Comptroller election in New York, New York (June 22, 2021, Democratic primary)

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2021 New York elections
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Election dates
Filing deadline: March 25, 2021
Primary election: June 22, 2021
General election: November 2, 2021
Election stats
Offices up: Comptroller
Total seats up: 1 (click here for other city elections)
Election type: Partisan
Other municipal elections
U.S. municipal elections, 2021

Brad Lander won the Democratic primary for New York City comptroller on June 22, 2021. Ten candidates ran in the primary. The general election was on November 2, 2021.

Seven candidates were mentioned by media outlets as leading candidates and led in endorsements and/or fundraising:[1][2] Brian Benjamin, Michelle Caruso-Cabrera, Zachary Iscol, Corey Johnson, Brad Lander, Kevin Parker, and David Weprin.

The primary election featured the use of ranked-choice voting (RCV). Voters were allowed to rank up to five candidates on their ballot in order of preference. A candidate had to receive a majority of votes cast to win the election, and votes for eliminated candidates were redistributed based on the next preference on the ballot. Lander received more than 50% of the vote after 10 rounds of tabulation. Click here to learn more about RCV in this election.

The comptroller's duties include performing audits of city agencies and managing five public pension funds. As of March 2021, the funds totaled $253 billion in assets.[3] Discussing the city's elections in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, The New York Times' Jeffery C. Mays wrote, "Like the race for mayor, the contest for comptroller may be the city’s most consequential in decades, and the June 22 Democratic primary will most likely decide its winner. ... The city had a 20 percent unemployment rate, and is still projecting hefty future budget gaps." Mays also wrote that the comptroller would oversee how federal stimulus money issued in response to the pandemic was spent.[4]

Each candidate argued that their background equipped them for the office.

  • Benjamin, a state senator, previously worked for a housing developer and in financial management for Morgan Stanley.
  • Caruso-Cabrera was a financial analyst for CNBC.
  • Iscol served in the Marines and is a business and nonprofit founder.
  • Johnson was speaker of the New York City Council at the time of the primary.
  • Lander, also on the city council as of the primary, co-founded the council's Progressive Caucus.
  • Parker, a state senator, previously worked for investment banking firm UBS PaineWebber and as project manager for the New York State Urban Development Corporation.
  • Weprin, a state assemblyman, previously served on the city council, where he was chair of the Finance Committee for eight years.

At the first official debate on June 10, candidates offered different ideas about which city agencies should be audited more frequently. As of 2021, agency audits were required every four years. Lander said he would prioritize auditing the Department of Corrections in addition to big agencies like the New York Police Department (NYPD) and the Department of Education. Caruso-Cabrera said she would prioritize auditing the Department of Education. Johnson proposed annual audits for the education, homeless services, housing preservation and development, and police departments. Weprin said he would audit all city agencies every year. Iscol said he would audit the city's "holistic response, a multiagency response to specific problems, like public safety, like homelessness, like the education gap." Parker said big agencies should be audited more frequently and that the first one should be the NYPD. Benjamin also said he would prioritize auditing the NYPD.[5]

Click here to view candidates' key messages.

Also running in the primary were Terri Liftin, Alex Pan, and Reshma Patel. Pan completed a Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Click here to read select responses and here for all responses.

New York City also held elections for mayor, city council, and public advocate on November 2, 2021.

Candidates and election results

General election

General election for New York City Comptroller

Brad Lander defeated Daby Carreras, Paul Rodriguez, and John Tabacco in the general election for New York City Comptroller on November 2, 2021.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Brad Lander
Brad Lander (D)
 
69.6
 
752,710
Image of Daby Carreras
Daby Carreras (R / Save Our City Party)
 
23.1
 
249,460
Image of Paul Rodriguez
Paul Rodriguez (Conservative Party) Candidate Connection
 
5.5
 
59,251
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
John Tabacco (L / Independent Party)
 
1.7
 
18,802
 Other/Write-in votes
 
0.2
 
1,935

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 1,082,158
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic Primary for New York City Comptroller

The following candidates advanced in the ranked-choice voting election: Brad Lander in round 10 . The results of Round are displayed below. To see the results of other rounds, use the dropdown menu above to select a round and the table will update.

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 868,087
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Daby Carreras advanced from the Republican primary for New York City Comptroller.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Conservative Party primary election

The Conservative Party primary election was canceled. Paul Rodriguez advanced from the Conservative Party primary for New York City Comptroller.

Candidate profiles

This section includes candidate profiles created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff compiled a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy.[6]


Brian Benjamin

Brian Benjamin

Image of Brian Benjamin

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Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: 

New York State Senate (Assumed office: 2017)

Biography: 

Benjamin received a degree from Brown University and a master's degree in business from Harvard. He worked in financial management at Morgan Stanley and for a company building affordable housing units. Benjamin was a member of President Barack Obama’s National Finance Committee. He served as chairman of Community Board 10. At the time of the comptroller election, Benjamin chaired the Budget and Revenues Committee in the state Senate.




Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.

Benjamin's campaign website said he "has devoted himself to fighting for causes he believes in, and to applying his financial expertise to better his community. That’s why he led the fight to pass the Eric Garner Anti-Chokehold act in the wake of ongoing police violence in minority communities. It’s why he joined a company to develop over one thousand units of affordable housing in New York. And it’s why he is running for Comptroller – to better New Yorkers’ lives by drawing on his unique skillset and life experience."

Benjamin emphasized police accountability in his campaign. A campaign ad said Benjamin would investigate cases of police misconduct and audit the police department's budget.

Benjamin said he would protect retirees' pensions and direct investments to companies focused on renewable energy and affordable housing.

Show sources

Sources: Brian Benjamin's 2021 campaign website, "About," accessed May 31, 2021; Brian Benjamin's 2021 campaign website, "Brian's Vision," accessed June 1, 2021; YouTube, "We Have Had Enough," May 10, 2021; New York State Senate, "About Brian A. Benjamin," accessed May 31, 2021

This information was current as of the candidate's run for New York City Comptroller in 2021.

Michelle Caruso-Cabrera

Michelle Caruso-Cabrera

Image of Michelle Caruso-Cabrera

WebsiteFacebookXYouTube

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Biography: 

Caruso-Cabrera graduated from Wellesley College. She reported for The New York Times' education section and worked as a general assignment reporter for a CBS affiliate in St. Petersburg, Florida. Caruso-Cabrera also was a producer at Univision News. At CNBC, she worked as an anchor, lead reporter, financial analyst, and chief international correspondent. Caruso-Cabrera ran in the 2020 Democratic primary for New York's 14th Congressional District.


Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.

Caruso-Cabrera's campaign website said that "at a time when New York City’s economy is in crisis, many New Yorkers are out of work, and small businesses are struggling to survive, we need a Comptroller with the background, financial experience, and steady leadership needed to get people back to work, make sure the city’s dollars are spent and invested wisely, and navigate New York City through these unprecedented times." 

Caruso-Cabrera said she was the only Latina in the race and that city government should be reflective of the population it represents.

Caruso-Cabrera said she was "an outsider who doesn't owe anyone any political favors. I've spent my career asking the tough questions and investigating where the money is being spent."

Show sources

Sources: PIX11, "Race to City Hall: Comptroller Candidates Forum," May 25, 2021; YouTube, "Enough / Outsider," April 29, 2021; YouTube, "MCC for Comptroller," April 15, 2021; Michelle Caruso-Cabrera's 2021 campaign website, "About Michelle," accessed May 31, 2021

This information was current as of the candidate's run for New York City Comptroller in 2021.

Zach Iscol

Zachary Iscol

Image of Zachary Iscol

WebsiteFacebookXYouTube

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Biography:  Iscol graduated from Cornell. He served in the United States Marines. Iscol founded the nonprofit Headstrong Project, focused on free mental healthcare. He also founded Hirepurpose, which he described as "a tech and hiring platform that has helped countless veterans and Gold Star families find employment," and Task & Purpose, which he described as "an outlet dedicated to investigating issues in military and veteran communities from sexual harassment in the ranks to V.A. shortcomings in New York City." During the COVID-19 pandemic, Iscol served as deputy director of Javits Medical Center.


Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.

Iscol said he was a proven leader, emphasizing his experience in the Marines and as a nonprofit and business founder.

Iscol's campaign website said, "We are two decades into the 21st Century, but our city is stuck in the 1950s — in the way we police our streets, educate our kids, or even just move around the city. Our city’s leadership not only needs to tackle the public health and economic crisis we currently face, but they also need to build new systems that work for every New Yorker. It’s time for generational change. It’s time for a new New york."

Iscol's campaign ads said he never left anyone behind and end with the line, "Zach, a comptroller who has your back."

Show sources

Sources: Zach Iscol's 2021 campaign website, "Home," May 31, 2021; PIX11, "Race to City Hall: Comptroller Candidates Forum," May 25, 2021; YouTube, "Zach Iscol for NYC, Videos," accessed June 1, 2021; Zach Iscol's 2021 campaign website, "Meet Zach," accessed May 31, 2021

This information was current as of the candidate's run for New York City Comptroller in 2021.

Corey Johnson

Corey Johnson

Image of Corey Johnson

WebsiteFacebookX

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: 

New York City Council (Assumed office: 2013)

Biography:  At the time of the comptroller election, Johnson was a student at Columbia University. His city council biography said he "entered public service as an activist, first for LGBTQ causes and then expanding to issues like tenant advocacy." Johnson chaired Manhattan’s Community Board 4. In 2018, New York City Council members elected Johnson to serve as speaker of the council.


Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.

Johnson's campaign website said, "Johnson is a leader with experience and vision. As Speaker of the New York City Council, Corey has been a progressive champion helping low-income New Yorkers and leading the fight on historic anti-poverty, environmental, and criminal justice reform measures." It said he delivered balanced budgets for three years as speaker of the Council.

Johnson's website said, "As Comptroller, Corey will help small businesses grow and succeed, aggressively oversee COVID relief & recovery efforts to make sure that every dollar spent helps New Yorkers, and invest in a stronger, more equitable economy."

Johnson emphasized that he grew up in public housing and went to public schools.

Show sources

Sources: Corey Johnson's 2021 campaign website, "Home," accessed May 31, 2021, Corey Johnson's 2021 campaign website, "Why Corey," accessed May 31, 2021; New York City Council, "Biography - Corey Johnson," accessed May 31, 2021; New York Daily News, "Here are the leading Democratic candidates in race for NYC Comptroller," May 26, 2021

This information was current as of the candidate's run for New York City Comptroller in 2021.

Brad Lander

Brad Lander

Image of Brad Lander

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Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: 

New York City Council (Assumed office: 2010)

Biography:  Lander graduated from the University of Chicago and received master's degrees in social anthropology and city planning from the University College London and the Pratt Institute, respectively. He directed the nonprofits Pratt Center for Community Development and Fifth Avenue Committee. Lander co-founded the New York City Council's Progressive Caucus. At the time of the comptroller primary, Lander was chairman of Local Progress, which he described as "a national network of over 800 progressive local elected officials in 45 states."


Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.

Lander's campaign website said, "As a City Council member Brad has worked for more than a decade to align the city budget with progressive, good government goals. He has fought corruption, helped workers win better jobs, and enacted much-needed reforms like participatory budgeting."

Lander emphasized that he co-founded the New York City Council's Progressive Caucus and that he received endorsements from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and The New York Times.

Lander's website said his "top priority will be helping to rebuild an economy that works for all of us--budgeting wisely and investing strategically to confront long-term challenges like climate change, housing affordability, and racial justice."

Show sources

Sources: Brad Lander's 2021 campaign website, "Home," accessed May 31, 2021; PIX11, "Race to City Hall: Comptroller Candidates Forum," May 25, 2021; New York City Council, "Biography - Brad Lander," accessed May 31, 2021

This information was current as of the candidate's run for New York City Comptroller in 2021.

