Public Employee Press: PEP Talk
Union endorsements for June 22 Primary election
Manhattan Borough President: Mark Levine
A resident of Washington Heights and a former junior high school teacher, Mark Levine, a two-term New York City Council member, represents one of the most diverse districts in New York City.
Perhaps at the top of his long list of accomplishments, sits his leadership in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Serving as the City Council’s Health Committee Chair throughout the last year, he was a useful source for information for his constituents and New Yorkers generally.
A strong advocate for affordable housing, Levine led an effort to pass legislation that guaranteed a tenant’s right to counsel in eviction proceedings at the City’s Housing Courts. He also was successful in working to create hundreds of affordable housing units in his district.
As Chair of the Parks Committee during his first term as a City Council member, he led efforts for greater investment in parks in low-income communities and supported efforts for improved transit services and bike-friendly streets. Another accomplishment was his effort to pass legislation to create New York City’s Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes.
As Borough President, Levine wants to rebuild New York City the right way as it recovers from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, including creating a Manhattan COVID-19 Recovery Unit dedicated to supporting working families and small businesses. He supports police reforms and accountability from the NYPD, including more community policing and residency requirements for NYPD Officers. In his proposed housing policy, Levine plans to fight to stop landlords from warehousing apartments and storefronts by advocating for a Vacancy Tax, and to push for guarantees that all students have equal access to resources and programming.
