We will have a primary on June 24 for our City Council District 1 seat, currently occupied by Christopher Marte. And since there are a few hot issues right now, I sent the four candidates — Jess Coleman, Elizabeth Lewinsohn, Eric Yu and of course Marte — a short list of questions gleaned from comments, along with a request for an interview. I am running the responses in the order they are returned. See the questionnaire below.

For Eric Yu, moving to Lower Manhattan was an easy choice. He had been raised in Bayside, Queens, but for he and his wife, the commute of an hour and a half was not worth the benefits of a house. “It ages you, is what my wife likes to say,” Eric said (his actual age is 50). They had always loved it here, so made the move to Southbridge Towers at the Seaport in 2018.

And within a few years, he was ready to get involved. He joined the board of the housing complex in 2021 and not long after that Community Board 1, where he serves now on the Transportation and Waterfront & Parks committees. His motivation — for both joining the board and running for office — was simple.

“I just want the city to run well,” he said. “There’s a propensity to create new laws and regulations and impose fines and fees to raise revenue. I think there have to be more thoughtful solutions than that.”

Yu’s family was originally from Chinatown, on Monroe Street, but they moved to Queens for the schools. After graduating from Bayside High, he headed to Stony Brook University but felt he was lacking focus — he didn’t have a plan. He wanted to travel more and get more experience so got his associates degree at Queensborough Community College, enlisted in the Marine Corps reserves in 1995, and returned to Stony Brook to finish his bachelors after basic training. He spent 12 weeks in bootcamp in North Carolina then the rest of the year in training in California.

His campus job as a bus operator at Stony Brook made him realize he was interested in transportation; his first job out of college in 2000 was as an intern for the MTA’s capital program management. He is now senior director, managing track access for the agency’s own construction projects. As of 2024, his title is director of expense analysis for service delivery.

He’s found the last three years on CB1 overwhelming but worthwhile. “I noticed the deterioration of the city — higher crime, congestion pricing, the proposed homeless shelters — just the condition of the city,” he said. “Things were getting dirty. And I knew there would come a time when the city would become overwhelmed by the migrant crisis.”

Of course I had to ask the all-important question: what does he think of the new subway map? “I’m running for political office so I am just going to say what it is: I don’t prefer it,” he said. His mother gave him the original version of this one from 1972, so he is used to looking at it. “I don’t care for it. It doesn’t give you the relationship about what’s around it.”

So to the questionnaire:

SIDEWALK SHEDS
As you know, Tribeca is covered with sidewalk sheds, as is the rest of the city. In fact some sheds have been up for decades! What is your suggestion for a solution? Any input on Local Law 11 reform?

I generally agree with the enacted legislation (0391-25, 0393-25, 0660-25, 0661-25), which limits the time, deters and penalizes property owners from allowing sidewalk sheds to become semi-permanent eyesores along a public right-of-way. I am intrigued by alternate design solutions, such as netting, in lieu of sidewalk sheds. I’m also glad there is consideration to allow for waivers and extensions of time for when there are extenuating circumstances beyond the control of the property owner. I’m concerned the 90-day approval per permit for sidewalk sheds will be too limiting in time. With the 90-day approval per permit, the Department of Buildings must be expeditious in their responses to applicants so as to not delay approvals or rejections for sidewalk shed permit renewals. NYC has many skyscrapers and many masonry buildings (above six stories), which must be inspected per Local Law 11. I agree with fines serving the purpose of deterrence and penalties for violating rules and regulations; however, I do not agree for the motivation (or setting) of fines to be solely for revenue generation purposes to support NYC government.

Regarding Local Law 11, there needed to be a review of the original law (Façade Inspection & Safety Program), which was passed in 2020. I generally agree with Int 0394-2024, which requires a technical recommendation by the Dept of Buildings (by 12/31/25) on the appropriate time frequency between six to twelve years for a mandated facade inspection. I don’t agree for the specific time interval specified (between six to twelve years) for the Dept of Buildings to consider. It should have been five to twelve, where the status quo is a possibility; also I don’t agree for new buildings to automatically receive an extended timeframe of eight years for an inspection. All of this needs to be recommended by the Dept of Buildings. I actually think these legislation should have waited for the Dept of Buildings’ recommendation, and then submit the final revision for discussion in committee, and then to proceed through the process for approval.

