Bottcher Seeks Re-Election in City Council District 3 vs. Bobrick
Erik Bottcher, who hails originally from a small town in upstate New York before moving to the city in his 20s, won his first election for city council two years. Now the incumbent Democrat is running against Robert Bobrick in District 3 which includes Chelsea, Hell’s Kitchen and Greenwich Village. The Republican candidate Bobrick, a former public high school teacher, is a firm opponent of vaccine mandates and is cross endorsed by the Medical Freedom party.
| 23 Oct 2023 | 05:56
Erik Bottcher is running for re-election in District 3 vs Robert Bobrick. Photo: Erik Bottcher
Erik Bottcher is running for re-election in City Council District 3 vs former public high school teacher Robert Bobrick. Photo: Erik Bottcher Campaign
1) What is your age, how long in the district and which neighborhood and civic/business and or/political background and employment.
I am 44 and turn 45 in May. I’ve lived in New York City for 22 years. Before being elected to the Council in 2021, I worked as a staffer in city and state government, most recently as Chief of Staff to my predecessor, Corey Johnson.
2) Why are you running?
Serving as your City Councilmember these past 22 months has been the honor and privilege of my lifetime. As I prepare for my first re-election on November 7, I’m humbly asking for your support. Like countless others over the generations, New York City is where I found a community that acceptedme for who I am. Growing up in a small town in the Adirondack Mountains, I felt disconnected and isolated as the only gay person I knew. In New York City, I found my home and lived out my dreams. I’ve dedicated my life to giving back to the city and community I love so much. My team and I are fighting every day to make New York City safer, cleaner, fairer, more equitable, and more affordable. We are facing unprecedented challenges as a city, but I know we can and will prevail, because when we come together as New Yorkers, there is nothing we can’t accomplish.
3) What do you see as the major issues facing voters in your district and what do you hope to do about it?
I think the biggest issue is the affordable housing crisis. The skyrocketing cost of housing in New York is displacing longtime residents and making it impossible for anyone who is not wealthy to live here. It is estimated that New York City’s population will increase by at least 600,000 people over the next decade. If housing isn’t generated to accommodate population growth, housing prices will continue to increase exponentially. We must generate as many units as possible across the entire metropolitan region, including hundreds of thousands of units of affordable housing. We can do this by allowing multi-family housing in areas that are currently zoned for single family homes. We should maximize affordable housing on government-owned lots, while working with development partners and the community to build housing that maximizes affordability.
4) Are you running on any other party line other than the Democratic line?
The Democratic line only.
5) What is your stance on COVID vaccines? And what about other vaccines for chicken pox, measles, mumps, rubella, etc. Do you think they are medically safe? And should vaccinations be required of all children in NYC schools?
I believe that we should follow the science on vaccines which have proven over and over again to be safe and effective ways to combat a variety of illnesses. To that I end, I support the DOE vaccination policies that are currently in effect at all schools in our neighborhoods.
6) Anything else we should know about you?
I’m taking guitar lessons!