Alex Pan

Alex Pan

Image of Alex Pan

WebsiteFacebookXYouTube

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Submitted Biography:  "Alex Pan (Democratic Party) is currently pursuing a Bachelors of Arts degree at Denison University, with past experience as a Groundskeeper at the New York City Housing Authority and Administrative Assistant at the Two Bridges Neighborhood Council. Pan (Democratic Party) is running for election for New York City Comptroller. Pan declared candidacy for the Democratic primary scheduled for June 22, 2021."

Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

Desegregate Our Schools

Reform the Police

Ethical Governance and Slashing City Debt

This information was current as of the candidate's run for New York City Comptroller in 2021.

Kevin Parker

Kevin Parker

Image of Kevin Parker

WebsiteFacebookX

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: 

New York State Senate (Assumed office: 2003)

Biography: 

Parker received a B.S. from Penn State and an M.S. in urban policy and management from the New School for Social Research. At the time of the comptroller primary, he was pursuing a doctoral degree from CUNY in political science. Parker worked as a professor at CUNY and SUNY schools, for investment banking firm UBS PaineWebber, and as project manager for the New York State Urban Development Corporation. He created the Intersolar Summit Northeast, a solar energy conference. At the time of the primary, Parker chaired the state Senate Committee on Energy & Telecommunications. He previously served as majority whip.


Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.

Parker's campaign website said, "I am running for New York City Comptroller to draw upon my experience, judgment and expertise to provide the leadership our city needs to ensure our recovery is inclusive and makes all New Yorkers better than they were before."

Parker said, "As the people’s fiscal steward, I will also use the powers of the office to address the issues that have afflicted New Yorkers for decades, including unemployment, public safety, affordable housing, and quality of life."

Parker said he would pursue his agenda "through targeted investment, comprehensive audits, advocating for funding, outreach programs, and the reviewing of contracts to ensure they make sense for all New Yorkers."

Show sources

Sources: Kevin Parker's campaign website, "Built to Lead," accessed June 1, 2021; Kevin Parker's 2021 campaign website, "Platform," accessed May 31, 2021; Kevin Parker's 2021 campaign website, "Kevin's Story," accessed May 31, 2021

This information was current as of the candidate's run for New York City Comptroller in 2021.

David Weprin

David Weprin

Image of David Weprin

WebsiteFacebookXYouTube

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: 

Biography:  Weprin graduated from SUNY Albany and received a law degree from Hofstra University. Gov. Mario Cuomo (D) appointed him deputy superintendent of banks and secretary of the state's Banking Board. On the city council, Weprin chaired the Finance Committee for eight years. At the time of the comptroller primary, Weprin was co-president of the National Association of Jewish Legislators and was chairman of the state Assembly's Committee on Correction. He formerly chaired the Task Force on People with Disabilities.


Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.

Weprin's campaign website said, "With the city battling a pandemic that has dealt a significant blow to the City’s budget and our economy, the next Comptroller needs to have the experience – and the heart – to get the City back on track. David Weprin is the only candidate running for Comptroller with public finance experience, or who has ever balanced a City budget."

Weprin said he would "put the needs of working and middle class families front and center." He said he would work to protect seniors' pensions and healthcare, save small businesses, fix the MTA, fix public schools, and build more affordable housing.

Weprin discussed his mother, a Cuban-Jewish immigrant, and his father, who was speaker of the state Assembly, as instilling in him the values of "hard work, determination to do what is right, and respect for others." 

Show sources

Sources: David Weprin's 2021 campaign website, "Home," accessed May 31, 2021; YouTube, "David Weprin for Comptroller 2021," February 9, 2021; David Weprin's 2021 campaign website, "Get to Know David," accessed May 31, 2021

This information was current as of the candidate's run for New York City Comptroller in 2021.

Candidates' criticisms and responses

At the first official debate on June 10, several candidates criticized one another and defended themselves against criticisms.[5][7]

  • Benjamin criticized Weprin for taking endorsements from the Police Benevolent Association and Sergeants' Benevolent Association. He said PBA president Pat Lynch supported Donald Trump and that Ed Mullins, SBA president, called Rep. Ritchie Torres (D) a whore and a female health commissioner "the b-word." Benjamin said, "Help me understand how you felt comfortable taking an endorsement from these two gentlemen."
    • Weprin responded, "I actually took endorsements from all five police unions because they make up 20% of our pension funds, and they're city employees that the comptroller has a fiduciary obligation to invest that money. ... [W]e can't leave anybody behind."
  • Caruso-Cabrera criticized Johnson by saying the city's budget grew by more than $20 billion a year during Johnson's time on the city council. She asked the audience, "Does this city feel $20 billion a year better to you? Do you feel safer? Is it more affordable? Is your healthcare better?"
    • Johnson responded, "We have invested in some great things—universal pre-K, 3-K for all, expanding our social safety net, doing these things."
  • Johnson criticized Caruso-Cabrera, saying Caruso-Cabrera "was a lifelong Republican until 2015 who supported abolishing Social Security and Medicare. ... It is rich for her to lecture us progressives who have been progressives our entire lives."
    • Caruso-Cabrera responded, "I am a very proud Democrat. I have been pro-choice all my life. I have supported LGBT rights, ever since we called them gay rights. I am extremely supportive of immigration, more immigration to the United States."
  • Lander criticized Johnson for not disclosing his schedule for 17 months and for not being present at executive budget hearings the month prior. "What were you doing all month that was so important that you could not bother to attend one executive budget hearing?"
    • Johnson responded, "As you know, and I know you're trying to confuse voters, the speaker sits on the budget negotiation team. ... I have been fully engaged in communicating with the council staff. ... We had a budget negotiating meeting two days ago. ... Brad, I've had to make difficult decisions as speaker. And in the past, you criticize a lot, but you've never been in the position to actually have to negotiate budgets. I've negotiated three on time."
  • Weprin criticized Lander for voting against the last budget on the city council due to his opposition to the amount of police department funding it contained. Weprin said, "A lot of those programs that you voted against could have helped a lot in public safety as well as social programs. ... Are you concerned about the increase in gun violence, up 77%, and the fact that ... crime is clearly up and we're down 3,000 police officers, and I imagine you'll want to cut the police budget again?"
    • Lander responded that he was concerned about rising gun violence and crime and said, "Sending more cops into situations doesn't always equate to more safety. ... We already have the highest levels of police per capita of any city. We did not cut the NYPD by 3,000 officers. ... We must invest in the things that actually keep communities safe, and that's what we cut last year. We cut summer youth employment, we cut supportive housing, we cut sanitation services, we cut mental health services. And that's why I voted against the budget."

Noteworthy primary endorsements

This section includes noteworthy endorsements issued in the primary, added as we learn about them. Click here to read how we define noteworthy primary endorsements. If you are aware of endorsements that should be included, please email us.


Click the links below for endorsement lists on candidates' websites, where available.

Democratic primary endorsements
Endorsement Benjamin Caruso-Cabrera Iscol Johnson Lander Parker Weprin
Newspapers and editorials
New York Post[8] ✔
The New York Times ✔
New York Daily News[9][10] ✔
The Jewish Voice ✔
The Jewish Press ✔
Elected officials
U.S. Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.) ✔
U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) ✔
U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) ✔
U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) ✔
U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) ✔
U.S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) ✔
U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) ✔
U.S. Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) ✔
U.S. Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-N.Y.) ✔
U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) ✔
U.S. Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.) ✔
U.S. Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.) ✔
U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.) ✔
U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.)[11] ✔
U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-N.Y.)[11] ✔
Individuals
Former New York City Comptroller Carl McCall (D) ✔
Former New York City Comptroller, state Sen. John Liu (D) ✔
Organizations
International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 237 ✔
New York Administrative Employees, 1180 CWA ✔
Local 372 NYC Board of Education Employees ✔
New Politics[12] ✔
United Federation of Teachers ✔
NY Hotel & Motel Trades Council ✔
DC37 ✔
SEIU 32BJ and 1199 ✔
The Victory Fund ✔
TWU Local 100 ✔
NYS Laborers/ LiUNA ✔
Council of School Supervisors and Administrators ✔
Tenants PAC ✔
NY League of Conservation Voters ✔
NYS Nurses Association (NYSNA) ✔
Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater NY ✔
NYC District Council of Carpenters ✔
New York State Iron Workers District Council ✔
Doctors Council SEIU ✔
Uniformed Firefighters Association ✔
FDNY EMS Local 2507[13] ✔
Uniformed Emergency Medical Services Officers Association Local 3621[14] ✔
American Federation of Musicians, Local 802 ✔
Communications Workers of America District One,
and Locals 1101, 1102, 1106, 1109		 ✔
Freelancers Union ✔
Laundry, Distribution and Food Service Joint Board, Workers United/SEIU ✔
National Association of Social Workers - Political Action for Candidate Election ✔
National Institute for Reproductive Health Action Fund PAC ✔
New York Progressive Action Network ✔
New York Working Families Party ✔
Our Revolution ✔
Stonewall Democrats of NYC ✔
Sunrise NYC ✔
Teamsters Local 202 ✔
The Jewish Vote ✔
United Auto Workers Region 9A ✔
Progressive Democrats Political Association of Central Brooklyn ✔
Unified Political Association ✔
Queens County Democratic Party ✔
Uniformed Sanitationmen's Association Local 831 IBT ✔
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 3 ✔
New York State Court Officers Association ✔
NYC Fire Marshals Benevolent Association ✔
Correction Officers’ Benevolent Association ✔
Captains' Endowment Association ✔
Sergeants' Benevolent Association ✔
Detectives’ Endowment Association ✔
Police Benevolent Association ✔
Auxiliary Police Benevolent Association ✔
Lieutenants' Benevolent Association ✔

Timeline

Campaign themes

See also: Campaign themes

Brian Benjamin

Campaign website

Benjamin’s campaign website stated the following themes. Click here to read full plans.

“

Redefining Police Accountability and Public Safety

In the aftermath of the death of George Floyd, another generation of New Yorkers came together to address the urgency of the Black Lives Matter movement. They took to the streets and gave new life to the chant first heard after Eric Garner lost his life to police in 2014: “I Can’t Breathe.”

Below are just a few examples of how Brian Benjamin has fought to make the aspirations of this movement a reality in law as State Senator. A full list of Brian’s legislative and advocacy efforts can be found at the end of this document.

  • Sponsored the Eric Garner Anti-Chokehold Act, prohibiting this deadly abuse of force
  • Repealed 50-a to divulge police disciplinary records to the public
  • Successfully forced the state to divest its public pensions from for-profit, private prisons
  • Sponsored a bill to ensure the Comptroller audits public money spent on police department lawsuit settlements


If he is elected New York City Comptroller, Brian will use all the powers of the office to ensure policing is transformed and modernized until it is fully accountable and appropriately scaled to our communities.

This document lays out his plan to achieve those goals, including the following measures:

  • Public Safety Audit: A Blueprint for Defunding the NYPD
  • Prioritizing Criminal Justice Issues
  • Reporting on Police Settlements
  • Making Police Procurement Transaparent
  • Investing in a Safer and Fairer New York City

Affordable and Equitable Housing for All

Brian Benjamin has dedicated a significant portion of his life to the creation and preservation of affordable housing. As a builder, a community board chair, and a legislator, he has fought for a more affordable, equitable and pro-tenant housing landscape for New York City.

  • While working at a Minority and Women / Owned Business, Brian built more than a thousand units of affordable, environmentally sustainable housing, many of which were specifically set aside for the formerly homeless.
  • As Chair of Harlem’s Community Board 10, Brian sided with residents and fought back the upzoning of Lenox Terrace, a key source of affordable housing stock for Harlem families.
  • Brian fought against gentrification with the successful “Harlem not SoHa” community campaign.
  • In the State Senate, Brian sponsored key pro-tenant legislation, including portions of the legislation that eventually became the historic Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019.

Brian will bring this experience to the office of the New York City Comptroller to expand New York City’s affordable housing opportunities.

