5 Questions With Upper East Side Councilmember Candidate Virginia Maloney

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — Virginia Maloney, a 37-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 Councilmember Keith Powers, who is now running for Manhattan Borough President.

Maloney, who is from the East Side, has worked in the federal government modernizing the high-speed rail in the Northeast Corridor during the Obama Administration, and was a senior project manager at the NYC Economic Development Corporation under Mayor Bloomberg.

She's also worked on several political campaigns, both federal and local, including the Hilary Clinton 2008 presidential campaign, and is a board member at the NYC Foundation for Older Citizens, and on the executive committee at the Lexington Democratic Club.

The candidate has two master's degrees, one in business administration and one in public administration, as well as a bachelor's degree in public policy. She is currently an executive in the tech sector, leading a team building accessibility tech.

Patch recently asked Maloney 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 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?

MALONEY: I’m a lifelong East Sider – raised right here in New York City by my late father who was a Navy veteran, and my mother, Carolyn Maloney, who served this very district in City Hall and in Congress. I was raised to care, to show up, and to be useful to others. Public service is not just a family value, it’s about belonging and responsibility to the communities that shaped me.

I’m running for City Council to deliver a safer, more affordable New York. As I look around the city these days, it doesn’t feel like the East side I grew up in, nor is it the East side we all imagined living in. I’ve seen how rising costs, compounded with unreliable city services, and unsafe neighborhoods are pushing my friends and neighbors out of the city we all love. We need a City Council member who is ready to take action on Day 1.

I’ve not only heard your frustrations — I’m paying attention, and I have the experience to take action. At this moment, with our rights under attack from Trump and his allies, we need leaders who will stand up for New York values, defend our communities, and deliver real solutions that improve people’s daily lives. That’s what I’m running to do.

PATCH: What sets you apart from the other candidates?

MALONEY: I am deeply rooted to this community, and have the experience to deliver results Day 1. I’m the only candidate in the race who has worked in New York City Government before. I led city wide initiatives requiring broad coalitions of support to deliver real impact to New Yorkers under the Bloomberg administration.

I’ve spent my career tackling complex problems through technology and innovation. I’m the only candidate in the race with a background in technology, an expertise that is sorely lacking in our current City Council. Right now tech is outpacing the government, and Donald Trump is dragging us further and further behind. We need leaders who understand technology, both to regulate it, and to harness its potential. As more and more New Yorkers of all ages access government services online – we need modern leaders to make sure our city keeps up!

I’ll bring tech-sector oversight and accountability to our city services and budget. We have a $115 billion dollar budget, and we need council members to lead the fight on auditing waste, fixing what's broken, and making sure public dollars actually serve the people.

I am also a proud participant of the matching funds program which caps campaign spending and keeps big money out of politics. This is not true of every candidate in the race. While the rest of us play by the rules, one candidate has opted out of matching funds and is raising significant donations from out-of-state donors and Trump political appointees.

I am a born and raised East Sider, running to represent the neighborhoods I have always called home. I care about our future. That’s why I’ve earned the support of New York’s Brightest, the UFT representing the teacher’s union; New York’s Bravest, the Fire Department; and New York’s Strongest, the sanitation workers. The people who make this city run are supporting my campaign, as are the people who’ve held the job before. Former City Council Speakers Christine Quinn and Gifford Miller, Former City Council Member Ben Kallos, and current City Council Deputy Speaker Diana Ayala are all supporting my campaign – as are leaders like Gloria Steinen.The most democratic clubs have endorsed my candidacy - Eleanor Roosevelt Independent Democrats, 504 Dems, and Stonewall. More at: VirginiaMaloney.com/endorsements. The most important endorsement is yours, and I hope I earn your vote on June 24th.

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

MALONEY: We have an affordability crisis in this city. First, People are being priced out of their homes, and many of my friends and neighbors have decided to leave the city. Our workers, teachers, and artists – the people who run this city – are not able to afford to live here. We need to take a holistic approach to tackling New York’s housing crisis, both protecting tenants and building more housing stock. On tenants rights, I will work to close loopholes landlords use to displace long-time tenants, expand Right to Counsel, and invest in public education so tenants know their rights before they’re at risk of eviction. To build more housing, I will support updating outdated zoning laws, while protecting the midblock feel of historic neighborhoods and converting empty commercial space in Midtown to residential.

Second, we also need to address the rising cost of child care, which is one of the biggest pressures on working families. One major step is making sure the City’s 3-K and Pre-K programs are truly universal. Right now, District 4 does not have enough seats, especially in the full-day programs, and many families are left on waitlists or offered placements far from home. I’ll fight to expand access in our district, prioritize local availability, and ensure every family who qualifies actually has a seat.

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

MALONEY: Everyone deserves to feel safe on our streets, and unfortunately that is not the case today. Whether it is taking the subway, practicing your religion, or even just dodging e-bikes while walking to the store.

First, we need to fully fund our law enforcement, and get cops out of their cars and walking the beat. I will ensure the 13th, 17th, 19th, Midtown North, and Midtown South Precincts are fully staffed and resourced to maintain consistent foot patrols, especially around schools, retail-theft hotspots, and high-traffic corridors.

Second, we need to address the street homelessness and mental health crisis in this city - not just with bandaid solutions, but through supportive housing with wraparound services personalized to the individual to get them the help they need.

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

MALONEY: This campaign runs on people power, and a whole lot of coffee. So, I’ve spent a lot of time at my local coffee shop, Malta Coffee in Lexington, and the Cooper Town diner near Stuy Town. Also on the subway, traversing the district from 14th Street all the way to 93rd.

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