Overview:
As New York Metropolis voters put together for the 2025 election, borough presidents are again on the poll. Whereas their energy is proscribed, these officers can form land use, appoint neighborhood board members, and fund key initiatives. Be taught what borough presidents truly do — and who’s working in every borough.
By Rachel Kahn | THE CITY
This yr, elected places of work across the city are up for grabs: all 51 Metropolis Council seats, comptroller and mayor. New Yorkers in every county even have the chance to pick out their subsequent borough president, a job that’s one thing like an area mini-mayor.
BPs, or “beeps” for enjoyable, have so much much less energy than the mayor, however they act as cheerleaders for his or her borough, and have lots of sway over appointments to varied civic boards, land use selections, how cash is allotted to neighborhood initiatives, and extra.
“Should you care in regards to the id and neighborhood of a borough, should you care in regards to the assets going into your neighborhood — you’re going to care who your borough president is,” stated Sharon Lee, who served as interim Queens borough president in 2020.
We spoke to Lee and former Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer (now a Council member) about what a borough president is and why it’s best to care — and on the finish, a quick information on who’s working for the workplace in every borough:
What a borough president does
Should you care about what will get constructed within the metropolis — and the way — it’s best to care about your borough president. Improvement, zoning, actual property — “it’s the primary challenge, to be sincere with you,” stated Brewer, particularly in Manhattan.
The borough president formally weighs in on land use proposals with an advisory vote and a written choice. Whereas their enter isn’t binding, it may be fairly influential to the Metropolis Council members who’ve final say.
The BP’s sway trickles down by the community boards by way of their appointments of these teams’ volunteer members. BPs deal with the neighborhood board utility course of, from creating the shape, to interviewing, deciding on and appointing candidates.
This offers them important energy to form the boards in keeping with their targets, and it may well have a big effect on neighborhoods. For instance, as THE CITY has reported, Borough President Mark Levine has appointed many pro-housing members to Manhattan’s neighborhood boards lately — a lot to the chagrin of some preservationist members who haven’t been reappointed.
And it’s not simply the neighborhood boards. BPs additionally appoint folks to many different civic teams. “There are a selection of hospital boards, library boards — all these totally different roles of civic engagement,” stated Lee. “So discerning who’re the best folks to serve in these roles, and to amplify voices of all of the communities, as numerous as they’re, I believe that’s actually vital.”
Borough presidents even have the time and the know-how to carry totally different teams collectively to sort out particular points: Former Manhattan Deputy Borough President Adrian Bonilla informed THE CITY in 2021 that he considered the function because the “convener in chief.”
Brewer agrees: “You’re the convener — you’re the Manhattan one that is aware of all 12 [community] boards, all of the neighborhoods, the issues that wanted to be addressed,” she stated. Throughout her tenure, Brewer created a number of activity forces: from help for struggling churches being pressured to sell real estate, to methods to enhance building security and examine small companies.
“We had supplies or laws that got here out of each single one,” she stated.
The BPs even have 5% of the town bills funds at their disposal to fund native initiatives, like shopping for know-how for public colleges, renovating native parks or spearheading neighborhood well being outreach.
What to search for in a borough president candidate
To Lee, the borough president must be somebody you may belief to make selections for what assets go the place.
“Figuring out that assets will not be limitless and tips on how to allocate them within the fairest method, and an equitable method, requires discernment,” she stated.
Each Lee and Brewer agreed {that a} good borough president prioritizes listening to their constituents. Throughout her tenure, Brewer moved the BP’s places of work to road stage so folks may simply stroll in and speak together with her employees. “We did a ton of constituent work — at the moment we have been the one elected official in Harlem on the road, all people else was in that tall constructing,” she stated, referring to the state workplace constructing.
Lastly, because the BP’s function is generally advisory, there’s lots of flexibility in what initiatives they tackle. “There are charter-mandated issues that now we have to do, however there’s additionally lots of leeway by way of what priorities and what agenda a person borough president desires to absorb her or his tenure,” Lee defined.
So, when voting, search for somebody who has a observe report of getting issues accomplished, and whose priorities align with yours.
“Folks suppose they’re not related and I perceive that,” stated Brewer of the function. “However I can let you know, you need to battle to your borough. There’s no person else doing that combating.”
Who’s working?