AFFORDABLE FOR WHO? DETERMINING THE REAL NEED

The goals to build and preserve affordable housing proposed and funded by the current city government not only fail in their size, but in the income brackets they target. The Housing New York 2.0 plan sets its overall target at 300,000 units, while housing experts (and even a report from the office of comptroller in 2018) have estimated the need at almost twice that. When looking at households with the greatest need, extremely low income and very low families, the disparity is even greater. Only 15% of the need these households experience is addressed by the plan. However, for low income, moderate income and middle income families, the city’s plan provides for more than enough housing, and at surprising levels. For these three income brackets the city provides 415%, 157% and 400% of the needed housing respectively. This means that the city is not falling short in how much affordability it is creating -- it is creating too much in some income brackets, potentially further exacerbating affordability and gentrification because of poor planning. Whether this is because of market pressures or backwards thinking, the facts could not be clearer: city leaders have no comprehensive master plan to truly address affordability in our city.

If we are serious about addressing the crisis, Brian knows we need a master plan which actually takes into account the real need that New Yorkers are experiencing, allowing us to determine how many units of affordable housing we need at each level of affordability and where.

As comptroller, Brian will ensure that the City of New York is dealing with real numbers, and not aiming for goals that are disconnected from our needs by measuring those needs in each neighborhood and holding the mayor, the Department of Housing Preservation & Development (HPD), and the City Council accountable. If our housing plans don’t reflect the real need in each community, as comptroller, Brian will speak up and be an advocate for those communities. If a certain community requires 50,000 units at 75% of Area Median Income (AMI) and 5,000 units of transitional housing, but instead the city builds (either with city resources or by incentivizing private developers) 75,000 units at 125% of AMI, no one has been helped – these apartments won’t be affordable to those who need them. This will have encouraged gentrification and our resources will have been wasted.

To ensure this does not happen, among Brian’s first hires will be an Assistant Comptroller for Housing and Economic Development. This Assistant Comptroller will be able to ensure that the city is actually following through and is reasonably determining what to build at what level of affordability and where. The office will measure progress through audits not only of the various authorities and agencies involved in building, but also complete programmatic audits that will look at the equity and sustainability of the programs to be an affordable New York City.

INVESTING IN AFFORDABILITY

The comptroller’s office can directly contribute to the creation of affordable housing through the statutorily mandated Economically Targeted Investments (ETIs). These important investments are supposed to make up 2% of the value of the five pension funds, roughly $5 billion. But at the end of 2020, only $3 billion was invested in ETIs, meaning the comptroller has at least $2 billion to invest in strategic initiatives to improve New York City. In partnership with the labor trustees, Brian will use his financial background and affordable housing development experience to find opportunities to make good returns for our retirees while increasing the affordability of the city those retirees live in. These investments can fight homelessness, provide truly affordable rental units, and affordable fixed-rate mortgage homeownership.

For example, the city is paying more than $6,000 a month to keep families in hotels as temporary shelter. This is money well spent to keep a family safe during a pandemic, but it is not a good permanent solution. Brian believes the office should look at hotels that are currently experiencing financial trouble or even on the brink of bankruptcy. Using ETIs, the pension funds can create an entity that the investment managers can then instruct to purchase hotels and convert them into temporary or even transitional housing. This is a sound financial investment that a private company will not make, but that both guarantees a good return for the holders of the pensions (a primary goal) as well as serving the people of the city.

Whatever the project, Brian will partner not only with the labor trustees but with union labor to get these projects built.

A PRECIOUS RESOURCE: LAND

New York City currently possesses more than a thousand lots of vacant land which can be utilized to build a more sustainable and affordable city. By actively tracking this resource as well as commercial and residential lots that are underutilized and have remained permanently in a tax delinquent status, Brian will work with city agencies to find uses that city agencies and the community can invest in.

Opportunities to use this land include Providing data to community boards, the Department of City Planning and other relevant agencies to encourage the building of permanently affordable, rent regulated apartments, targeting high-need income brackets in high-need areas and opportunities for affordable homeownership such as the construction of fixed-rate mortgage units.

NYCHA

Few people in public service are more familiar with the issues that NYCHA is facing than Brian, as his senate district has more public housing developments than anywhere else in the city. Brian’s campaign for Comptroller is being supported by ten major Manhattan NYCHA leaders because since his election to the senate in 2017, Brian has worked closely with tenant leaders to advocate for residents’ needs in Albany. Year after year, Brian has stood shoulder to shoulder with tenants by demanding an increase in capital funding from the state, accountability around lead found in paint, and faster response time to resident complaints.

Despite the increases Brian has fought for, waste prevents much of the funding from improving the lives of tenants. Leaking roofs were replaced at market rate while they were still under warranty, a huge waste of money that could have been spent on much needed capital repairs including constantly broken elevators and heat that stops working in the dead of winter. Worse, the city never seems short of cash for consultants while these problems have continued, shelling out $3 million in 2019 to KPMG LLP for advice about reorganizing that is nearly identical to advice it paid Boston Consulting $10 million for 7 years ago. The federal monitor, who comes at a yearly price tag of $20 million, is problematic as well, as many believe the oversight the monitor provides should have been provided by the city already.

As Comptroller, Brian will provide the required oversight to ensure that funds reach their intended target: the residents of public housing. Most importantly, he will ensure that the fight for funding and accountability for NYCHA centers the voices of NYCHA tenant leadership in decision making.

AN ADVOCATE FOR AFFORDABILITY

Brian will use the Office of Comptroller to ensure that the city hits its strategic city goals and that the money spent on these programs impact New Yorkers in need. Under Brian’s watchful eye, programs like 421a will provide tenants the benefits they are intended to provide.

Brian will also continue to advocate for affordability to the federal, state and city governments, pushing for historic investments and for innovative ideas including Community Land Trusts and other new forms of social homeownership. He will use the data city audits provide to fight for the preservation of Mitchell Lamas and Housing Development Fund Corporations, and he will hold the agencies that provide them with oversight accountable.

Click here to download Brian’s full plan for Housing for All

Closing the Gender Pay Gap With Financial Literacy

Economic policy is civil rights policy, and as comptroller Brian will bring his financial experience and his record of fighting for justice to the task at hand. On the financial front, the fight for justice is a fight against income inequality. Addressing income inequality has to include addressing the gender pay gap. In New York City, women earn just $0.89 for every $1 men make. For women of color, the gap is worse: $0.82 for Asian women, $0.66 for Black women, and $0.56 for Latina women. New York City’s economy relies on women – they make up the majority of essential workers (60%, 81% in social services and 74% in healthcare), and 75% of all frontline workers are people of color. And yet, even as they keep our city afloat, they face extraordinary burdens. We would not have made it through this pandemic without them, and we will not recover without addressing the issues that face them.

As a Senator, Brian sponsored and supported legislation to end the pay gap for public and private workers. As comptroller, Brian will address the problem directly with audits to ensure human rights standards are being met, a push for contracts for local M/WBEs, and new targets for investments in firms run by women and minorities, but there is something more fundamental that needs to be addressed as well.

Women are often not encouraged to become involved in finance in the same way that men are. A study by Stanford University showed that men were almost 15% more likely to answer questions about financial literacy correctly than women. This has serious repercussions for the financial health of independent women, families and small businesses, particularly in communities of color that are struggling to recover from COVID-19. To address income inequality, this financial literacy gap and the cultural trend that discourages women to feel confident about their own finances must be addressed.

If we don’t address the gender pay and financial literacy gap, we are leaving a huge amount of potential economic activity on the table, and starving our neighborhoods and families of the leadership they need to thrive. By encouraging independent women and nonbinary New Yorkers to be financial leaders in their families, their communities, and our city, New York can become a fairer and more prosperous city.

As Comptroller, Brian will work with his Chief Diversity Officer to provide workshops in key neighborhoods identified by his Area Community Prosperity index as a guide, which will also be used to measure the success of the workshops. These workshops will focus on financial literacy and will partner with community organizations including non profits, credit unions, labor and trusted community organizations, including houses of worship and the National Pan-Hellenic Council. The goals of these workshops will be to find and encourage leaders and to arm people with financial literacy skills, no matter what they are starting with. Brian will participate in these workshops himself so he can share his lifetime of financial experience with the community and receive feedback about the local health of our city’s neighborhoods and families. The economic stability of women, particularly women of color, is personal to Brian. His successes would not have been possible without his immigrant mother’s remarkable journey from poverty to a stable, union job.

Brian believes that this is the kind of focus we will need to equitably recover from COVID-19. Even now, as our economy is beginning to rebound, the unemployment rate for Black women is 8.9% and 8.5% for Latina women, while the rate for white men has dropped to 5.3%. Gaps like these must be addressed directly with resources from city government. Economic policy is civil rights policy, and as comptroller Brian will bring his financial experience and his record of fighting for justice to the task at hand.

Climate and Sustainability

The office of comptroller has a special role to place in the fight against climate change. Within the confines of a formerly redlined neighborhood it is not hard to see the urgency with which we must tackle this issue as a community and as a city. Decades of disinvestment and a lack of green space in neighborhoods like Brian’s means that when summer heat rises because of carbon emissions, neighborhoods like Harlem and Brownsville suffer more emergency room visits and deaths from heat stroke. And when infrastructure crumbles and our air or even soil remains polluted, its children in Highbridge and East Harlem that end up with record high rates of asthma hospitalizations.

Click here to read Brian's full plan to use the power of the comptroller to fight climate change.

Standing With M/WBEs and Small Businesses

Brian Benjamin knows what it takes to run a small business – after all, he dedicated years of his life to an M/WBE that built sustainable, affordable housing in Harlem. Brian’s experience in financial management made the company a success, but there were many challenges that were almost insurmountable, and he fought to level the playing field when he got to the State Senate.

If he is elected New York City Comptroller, Brian will use all the powers of the office to ensure that every small business in New York is given a fair shot at succeeding and that New York is building an economy that works for every neighborhood. This document lays out his plan to achieve those goals.

Click here to download Brian’s full plan for Standing with Small Business

Reorganizing the Office of Comptroller to Serve the People

In 2018, when Wadleigh, a beloved Harlem public school for the arts, was slated for partial closure after receiving extra taxpayer funding, Brian wanted to know what had happened. He demanded to know how the money was spent and what metrics were used to determine that the school should close. After conversations with parents, teachers, and agency officials, Brian proposed a collaborative innovative solution that saved the school - protecting both taxpayers’ investment and Harlem students’ dreams for their future. Wadleigh is now thriving.

Brian will bring this same solution-oriented focus to the Office of Comptroller. Your priorities will be his north star as he leads the more than 700 staff through audits, contracts, asset management, and more. On day one, Brian will reorganize the staff to ensure that every action of the office leads to real and tangible progress, appointing Assistant Comptrollers for Education, Public Safety and Housing & Economic Development. These empowered deputies will follow a specific model for achieving positive results in their issue areas: identify problems, audit/investigate, craft recommendations, form advocacy efforts and finally implement solutions.

This new organization of the office will focus on results that matter to New Yorkers, and will foster the interdepartmental and interagency cooperation that is necessary for real success. With the work being led and measured not only by senior staff from departments like the Bureau of Audit, Contract Administration, or Asset Management but also by staff with a full time dedication to enacting your priorities across disciplines and departments, New Yorkers can rest assured that the team Brian is leading will deliver real results that lead to a more equitable, just, and affordable city.

Investigating Waste in NYC Agencies

One of the principal roles of the Comptroller is oversight of NYC’s agencies to ensure that budgets accurately reflect the functions the agency is meant to fulfill. Every dollar that NYC spends should be scrutinized by the Comptroller to ensure that it is having a positive impact on New Yorkers’ quality of life. Two agencies where this oversight role is of utmost importance are NYCHA and the Department of Education, because of their critical role in serving underprivileged New Yorkers who rely on effective and responsive government.

As Comptroller, Brian is committed to launching audits of these agencies as soon as he assumes office. We can’t wait to protect the most vulnerable New Yorkers, and Brian will shine a light on any and all failures and their resulting inequities.

