PSC General Election Endorsements 2025

The Professional Staff Congress is proud to announce the following endorsements in New York City for the 2025 election cycle.  These candidates are committed to fully funding the City University of New York’s community colleges and fighting to ensure that every New Yorker has access to a high-quality college education.

NYC Mayor

• Zohran Mamdani: PSC is proud to endorse Zohran Mamdani for mayor in the 2025 general election after his PSC-backed Democratic primary victory. Whether he’s supporting our members by rallying for a strong contract or sponsoring legislation like the REPAIR Act and the New Deal for CUNY that would raise hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue for CUNY, Assemblymember Mamdani has been an ally of PSC members, CUNY students and public higher education. PSC encourages members to vote for Zohran Mamdani for New York City Mayor on the Working Families Party ballot line.

NYC Comptroller

• Mark Levine: PSC is proud to endorse Mark Levine for New York City Comptroller. Manhattan Borough President Levine stood with members in our fight for a contract and demanded restoration of funds to CUNY that were cut during COVID. As chair of the Council’s Committee on Health during the pandemic and as Manhattan Borough President, Mark has stood for workers and public higher education.  PSC encourages our members to vote for Mark Levine for New York City Comptroller.

NYC Public Advocate

• Jumaane Williams: The PSC is proud to endorse Jumaane Williams for Public Advocate. Jumaane is an outspoken advocate for CUNY and an indefatigable voice for racial and economic justice. As a CUNY graduate himself he shares the PSC’s commitment to a fully funded City University. A graduate from Brooklyn College, Public Advocate Williams has  been a vocal advocate for PSC members, CUNY students and the CUNY community colleges. While in the council, he helped lead the campaign to end the City’s “stop and frisk” policing policy, a priority for CUNY students and the PSC. PSC encourages members to vote Jumaane Williams for New York City Public Advocate on the Working Families Party ballot line.

District 1 – Christopher Marte
District 2 – Harvey Epstein
District 3 – Erik Bottcher 
District 6 – Gale Brewer
District 7 – Shaun Abreu
District 8 – Elsie Encarnacion
District 10 – Carmen De La Rosa
District 12 – Kevin Riley
Districk 13 – Shirley Aldebol
District 14 – Pierina Sanchez
District 15 – Oswald Feliz
District 17 – Justin Sanchez
District 18 – Amanda Farías
District 19 – Ben Chou
District 22 – Tiffany Cabán
District 25 – Shekar Krishnan 
District 27 – Nantasha Williams
District 28 – Ty Hankerson
District 29 – Lynn Schulman
District 33 – Lincoln Restler 
District 34 – Jennifer Gutiérrez
District 35 – Crystal Hudson
District 36 – Chi Ossé
District 37 – Sandy Nurse 
District 38 – Alexa Avilés
District 39 – Shahana Hanif
District 40 – Rita Joseph 
District 45 – Farah Louis 
District 47 – Kayla Santosuosso

NYC voters will have six proposals on their ballots. The PSC has not taken a position on these proposals, but the Committee on Legislation has prepared this voter guide for educational purposes.

Proposal One

This is a statewide proposal for a state amendment to Allow Olympic Sports Complex in Essex County on State Forest Preserve Land. 

In favor: The Adirondack Council and Protect the Adirondacks endorse a yes vote, as it will allow the Mount Van Hoevenberg Olympic Sports Complex to come into compliance with state law (it has been expanding over several decades without voter approval) and also compensates the public for this development with reciprocal new protected acreage. 

Against: There is not any notable opposition to Proposal One 

Background and resources: 

1. Voters to decide on Adirondack Park changes | NEWS10 ABC
2. 2025 Mount Van Hoevenberg Amendment – Adirondack Council
3. Press Release-MountVanHo-Protect the Adirondacks
4. Van Ho amendment to go before voters in November | News, Sports, Jobs – Adirondack Daily Enterprise

Text on your ballot: Allows skiing and related trail facilities on state forest preserve land. The site is 1,039 acres. Requires State to add 2,500 acres of new forest land in Adirondack Park. A yes vote authorizes new ski trails and related facilities in the Adirondack forest preserve. A no vote does not authorize this use.

Proposals Two through Five

These are citywide proposals for charter amendments that relate to land use and affordable housing. 

In favor: Yes On Affordable Housing is a coalition of groups supporting proposals two through five, including many housing organizations and advocates, who argue that these proposals will allow the City to build more housing, more quickly, which is a dire need. Comptroller Brad Lander, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, and Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso have also endorsed a yes vote. Citizens’ Union has issued statements in favor of all six ballot measures.

