines, instead of the haphazard regulations crushing our city.

Democratize Education

End the mayoral control of the Department of Education and allow local elections of education boards.

Save CUNY

Restore the CUNY budget through elimination of a tax loophole and democratizing its board of trustees, among other critical reforms.

Animal Rights

Successfully end the horse drawn carriage industry in Manhattan and establish NYC as a no-kill animal shelter zone.

Mental Health

People in need of mental health treatment need to get access to care without stigma, no matter their socioeconomic background. Coming out of the COVID crisis, this need has become even more urgent.

Homelessness

Simplify and update zoning laws which have kept us from developing housing for lower income people and families. Additionally, the ability to build inexpensive housing through technologies like 3D printing must be pursued so that we can end homelessness in New York City.

NYCHA

Expand the rent to own program to include all interested NYCHA residents. Homeownership is an important way to help people pull themselves out of poverty.

Reform and Reduce Red Light and Speeding Cameras

Red light and speeding cameras serve as a tax on the poor, as we can see by the neighborhoods they are installed in, how difficult it is to fight them, and the dependence on them to patch budget holes. The number of these cameras must be reduced, and those that remain must be under a revised program following the reform guidelines of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Legalize Cannabis and Other Natural Therapeutic Substances

New York City has an amazing opportunity to end wasteful enforcement of the victimless crime of cannabis possession and develop a crucially needed revenue stream by legalizing it. We should not be denying veterans and at-need patients the natural tools to manage their symptoms.

Open Up Vaping

The regulations on the vaping industry have pushed a booming potential revenue source out of our city while increasing the use of cigarettes. We must open this industry up in New York City.

Decriminalize sex work

Sex workers are forced to live with the dual dangers of pimps and arrest. We can end that by letting them come out from the underground legally.[59]

—Prussman for NYC Mayor[66]

Curtis Sliwa[edit]

Campaign website[edit]

Sliwa's campaign website stated the following:

Why Vote For Curtis?

He’s been known for decades as a colorful New Yorker, often putting himself in the spotlight. But Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa told NY1 his campaign to succeed Bill de Blasio is a serious one, and he said his first focus would be on reducing crime.

The Staten Island and Brooklyn Republican Parties have endorsed Sliwa’s campaign.

He said his bid was an effort to “resurrect us from the eight years of Bill de Blasio.”

“I think Democrats and Republicans can almost unanimously agree: Bill de Blasio has destroyed this city that we so love,” Sliwa said.

For years, Sliwa has been a critic of de Blasio, deeming his policies too far to the left. Now, after the spike in crime in 2020, he has entered the race for mayor with a central focus on public safety, something Republicans have hammered de Blasio for, even before the increase in violent crime.

The main issues on the minds of all the citizens, regardless if they’re Republicans, Democrats, or independents, are crime, public safety, and the quality of life, Sliwa said.

But while Sliwa is best known for founding the Guardian Angels — who became famous for patrolling the subway system and streets when crime rates were higher — he says his campaign will touch on various issues. Among his other campaign platforms:

He calls for a property tax overhaul to correct disparities in the city.

He supports keeping the Specialized High School Admissions Test (SHSAT) and Gifted and Talented programs.

He wants more vocational training for students, including at charter schools. Sliwa contends that schools are not focusing enough resources on training students for skilled labor, such as carpentry and electrical repair.

Sliwa also hammers the Democratic mayoral candidates’ ambitious campaign platforms, arguing the city will not have enough money to fund their mandates. Instead, he presented himself as the future mayoral voice of fiscal reason in a city government that likely will be overwhelmingly filled with Democrats.

“Show me how we can do more with less money,” Sliwa said. “Because we’re not going to have the money to do everything that a lot of the other candidates are talking about.”[59]

—Curtis Sliwa for NYC Mayor 2021[67]

Ranked-choice voting[edit]

See also: New York City Ballot Question 1, Elections Charter Amendment: Ranked-Choice Voting, Vacancies, and City Council Redistricting Timeline (November 2019)
"Ranked-Choice Voting: What Do I Need to Know?" by NYC Votes

In 2019, New York City voters approved a ballot measure to establish ranked-choice voting (RCV) for primary and special elections beginning in 2021.