LEAKY ROOFS AND LEAKY BUDGETS

Few people in public service are more familiar with the issues that NYCHA is facing than Brian, as his senate district has more public housing developments than anywhere else in the city. Brian’s campaign for Comptroller is being supported by ten major Manhattan NYCHA leaders because since his election to the senate in 2017, Brian has worked closely with tenant leaders to advocate for residents’ needs in Albany. Year after year, Brian has stood shoulder to shoulder with tenants by demanding an increase in capital funding from the state, accountability around lead found in paint, and faster response time to resident complaints.

Despite the increases Brian has fought for waste prevents much of the funding from improving the lives of tenants. Leaking roofs were replaced at market rate while they were still under warranty, a huge waste of money that could have been spent on much needed capital repairs including constantly broken elevators heat that stops working in the dead of winter. Worse, the city never seems short of cash for consultants while these problems have continued, shelling out $3million in 2019 to KPMG LLP for advice about reorganizing that is nearly identical to advice it paid Boston Consulting $10 million for 7 years ago. The federal monitor, who comes at a yearly price tag of $20 million, is problematic as well, as many believe the oversight the monitor provides should have been provided by the city already. As Comptroller, Brian will provide the required oversight to ensure that funds reach their intended target: the residents of public housing.

SMARTER CHOICES SMARTER SPENDING

NYCHA isn’t the only important agency which lacks appropriate oversight. The Department of Education also provides numerous examples of money wasted on bureaucracy, consultants, and mismanagement that could have gone to students. As Comptroller, Brian will use his oversight powers and responsibilities to closely vet the DOE budget.

Brian’s has experienced resource mismanagement at DOE first hand. In 2017, Brian had the opportunity to appropriate a significant amount of capital funds, even though his conference was in the minority. He worked with a local public school superintendent and decided to spend the money on much-needed technology for elementary students. Each year from 2017 to 2020, he followed up with the Department of Education and the superintendent, trying to figure out where that money was. No one could explain. It was during the pandemic, more than 3 years later, when technology for students was in such high demand that he finally was able to locate these funds within the Department of Education’s confusing and bureaucratic procurement office for the superintendent so she could use them for their intended purpose from three years prior.

In the course of those three years, Brian encountered and helped solve other similar problems. A beloved school in Brian’s district, Wadleigh Secondary, was slated for partial closure after receiving extra taxpayer funding as part of the Renewal Schools program., Brian wanted to know what had happened. He demanded to know how the money was spent and what metrics were used to determine that the school should close. After conversations with parents, teachers, and agency officials, Brian proposed a collaborative innovative solution that saved the school - protecting both taxpayers’ investment and Harlem students’ dreams for their future. Wadleigh is now thriving.

Other schools have not been saved by such collaborative approaches, and it seems that the Department of Education’s approach isn’t to ask teachers, parents and local leaders to help, but rather to spend millions on consultants when they encounter a problem. In this last year alone, the city paid $35.5 million for First Lady McCray’s ThriveNYC mental health school “consultants,” who are not directly serving students, and $2.86 million to consulting firm Accenture for management advice. As Comptroller, Brian will determine whether these consulting contracts have resulted in quantifiable gains for student populations or school programming.

As a senator, Brian has supported tax increases aimed at fully funding foundation aid, but he’s also worked to ensure those funds get to the students who they were intended for when the funds were appropriated. He will do the same as Comptroller.

CONCLUSION

New York City needs a Comptroller who will ensure that every dollar that is spent has a positive impact on New Yorkers’ quality of life. Brian has the experience fighting for those most impacted when agencies fall short, and the skills to fix the problems that need to be addressed.

AUDIT: Democratizing Your Dollars

To assess the fiscal health of New York, the city charter requires that the city Comptroller audit at least some part or portion of every agency every four years. These audits help ensure that the agencies meet the goals set for them by elected officials and their own executives. By and large, these are financial audits, and the data being reviewed in making determinations is the agency revenues and expenditures.

But Brian knows that to really measure the success of New York City we need to look at more than dollars and cents. That’s because agencies reaching goals in the way that is most impactful to New Yorkers like you isn’t always going to be reflected in the bottom line. To ensure that every agency and program that the city runs is not only fiscally sound but also building a city that New Yorkers deserve to live in, every audit performed by Brian’s office will also include a sustainability audit and an equity audit.

The EQUITY AUDIT will look at programs and agencies to determine how their work is impacting communities now. These audits will be organized in three key areas each with its own markers of success:

  • Equal Access
  • Contracts and Hiring
  • Community Engagement

For equal access, Brian’s team will determine if programs and agencies are doing their best to provide materials for New Yorkers who speak different languages or who use ASL. They’ll also look at the physical accessibility of spaces to ensure that the city is meeting and exceeding ADA standards so that every New Yorker can participate. Importantly, Brian will rate agencies' compliance with New York City’s Status as a Sanctuary City by determining if the agency is collaborating in any way with immigration enforcement.

For contracts and hiring, Brian will make sure that New York City’s public workforce is not only qualified, but looks like the city. He will push to ensure that M/WBE goals are met and exceeded. In 2019, less than 5% of city contracts went to M/WBEs. In the same year, more than 29% of New Yorkers were Hispanic / Latino and more than 24% were Black. We haven’t yet added in Asian-Americans or other key demographics and already you can see we have a serious problem. And on top of that, half our city is women, also included in M/WBE! We must do better. Brian will also ensure that companies we work with, to the greatest extent possible, also have fair contracting and hiring practices. We shouldn’t be spending our money somewhere that isn’t treating New Yorkers well.

For community engagement, Brian will draw on his experience as a former Community Board Chair to measure the extent to which agencies are engaging stakeholders in decision making when it is relevant. New Yorkers rely on the expertise of the public servants in our workforce, but we can all be better served if we add the local expertise of everyday New Yorkers when implementing new programs and ideas. After every disaster, lookbacks tell us that the city needs to build out plans to connect New Yorkers with relevant agencies, ensure that people check on their neighbors, that neighborhoods have diverse sets of resources at hand, and that volunteers are at the ready when disaster strikes. But these connections are just as important in a time of calm as they are in a time of disaster. What look like relatively weak ties are actually what make New York City strong, and every agency should be investing in by engaging with stakeholders and residents as frequently as possible.

The SUSTAINABILITY AUDIT will look at programs and agencies to determine how their work is impacting our future. These audits will be organized in three key areas each with its own markers of success:

  • Climate Change
  • Emergency Preparedness
  • Innovation

For climate change, Brian will measure each program or agency's success in meeting the goals in OneNYC2050, New York City’s sustainability master plan. This plan lays out how we can build a greener, fairer, and stronger city that is ready to face the future, including the climate crisis. Within the confines of a formerly redlined neighborhood it is not hard to see the urgency with which we must tackle this issue as a community and as a city. Decades of disinvestment and lack of green space in neighborhoods like the neighborhoods Brian represents mean that, when summer heat rises because of carbon emissions, it is neighborhoods like Harlem and Brownsville that suffer more emergency room visits and deaths from heat stroke. And when infrastructure crumbles and our air or even soil remains poisoned, its children in Highbridge and East Harlem that end up with record high rates of asthma hospitalizations. This is the threat of climate change, and with a daughter growing up in Harlem, Brian is incredibly committed to meeting it head on.

For emergency preparedness, Brian will look at how each agency is working to prepare for disasters big and small. COVID-19 has taught us all that disaster preparedness is not just an exercise we go through once a year, and we have to take it seriously if we care about our neighbors, particularly the most vulnerable. These emergency preparedness audits will look at everything from short term concerns such as ensuring there is an active shooter plan to long term concerns such as looking at agencies work to build out the city’s resilience to survive hurricanes with as little damage and trauma as possible.

For innovation, Brian will take a hard look at how agencies are responding to new situations to keep their work relevant and impactful. He’ll ensure that his team hears not only from executives, but also from other relevant staff and impacted individuals about what’s working and what isn’t so that each agency is doing everything it can to meet the needs of the greatest city on earth.

Importantly, Brian will make all of this information available to New York City residents on the comptroller's website, so that it will not only guide policy makers and elected officials in their decision making, but also provide an important layer of accountability.

Pension Management

Brian is the only candidate in this race with relevant investment management experience, and he is concerned about the state of the pension fund. Managing a pension system valued at over $229 billion and working to maximize returns for pensioners is central to the job, and Brian is well-prepared to step up to this task on day one.

Brian knows that a strong return is possible while still maintaining a fund that reflects our values. In his first year as a state senator, Brian introduced legislation and then worked with the state comptroller to divest the public pensions from private prisons. In the next session, he took it a step further and brought his fight to big private banks, introduce legislation that would disallow investment from any bank chartered in the state, successfully pushing banks including Bank of America to shed their stock.

Brian will do the same in the office of the Comptroller. With labor trustees at the table, he will make investment decisions that help build a city focused on working people. With an experienced financial manager as comptroller, the more than $229 billion pension fund gives the city a seat at the table and a voice that even the largest corporations can not ignore. In addition to meeting our goals to divest from fossil fuels as quickly as possible, Brian will fight to ensure the future investments are targeted to match our values. He’ll use Economically Targeted Investments (ETIs) to invest in developing new income targeted affordable housing projects as well as permanent supportive housing to shift resources from temporary shelters for the homeless, and to invest in stocks that meet environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) standards. He’ll also use the voice the pension funds give the city to make shareholder motions and to force votes to improve the quality of companies the city already has investments in. Having previously managed money at this scale, Brian understands the strategy and impact that shareholder votes can have.

In 2020 the pension fund did not reach its required return of seven percent, meaning that - in the middle of a budget crisis - hundreds of millions of dollars must be transferred to the fund that could have gone to social services or another important priority.

With a good comptroller who understands the industry, we can get a double return for the investments. First - the financial return for the pension holders. Second - an improved city, one where companies know that they have to center working people because we are going to demand it with the power of this pension fund.[27]

”
—Brian Benjamin's campaign website (2021)[28]


Michelle Caruso-Cabrera

Campaign website

Caruso-Cabrera’s campaign website stated the following themes.

“

Rebuilding NYC: An Economic Recovery That Leaves No One Behind

I spent decades covering financial crises all over the world as a reporter by following the money and investigating how it is being spent.

I saw the same story play out time and again: in crisis after crisis, it was the people who were being left behind before the crisis even started that bore the brunt of the cost. Even worse, when the area had begun to recover again, those people were left behind in the recovery.

New York City is facing a historic economic crisis – the likes of which we have not seen for decades – and already we are seeing that the same communities who were struggling before the pandemic have been hit hardest by the pandemic PHYSICALLY, have been hit hardest FINANCIALLY, and are being left behind in the vaccine rollout.

New York City needs a fresh approach and new leaders. The powers that be did not prepare us for the challenges we face, and we will not rebuild a thriving city with more politics as usual.

I am running for New York City Comptroller because we cannot continue to let this happen here.

I believe that the key to a New York City comeback is having the city’s top financial officer and top watchdog be someone who knows how to follow the money.

As Comptroller, I will use the power of the office and the power of the audit to lead an economic recovery that is equitable, inclusive, and leaves no one behind.

I will scrutinize every dollar, every program, and every outcome to ensure that every initiative that comes out of City Hall is DELIVERING RESULTS when it comes to bringing back jobs, helping small businesses which are the lifeblood of our city, attracting investment back to New York City, and delivering economic justice to all New Yorkers.

Doing Right By Our Retirees (Managing the Pension Funds)

One of the core obligations of the New York City Comptroller is to be a good fiduciary as trustee to the city’s five public employee pension funds.

The pension funds contain over $253 billion dollars under management that our most essential workers – our teachers, our firefighters, our transit workers, our emergency responders, and their families – rely upon for their retirement.

The word fiduciary is a very specific word. It is a legal obligation to put the interests of New York City’s retirees front and center.

I have spent decades interviewing some of the best and some of the worst asset managers in the world.

I know what it takes to manage the pension fund in a way that maximizes returns, minimizes risk, and ensures the long-term sustainability of our pensioners’ investments.

I will be a vocal champion of initiatives to increase the allocation of assets to minority and women asset managers.