TOWER PLANNED FOR IPN
Stellar Management and Vornado have proposed a 900-foot tower for the low-rise part of Independence Plaza on Greenwich and Jay. What is your reaction to this plan? How would you get involved in the discussions on this as-of-right development? What is the tallest new building you would support on the site?

It is easy – without consequence – for a candidate to state they are against the Independence Plaza (IP) development; however, it must be stated that the owner Vornado (and Stellar Management) can build by right. I support new housing at IP, especially with a set-aside for affordable housing. Before the plan is approved, it must go through the City Environmental Quality Review and Environmental Impact Statement. I would ensure there is sufficient capacity in the local schools, and the infrastructure (power, sewer and water) to accommodate the new housing. Also, I would recommend for the 940-foot tower to be reduced in height with a wider tower, and/or increase the height of the low-rise buildings. Also, in negotiations for development approval, there is need for a community facility, or renovate and modernize Washington Market Park to be funded by the developer to support the community.

PARKING PLACARDS
Cars with fake parking placards clog our local streets every day, blocking commercial parking and creating problems not just for residents but for businesses trying to get deliveries. There are times when entire streets are blocked as a result. Do you have a solution for this?

There are valid uses of parking placards — the disabled, essential workers, etc. Properly account and confirm the need for all parking placards. Increase parking near police precincts and city agency locations. Create a separate task force with enforcement to ticket and impound placarded vehicles, which block streets or are not used for authorized purposes.

NEW WHITE STREET JAIL
The Manhattan site for the borough-based jail in Chinatown is now fully demolished and renderings have been released along with a new cost estimate of $3.7 billion, up from $2.1 billion. And the completion date is now 2032. What is your hope for this site? How should the city proceed?

I am against Borough-Based Jails because it is not practical, and it puts residents living near them in jeopardy. NYC needs the inmate capacity offered from Rikers Island. Rikers Island is ideal since it is isolated and surrounded by water in case of inmate escapes (which is inevitable). With Borough-Based Jails, in case of inmate escapes, this would put the public at risk. This would also require the NYPD to lockdown neighborhoods surrounding Borough-Based Jails for the search. With the courtrooms in Lower Manhattan, I prefer a smaller detention center at White Street, with government offices on the higher floors and at a fraction of the $3.7 billion current estimate for the Borough-Based Jail. The current $3.7 billion contract must be cancelled.

COUNTERFEIT GOODS SELLERS
The crowds of counterfeit luxury good sellers along Broadway and Canal frustrate residents as much as they seem to attract tourists. Do you think this has to be a priority for local policing? And if so, what is your proposed solution?

The counterfeit goods sellers on Canal Street and Broadway need to be apprehended by the NYPD on a daily basis. This is not a priority for the NYPD, but it must be enforced regularly. If this crime (and it is a crime) is unenforced, then other criminal activity will multiply. With frequent enforcement, this will cause these illegal vendors to relocate and/or conceal their selling, which is progress. Policing is also about vigilance.

CONGESTION PRICING
How do you think congestion pricing is working out so far? What are the benefits and issues for the neighborhood, as you see it?

I have always been against congestion pricing. Congestion Pricing (CP) is a de facto mobility tax on residents and businesses, and is elitist because only the wealthy will be able to travel in comfort (and safety) and speed. CP has a negative impact to NYC’s economy where this increases the cost of goods and services, and will deter people and businesses from Manhattan. Manhattan (and NYC as a whole), needs to have economic vibrancy – otherwise we will be only an image of greatness without the economic activity or opportunity which attracts and keeps all of us in NYC.

HOMELESS SHELTERS
As you know, the city’s homeless population has increased in the past year, and this neighborhood has, along with many others, seen an increase in people living on the streets. The city has opened a new Safe Haven shelter in the Financial District and has two more coming online soon in the Civic Center. Residents have been opposed to all three, but most vocally the one site next to the Peck Slip School on Pearl Street. What is your approach to this issue?

Homeless shelter services, as well as mental and substance abuse services, are needed to be humane and decent (to “help thy neighbor”). However, transparency on demographics (especially what led to homelessness) of the people seeking assistance, specific cost per person, previous address [How many are not NYC or NY state residents?], and the effectiveness of these services, in particular “What are the number of people who are transitioning to independence?” are essential to know to evaluate the efficacy of these services.