Against: City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and the rest of the Council leadership sent this letter to the Board of Elections, trying to remove proposals two through four from the ballot. The council has also created this website to explain why they’re opposed. The council members argue that these proposals will shift power away from the Council and toward the Mayor. They have accused Mayor Adams of a power grab, although he will not be in office if and when these policies go into effect.

Currently, under “member deference,” council members have a powerful voice in determining whether land use projects in their district will be greenlit. Proposals two through four would reduce the role of the council in approving or blocking new housing developments. Some labor unions in the real estate sector use their influence with council members to ensure developers commit to using union labor, and these unions such as 32BJ and the Building Trades oppose proposals two through five. 

Background and resources: 

1. League of Women Voters of NYC endorses measures 2, 3 and 5
2. City council ‘member deference’ practice would be sharply limited under charter proposal
3. Housing Advocates Target City Council’s Power to Kill Development | THE CITY — NYC News
4. Council-weakening housing proposals survive the Board of Elections – City & State New York
5. NYC voters can weigh in on housing ballot proposals after Gov. Hochul gets involved
6. Pro-housing proposals are popular – POLITICO
7. Ballot Measures on Housing Get Green Light Despite Council Pushback | THE CITY — NYC News
8. New York NIMBYs Turn Against Democracy – The Atlantic
9. The 6 Ballot Questions New Yorkers Will See This November | THE CITY — NYC News

Text on your ballot:

2) Fast Track Affordable Housing to Build More Affordable Housing Across the City, 

Text on your ballot: Fast track publicly financed affordable housing. Fast track applications delivering affordable housing in the community districts that produce the least affordable housing, significantly reducing review time. Maintain Community Board review. “Yes” vote fast tracks applications at the Board of Standards and Appeals or City Planning Commission. “No” vote leaves affordable housing subject to longer review and final decision at City Council.

3) Simplify Review of Modest Housing Infrastructure Projects

Text on your ballot: Simplify review of modest amounts of additional housing and minor infrastructure projects, significantly reducing review time. Maintain Community Board review, with final decision by the City Planning Commission. “Yes” vote simplifies review for limited land-use changes, including modest housing and minor infrastructure projects. “No” vote leaves these changes subject to longer review, with final decision by City Council.

4) Establish an Affordable Housing Appeals Board with Council, Borough, and Citywide Representation

Text on your ballot: Establish an Affordable Housing Appeals Board with the Council Speaker, local Borough President, and Mayor to review Council actions that reject or change applications creating affordable housing. “Yes” vote creates the three-member Affordable Housing Appeals Board to reflect Council, borough, and citywide perspectives. “No” vote leaves affordable housing subject to the Mayor’s veto and final decision by City Council.

5) Create a Digital City Map to Modernize City Operations

Text on your ballot: Consolidate borough map office and address assignment functions, and create one digital City Map at the Department of City Planning. Today, the City Map consists of paper maps across five offices. “Yes” vote creates a consolidated, digital City Map. “No” vote leaves in place five separate map and address assignment functions, administered by Borough President Offices.

Proposal Six

This is a citywide proposal to Move Local Elections to Presidential Election Years to Increase Voter Participation. Note that this will also require state approval.

In favor: Voting rights groups argue that holding municipal elections concurrently with state and federal elections will “boost turnout, diversify the electorate, and save money.” Governor Kathy Hochul has endorsed a yes vote.

Against: Opponents theorize that leaving municipal elections in odd years will keep the focus on local issues during mayoral and other citywide campaigns. They worry that “national political dynamics would inevitably cause vital city issues unique to New York to get swallowed, distorted, or ignored.”

Background and resources:

1. Electing NYC mayor and U.S. president in the same year? It may be on the ballot this Nov. – Gothamist
2. New York City may move its mayoral elections to even years. It’d be part of a trend | WYSO
3. Why New York City Should Keep Off-Year Elections
4. CU Report: Moving Municipal Elections to Even-Numbered Years – Citizens Union
5. The 6 Ballot Questions New Yorkers Will See This November | THE CITY — NYC News

Text on your ballot: Move the City’s primary and general election dates so that City elections are held in the same year as Federal Presidential elections, when permitted by state law. “Yes” vote moves City elections to the same year as Federal Presidential elections, when permitted by state law. “No” vote leaves laws unchanged.

PSC encourages members to get involved in our endorsement process and political action work through the Legislation Committee. The Legislation Committee reviews candidate questionnaires, interviews and candidates and and votes to recommend endorsements to the PSC Executive Council. The Executive Council makes the final endorsement decision for city offices, and votes on recommendation to NYSUT (for candidates for state office) and the AFT (for candidates seeking federal office.) Members interested in participating in the committee should contact Sam Lewis ([email protected]). Candidates interested in seeking the PSC’s endorsement should contact Bettina Damiani ([email protected])