I will employ a forward-looking approach to managing the pension investments to ensure the long-term performance of our pension fund.

I will support actions like divesting from industries like fossil fuels and companies that engage in human trafficking or modern slavery. Divesting from fossil fuels is not just a moral issue: it is a smart and effective investment strategy that plans ahead for New York’s dynamic future.[27]

”
—Caruso-Cabrera's campaign website (2021)[29]


Zach Iscol

Campaign website

Iscol’s campaign website stated the following themes.

“

BRINGING NEW YORK CITY BACK FROM COVID-19

As New York City’s Comptroller, my number one priority will be using the office to lead our economic recovery from Covid. And as Comptroller, I will ensure that every penny is spent on serving the people who live in New York City and not wasted through bureaucratic failures or throwing money at ineffective ideas. Covid did not create the unequal and unacceptable conditions we face in New York City. Rather, the pandemic exacerbated and illuminated the waste and mismanagement that disproportionately impact marginalized communities and the local economy. As Comptroller I will view Covid recovery through that lens and focus on long term, holistic improvements to support everyone in New York City.

Traditionally, the Comptroller is the city’s watchdog. They provide oversight of city agencies, auditing their finances and performance, serve as the fiduciary of the city’s five pension funds, settle claims on behalf of the city, and review city contracts. The job requires the highest levels of integrity to ensure tax dollars are spent effectively and ensure we keep our promise to the city’s pensioners, retirees, and workforce. It requires a leader who won’t let policymakers off the hook when they fail to deliver, obfuscate what’s really happening in our city, or strike backroom political deals.

In addition to these critically important responsibilities, I will leverage the position of Comptroller to help lead the city’s economic recovery to get New Yorkers back on their feet, to address disparity and serve our most vulnerable by leveraging resources from the public and private sector, and ensure the city is never again caught unprepared when we need to mobilize.

We need to bring back hundreds of thousands of jobs, spur investment in businesses and the arts, implement effective COVID-19 testing and vaccination plans, close the growing achievement gap in education and catch our kids up on over a year’s loss of learning.

Economic Recovery:

Our city’s economic recovery is of paramount importance. Over half a million people have lost their jobs, we’ve lost a third of our small businesses and nearly half of our restaurants are at risk of shutting their doors. Broadway remains dark. The cascading effects are wide-spread and devastating. From the loss of tax revenue needed to maintain essential services to struggling families to mental health, we need to get our economy going again.

As comptroller, I will leverage the resources and powers of the office to make this happen.

1. Anyone who wants to do business with New York, whether as a fund manager or as a city contractor, I will require a one-page memo detailing their commitment to our city.If you’ve moved your office out of the city, if you’re not hiring New Yorkers, if you aren’t helping our communities recover through philanthropy or volunteerism, you won’t do business with us.

2. By leveraging Economically Targeted Investments through the pension funds, we will make a billion commitment to seed at least one dozen $500 million social impact funds to invest in New York City.These funds will each have a specific area of focus, including small businesses and restaurants, Broadway, arts and culture, microfinance, affordable housing, and bringing new industries, and more importantly – jobs, to New York City.

3. We will lead a red-tape cutting commission that will reduce the regulatory burden for starting and operating businesses in New York City, in addition to making it easier to start one. There are over 6,000 rules and regulations, 250 business related licenses and permits, and 15 separate agencies that govern small businesses.

4. We will establish a $20 billion Social Impact Bond program to retrofit 50,000 city-owned buildings in order to reduce energy costs and emissions and bring them into code with Local Law 97. Estimates hold that this will create up to 150,000 jobs in addition to making New York City a leader in developing new technologies for fighting climate change.

5. To fill New York City’s budget gap, we will eliminate waste in agency budgets and ensure federal stimulus dollars achieve maximum impact. The city is facing hard choices to fill the budget gap and reduce spending at a time when New Yorkers need more support than ever. The full scope of the pandemic’s impact on New York City’s economy is not yet known, and lost tax revenue will continue to squeeze the budget for years to come.

Fixing What’s Broken

My experience leading through crises taught me that the only way to get to the other side is diagnosing the problems and implementing solutions. I will bring critical thinking and discipline to New York City Government to address the most urgent issues facing New Yorkers, including reviving the economy, job creation, public safety, criminal justice, learning loss and the achievement gap, homelessness, housing, unemployment, and mental health.

During a time of fiscal constraints, it will be even more important that the city does more with less and leverage partnerships with the public and private sectors. Performing financial and effectiveness audits of New York City agencies is among the most important and powerful roles of the Comptroller to make the city more equitable, safe, and whole.

For example, despite the Department of Homeless Service’s $3.2 billion budget, homelessness in New York City has ballooned to the highest levels since the Great Depression with approximately one every one hundred people living in shelters or on the streets. We have a moral obligation to right these wrongs and a financial incentive to make better investments in New York City. Strategies such as eviction prevention funds that help people stay in their homes are both more humane and more cost-effective.

To pinpoint failures and identify solutions, my office will immediately dig in to:

  • Pandemic-Related City Contracts to ensure we got what we paid for in the rush to contain Covid.
  • ThriveNYC and the true costs of New York City’s mental health crisis.
  • The New York Police Department to replicate what works, eliminate what’s broken, and implement a thorough reorganization of the department with a focus on recruiting, training, management, and oversight.
  • Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and Housing Development Corporation (HDC) to ensure existing and future affordable housing units are within reach for all New Yorkers who need them and that real estate developer incentives are fair and equitable.
  • Human Resources Administration (HRA) to ensure public benefits such as food and rent assistance are reaching all eligible New Yorkers quickly and equitably.
  • Climate Change and Environmental Justiceto ensure city agencies and government contractors are complying with rules and regulations for sustainability.
  • Evictions and Foreclosures to rightsize rents, increase the number of affordable housing units, and share the burden of pandemic-related arrears between the public and private sectors.

Preparedness

New York City must create a complete and actionable pandemic preparedness plan to ensure city services are uninterrupted, testing and vaccination programs are ready to be deployed, and medical supplies, food, and regulations are at the ready. Delays during the onset of the pandemic caused by infighting and confusion at City Hall caused more deaths. More than 21,000 New Yorkers died of Covid by May of last year. Estimates suggest fewer than 4,300 would have lost their lives had lockdown orders been put in place even one week earlier in March.

Throughout the pandemic, our political leaders have failed to protect us and fight the virus.

  • They failed to implement testing and contact tracing efforts in a timely and effective way
  • They failed to create a fair and effective vaccination program
  • They failed to provide continuity in education for our city’s 1.1 million students
  • They failed to support small business and restaurants to reopen promptly and safely

Focusing on preparedness is not limited to the pandemic. As Comptroller, I will make sure we are never caught unprepared by the perils of climate change, a terrorist attack, or public health crisis.[27]

”
—Zach Iscol's campaign website (2021)[30]


Corey Johnson

Campaign website

Johnson’s campaign website contained the following PDF of campaign themes.[31]


Brad Lander

Campaign website

Lander’s campaign website stated the following themes. Click here to read full plans.

“

Build A Just and Durable Recovery

From the Comptroller's office, Brad will lead with bold ideas to jumpstart our recovery, and rebuild a thriving and more equitable economy. After the fiscal crises of the 1970s, 9/11, and the Great Recession, NYC's leaders handed over public land, subsidies, and tax breaks to the private sector for too little in return. Brad will take a different approach -- one that invests in public infrastructure as a platform for shared prosperity. By making investments in the green energy, housing, and infrastructure we need for the future, we can create jobs in the present and lay a foundation for a more resilient future. By providing rent relief along with stable, long-term leases we can keep people in their homes and enable small businesses to thrive. By supporting the arts, our public health system, and universal child care, we can sustain a care economy that supports all of us. As Comptroller, Brad will ensure we are budgeting wisely and investing strategically to rebuild an economy that works for all New Yorkers.

INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE

Investing in our infrastructure can play a vital role in a just recovery from the COVID-19 crisis. Just as the New Deal helped New York City recover from the Great Depression, investing now in our city’s future can create tens of thousands of good jobs, promote health in the hardest-hit neighborhoods, support new business creation and M/WBEs, and provide a platform for shared economic prosperity in the years ahead. Read more about Brad's plan to invest better in our infrastructure to create jobs, stimulate our economy, and build a resilient city.

SMARTER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Instead of giving away billions to corporations whose promises for jobs regularly fall short, we should prioritize economic development investments in public infrastructure and programs that support sustainable innovation and opportunity in the fields of the future -- technology, clean energy, green manufacturing, arts and culture, and the care economy -- with commitments to sustainable business practices, good living wage jobs, apprenticeship programs, and local hiring requirements. As Comptroller, Brad will fight to ensure that every single dollar the City spends is used wisely, cracking down on bloated corporate giveaways and redirecting that spending into bold investments that will ensure a just and durable recovery.

SMALL BUSINESS RECOVERY

NYC's small businesses are the lifeblood of our neighborhoods and a key source of jobs and economic activity. Thousands have already closed, and many more are on the brink. Federal aid has been distributed unevenly, with hard hit neighborhoods of color receiving far less access to loans and grants. The high costs of commercial rents, which have gone up by 50% on average over the last decade, has been one of the biggest challenges facing small businesses, even before the pandemic. Brad is working to create a Small Business Recovery Lease program to address past arrears, enact commercial rent control, pass a vacancy tax, and provide access to capital to help small businesses and M/WBEs recover and thrive.

REVIVE ARTS AND CULTURE

NYC’s vibrant creative sector is the soul of our city and a key driver of our economy. But jobs in arts, entertainment, and recreation shrunk by 64 percent in 2020, the greatest decrease in any industry in NYC. This drastic reduction of the sector’s workforce has severe implications for the city as a whole, given that it employs nearly 300,000 people, and constitutes $110 billion of the city’s economic activity, nearly 13% of the city’s total economic output. Brad will fight for a New Deal-style program to invest in the arts, paid work for artists in public infrastructure projects, a minimum wage for freelancers (many of whom are artists), ongoing relief for unemployed workers, and assistance to help Broadway and arts organizations get back on their feet.

HOUSING AS A PUBLIC GOOD

The pandemic has shown us just how critical housing is for public health -- and our recovery must take that lesson to heart and prioritize stable, affordable housing, for all New Yorkers. In the short term, we need rental assistance and rent forgiveness to prevent a massive wave of evictions. But in the long term, we need a new approach to creating truly affordable housing, because what we have isn't working. Read more about Brad's plan to create a new generation of social housing, so that everyone can have a safe, stable home they can afford.

FIGHTING FOR GOOD JOBS

Throughout his time in the City Council, Brad has fought successfully for good jobs, fair pay, and workplace protections, particularly in sectors like ridesharing or fast food which predominantly employ immigrants and people of color. Brad will use the tools of the Comptroller's office to ensure companies pay workers a living wage, hold employers accountable when they abuse workers'rights, raise the floor for workers in the gig economy, establish protections for essential workers, and support apprenticeship and job training programs, especially for young people of color who have lost jobs at high rates during the pandemic.

RESTORING PUBLIC HEALTH

NYC’s economic recovery cannot succeed without robust investment in public health -- to ensure we get vaccines to everyone as quickly as possible and reopen schools and our economy safely, address health disparities that were so devastating during this crisis, and build on public investment in life sciences to make NYC a hub for next generation leadership in public health. We need to be so much more ready for the next public health crisis than we were for this one.

THRIVING NONPROFITS

New York City's nonprofit community generated nearly $78 billion for NYC's economy last year, and employs over half a million people (almost 18% of NYC workers), more than 64% of whom are women. Nonprofits provide essential health and human services, enrich our cultural and spiritual lives, lift up our neighborhoods, and educate our minds. Yet nonprofits are chronically underfunded, with little or no cash reserves, and their workers are often underpaid. Despite being essential, nonprofits were left behind in many parts of Covid-19 relief. As Comptroller Brad will be champion for the nonprofit sector, advocating for nonprofits to be treated as the essential sector they are, ensuring that they are fully funded and paid on time, so that their workers can be paid living wages, their organization’s can be stable for the long term, and they can continue to serve as an economic driver in our city.

