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Who's Running For Manhattan Borough President?
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David Cruz
Published Jan 27, 2021
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By
David Cruz
Published Jan 27, 2021
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UPDATE, OCTOBER 2021: Here is who will be on your general election ballot for Manhattan Borough President:
Democratic – Mark D. Levine
Republican - Louis Puliafito
Libertarian - Michael Lewyn
Original pre-primary story:
A state senator, urban planner, education advocate, former community board chair, and two Council Members are all running for the seat of Manhattan Borough President, looking to leverage the position to steer residents toward a more prosperous future.
Manhattan remains at a crossroads, as residents fled the borough during the pandemic and the commercial corridors became ghost towns, leaving behind a city under economic duress. The next borough president will be tasked to jumpstart the economic engines once again.
The winner of the race will succeed Gale Brewer, whose political ambitions and unwanted term limit have inspired her to run for New York City Council.
As with all BP posts across the city, the powers of the borough presidency are limited. They're left with a small budget but a big megaphone that can steer public opinion away from projects advocated by the city. That power is also amplified in their appointment of community board members.
Here are the Democratic candidates for Manhattan Borough President:
Lindsey Boylan
Lindsey Boylan's unsuccessful run to replace Manhattan Representative Jerry Nadler appeared to be a kind of warm-up act, as Boylan appears to be a serious contender for the race after amassing $126,279 in private campaign contributions. With Boylan participating in the city Campaign Finance Board, it translates to more than $440,000, according to Boylan's estimates (the CFB has yet to tabulate that number).
With an economic development background, Boylan has honed in on using the BP pulpit to bolster Manhattan's economy post-pandemic, and be an ever-present pol who "in this moment in time [will] push, advocate," according to an interview with New York County Politics. Boylan's urban planning background might also influence the direction of rezonings, which she has found to have disproportionately impacted Manhattan communities of color. On her website, Boylan has pushed for a plan for true affordable housing, but has not yet offered any specifics. As a borough president, Boylan can offer a yea or nay vote on a rezoning, though the true power comes from the Council Member whose district would be impacted by the rezoning.
Fast Fact: Earlier this year, Boylan accused her former boss, Governor Andrew Cuomo, of harassment. Cuomo denied the allegation.
Elizabeth Caputo
Elizabeth Caputo is leaning heavily toward her professional administrative experience as well as experience chairing Manhattan Community Board 7 to carry her to Borough Hall. Under her tenure as chair, Caputo pushed for the installation of a bike lane along Amsterdam Avenue, advocated for bringing Citi Bike to Manhattan, and held hearings in 2015 to examine the de Blasio administration's Mandatory Inclusionary Housing program, which mandate developers create 20% of affordable housing units for any new residence in exchange for tax breaks.
Despite having limited powers over the following proposals, Caputo has also championed a loan forgiveness program for laid off Broadway actors and temporarily hiring them at New York City public schools. She's also advocating for more Select Bus Service in Manhattan, and expanding the Open Streets program.
Fast fact: Caputo has lived in the same Manhattan UWS neighborhood for over 20 years, most of them with her dogs Leo and Bruno.
Brad Hoylman
A veteran lawmaker,Brad Hoylman's legislative experience derives from the state capitol, where as state senator for Manhattan's 27th District he sponsored a number of bills, including the Child’s Victim Act—expanding the statute of limitations on sex abuse allegations—which became law. As borough president, Hoylman is pushing for a people-centric management of the office, telling prospective voters that his goal of creating a 197-a masterplan, which provides a vision for a community from a transportation, education, and public safety perspective. Such a plan requires approvals from the Department of City Planning and the City Council.
More people-powered approaches to Holyman's governing style include the creation of a Public School Parent Advocacy and Resource Center at the BP's office, and giving community boards greater power in deciding where the BP's budget should be allocated. His preference for people-powered administration extended to his campaign coffers, where 1,603 people have donated to his campaign, according to the city Campaign Finance Board, bringing his total funds at $364,870. It still comes a distant second to other competitors.
Fast Fact: Hoylman has nothing to lose entering this seat as current rules allow him to run for the BP spot while keeping his state senate seat.
Ben Kallos
Among the limited powers of a borough president is its ability to propose legislation, and Ben Kallos has no problem in that arena, proposing more than 40 bills on the New York City Council level. Those bills include making Council Member a full-time job and eliminating extra pay through so-called "lulus". Kallos has also positioned himself as a thorn on the side of developers, opposing "supertall' structures that have popped up across the city.
On his website, Kallos has ideas that appear to be more fleshed out than his rivals. They include improving transportation infrastructure, retrofitting the island's waterfronts to manage climate change, and curtailing overdevelopment. So far, voters have enjoyed Kallos' pitch, raising $738,817, the most campaign cash than any other candidate.
Fast Fact: Kallos emulates Brewer – “I want to be Gale Brewer when I grow up. I say it all the time”
Mark Levine
Manhattan Council Member Mark Levine's profile has been raised over the last year, following fierce criticism of Mayor Bill de Blasio's response to the pandemic. That criticism has been tied to ideas that will likely carry over should he become the next borough president. Several of his sponsored bills on the Council level include providing stipends to low-income New Yorkers who quarantine, creating a memorial for New Yorkers who've died from the virus, and suspending licensing fees for businesses recovering from the pandemic.
When it comes to endorsements, Levine received a boost from three Latina lawmakers—Council Member Diana Ayala and Assembly Members Carmen De La Rosa and Catalina Cruz—who recently endorsed Levine, giving him a leg up in securing the Latin and Hispanic vote. Though he's raised $450,761, Levine has produced the most donors with 2,083 people contributing to his campaign.
Fast Fact: Before winning the 7th Council District in the northwest side of Manhattan, Levine was a bilingual math and science teacher at Junior High School 149 in Brooklyn.
Kimberly Watkins
Kimberly Watkins, the parent of a public school student and who currently serves as president of the Community Education Council 3, frames herself as the public school candidate, advocating for a major overhaul of the system. On her website, Watkins supports abolishing mayoral control, including the heads of Community Education Council's onto the Borough Board, and reducing a school nurse shortfall.
Outside of school matters, Watkins also voiced opposition to the privatization of public housing, empowering community boards to approve pop-up stores in empty storefronts, and making Manhattan a more car-free borough under a 10-year green plan.
Fast Fact: When she's not running for borough presidents, Watkins is coaching runners as a part-time trainer.
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manhattan
election 2021
2021 Voter Guide
borough president
David Cruz
David is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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