The primary election featured the first use of RCV for a mayoral primary in the city's history. Voters were allowed to rank up to five candidates on their ballot in order of preference. A candidate had to receive a majority of votes cast to win the election, and votes for eliminated candidates were redistributed based on the next preference on the ballot.[68]

Here are details about how it worked in the primary election.

  • Candidates were listed in rows and the numbered rankings in columns.
  • Voters could choose up to five candidates to support, ranking them from first to fifth.
  • Voters were not required to vote for five candidates. For example, a voter could vote for only one candidate if he or she desired.
  • Voters could not vote for the same candidate more than once or give the same rank to more than one candidate.

The New York City Campaign Finance Board said RCV had three benefits:

Ranked Choice Voting gives you more say in who gets elected. Even if your top choice candidate does not win, you can still help choose who does.

More civility and less negative campaigning. Candidates who are not your top choice still need your support as your 2nd, 3rd, 4th, or 5th choice. This makes them more likely to appeal to a wider audience.

More diverse and representative candidates win elections. Cities that have implemented Ranked Choice Voting have elected more women and more women of color, making their elected officials more representative of their communities.[59]

—New York City Campaign Finance Board[68]


Andrew Siff of NBC New York said that the use of RCV caused candidates to campaign differently than in previous cycles. "The addition of ranked choice voting for the NYC primaries is already leading to some previously unorthodox joint appearances from rival candidates, hoping to secure some second or third place votes that could put them over the top in a potentially close contest," he wrote.[69]

Alex Samuels of FiveThirtyEight said that RCV meant that candidates could not rely on just the support of their home neighborhood to carry a nomination. "[U]nder a ranked-choice voting system, it’s unlikely that someone could win by doing really well in just one of the city’s five boroughs. That candidate will eventually have to be the second and third choices of voters in other boroughs, too," she said.[70]

In April 2021, the majority of candidates did not have name recognition with most voters. In conjunction with RCV, political scientist Ken Sherrill said, "If we don’t watch out, we’re going to get a mayor almost chosen by random chance."[71]

Mayoral partisanship[edit]

New York has a Democratic mayor. As of November 2021, 63 mayors in the largest 100 cities by population are affiliated with the Democratic Party, 26 are affiliated with the Republican Party, four are independents, six identify as nonpartisan or unaffiliated, and one mayor's affiliation is unknown. While most mayoral elections in the 100 largest cities are nonpartisan, most officeholders are affiliated with a political party. Click here for a list of the 100 largest cities' mayors and their partisan affiliations.

What was at stake?[edit]

Report a story for this election[edit]

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Candidate survey[edit]

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About the city[edit]

See also: New York, New York

New York City is a city in New York and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. As of 2013, its population was 8.4 million, making it the largest city in the United States.[72]

City government[edit]

See also: Mayor-council government

The city of New York uses a strong mayor and city council system. In this form of municipal government, the city council serves as the city's primary legislative body and the mayor serves as the city's chief executive. The mayor and city council each serve four-year terms.

Demographics[edit]

The following table displays demographic data provided by the United States Census Bureau.

Demographic data for New York, New York (2015)
 New YorkNew York
Total population:8,426,74319,747,183
Land area (square miles):30347,126
Race and ethnicity[73]
White:43.3%64.6%
Black/African American:24.5%15.6%
Asian:13.5%8%
Native American:0.4%0.4%
Pacific Islander:0%0%
Two or more:3.2%2.9%
Hispanic/Latino:28.9%18.4%
Education
High school graduation rate:80.3%85.6%
College graduation rate:35.7%34.2%
Income
Median household income:$53,373$59,269
Persons below poverty level:20.6%18.5%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015)

See also[edit]

New York, New York New York Municipal government Other local coverage
Seal of NYC.jpg
Seal of New York.png
Municipal Government Final.png
Local Politics Image.jpg

External links[edit]

Footnotes[edit]

