Election Q&A: Meet Upper East Side Candidate Julie Menin

PATCH: Why are you running for City Council?

PATCH: Why are you running for City Council?

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — Democratic candidate Julie Menin is running for City Council in District 5, which includes Lenox Hill, Roosevelt Island, Carnegie Hill, and Yorkville in New York City's general election on Tuesday, Nov. 4.

Menin, the two-term incumbent and winner of the Democratic primary, will face off against Republican challenger Alina Bonsell in November.

Ahead of the election, Patch posed several questions to Menin about her platform, priorities, experience, 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 election. Patch has contacted the other candidates with the same questions and will post replies as they are received. None of what Menin said during this interview has been fact-checked.

PATCH: What neighborhood are you from?

MENIN: Yorkville

PATCH: What languages do you speak?

MENIN: English

PATCH: Educational background?

MENIN: Columbia University, B.A., magna cum laude. Northwestern University School of Law, J.D.

PATCH: Renter or owner?

MENIN: Owner

PATCH: Why are you running for City Council?

MENIN: It’s been an honor to serve the 5th Council District representing the East Side of Manhattan and Roosevelt Island. Before my election, I served as a commissioner of 3 City agencies under 2 different mayors: I have been in public service for over two decades and know how to get things done! Our city faces a myriad of challenges including affordability, public safety, and quality of life and I have been working hard to deliver results for you. In my first 2 terms, I am proud that over 25 of my bills and resolutions have become law. I passed legislation that requires hospitals to disclose their prices, codified reproductive rights, created a one stop shop portal for small businesses to consolidate all permits and licenses, and have set New York City on a path to be the first in the nation to have universal child care which will provide critical support to working families.

During my tenure in the Council, I have delivered over $70 million dollars in discretionary funding which will bring significant upgrades to our parks, schools and infrastructure. I have worked hard to increase public safety, bring litter basket pickups to record levels, and launch a novel rat mitigation program. I hope to build on all of these in a third term. I’m raising my children here and care deeply about our district’s future. I’m so proud to be endorsed by many labor unions, elected officials, and civic leaders. With my strong track record, I’m ready to continue fighting for New Yorkers.

PATCH: What makes you qualified to represent your district? Share the work and life experiences that prepared you for this role.

MENIN: We are in unprecedented and challenging times that require strong experienced leadership. I have served as Commissioner of three city agencies and successfully sued the Trump Administration on the citizenship census case which we won at the United States Supreme Court in my senior role at the city Law Department and as the city’s 2020 Census Director. I have also served as a seven year Community Board Chairperson.

I have been involved in pushing back against the Trump Administration for years. We need to be utilizing every tool in our legal toolbox to push back against the Trump Administration’s draconian cuts to federal funding for vital social service programs in our City. In addition, I formally served as an adjunct professor at Columbia University (where I received my undergraduate degree) teaching a course entitled When Cities Take the Lead on how municipalities can utilize their legislative and legal tools when the federal government deregulates, the exact situation we face.

Due to my extensive track record, I am honored to be endorsed by Planned Parenthood, the New York League of Conservation Voters, UFT, SEIU 32BJ, DC 37, Hotel Trades Council, Central Labor Council, Sanitation Union, RWDSU, LiUNA, the CWA, NYS Nurses Association. In addition, all the Democratic clubs that cover our district have endorsed me: the Lexington Democratic Club, Four Freedoms, Stonewall, and Jim Owles Democratic clubs. I would be honored to serve in a third term working for you.

PATCH: What do you see as the three biggest issues in your district?

MENIN:

• Quality of Life & Affordability
• Public Safety & Sanitation
• Improve Public Schools & Child Care

PATCH: How would you address these issues through policy?

MENIN: I delivered the largest affordable housing rezoning on the East Side of Manhattan in 2024 on East 94th Street. This rezoning not only reduced the total proposed building’s height by 70 feet, but also increased the share of affordable units. In addition, our City Council passed a comprehensive housing plan with $5 billion of investments to create over 80,000 units of housing citywide and support our neighborhoods.

Regarding public safety, I have secured increased funding for new NYPD foot patrols and security cameras on the East Side, which has led to a reduction in overall crime in our district. We are also in a unique time when hate crimes continue to surge, especially in the Jewish community. This is why I launched a program that will allow up to 85,000 8th Grade students at New York City public schools to tour the Museum of Jewish Heritage, holocaust exhibition.

In addition, I passed a package of bills that has placed New York City on a path to universal childcare. I will continue to work with my colleagues in government to make this a reality.

PATCH: Who did you rank in the 2025 mayoral primary election this June?

MENIN: I am running to lead the City Council as a co-equal branch of government that will work with the next Mayor and fulfill our important oversight role. To maintain that independent balance as Speaker, I didn’t endorse in the primary.

PATCH: What’s something that always makes you smile about your district?

MENIN: We have so many great restaurants on the East Side of Manhattan and I really enjoy the Budapest Cafe (1631 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10028). This cafe is a link to Little Hungary on the Upper East Side, where my mother and grandmother found refuge after surviving the Holocaust.

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