In early 2016, the base pay for New York City Council members increased from $112,000 to $148,500. This salary is now nearly double that of a New York State Senator and comes with additional stipends tied to committee assignments.
What makes this more concerning is not just the increase itself, but how it happened. The raise was decided on and approved by the very members who benefit from it. That raises a simple question: what message does this send to New Yorkers?
At a time when the average resident is struggling to afford housing and secure stable, well-paying work, this decision reflects a disconnect between elected officials and the people they represent. While families are forced to make difficult financial choices, the City Council appears focused on increasing its own compensation and managing growing city revenues without clear accountability.
Some may argue that not every member supported the increase. But the absence of opposition is not the same as leadership. At a moment when many New Yorkers were frustrated, there was no clear voice standing up to represent that concern.
Why does this continue? Because the system assumes the outcome will not change. When incumbency is treated as a guarantee, accountability fades.
The only way to change that dynamic is to challenge it directly.
That is why I am running and why I am taking a different approach. I have pledged to take a 50 percent pay cut and redirect those funds toward hiring additional staff to better serve the public. I will also focus my work specifically on the Veterans and Housing Committees, where the need is immediate and measurable.
Public service should not be about personal gain. It should be about responsibility, discipline, and results.
If we want different outcomes, we must be willing to demand a different standard.