  1. The New York Times, "New York Primary Election Results," June 22, 2021
  2. 2.0 2.1 Emerson College Polling, "Adams Takes Back Lead as Wiley Emerges in NYC Mayor Race," accessed June 14, 2021
  3. The New York Times, "New York Primary Election Results," June 22, 2021
  4. The New York Times, "The Mayoral Race Heats Up for Top Contenders," April 15, 2021
  5. Politico, "Adams closes in on Yang according to new poll in NYC mayor's race," April 29, 2021
  6. NBC New York, "Race for NYC Mayor: Yang, Wiley, Stringer and Adams Emerge as Early Front-Runners," March 16, 2021
  7. City & State New York, "The endorsements for NYC mayoral candidates," April 20, 2021
  8. 8.0 8.1 The New York Times, "Kathryn Garcia for Mayor," May 10, 2021
  9. In battleground primaries, Ballotpedia based its selection of noteworthy candidates on polling, fundraising, and noteworthy endorsements. In battleground general elections, all major party candidates and any other candidates with the potential to impact the outcome of the race were included.
  10. New York City Board of Elections, "Round 8," accessed July 14, 2021
  11. The New York Times, "Garcia and Wiley Concede in N.Y.C. Mayor’s Race," July 7, 2021
  12. New York City Board of Elections, "Round 8," accessed July 6, 2021
  13. PIX 11, "NYC mayor’s race: Maya Wiley files lawsuit suggesting hand recount of ballots," July 2, 2021
  14. New York City Board of Elections, "Unofficial Rank Choice Rounds: Round 9," accessed June 30, 2021
  15. Politico, "Adams campaign files lawsuit in wake of elections board fiasco," June 30, 2021
  16. Twitter, "Juan Manuel Benítez," June 30, 2021
  17. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named error
  18. New York City Board of Elections, "Democratic Mayor: Unofficial Ranked Choice Rounds," accessed June 19, 2021
  19. The New York Times, "New York Primary Election Results," June 23, 2021
  20. Reuters, "Former presidential candidate Andrew Yang concedes in NYC mayoral race," June 23, 2021
  21. New York Times, "Yang and Garcia Form Late Alliance in Mayor’s Race, Drawing Adams’s Ire," June 19, 2021
  22. NBC New York, "Candidates Trade Barbs in Final Debate Before NYC Democratic Mayoral Primary," June 15, 2021
  23. Marist Poll, "WNBC/Telemundo 47/POLITICO/Marist Poll of 876 New York City Likely Democratic Primary Voters," accessed June 16, 2021
  24. New York Daily News, "Yang wins NYC mayoral endorsement from police union that reps Adams," June 14, 2021
  25. New York Post, "Adams and Garcia lead in money race during closing days of NYC mayoral primary," June 11, 2021
  26. New York Post, "NYC firefighters union to endorse Andrew Yang," June 10, 2021
  27. CBS New York, "Top 5 Leading Contenders In NYC Mayoral Race Face Off In Debate On CBS2 And CBSN New York," June 11, 2021
  28. Emerson Polling, "Adams Takes Back Lead as Wiley Emerges in NYC Mayor Race," June 9, 2021
  29. New York Post, "Jumaane Williams endorses Maya Wiley in NYC mayoral race," June 9, 2021
  30. Politico, "What it would take to elect a woman mayor — Yang’s Georgia claims questioned — Feds subpoena Cuomo book materials," June 8, 2021
  31. NY1, "Exclusive: Eric Adams jumps in front, Yang slips in NY1/Ipsos poll," June 7, 2021
  32. Twitter, "Elizabeth Warren," June 7, 2021
  33. New York Times, "Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Endorses Maya Wiley for N.Y.C. Mayor," June 5, 2021
  34. New York Post, "UFT tells NYC teachers not to rank Eric Adams, Andrew Yang on mayoral ballots," June 1, 2021
  35. Fontas Advisors, "Pulse of the Primary: May 2021," accessed May 26, 2021
  36. The City, "Watch the NYC Republican Mayoral Primary Debate Here May 26," May 24, 2021
  37. AMNY, "Kathryn Garcia secures endorsement from statewide environmental organization," May 25, 2021
