Election Q&A: Meet West Side Candidate Edafe Okporo

HARLEM, NY — Independent candidate Edafe Okporo is running for City Council in District 7 in New York City's general election on Tuesday, Nov. 4.

In November, Okporo will face off against Shaun Abreu, the Democratic incumbent, and Republican candidate Manual Williams.

Okporo is running under an independent party called the West Side United party.

District 7 includes parts of the Upper West Side through Morningside Heights, West Harlem, Manhattan Valley, Manhattanville, Hamilton Heights, and Washington Heights.

Ahead of the election, Patch posed several questions to Okporo about his platform, priorities, experience, and district. See his replies below.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The following article contains information about one of several candidates who have announced their campaigns for offices in the 2025 election. Patch has contacted the other candidates with the same questions and will post replies as they are received. None of what Okporo said during this interview has been fact-checked.

PATCH: What neighborhood are you from?

OKPORO: West Harlem

PATCH: What languages do you speak?

OKPORO: English

PATCH: Educational background?

OKPORO: NYU Masters

PATCH: Age?

OKPORO: 35

PATCH: Renter or owner?

OKPORO: Renter

PATCH: Why are you running for City Council?

OKPORO: I’ve lived the failures of the system—homelessness, exclusion, and bureaucratic neglect and I’ve turned those experiences into a blueprint for reform. I’ve already built tangible solutions in Harlem, like the RDJ Refugee Shelter, the first shelter for asylum seekers in New York City. Now I’m ready to take that work further through policy, not just charity.

My platform focuses on housing affordability, government accountability, and inclusive community-building. It doesn’t come from ideology; it comes from lived experience. I want to move our city beyond “us versus them” and toward a shared “we.”

PATCH: What makes you qualified to represent your district? Share the work and life experiences that prepared you for this role.

OKPORO: I’m qualified to represent this district because I’ve spent my life fighting for people who’ve been left behind. I led New York City’s first shelter for LGBTQ asylum seekers and helped resettle Afghan refugees through Operation Allies Welcome under the Biden administration.

I know what it means to build solutions from the ground up, not from a boardroom. My work has always been about standing up to power on behalf of everyday people because when billionaires buy council seats, their priorities come first, not ours.

That’s why leaders like Zephyr Teachout and groups like Our Revolution have endorsed me. They know I won’t bow to corporate interests. I’ll always fight to protect working families and make sure our city works for the people who keep it running.

PATCH: What do you see as the three biggest issues in your district?

OKPORO:

1. Fight Big Money in Politics

2. End Homelessness with Housing

3. Immigrant Rights & Support

PATCH: How would you address these issues through policy?

OKPORO:

• Affordable Housing

We must invest in social housing programs, protect tenants, and ensure NYCHA receives more funding for repairs. I will make sure that new developments are truly affordable, and I’ll fight to strengthen rent control laws to keep our communities intact.

• Homelessness

Too many people in crisis don’t get the care they need. Supportive housing is a proven solution. I will increase funding for permanent housing programs, expand mental health services like IMTs, and prevent evictions before they happen.

• Inflation

Prices are rising everywhere, even for basics like eggs. I will push for fair wages, increase access to programs like Fair Fares and SCRIE, and ensure the city invests in small businesses, so working families aren’t forced to choose between food, housing, and healthcare.

PATCH: Who did you rank in the 2025 mayoral primary election this June?

OKPORO: I ranked Zohran Mamdani first for mayor because we need new leadership in New York City. Leadership that listens to and fights for everyday people. Zohran’s values align with mine: building a city rooted in compassion, and opportunity for all, not just the wealthy and well-connected.

PATCH: What’s something that always makes you smile about your district?

OKPORO: Playing soccer on Sunday mornings at Booker T. Washington with people from all different backgrounds. It’s the joyful, simple moments like that that give you a real sense of community.

For questions and tips, email Miranda.Levingston@Patch.com.