7 Questions With Mayoral Candidate Dr. Selma Bartholomew

NEW YORK CITY — Dr. Selma Bartholomew, an educator and businesswoman with over 30 years of experience, is running for mayor in New York City’s primary election on Tuesday, June 24.

A Bronx native, Bartholomew brings decades of leadership experience in education, youth development, and community transformation. In 2008, she founded her own education company aimed at ending the “Social Reproduction of Failure” and reimagining opportunities for all communities. She has led major education reform initiatives with the National Science Foundation, served as an executive at New Visions for Public Schools, and worked as a National Account Manager for Kaplan K12.

Patch recently asked Bartholomew seven 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 in the 2025 primary election. Patch has contacted the other candidates with the same questions and will post replies as they are received.

PATCH: Why are you running for Mayor?

Bartholomew: I am running for mayor because it’s time to Win Our Children and City Back. We need courageous leadership to speak truth and address: the unchecked spread of weed and drug culture harming our youth, fueling gang violence and crime, and destroying families and communities. Win Our City Back from the corruption in City Hall and the wealthy few who control the politicians and have put policies in place to keep the wealthy as owners and the rest of New Yorkers as renters and workers who are being victimized from revenue apartheid and the lack of opportunity.

I am a New Yorker, I raised my son in the Bronx, and I refuse to let the next generation be pushed out or priced out. New Yorkers, I stepped up because we want real change, fresh ideas, and I am your candidate—not owned by the PACs. I am running for mayor, simply put I want the job, and I am confident in my 30+ years of leadership building thriving communities and schools across this country. I know that New Yorkers like a fighter and I am champion who is asking New Yorkers to let me help our city and our children.

NYC has had 110 men as mayors and it’s time for change. As mayor of NYC, I bring a bold vision of transforming the culture and nature of relationships with each other, our youth, and seniors by investing in family and community, building Ecosystems, Financial Wellness Hubs, and fueling a Cultural Explosion to improve the quality of life and move the city forward.

PATCH: What sets up apart from other candidates?

Bartholomew: Don’t burn your democrat card. I bring fresh and new ideas and strategic smart leadership. As Mayor of NYC, I am bringing a larger vision to build a Healthy Financial and Cultural Ecosystem in New York City—one that sees the well-being of our communities as interconnected across education, economic opportunity, and cultural expression.

Central to this vision is the creation of Eco-Business Hubs that promote financial wellness for all residents. These hubs will offer mentorship, business training, and financial tools to empower individuals—including artist, youth, and those impacted by criminal justice—who are too often overlooked in traditional economic development plans. Far too many lack access to the entrepreneurial skills needed to sustain their grow and protect themselves from exploitation. By building EcoHubs and also embedding art into our ecosystem and equipping members of the community with the tools to thrive, we uplift both the cultural and economic health of our city.

Pop-Up Spaces and Artist Tents across all five boroughs within Zip-Zones—tailored to “Build the Village” and bring joy to the lives of our children, youth, and all members of our city. This approach will strategically create pathways, opportunities, and strong connections for the creative fashion designers, artists, musicians, and media professionals who are left struggling without financial resources or opportunities in our city.

Most importantly, community now gets to benefit from non-profit art organizations who work in silos and are not tapped into across the boroughs. These Pop-Up Spaces, Artist Tents, and Eco-Hubs will serve as incubators for emerging talent and seasoned talent–breaking the paradigm of who gets to benefit from art and who gets opportunity to have their “art” recognized for its value in our city and society.

PATCH: List two ways you plan to make New York more affordable.

Bartholomew: Redefine Affordability by Zip Code: Affordability must reflect local income, not inflated Wall Street salaries. Developers should be required to use median incomes from the specific ZIP code when calculating affordability metrics—not Area Median Income (AMI) based on the entire NYC region. This restores integrity to affordability and stops the displacement of working families.

Reverse the 80-20 Housing Formula: The current 80% market-rate / 20% affordable formula is upside down. We must flip this to 80% affordable, with guardrails that guarantee 15% is protected for seniors and veterans. Housing should include a real range—from deeply affordable to moderate income—so families, emerging adults, and elders can stay rooted in their communities.

PATCH: List two ways you plan to make New York safer.

Bartholomew: Public safety in New York City is being aggressively eroded by a growing weed culture that’s targeting our youth and destabilizing our communities. What was promised as a tool for justice has become a fast-moving business that’s flooding our neighborhoods with weed buses and unregulated access. Let’s be clear: when young people are hustling to buy weed, when families are living next to smoke-filled corners instead of safe parks, when addiction is normalized instead of addressed—that’s not justice. That’s neglect. To Win Our Children Back, we must confront this culture head-on—with policy, with prevention, and with purpose. We need accountability, education, and real investment in healthy outlets like the arts, sports, and job pathways—not smoke screens.

MENTAL HEALTH AND THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS: Establish Dignity and Care Oversight Board (DCOB) ensuring fair and compassionate oversight and put NY on a path towards to change the culture and employ a long-term solution. The DCOB will serve as independent body responsible for reviewing case files of mentally ill NY residents to make informed decisions about involuntary commitment and placement. Establish Networks of Care to support and guide mentally ill NY residents through the phases of recovery, growth, and stability.

Stewardship Block by Block: Invest in equipping community leaders, youth leaders, and police officers with leadership skills; Training them together to build relationships; and serve catalysts for improving the quality of life and public safety.

PATCH: What’s your plan to improve the subway system?

Bartholomew: Gray Birds in honor of Flaco. Restore subway safety and engage a team citizens with an action plan. We love the Waze App because it is community driven. As Mayor I will pilot a team of Gray Birds who will assess station and platform cleanliness and safety. Report on mentally ill individuals in need of help, sick passengers, and acts of kindness.

In addition, let’s stop sitting on the sidelines, take action against gang recruitment and violence within our schools and community. Establish strong Networks of Care. Through and ERAE Strategy: Education, Redirection, Accountability and Enforcement, our schools and community will become a safe, stable, and loving community.

PATCH: ICE is cracking down on college campuses and immigrants in NYC. How will your administration respond?

Bartholomew: As Mayor of NYC from day one, I will lead with courage, compassion, and a commitment to justice. First, my administration will invest in a strong legal strategy to protect immigrant families, including expanding access to pro bono legal defense and rapid response networks. Second, we will support and fund organizations that bridge awareness of immigrant rights, especially for those facing language and cultural barriers, ensuring every New Yorker knows their rights and is not left isolated.

My administration will also focus on building the economic wealth of all residents—because safety and stability begin with opportunity. Whether you’re a student, a worker, or a parent, you deserve the chance to contribute and belong. In the face of ICE intimidation, we will stand firm: New York City will be a sanctuary in both policy, practice, and empowerment.

PATCH: What’s one place in the city you frequent the most?

Bartholomew: I LOVE NEW YORK. I was born in Grenada, raised in Harlem, went to high school in Brooklyn, college in the Bronx—and I’ve worked in schools and communities across all five boroughs. One of my favorite things to do is visit local pizza shops in different neighborhoods. From a corner slice in the Bronx to a hidden gem near Tappen Park in Staten Island, each one tells a story. New York isn’t just where I live—it’s who I am.