SUPPORTING M/WBES

Many minority and women owned businesses (M/WBEs) are currently at a severe risk of going out of business because of the pandemic and need additional help. Black owned businesses in particular are two times more likely to shut down because of the pandemic than white owned businesses. In response to this escalating crisis, the City of New York must do more to support M/WBEs. As NYC Comptroller Brad will push for more City contracting opportunities for M/WBEs, pursue strategies to offer direct investment to address gaps in access to capital, and bolster existing support programs for struggling businesses.

REOPENING SCHOOLS SAFELY AND SUPPORTIVELY

Nothing is more important to NYC’s recovery than getting our schools open for all our students, safely and supportively, five-days-a-week for all our kids, next fall. This year of remote and blended learning has been very hard on families, teachers, administrators and students. Reopening schools safely and supportively requires rebuilding trust, and spending wisely the influx of new federal and state funds for education. Brad is working with parents and teachers to demand the DOE start planning now for reopening in the fall, including by creating School Reopening Councils bring parents, teachers, and school staff into the process of planning for a safe and supportive reopening.

NYC schools will receive $6 billion in additional one-time federal funding and $600 million a year in additional state funding. As Comptroller Brad will work to ensure these funds are used to add guidance counselors, nurses, social workers to schools, lower class sizes, bring arts and other social and emotional programming into schools, and ensure equitable technology access. Read more about Brad's approach to a safe and supportive return to schools.

Hold City Government Accountable

We need bold government action to recover from this crisis and build a more just city -- but our city government can’t rise to that challenge when agencies are run poorly, when money is wasted, when there’s no accountability for mismanagement, or when corruption goes unchecked. As NYC's "Chief Accountability Officer" Brad will make city agencies work better, and more in sync with our shared values. Through sharp, strategic, honest, data-driven, and transparent audits, he will root out waste, fraud, and corruption to ensure NYC is delivering on its promises to serve all New Yorkers.

AUDITS TO IMPROVE AGENCY PERFORMANCE

Brad will bring an aggressive watchdog approach to City audits, working in strategic partnerships with community residents, workers, and stakeholders to ensure that audits don't just sit on dusty shelves after identifying what is wrong, but help win change to improve how our city government serves New Yorkers. Brad will conduct strategic, data-driven audits to end wasteful spending, improve performance, confront race and gender disparities, reduce our carbon footprint, make sure city services are accessible to all. Read more about Brad's plan to get more out of the Comptroller's audits.

BUDGETS ARE MORAL DOCUMENTS

As a City Council Member, Brad has been involved in over a decade of budget negotiations, fighting to ensure that City spending aligns with our shared values. As Comptroller, Brad will keep a sharp eye on the City budget to make sure it is balanced for the long term, and in accordance with our goals for a more just city, but not on the backs of New York families. Read more about Brad's successful advocacy to restore $455 million in affordable housing funding last year and more on why he ultimately voted against the FY21 budget because it didn't sufficiently shift funding from the NYPD to social services.

LEARNING FROM SETTLEMENTS

As Comptroller, Brad won't just rubber stamp payouts for settlements against the City, he'll use data-driven audits to get to the root causes of issues like police misconduct and traffic crashes by City vehicles (the top two sources of settlements that cost the city hundreds of millions of dollars a year). Brad will help the City save money and improve public safety by identifying the worst actors who repeatedly drive recklessly or abuse their power as police officers, using the data from speed cameras and the new data on police misconduct made available by the repeal of 50-A, to intervene proactively before more people get hurt. Read Brad's plan for more traffic safety with less policing.

TRACKING FEDERAL RESCUE SPENDING

The American Rescue Plan is truly coming to the rescue for New York City. The City of New York is projected to receive about $13 billion in federal relief funding from now through 2024, including $7 billion for NYC schools and $6 billion for general City expenses. Brad is advocating to ensure NYC spends rescue funds strategically and with accountability, focusing on safe re-opening, supporting those hit hardest, and investing in key infrastructure and job creation to support robust and much equitable economic growth. But we must do so smartly to create more stimulus and fewer long-term obligations like new hires that we can't sustain.

Brad is advocating for an American Rescue Plan Spending Tracker, modeled on the NYC Sandy Funding Tracker, to provide accountability and transparency over the goals and outcomes of recovery spending. As New York City Comptroller, Brad will audit this spending aggressively to make sure we spend them in the most effective way to secure a just recovery, jump-start our economy, confront the racial and economic inequities we’ve seen so painfully during this crisis, and make sure we are more prepared for future crises than we were for this one.

HUMAN SERVICE CONTRACTING

Nonprofits in NYC provide essential human services, in many cases contracted directly by the City of New York to care for our kids, our seniors, and our most vulnerable. Yet when City agencies contract for this work, they are chronically underfunded -- not paid enough to provide their human service workers with good pay and benefits, or for organizational stability -- and often paid months or even years late. City Hall recently reneged on an agreement to increase the “indirect cost rate” to cover more of the full cost of their work, and has failed to reduce contracting delays. As Comptroller Brad will focus aggressively on improving the human service contacting process and fairly valuing and increasing the indirect cost rate, so nonprofit human service providers can achieve organizational stability, pay their workers fairly, and support our communities.

BETTER PUBLIC SAFETY WITH LESS POLICING

New York City spends more on policing than we do on the Departments of Health and Mental Hygiene, Homeless Services, Housing Preservation and Development, and Youth and Community Development combined. In our streets and in our communities, we are seeing the consequences of spending more on policing than on healthy neighborhoods, mental health services, affordable housing, and youth programming. Brad has been a long-time advocate for police accountability, working with Public Advocate Jumaane Williams to pass legislation to curb stop-and-frisk and create the office of the NYPD Inspector General. He believes that we can achieve better public safety by shifting many social service functions to non-policing alternatives. He voted against the city's FY21 budget because it did not meaningfully shift funding away from the NYPD and towards social services, and has outlined a detailed plan to do that for FY 22.

BUILDING A MORE ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE CITY

Too often, accessibility and language access are treated as an afterthought rather than tools for radical transformation. Prioritizing investments in the accessibility of our City’s built environment and culture will pave the way toward a more inclusive and just City for all New Yorkers. Yet our City barely complies with federal laws and often only prioritizes accessibility in our City’s budget and operations when forced by court order. As Comptroller, Brad will conduct accessibility audits to ensure our agencies are doing everything in their power to improve accessibility for people with visible and invisible disabilities, meeting the needs of thriving senior populations citywide, and fulfilling and expanding our City's commitments to language access.

Through these audits, Brad will encourage agencies to implement best practices for accessibility and language access proactively, before audits are even conducted, to drive real change in this City rather than prioritizing political wins. Brad will start these audits with a review of our City’s transportation infrastructure and streetscapes, as outlined in Brad’s transportation platform, and will work directly with advocates and New Yorkers to identify and prioritize audits of our City agencies’ operations, service provision, built environment, and compliance with court orders to advocate for the radical changes our City needs.

Secure NYC's Future

The job of the Comptroller is to take the long-term view on our city and invest in a more equitable and sustainable future, for public sector retirees, for our finances, for our infrastructure, and for our neighborhoods. Brad will take a broad view of the Comptroller's responsibility to care for our city’s long term future. As fiduciary for the pension funds, he will ensure the retirement security of our teachers, firefighters, nurses, and other public workers. He will make securing a future for all New Yorkers to thrive a top priority, by investing in green energy, broadband, public education institutions, jobs, and the resilient infrastructure we need to mitigate rising sea levels and other impacts of climate change.

RESPONSIBLE INVESTING

Brad will build a team, from the Chief Investment Officer on down, that takes a strategic and integrated approach to achieving maximum risk-adjusted market returns, that is attentive to the fund-level and systemic risks posed by dangers including climate change and inequality, and that acts as steward for the goals and values of the workers and retirees. He will lead an interactive process to establish a Strategic Plan for Responsible Fiduciary Investing that will fuse maximizing risk-adjusted market returns with investing in our communities, bringing an equity and sustainability lens to the portfolio, and securing long-term sustainable growth – so we can guarantee retirement security for our city’s teachers, firefighters, nurses, and payroll administrators, along with a better future for their families and neighborhoods.

LONG-TERM RISK ANALYSIS FOR NYC

We were not adequately prepared for the Covid-19 crisis, and tens of thousands of people died as a result. We don’t have a crystal ball to identify all future crises, but we can conduct smart analyses of the long-term risks our city is facing -- and the Comptroller’s office is the perfect venue to do it. Brad will bring together a team of experts to inform a long-term risk analysis that identifies the most catastrophic threats facing New York City’s people, finances, and infrastructure, and the steps we should be taking now to minimize those risks and to prepare us to face them in the future. Read more about Brad's plan for long-term risk assessments for the City.

CONFRONTING THE CLIMATE CRISIS

The climate crisis poses the most catastrophic long-term risks to New York City. It also holds immense economic opportunity to create high-quality green jobs that can steer us out of this recession towards a just recovery. Facing up to our climate risks also offers a generational economic opportunity, and our best bet to recover strongly from the COVID-19 economic crisis in a way that confronts racial and economic inequality. Vastly reducing our economy’s reliance on fossil fuels and building a resilient city will create tens of thousands of good, green jobs in NYC and reduce energy costs for millions of struggling families.

As Comptroller, Brad will utilize tools of the office to further efforts to divest from fossil fuels, reduce emissions, invest in renewable energy and climate resilience, and decarbonize New York City’s economy while creating new, green union jobs. From establishing a dedicated audit team to assess agencies from a lens of sustainability and environmental justice, to creating new “climate loans” to assist property owners in transitioning to renewable energy and retrofits to reduce emissions, the proposals draw on the office’s responsibility to audit city agencies, oversee pension investments, and oversee the City’s contracting and procurement with a focus on climate justice. Read Brad’s plan to deploy the tools of the Comptroller’s office to confront climate change and accelerate a just transition to a clean energy economy.

SUPPORTING OUR STUDENTS

New York City’s public schools are the largest area of the City budget, representing $27 billion, or 31% of the operating budget. This is the right financial choice: investing in the next generation through improving education in our public schools is one of the most important ways we can ensure a better future, a thriving economy, and a vibrant multiracial democracy. But we must do more to make sure we are getting the most for the dollars we spend, and attend especially to the needs of our most vulnerable students. As Comptroller, Brad will work to ensure that the Department of Education is investing effectively in early childhood education (beginning with universal 3K and expanded child care), improving the quality of services for students with disabilities and dismantling the barriers to receiving them, and moving forward with meaningful integration so we can deliver high-quality education to all our kids.

INFRASTRUCTURE TO BUILD ON

New York City's backlog of needed repairs to century-old schools, water mains, train and sewer lines is growing every year. At the same time, our City fails to do any serious long-term planning, leaving us ill-prepared to help bring our aging infrastructure to where it needs to be for a more resilient future in the face of climate change. As Comptroller, Brad will continue to overhaul the City’s capital project management systems -- with a plan to build more and better infrastructure, on-time and on-budget, in the neighborhoods that need it most, to create high-quality jobs, and build a more resilient and equitable city for generations to come. Read Brad's transportation agenda.

21ST CENTURY TRANSPORTATION

Transportation – how easy, safe, and affordable it is to get around the city – will be a critical factor in securing a just and durable recovery for NYC. For New York City to be a place where people of all backgrounds can continue to live, work and thrive, we need robust, 24-hour public transit that serves all neighborhoods in the city, investment in protected cycling infrastructure, a transformation of the streetscape, and to tackle the epidemic of traffic violence. As Comptroller, Brad will be an advocate for a stronger, more sustainable, convenient and accessible transportation infrastructure that better serves New Yorkers, spurs economic recovery, promotes climate justice, and sustains livable neighborhoods. Read Brad's transportation agenda.

COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING

Comprehensive planning is a best practice that almost every other major city in the world uses to center shared goals and values in a full range of budget, land use, and policy tools to build a long-term vision for the City’s infrastructure, growth, and development that takes into account both citywide needs and neighborhood priorities. For years, Brad has worked alongside the Thriving Communities Coalition and Council Member Antonio Reynoso to bring comprehensive planning to NYC. Brad will use the powers of the Comptroller’s office to demonstrate how an up-front investment in thoughtful planning rooted in objective data and informed by public input will better support shared and sustainable economic growth, prioritize scarce City resources to fund the most urgent needs and critically important infrastructure, and prepare us to face long-term risks.

PUBLIC BANK FOR NYC

Public money should work for the public good, not private gain. The City of New York deposits billions of dollars in Wall Street banks whose investments often extract wealth from low-income communities, perpetuating racial and economic inequality. Brad is a co-sponsor of legislation to create a NYC Public Bank that would enable the City to invest in our communities, in minority and women-owned businesses, in community land trusts, and in renewable energy infrastructure. Read more about Brad's approach to public banking in NYC.

AFFORDABLE NON-PROFIT SPACE

Nonprofit institutions play a critical role in our City, delivering vital services and employing over 600,000 New Yorkers. But too often, these nonprofit institutions struggle to keep their heads above water in the face of rising rents and displacement pressures. Even where nonprofits own their own space, tight budgets and barriers to accessing capital often force these institutions into spaces that are far too small or in desperate need of renovation. The City’s capital budget process is extremely cumbersome, making it nearly impossible for smaller nonprofits to compete for funds, let alone navigate the City’s complex and bureaucratic capital contracting and construction process. In order to effectively support the City’s nonprofit ecosystem, the City should set up a dedicated capital fund for the express purpose of helping smaller and less-resourced nonprofits acquire, renovate, and expand administrative and community spaces citywide. This fund could be administered with a partner like the Fund for the City of New York or a City agency like the Economic Development Corporation which have the expertise and capacity to help these small non-profits access and use City capital dollars. This fund would better enable these critical institutions to renovate their spaces, expand their footprints, and maximize their impact in neighborhoods all across the City.

ENABLE PRIVATE SECTOR NYC WORKERS TO SAVE FOR RETIREMENT

Nearly 60% of private-sector workers in New York City have no access to a workplace retirement savings plan. For those at companies with fewer than 10 employees, the figure is nearly 90%. As a result, too many New Yorkers face retirement with little or no savings to rely on. To address this issue, Comptroller Scott Stringer convened a group of national experts to develop the New York City Nest Egg Plan, which would provide an opportunity for workers to save for retirement -- at no cost to taxpayers, and taking the compliance burden off small business owners -- through 401k and Roth IRA options. Several proposals exist for going even further to establish a universal program. Brad is a long-time sponsor of City Council legislation (Intros 888 and 901) to effectuate this program. As Comptroller, he would bring the expertise of the Comptroller’s Bureau of Asset Management to help implement it as effectively as possible.

EXPAND CITY INVESTMENT IN “BABY BONDS”

Research shows that when a child in a low-income family has just $1 in their savings account, they are three times more likely to enroll in college and more than four times more likely to graduate. As Comptroller, Brad will fight for the dramatic expansion of programs like the NYC Kids RISE Save for College Program, which has deposited an initial $100 Baby Bond into a NY 529 Direct Plan for 13,000 New York City students to help them save up for school. This pilot program has invested a combined $5.3 million in kids’ college savings accounts for education, which will significantly increase their lifetime earnings and long-term financial literacy, empowering low-income families with the tools and resources they need to start saving early. The program also helps local community groups, businesses, and support networks directly contribute to savings, distributing social, political, and financial capital within and across communities to directly reduce racial and economic inequality in our city through resource-sharing. Brad will help make the financial case for the vast expansion of City funding for Baby Bond programs like this one, which will invest directly in our City’s future and help us rebuild a more just and equitable economy.[27]

”
—Brad Lander's campaign website (2021)[32]


Kevin Parker

Campaign website

Parker’s campaign website stated the following themes.

“

The COVID-19 pandemic has left New York City in one of the most tumultuous crises in history. With proper leadership, we can emerge as a city that is stronger and more equitable than ever before. I am running for Comptroller to bring my leadership, experience, and expertise to the office to promote economic empowerment, job creation, affordable housing, inclusive growth, public safety, investment in our youth, public education, clean energy, financial literacy, public health, and empowerment of our public housing tenants. I will advance this agenda through targeted investment, comprehensive audits, advocating for funding, outreach programs, and the reviewing of contracts to ensure they make sense for all New Yorkers. If you join me on this journey I know in my heart that together we can weather the storm and come out on the other side stronger than ever!

JOBS & THE ECONOMY

New Yorkers are facing dire economic circumstances during the pandemic. From July 2019 through July 2020, our city lost over 700,000 jobs and the unemployment rate quintupled. One in five New Yorkers in the workforce is now unemployed, including one in four in the Bronx.

Our businesses are also suffering. As many as a third of our currently shuttered small businesses may never reopen. MWBEs are faring even worse: in a recent survey, 85% said they will be unable to operate for another six months.

The federal government’s Paycheck Protection Program may have helped, but New York City was shortchanged: only 12% of eligible city businesses received a PPP loan, compared to 24% in North and South Dakota. New York City is the financial capital of the world, and we must do better to provide capital to our small businesses.

As comptroller, I will work with our financial institutions to open access to capital for our small businesses and MWBEs. This capital infusion will be carefully targeted and tailored based on the unique of our city’s many diverse communities, which will achieve with analyses of neighborhoods done in partnership with local stakeholders, including chambers of commerce.

I will also invest more of the city’s pension funds with MWBE asset managers, whose returns are almost identical to all others, and such capital will make its way into our city’s communities of color.

HOUSING

Having grown up in NYCHA housing, I know firsthand the hardships and difficulties so many New Yorkers face on a day-to-day basis.

Oppressively high rent remains one of the biggest issues facing New Yorkers. Based on the 2017 New York City Housing and Vacancy Survey—the most recent available —almost 1.2 million households are rent burdened, constituting 56% of renter households. Of them, more than 700,000 are severely rent burdened.

Homelessness has also been a crisis in our city for decades, and it has only become progressively worse. From 2011 to 2019, the average number of people using shelters each year went from 37,811 to 61,654, representing a 67% increase. There are about another 3,600 homeless individuals not living in shelters, as well as a 20% increase in Subway homelessness from 2018 to 2019. Although our homeless are demonized as having brought it upon themselves as a result of drug use, many of them could not afford rent, have difficulties gaining employment, or left toxic home environments.

Regrettably, these disturbing trends continue despite spending on homelessness having more than doubled during the current mayoral administration. And our siting of homeless shelters has disproportionately burdened some neighborhoods, in violation of our city charter-mandated Fair Share criteria for siting facilities: The Bronx is home to 31.42% of the shelter population, compared to .26% in Staten Island.

As Comptroller, I will advocate for more affordable housing in our city. This should include an expansion of the Mandatory Inclusionary Housing program to create rent-regulated units in more developments. And this must be truly affordable, instead of units deemed “affordable” because someone with an annual income of $77,000 could afford it. I will also advocate for smarter spending on homeless services. This includes more spending on supportive housing and rental assistance. I will also create an Office of the Comptroller Oversight Committee comprised of public and private officials to ensure our City is offering adequate affordable housing units to those who need it.

I will also review homeless service providers contracted with the city to ensure they are engaging in best practices so that street homeless are willing to enter shelters. And when approving contracts for homeless facilities, I will enforce Fair Share criteria.

SAFETY & QUALITY OF LIFE

New York has abruptly plunged into one of the most tumultuous times many of us have experienced. The New York Times estimated that 420,000 New Yorkers left the city since the start of social distancing. Crime, although still low by historical standards, has jumped in some categories: murder, burglary, and grand larceny of automobiles all increased by double-digit percentages in 2020. Meanwhile, abuses by law enforcement nationwide has engendered frustration that culminated in protests and rioting. New Yorkers now recognize that strong-armed deterrence by the NYPD is not the solution. Instead, we must reallocate funding for law enforcement for programs that proactively prevent crime in communities that are currently overpoliced.

The city has faced other threats to our quality of life. Recent budget cuts are forcing the city to cut litter basket waste removal by 60%, and end graffiti removal on private property.

Turning around our recent crime wave will be critical to returning the city to a state of normalcy. As comptroller, I will oversee the city’s spending on public safety to ensure that we fund evidence-based programs that prevent New Yorkers from turning to crime, and not spending on policing. I will also oppose budget cuts that would reduce the cleanliness of our city. When we significantly and wisely invest in our communities in a way which provides real opportunity crime will decrease significantly.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

My first introduction to public service came through youth development and as comptroller, I will fight to keep SYEP from being on the chopping block. I would also work with my colleagues to establish and fund a citywide universal afterschool program that focuses on education, life skills and future development. This will not only help keep our youth off the streets and in the classroom, but will help prepare them for future education and employment.

Investment in our youth, in jobs programs, after school programs, and mentoring opportunities, as well as increasing school based athletics, will be essential in ensuring a future that benefits all of our youth across our city.[27]

”
—Kevin Parker's campaign website (2021)[33]


David Weprin

Campaign website

Weprin’s campaign website stated the following themes.

“

It’s About Time Someone Stood Up for Us

OUR ECONOMIC RECOVERY: GETTING NEW YORK CITY BACK ON TRACK

As our city looks toward the end of COVID-19, beyond overcoming the public health crisis we’ve been facing, we will have to overcome a fiscal crisis. Unfortunately, the economic damage caused by the Coronavirus pandemic is greater than 2008 recession, the post-9/11 recession and the 1975 fiscal crisis combined. Simply said, it is critical for us to build back better — implementing bold, creative solutions that will get New York City back on track.

However, it is even more critical that in rebuilding our economy, we do everything we can to protect hardworking New Yorkers. That is why David Weprin is running to be our next Comptroller: To ensure that the city budget is not balanced on the backs of middle-class New Yorkers, because it’s about time someone stood up for us.

David Weprin is the only candidate running for New York City Comptroller with the experience we need in our city’s Chief Financial Officer and Fiscal Watchdog. From balancing the City’s budget as Chair of the City Council’s Finance Committee, to spending years working in municipal finance where he funded critical infrastructure projects, public schools and the programs and services we’ve come to rely on, David is the only candidate who can get our city back on track. And he knows how to use the power of the Comptroller’s Office and the $247 Billion in pension funds to deliver meaningful results for New Yorkers.

TRULY AFFORDABLE HOUSING: A CITY WE CAN ALL AFFORD

We all know that New York City has becoming increasingly unlivable for working and middle-class New Yorkers. It’s simple. You shouldn’t have to work on Wall Street to be able to afford your rent or mortgage payment. And for too long, politicians have promised more affordable housing, only to come up short on providing enough homes that are truly affordable to New Yorkers. That’s why we must be bold in addressing the affordable housing crisis.

As Comptroller, David Weprin will use a key tool in the fight to build affordable housing for middle-class families: The city’s own pension portfolio through the existing Economically Targeted Investments Program. Using our $247 billion pension funds, we can partner with the private sector to incentivize middle-class affordable housing construction, creating much needed housing, thousands of jobs, and a strong rate of return on the city’s investment. Guaranteeing the financial health of this affordable housing construction will unleash untold potential, allowing the city to build the affordable housing we need across the five boroughs. Put simply, no firefighter, police officer, teacher, retail worker or any New Yorker who works hard and contributes to the wellbeing of our communities should be priced out of our great city.

Moreover, making the city more affordable for middle-class families will be profitable for New York. The more people who can afford to live in New York City without struggling to pay their rent, the more they have to spend on groceries, entertainment, retail and everything else. The money multiplier will be massive, and the City will benefit economically.

No program regarding increasing, improving and maintaining affordable, livable housing would be complete without a long-term mechanism in place to properly audit NYCHA. With too many NYCHA buildings plagued by inadequate structural repairs, mold, and very infamously, lead paint, David will ensure a thorough and continuous auditing and investigating of NYCHA to ensure the health and safety of residents and the proper use of our tax dollars, potentially saving lives, as well as millions of dollars in the process.