THE BRONX
Vanessa Gibson (D)
Vanessa Gibson was elected in 2021 because the Bronx borough president. Earlier than that, she was a member of the State Meeting and the Metropolis Council.
Throughout her tenure, she’s partnered with native farmers markets to fight meals insecurity, labored on maternal health and public security initiatives, and assisted with the redevelopment of the Kingsbridge Armory.
She’s racked up highly effective endorsements up to now this yr: the Bronx Democratic Occasion, unions like 1199 and 32BJ SEIU, the Working Households Occasion and different elected officers in The Bronx.
However regardless of being “well-liked,” as described by City Limits, she’s going through a uncommon aggressive challenger: Rafael Salamanca.
Rafael Salamanca (D)
Metropolis Councilmember Rafael Salamanca is working to unseat Gibson, and he’s making a strong go at it: He’s at present raised $762,724 in keeping with Marketing campaign Finance Board information, practically double the quantity that Gibson has (although he has fewer weighty endorsements).
He’s at present chair of the Metropolis Council’s Land Use Committee, the place he sponsored a bill requiring builders on the lookout for metropolis subsidies to put aside 15% of models for folks experiencing homelessness.
“I’m a product of the South Bronx, I used to be born and raised right here and I’m at present elevating my 10-year-old son right here,” Salamanca stated in a forum at Lehman Faculty in early Could. “I run for borough president as a result of Bronx households deserve management that fights for them, delivers outcomes and ensures that our borough stays a spot the place Bronx residents can elevate their households and thrive.”
BROOKLYN
Antonio Reynoso (D)
Antonio Reynoso was elected Brooklyn borough president in 2021. He was raised in a Dominican household on the south facet of Williamsburg the place he nonetheless lives at this time, in keeping with his campaign. He was beforehand on the Metropolis Council, the place he chaired the Sanitation and Strong Waste Administration Committee.
He has earned a big slate of endorsements, from elected officers like Rep. Nydia Velasquez (D-NY), Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, the WFP, and unions like 32BJ SEIU and the United Auto Staff.
Throughout his tenure, Reynoso has centered on well being, allocating $40 million in 2023 to construct maternal well being services in Brooklyn’s three public hospitals. He additionally unveiled an ambitious plan for the borough referred to as “a proposal for a unique technique to handle the town,” which included including extra bike lanes and parking charges to pay for them, planting extra bushes, and rezoning to develop housing.
Khari Edwards (D)
Khari Edwards is the head of corporate responsibility at Ayr Wellness, a hashish firm. He misplaced to Reynoso in 2021, and has not held elected workplace earlier than.
Born in Crown Heights, Edwards is a neighborhood advocate, and based the initiative to scale back gun violence “It Starts Here.” As borough president, he pledges to prioritize schooling and job coaching, concentrate on constituent providers, and additional his work to forestall gun violence.
He’s been efficiently fundraising, and with public matching funds has $469,835 in his marketing campaign coffers. (Reynoso has $756,296, in keeping with the final disclosure.) Edwards has additionally been endorsed by outstanding buildings staff union DC37.
Janine Acquafredda (R)
Janine Acquafredda, a conservative candidate for borough president, is an actual property dealer. She was born and raised in New York.
Acquafredda has raised just a little below $4,000, and has not but certified for public matching funds. She says she’s focused on enhancing public security, increasing alternatives for first-time homebuyers and advocating for New Yorkers who drive.
“I’m not ashamed to say it: I’ve a automotive. And I pay for these streets,” Acquafredda stated in a speech to the Brooklyn Republican Membership in early Could. “Why is Citi Bike — who’s truly owned by Lyft — why are they profiting off of placing their bikes in my parking spots?”
As the one Republican working in Brooklyn, Acquafredda faces no main problem and will likely be on the poll in November.
MANHATTAN
There is no such thing as a incumbent within the Manhattan race (present Borough President Mark Levine is running for comptroller), so the trail is cleared for 3 Democratic candidates within the race.
Brad Hoylman-Sigal (D)
State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal’s website boasts that within the 12 years since he was first despatched to Albany he has handed over 350 payments “specializing in a spread of points, together with housing entry, affordability, public security, LGBTQ+ rights and schooling.”
