Overview:
In a wide-ranging interview with The Haitian Instances, mayoral candidate Scott Stringer outlines his plans to sort out housing affordability, defend immigrants, and convey reform to metropolis operations like sanitation and nonprofit funding. The previous metropolis comptroller emphasizes his deep ties to the Haitian group and his expertise in public service as causes he is ready to guide.
Editor’s Notice: This interview has been condensed and a few responses paraphrased for size and formatting.
As New York Metropolis’s 2025 mayoral race heats up, veteran public servant Scott Stringer is making the case that have, not novelty, is what the town wants most. With a political profession spanning over three many years, together with roles as state assemblymember, Manhattan borough president, and most just lately, New York Metropolis comptroller, Stringer brings institutional information to the desk.
As comptroller from 2014 to 2021, Stringer oversaw the town’s funds and pension funds, led high-profile divestment campaigns from fossil fuels and personal prisons, and took on procurement delays that left nonprofits, many serving immigrant communities, struggling to remain afloat. He usually clashed with Mayor Invoice de Blasio on transparency and contract mismanagement, positioning himself as each a watchdog and a reformer.
Stringer has additionally cultivated a longstanding relationship with New York’s Haitian group.
He appointed Haitian Roundtable chairperson and co-founder, Rosemonde Pierre-Louis, as the primary Haitian American deputy borough president throughout his tenure in Manhattan.
Within the wake of the 2010 earthquake, his workplace mobilized to help Haitian-led aid efforts. In recognition of his constant advocacy, the Haitian Roundtable honored him as an ‘honorary Haitian,’ a gesture underscoring his ties to the group he hopes to serve once more, this time as mayor.
The Haitian Instances: What are your prime three priorities for New York Metropolis if elected mayor?
Scott Stringer:
I wish to sort out affordability. I wish to sort out housing. I wish to guarantee that we ease the burden for working households. I’m elevating my two youngsters within the metropolis—I see what many New Yorkers see. The hire is simply too excessive, and we have to construct really reasonably priced housing. My plan would use vacant city-owned land to create the subsequent technology of housing inside my first two years in workplace. I additionally wish to lower youngster care prices by 50% with my tri-share plan and lengthen the college day so dad and mom can work full shifts figuring out their youngsters are protected and studying.
THT: You’ve been referred to as a “political mainstay” in New York. Do you embrace that label?
Stringer:
I don’t dispute it. I’ve served the town for over 30 years—as assemblymember, Manhattan borough president, and metropolis comptroller. I’ve constantly fought for working folks. That form of expertise issues, particularly now. I understand how to place the best folks in place, keep away from corruption, and get issues carried out. I haven’t simply existed in workplace, I’ve been a reformer in authorities.
THT: What’s your plan for serving to nonprofits with delayed metropolis funds?
Stringer: After I was comptroller, I fought the de Blasio administration over these delays. Small nonprofits can’t wait months for cost—they’ll go underneath. I proposed procurement reforms to streamline the method and root out dangerous actors. We additionally arrange an early warning system so nonprofits knew precisely the place their contracts stood. That form of accountability is what I’ll convey as mayor.
THT: Some nonprofit and small enterprise homeowners say in case you don’t have political connections, you’re overlooked. What would you do to vary that?
Stringer:
That’s completely an issue. However I’ve been a reformer in each position I’ve held. As borough president, I diversified group boards and introduced in native voices. As comptroller, we divested from fossil fuels, weapons, and personal prisons—strikes that took years, not press releases. I don’t simply maintain workplace—I take advantage of it to reform how the town works.
Do you could have quarter-hour? Additional studying on affordability, immigration and nonprofit funding from The Haitian Instances
THT: Our readers fear about immigration insurance policies. What would you say to those that worry dropping their authorized standing or household separation?
Stringer:
I’ll have your again. Whether or not it’s Haitians or others, immigrants are the spine of our metropolis. I see youngsters disappearing from school rooms as a result of households are scared. That’s unacceptable. I’m proposing a $1 billion fund to guard in opposition to federal rollbacks—so if Trump or anybody else cuts funding, the town can step in. I’ll use the authorized system, my workplace, and public stress to guard households.
THT: What would you like voters to recollect about Andrew Cuomo?
Stringer:
That he wasn’t a buddy to New York Metropolis. He lower CUNY funding, slashed MTA budgets, and ruled by chaos and scandal. The mayor’s position isn’t solo—it’s about working with others. I construct coalitions. Cuomo governs for himself.
THT: In Flatbush, we’ve seen a severe sanitation disaster. What’s your resolution?
Stringer:
We’re choosing up rubbish the identical approach we did 100 years in the past—and it’s failing. In my very own neighborhood, I’ve seen rubbish piles two tales excessive. Rats are operating wild. We want smarter containerization, underground rubbish methods in new developments, and actual funding in composting. And sure, we should concentrate on communities of colour that lack the assets of wealthier areas.
THT: The rest you wish to add?
Stringer:
There’s nothing improper with this metropolis that one good election can’t repair. I wish to be a mayor who has pores and skin within the sport—as a result of I’m not simply operating for workplace. I’m a dad within the public college system. And I would like each child, even those I’ll by no means meet, to know they’ve somebody preventing for them at Metropolis Corridor.