5 Questions With Upper East Side Councilmember Candidate Ben Wetzler

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — Ben Wetzler, a 36-year-old Democratic candidate, is running for City Council in District 4, which includes NoMad, Times Square, Stuyvesant Town, Peter Cooper Village, Murray Hill, Kips Bay, Turtle Bay, United Nations, and Upper East Side-Carnegie Hill, in New York City's primary election on Tuesday, June 24.

The district seat is left open by the current Councilmember Keith Powers, who is now running for Manhattan Borough President.

Before running for office, Wetzler, who is from the Upper East Side but now lives in Stuyvesant Town, worked as the assistant director for Policy and Program Analysis at NYS Homes & Community Renewal. He also spent nearly six years as the district leader in the neighborhood.

Patch recently asked Wetzler five questions about his campaign and district. See his replies below.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The following article co`ntains information about one of several candidates who have announced their campaigns for Upper East Side offices 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 City Council?

WETZLER: Our neighborhood and the city as a whole are dealing with challenges stemming from mismanagement and a lack of strategic vision. The government has been reacting to crises rather than anticipating and planning for them. From the shortage of housing for families to sanitation, scaffolding, and public safety, we need to be much more forward-thinking about how we address persistent problems and implement smart, data-informed solutions. I have the experience doing that and want to do so on the Council.

PATCH: What sets you apart from the other candidates?

WETZLER: I have a deep personal and professional connection to every part of this district, and experience working in public service roles that give me an important perspective on how to deliver effective results in government. I began my career doing performance analytics with the State government, developed a passion for and expertise in housing policy, and have spent nearly a decade helping create innovative solutions to the housing and homelessness crisis that is hurting the city. At the same time, I was doing political organizing here on the East Side and was elected Democratic Party District Leader in 2017, at a time when it was important for New Yorkers to have effective leaders in the face of a hostile federal government. These circumstances have only become more dire since then and I am best prepared to tackle them on the Council now.

PATCH: List two ways you plan to make the neighborhood more affordable.

WETZLER: New York’s affordability crisis is largely driven by the high cost of housing for both homeowners and renters. This requires a three-pronged approach that combines enforcing tenant protection laws, creating a comprehensive, long-term plan for new housing growth for the neighborhood in place of the current ad hoc application process, and providing financial assistance to seniors and low-income families who cannot address the high cost of operating a building in NYC.

Another major affordability challenge is the cost of childcare. There is not enough quality childcare space in the neighborhood and even successful programs struggle to set up and expand here. I want to work with the City Planning Department to identify commercial spaces that can be cost-effectively converted into childcare facilities to allow for more programs to set up close to families of young kids in the neighborhood.

PATCH: List two ways you plan to make the neighborhood safer.

WETZLER: The City does not use data effectively in identifying and responding to safety concerns. This is most true in traffic safety and in confronting our mental health crisis. The NYPD needs to do more data-informed neighborhood patrols, identifying “hotspots” of crime and deploying officers there before serious incidents occur. This same approach can be used to reduce dangerous biking and driving; all electronic Citibikes and most delivery apps track the riders’ locations using GPS, and that data should be used to identify persistent violations and dangerous intersections so that the DOT can scale up enforcement and initiate infrastructure improvements that make the streets and sidewalks safer for everyone.

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

WETZLER: As a kid, Mimi's Pizza (the original one). Now, Lenz's Deli.

Early voting begins on June 14. For questions and tips, email Miranda.Levingston@Patch.com.