I want an end to the emergency declaration on homelessness, which has been in existence for at least 15 years, to allow any NYC Mayor (via the Dept of Social Service/Homeless Services) to use the emergency request-for-proposal process to de facto site homeless shelters at will, and without adherence to the Uniform Land Use Review Process (ULURP). ULURP provides a step-by-step approval (and review) process and timeline, which requires notification and a record of decision by the Community Board, Borough President, and City Planning Commission, and it provides an option for the City Council to override the Mayor. There also must be a city or state law for homeless shelters to be a minimum of 500 feet of distance (in NYC) from schools with students under eighteen years of age. With this 500 foot minimum distance requirement, the homeless shelter for 320 Pearl St (sharing a wall with the Peck Slip School) would never have been considered. This should not happen to any other school in the future.

CRIME
Many readers feel there has been a rise in crime since the pandemic (and statistics support that) and not much has been done about it. What is your approach to community policing? This could include policies to address violent crime, muggings and burglary, as well as “minor” issues like graffiti and other vandalism, public urination, counterfeit sellers who take over areas of Canal Street.

I do not want to live in a police state where law-abiding citizens are constantly surveilled and the government controls our daily and private lives. However, I do want to live in a society with law and order to facilitate a civil society. I do not support giving the police new powers, but I do support full enforcement of existing laws within the law. We must support the police, yet hold them accountable for their action (or inaction). We must increase recruitment and retention of police officers. The budgeted headcount of the NYPD is 36,000 uniformed personnel, but due to high attrition from poor morale, it is now only 30,000. I believe in the “broken windows” theory, where unenforced lower-level crimes will escalate the severity of criminal behavior; however, besides penalties and jail, we must also be aware and reduce the other multiple causes of crime, such as poverty, and lack of career opportunities and role models, etc. There must be consequences for criminal activity, but there must also be a holistic and multi-facet approach to deterring crime.

SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESS
As you know, Tribeca residents really value our local restaurants and shops, which we believe give the neighborhood much of its character. We are worried about the challenges for them from two consistent forces: real estate costs and city regulations and fines. You can read more about what we mean here and here. Do you have any solutions for protecting small businesses from the pressures of rising real estate costs? Do you have any ideas for addressing retail vacancies?

I support local businesses – small, medium and large. I appreciate the mom & pop businesses, which add character to our neighborhood, and where there is a direct connection to the owners of the business.

Regarding real estate costs, this is a broad term, which can include property tax, mortgage, leasing, inspections, insurance, maintenance, capital improvements, etc. I have always been against Congestion Pricing (CP) because Lower Manhattan businesses are harmed by having another cost to be located in Manhattan: CP deters visitors (customers or clients) and businesses from visiting and locating in Manhattan.

I support efficient and effective city services, i.e., clean, safe, well-lit, and maintained (i.e., smooth surface, cleared during snow and rain) roads, and effective [not for fine collecting (aka tax revenue generating) purposes] enforcement of NYC (and NYS) regulations for public safety (e.g., building, health, fire, etc.) and fair business practices, such as the Dept of Consumer Affairs, for all businesses. These regulations must be concise and must serve a public purpose.

Regarding retail vacancies, ensuring quality of life, larceny and public safety laws are enforced, where business owners know NYC is a safe place for their company, employees and customers/clients. I want the NYC Economic Development Corporation and the Mayor to focus on retaining (even expanding) the commercial office space in Lower Manhattan. This will pump money into Lower Manhattan’s economy. I am concerned the “wholesale” conversion of commercial office space into residential buildings will lead to a lack of economic opportunity, such as jobs, supporting business services, in NYC. NYC must be an economic powerhouse (in several industries) as the economy continually evolves. I support increasing housing availability in NYC, but it must not be at the expense of commercial, industrial, or manufacturing. If the aforementioned occur, then there will be minimal retail vacancies, and economic opportunity in Lower Manhattan. Lower Manhattan (and NYC as a whole), must have economic vibrancy – otherwise NYC will be only an image of greatness (NYC skyline) without the economic activity or opportunity which attracts and keeps all of us in NYC.

OTHER CANDIDATES:
Jess Coleman