5 Questions With NYC Councilmember Candidate Andrea Gordillo

NEW YORK CITY — Andrea Gordillo, a 35-year-old Democratic candidate, is running for the District 2 city council seat in New York City's primary election on Tuesday, June 24.

District 2 includes Greenwich Village, Lower East Side, East Village, Midtown South-Flatiron-Union Square, Gramercy and Murray Hill-Kips Bay.

The district seat is left open by the Councilmember Carlina Rivera, who is term-limited.

Before running for elected office, Gordillo served as the Director of Development at the Clemente Soto Velez Center.

Patch recently asked Gordillo five questions about her campaign and district. See her replies below

EDITOR'S NOTE: The following article contains information about one of several candidates who have announced their campaigns for District 2 in the 2025 primary election. Patch has contacted the other candidates with the same questions and will post replies as they are received.

Why are you running for City Council?

GORDILLO: I never set out to be a politician, but we need change. I’m running to deliver that. I’m not a career insider—I’m a community leader who was called to step up. My neighbors urged me to run because they know I’ll fight for us—not for power, but for the people.

I’m the proud daughter of Peruvian immigrants, and for over a decade I’ve served the Lower East Side as an organizer, advocate, and cultural leader.

I’ve seen firsthand how our communities are being left behind by a political class more interested in protecting their positions than delivering real change.

Voters tell me every day that they’re tired of the status quo. We can’t keep electing the same old politicians and expecting different results. I’m ready to be the bold, fresh voice this moment demands.

What sets you apart from the other candidates?

GORDILLO: We’re living in a state of emergency—rents are skyrocketing, Beth Israel is closing, and every storm season brings floods into our homes. Albany keeps failing us, and the usual candidates have no answers—just more of the same.

I’m not a politician—I’m a leader with a record of delivering for our district. I’ve fought to protect affordable housing, defend our cultural institutions, and bring real investment to our safety.

While others play politics, I’ve been doing the work. I’m ready to bring that same energy and fresh leadership focused on results, community, and our fierce cultural legacies to City Hall.

List two ways you plan to make the district more affordable.

GORDILLO:

1. Preserve and Expand Affordable and Public Housing:

We need more tools that keep New Yorkers rooted in their communities. I’ll fight to keep housing permanently affordable and out of the speculative market. That means expanding funding and legislation for NYCHA, nonprofit housing, Community Land Trusts, HDFCs, and limited-equity co-ops—models that put residents, not profit, in control.

2. Expand Pathways to Homeownership:

Too many working families are shut out of homeownership. I’ll push to grow Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) programs that provide down payment assistance, homebuyer education, and real opportunities to own. That includes expanding Mitchell-Lama and similar programs to help low- and middle-income New Yorkers build generational stability and stay in the city they call home.

List two ways you plan to make the district safer.

GORDILLO:

1. Invest in Community-Based Safety:

We need trained social workers, violence interrupters, and community responders who can prevent crises and support safety in a real, holistic way. Right now, these care systems are under-resourced and unable to meet the scale of the need. I support law enforcement having the resources they need— but I’ll also push to expand non-police crisis response to de-escalate harm and keep everyone safer.

2. Expand Mental Health Crisis Response:

Public safety must include public health. I’ll expand emergency mental health response teams to reduce tragedies in places like our subways and shelters. By investing in care, prevention, and neighborhood-based supports—not just short-term fixes—we can address the root causes of harm and create a safer, healthier city for all of us.

What’s one place in the district you frequent the most?

GORDILLO:

One of my absolute favorite places in the district is La Plaza Cultural Community Garden on 9th Street and Avenue C. It’s a community garden, but it’s a living symbol of what community power and creativity can build.

La Plaza was born out of struggle. Neighbors reclaimed that land in the 1970s after it was abandoned and burned out. They cleared rubble, planted gardens, and transformed it into a sanctuary. It’s a place where elders gather, children play and learn about ecological systems, artists perform, and generations connect.