5 Questions With Upper East Side Councilmember Candidate Collin Thompson

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — Democratic candidate Collin Thompson, 31, is running for City Council in District 5, which includes Lenox Hill, Roosevelt Island, Carnegie Hill, and Yorkville in New York City's primary election on Tuesday, June 24.

Thompson, from Carnegie Hill, has a political science degree and an education degree, and, before running for office, he worked as a middle school history teacher, a school dean, and a principal in Harlem and the Bronx.

Beyond the classroom, Thompson also worked as an advisor to public school district superintendents, focusing on education equity and strategic improvement.

Patch recently asked Thompson five questions about his campaign 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 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?

THOMPSON: Last fall, I read a front-page story in the New York Times that hit me hard: only 1/3 of incoming NYC public school freshmen are proficient in reading and math. I already knew the numbers weren’t great, but as front-page news, they were impossible to ignore. The story reshook my conscience. We’ve slipped into a quiet acceptance, as if this is simply how things are. But it’s not how they have to be.

Education is the foundation of our society. Students grow up and become part of the workforce, housing market, and health system. When 70% of them are behind, an education issue becomes a citywide crisis.

Sadly, our challenges in education are not isolated, but another bleak reflection of the broader breakdown in city leadership. Once a place for rolling up sleeves and solving problems, City Council has been reduced to a political pit stop. For the past decade, many officials have taken their eye off the ball to focus on cutting ribbons, posting selfies, or spotlighting themselves while they work on issues better served by Washington.

Meanwhile, the people of New York City are underserved and lacking: strong schools, clean and safe streets, reliable subways, good parks, a fair housing market, and support for small businesses.

As a middle school history teacher, I always told my students to get up and do something if they didn’t like the status quo. This campaign is practicing what you preach.

I call my platform the Solid Six: Schools, Subways, Safety, Sanitation, Shelter, Small Businesses. These six areas are the foundation and should be the focus of good New York City government. It’s time we get back to basics

I’ve worked hard my whole life. I started bagging groceries at the Piggly Wiggly at 15, and I haven’t stopped since. I’ll work just as hard for the people of District 5, and deliver results.

PATCH: What sets you apart from the other candidates?

THOMPSON: Our neighborhood isn’t better than it was four years ago, and elections are job interviews. District 5 needs an effective Council Member who shows up, listens, and takes action. I’ve spent my career doing just that, as a teacher, principal, and advisor to public school superintendents. I’ve led district-wide reform efforts by listening to educators, families, and students, then building real solutions that actually deliver. I’m not a career politician. I’m a problem solver and public servant, and that’s what I’ll bring back to District 5.

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

THOMPSON:

1. Our housing affordability crisis comes down to basic supply and demand. We need to build more, faster. I’ll push to overhaul NYC’s outdated zoning and broken permitting system, two of the biggest roadblocks to getting housing built for working and middle-class New Yorkers. We can do this without compromising environmental protections or community input. I’ll also work to get warehoused apartments, units sitting empty while people struggle, back on the market.

2. Affordability isn’t just about rent, it’s about what’s left in your paycheck. I will push to cut the city’s personal income tax in half for individuals making under $200,000. We can fund it by cutting waste in capital projects and inefficiencies.

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

THOMPSON:

1. 40% of NYPD calls are for mental health emergencies. Right now, we’re sending police to handle situations they aren’t trained for. I’ll push for a separate, dedicated, 24/7 mental health response team, staffed by mental health professionals, who can respond and connect people to real support.
2. Theft in our neighborhood is up 17% over the last two years, and it’s hitting small, family-owned businesses the hardest. They don’t have private security or corporate margins to absorb the losses. We need more local enforcement, faster response times, and real support to help these businesses protect their inventory and stay open.

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

THOMPSON: It’s a toss-up between Brandy’s and J.G. Melon, depending on the night. A burger and cottage fries at J.G. Melon is the way to my heart. And at Brandy’s, I’m putting in the hundredth Billy Joel request of the evening.

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