He’s gained the endorsements of former Manhattan borough presidents Brewer and Ruth Messinger, Manhattan Democratic Occasion Chair Keith L. T. Wright, Congressman Jerry Nadler (D-Manhattan), and healthcare staff union 1199. Hoylman-Sigal at present has $960,906 within the financial institution, in keeping with the newest campaign disclosures.
Hoylman-Sigal lives together with his husband and two daughters within the West Village, and can be the primary overtly homosexual individual to carry the place.
Keith Powers (D)
Keith Powers, the term-limited Council member representing elements of the east facet of Manhattan, is working a marketing campaign centered on land use coverage and inexpensive housing. He’s a third-generation resident of Peter Cooper Village and StuyTown.
Powers has narrowly outraised Hoylman-Sigal with $1,027,402 at present in his marketing campaign coffers. He additionally boasts a big slate of endorsements together with from Reps. Nydia Velasquez (D-Brooklyn) and Adriano Espaillat (D-Manhattan), together with union 32BJ and the Teamsters.
“If you’d like massive concepts and if you need frequent sense, then I actually imagine that I’m your candidate for borough president,” Powers stated at an uptown discussion board in March.
Calvin Solar (D)
Calvin Solar is an emergency drugs physician and “lifelong New Yorker” who has not held public workplace earlier than. Solar’s marketing campaign is concentrated on healthcare for all, enhancing the price of dwelling and schooling, in keeping with his website.
Solar has raised a big sum of money at $377,084, however considerably lower than his opponents, who’re at present working with round one million every.
Solar’s background in drugs, and his work on the entrance strains in the course of the Covid-19 pandemic, inform his strategy to policymaking. “Individuals are compelled into ERs as a result of they’ll’t afford preventive care, or worse, they find yourself on the road, turning their housing disaster right into a healthcare disaster,” he stated to the Murray Hill Neighborhood Association in regards to the significance of inexpensive housing, and the way it pertains to the migrant disaster and homelessness.
STATEN ISLAND
Since each of those candidates are working unopposed inside their events, Staten Islanders will have the ability to forged their votes within the November common election.
Vito Fossella (R)
Vito Fossella is the present borough president of Staten Island. Throughout his tenure, Fossella has sued the town to attempt to overturn congestion pricing, a legislation handed permitting non-citizens to vote in metropolis elections, and City of Yes.
His run in 2021 was endorsed by President Donald Trump, which marked his return to politics after a drunk driving scandal in 2008 that exposed his secret second household. To this point, Fossella’s marketing campaign has $77,304 to its title, and no public matching funds.
Michael Colombo (D)
Michael Colombo is a Democratic challenger for Staten Island Borough President. His priorities as borough president can be inexpensive housing, enhancing public transportation (the Staten Island buses are notoriously slow) and public well being, in keeping with his campaign website..
Although Colombo is a Democrat, he’s stressing his id as a working-class Staten Islander above all. “I don’t give a rattling about celebration politics. I care about my dwelling. I care about our households, our neighborhoods and our future,” he stated at his campaign announcement.
To this point, Colombo has $67,805 in his marketing campaign coffers, and has not been awarded any matching funds.
QUEENS
Like Fossella and Colombo, the Queens borough president candidates will not be a part of the June main. They may face off in November’s common election.
Henry “Ike” Ikezi (R)
Henry Ikezi works in actual property, and says on his website that by that work he has “revitalized distressed neighborhoods, creating over 1,000 properties and enhancing numerous lives.”
Ikezi’s prime points are job coaching, inexpensive housing and public security with elevated NYPD presence.
He’s raised over $15,000, however is now left with solely $974 after spending on fundraising and consulting providers, the newest marketing campaign finance information present.
Donovan Richards (D)
Donovan Richards is the present borough president in Queens. In workplace, Richards has allocated funds to bolster hospitals, inexpensive housing, clear vitality and native nonprofit organizations.
Throughout his time on the Metropolis Council, the place he was elected in 2013, Richards was chair of the subcommittee on zoning and franchises, the place he supported a big rezoning within the Rockaways to spur housing growth. He was later chair of the committee on public security, the place he “stood up to the NYPD.”
Richards raised practically $260,000 however appears to have spent greater than $270,000, leaving his marketing campaign at present $11,296 within the crimson. In response to marketing campaign disclosures, he’s paid $90,418 to Dynamic SRG, a Peekskill-based marketing campaign marketing consultant.