  38. Emerson Polling, "Garcia Surges to Lead in NYC Mayor Race while Adams Holds His Base," May 25, 2021
  39. Gothamist, "John Liu, NY's Asian American Political Trailblazer, Endorses Andrew Yang," May 24, 2021
  40. New York Daily News, "Calif. Congresswoman Katie Porter endorses Maya Wiley for NYC mayor," May 24, 2021
  41. YouTube, "Eric Adams: Our Moment," May 23, 2021
  42. New York Post, "Tenants group votes dual endorsement of Morales, Wiley for mayor," May 24, 2021
  43. New York Daily News, "With promise of Latino voter support, Rep. Adriano Espaillat backs Eric Adams for NYC mayor," May 23, 2021
  44. Politico, "How the AG’s Trump probe might play out — Feds eye Cuomo virus tests — NYC Covid numbers hit low point as restrictions lift," May 20, 2021
  45. City Journal, "New York’s Mayoral Race: Where It Stands," May 19, 2021
  46. The New York Times, "Maya Wiley Lands Major Endorsement From Rep. Hakeem Jeffries," May 16, 2021
  47. Newe York Daily News, "Make it Mayor Garcia: New Yorkers should choose Kathryn Garcia in the Democratic primary for NYC mayor," May 15, 2021
  48. The City, "Watch the First New York City Mayoral Debate Thursday Night Here," May 12, 2021
  49. The Newe York Times, "Most of Stringer’s Supporters Have Fled. Not the Teachers’ Union," May 10, 2021
  50. New York Post, "The Post says Eric Adams should be NYC’s next mayor," May 10, 2021
  51. Politico, "Hotel workers union launches blitz for Adams, Johnson," May 9, 2021
  52. New York Daily News, "Andrew Yang drops $1.5M on first TV ad as Eric Adams chips away at his front-runner status," May 6, 2021
  53. New York Daily News, "Adams wins coveted endorsement from Queens beep in City Hall push," May 2, 2021
  54. The New York Times, "Stringer, Facing Sexual Harassment Accusation, Loses Key Endorsements," April 30, 2021
  55. The New York Times, "Sexual Assault Allegation Against Stringer Upends N.Y.C. Mayor’s Race," April 29, 2021
  56. The New York Times, "Eric Adams Endorsed by Top Bronx Leader, Giving Him Lift With Latinos," April 25, 2021
  57. New York Daily News, "Maya Wiley gets NYC mayoral bid nod from pro-woman, pro-choice PAC," April 23, 2021
  58. The Hill, "Yang gets key endorsement from former opponent in NYC mayor race," April 21, 2021
  59. 59.0 59.1 59.2 59.3 59.4 59.5 59.6 59.7 59.8 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  60. Eric Adams for Mayor, "Vision," accessed Apri 16, 2021
  61. Vitaly for Mayor, "Campaign Platform," accessed April 18, 2021
  62. Quanda Francis for Mayor NYC, "Policy," accessed June 11, 2021
  63. CSK for NYC Mayor, "Vision for NYC," accessed April 18, 2021
  64. Mateo the Mayor, "Mateo's Jobs & Safety Agenda," accessed June 9, 2021
  65. Pepitone for NYC Mayor, "Projects," accessed April 18, 2021
  66. Prussman for Mayor, "Stacey's Platform," accessed April 18, 2021
  67. Curtis Sliwa for NYC Mayor 2021," accessed April 18, 2021
  68. 68.0 68.1 New York City Campaign Finance Board, "Ranked-Choice Voting," accessed May 17, 2021
  69. NBC New York, "Race for NYC Mayor: Yang, Wiley, Stringer and Adams Emerge as Early Front-Runners," March 16, 2021
  70. FiveThirtyEight, "What We’re Watching In The New York City Mayoral Race," March 16, 2021
  71. The New York Times, "Where Is the New York Mayor’s Race Headed?" April 30, 2021
  72. United States Census Bureau, "American Fact Finder," accessed April 24, 2014
  73. Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.


Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 | Original source: https://ballotpedia.org/Mayoral_election_in_New_York,_New_York_(2021)
Status: cached on November 18 2021 15:25:13
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