INVESTING IN OUR CHILDREN: 21ST CENTURY CLASSROOMS

Fully funding our kids’ classrooms is a no-brainer. What requires vision is ensuring that our kids’ classrooms are properly equipped to prepare them for the 21st Century. Too many families across New York City don’t have access to computers or Broadband at home. This makes it even more critical for our schools to have the cutting-edge technology our children need to succeed.

David will dedicate the audit and investigative powers of the Comptroller’s Office to ensuring that the Department of Education is properly spending our tax dollars to give our kids the best possible education. We’ve heard too many stories of bloated administrative budgets, outside consultant sweetheart do-nothing contracts and dollars that don’t trickle down to the classroom. Every classroom in New York City must be equipped with the tools our kids need to succeed. An educated city is a successful, healthy city. Period.

Moreover, our city has not done enough to fix the still very real issue of school segregation. If we ever have a chance at improving the socioeconomic divisions that are our reality, we must fight to make sure our schools reflect the true diversity of our great city. It’s in our kids’ schools where the building blocks for realizing this goal will be achieved.

PROTECTING OUR CHILDREN’S CHILDREN: CLIMATE LEADERSHIP FOR A GREENER NEW YORK

The threat of climate change has been known to us for decades now. Yet, it has only been in the past few years that our city has really begun to implement policies aimed at reducing the negative effects of climate change on New Yorkers. As Comptroller, David will aggressively push to incentivize renewable energy, weatherize buildings, and enhance sustainability measures on our coastlines in communities like Lower Manhattan, the East Shore of Staten Island, the Rockaways and South Brooklyn.

But the Comptroller of the City of New York has a national footprint as well. The power to fight for a cleaner, greener climate doesn’t have to end at the city’s borders. With the power that comes along with the $247 billion pension portfolio, the Comptroller has the ability to influence corporations around the world in furtherance of a green agenda to combat climate change.

As Comptroller, David will use this influence to the fullest extent possible to ensure that companies in which the City of New York pension portfolio holds stock adhere to policies that support green energy, resiliency, and environmental justice. After all, this isn’t just affecting our lives, nor our children’s. If we don’t do enough now, the issue of climate change will affect our children’s children for years to come.

PROTECTING THE GENERATIONS WHO MADE NEW YORK GREAT: OUR RETIREES & THEIR PENSIONS

Throughout David’s career in public service, he has always fought to help the generations of New Yorkers who made our city what it is today: the greatest city on earth.

David’s record of protecting seniors is among the most prolific in the city. From sponsoring legislation to keep rents for seniors low and calling for an increase in benefits in the Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption Program, to fighting for more affordable prescription medication and funding Access-A-Ride, enabling the elderly and individuals with impaired abilities to safely get around the city, David has always had the interests of seniors at heart.

In fact, it is his 90 year old mother, Sylvia, a Cuban immigrant who emigrated to the United States when she was 8 years old who later in life taught high school Spanish and biology, who inspired David to run for Comptroller. When David sees the millions of New Yorkers – immigrants, teachers, middle class families, retirees – he sees his mother. A retiree and an educator who would not be able to live a life of dignity if it were not for her New York City Teachers pension. This fact is not lost on David, and as our Comptroller David will fight tooth and nail to protect our retirees and pensioners, no matter the fiscal situation in which the city may find itself.

Put simply, a key reason David is running for Comptroller is to protect our pensioners and the rate of return on our pension funds. Whether you are a public school teacher, firefighter, police officer, or sanitation worker, David will promise that your dignity and retirement security is paramount.

ENSURING NO NEW YORKER HAS TO CHOOSE BETWEEN RENT, FOOD AND MEDICATION

In keeping with David’s lifelong fight to make New York a more affordable city for all New Yorkers to live, work and raise a family, David knows the affordability challenges presented by living in New York particularly affect New Yorkers living on fixed incomes.

As our Comptroller, David will make sure that no senior ever has to choose between paying their rent, buying groceries or affording their medication. In New York City in the year 2020 it is disgraceful that anyone has to make that decision. David will use the power of the New York City pension funds to persuade pharmaceutical companies – of which the City owns hundreds of millions of dollars in stock – to make their prescription medication more affordable. In conjunction with David’s plans to use the Comptroller’s Office to encourage the construction of more affordable housing – including senior affordable housing – David will put the issue of affordability front and center of his administration’s agenda.

MOVING NEW YORKERS: FIXING THE MTA & MAKING MASS TRANSIT A REALITY IN EVERY CORNER OF NEW YORK

Even before the pandemic, our city’s mass transit system was in disarray. Years of poor management, bloated bureaucracy and finger pointing plagued the MTA. As the City’s main form of public transit, it is critical that the MTA get its fiscal house in order so it can get back to what it is supposed to do: move New Yorkers.

Moreover, even a well-financed MTA needs to do more. Too many parts of our city are transportation deserts with no convenient or reliable access to public transit. And as a Council Member, then Assembly Member, representing Eastern Queens, David knows this firsthand. Further, with the impending phase-in of congestion pricing, New Yorkers living in the boroughs who commute to the city by car will desperately need better public transit so they have the same opportunities to earn a living as everyone else without getting hit hard in the wallet, particularly during COVID-19 when many people are hesitant to use public transit. David was one of the leading opponents of a congestion pricing system that would unfairly burden outer borough residents.

David knows that from Whitestone to Westerleigh, Mill Basin to Middle Village and Throgs Neck to Bergen Beach, our city’s mass transit system needs to be enhanced, improved and increased. As Comptroller, David will make a fully functioning public transit system a priority and will use the auditing powers of the Comptroller’s Office, in coordination with the State Comptroller, to hold the MTA accountable.

SAVING OUR SMALL BUSINESSES: THE BACKBONE OF OUR CITY

Small businesses make up the backbone of our city. They employ millions of New Yorkers and contribute to the character and diversity of our neighborhoods. Knowing that small businesses are vital for immigrants and middle-class families, throughout his career, David has worked to ensure our small businesses can thrive.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, David was one of the most vocal elected officials in New York City to call for the partial reopening of indoor dining, in order to help save the small and independent local restaurants that make up the lifeblood of our neighborhoods. The very next day after David pushed for the partial reopening, restaurants were able to resume indoor service.

As Comptroller, David will organize a Red-Tape Reduction Commission to eliminate the endless fees, fines and regulations stifling small businesses. These businesses need our help more than ever given the economic fallout of the pandemic. Our city government should be helping these businesses grow and succeed, not stifling them.

WELCOMING NEW AMERICANS TO THE GREATEST CITY ON EARTH

Immigrants are the lifeblood of New York City. As a Council Member and Assembly Member representing Queens, the most diverse county in the country, David knows firsthand how truly wonderful the power of diversity is. The merging of cultures, languages, cuisines and religions is what makes New York City so unique and has been a major key to our city’s success over the years.

Unfortunately, too many ethnic and racial minorities are locked out of economic opportunity. From communities that are underserved by banks with no access to financing and capital, to groups of people who have typically been left out of government contracting, David recognizes that the Comptroller’s Office can be doing so much more to improve this situation.

As Comptroller, David will establish a New American, Diversity & Inclusion Task Force that will examine and correct the shortcomings regarding access to capital and financial services for underserved communities, improve contracting opportunities for Minority and Women Owned Businesses, and enhance the ability of immigrants to build careers and businesses by opening up opportunities and eliminating roadblocks to success.

SAFEGUARDING OUR TAX DOLLARS: ROOTING OUT FRAUD, WASTE & ABUSE

As New York City’s top fiscal watchdog, David Weprin will make it a priority to safeguard our hard-earned tax dollars and ensure that they are used for the programs and services we need. Our tax dollars should strengthen our schools, improve our public transit and enhance our quality of life, not be spent on bloated administrative budgets, unnecessary and redundant bureaucracy or programs that don’t help New Yorkers.

David’s Fiscal Watchdog Plan will save the city tens of millions of dollars annually, enabling us to reduce the fees and fines burden on small businesses, lower the property tax burden for homeowners, and allocate these funds to better uses that help all New Yorkers.[27]

”
—David Weprin's campaign website (2021)[34]

Campaign advertisements

This section shows advertisements released in this race. Ads released by campaigns and, if applicable, satellite groups are embedded or linked below. If you are aware of advertisements that should be included, please email us.

Brian Benjamin

"Ready to Lead" - Benjamin campaign ad, released June 4, 2021
"We Have Had Enough" - Benjamin campaign ad, released May 10, 2021


Michelle Caruso-Cabrera

"Twice As Good" - Caruso-Cabrera campaign ad, released June 6, 2021
"Enough / Outsider" - Caruso-Cabrera campaign ad, released April 29, 2021
"MCC Para Contralor" - Caruso-Cabrera campaign ad, released April 21, 2021
"MCC for Comptroller" - Caruso-Cabrera campaign ad, released April 15, 2021


Zach Iscol

"Zach Has Your Back" - Iscol campaign ad, released June 1, 2021
"Meet Zach" - Iscol campaign ad, released May 26, 2021
"What Does NY Need?" - Iscol campaign ad, released May 17, 2021
"Never Leave Anyone Behind" - Iscol campaign ad, released May 17, 2021
"We Deserve Better" - Iscol campaign ad, released May 17, 2021

Corey Johnson


Brad Lander

"Bring out the Best" - Lander campaign ad, released June 17, 2021
"Estoy Con Brad" - Lander campaign ad, released June 16, 2021
"Times" - Lander campaign ad, released June 11, 2021
"Dad Jokes" - Lander campaign ad, released June 3, 2021
"Justice" - Lander campaign ad, released May 26, 2021
"What Is A Comptroller?" - Lander campaign ad, released May 20, 2021
"We're With Brad" - Lander campaign ad, released May 17, 2021


Kevin Parker

"Democrat for NYC Comptroller - Join Team Parker" - Parker campaign ad, released June 16, 2021
"75 Laws Passed for New Yorkers" - Parker campaign ad, released June 16, 2021
"Kevin Parker for New York City Comptroller" - Parker campaign ad, released November 20, 2020


David Weprin

"Comptroller This Comptroller That" - Weprin campaign ad, released May 18, 2021
"David Weprin for Comptroller 2021" - Weprin campaign ad, released February 9, 2021

Satellite ads

Supporting Caruso-Cabrera

Supporting Johnson

"Rank Corey Johnson FIRST on your Ballot for Comptroller on June 22." - Hotel Workers for Stronger Communities ad, released June 3, 2021

Ranked-choice voting

See also: New York City Ballot Question 1, Elections Charter Amendment: Ranked-Choice Voting, Vacancies, and City Council Redistricting Timeline (November 2019)
"Ranked-Choice Voting: What Do I Need to Know?" by NYC Votes

In 2019, New York City voters approved a ballot measure to establish ranked-choice voting (RCV) for primary and special elections beginning in 2021.

Voters were allowed to rank up to five candidates on their ballot in order of preference. A candidate had to receive a majority of votes cast to win the election, and votes for eliminated candidates were redistributed based on the next preference on the ballot.[35]

Here are details about how it worked in the primary election.

  • Candidates were listed in rows and the numbered rankings in columns.
  • Voters could choose up to five candidates to support, ranking them from first to fifth.
  • Voters were not required to vote for five candidates. For example, a voter could vote for only one candidate if he or she desired.
  • Voters could not vote for the same candidate more than once or give the same rank to more than one candidate.

Click here to enter your address and see your ballot on the New York City Board of Elections website.

Polls

See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls

RCV simulation polls

The following polls asked respondents to rank their choices. Pollsters then ran ranked-choice voting simulations based on responses.

Benenson Strategy Group RCV poll (April 16-21, 2021)
Candidate 1st round 2nd round 3rd round 4th round 5th round
Johnson 39 40 43 47 56
Caruso-Cabrera 16 17 19 23 26
Weprin 11 12 13 15 18
Lander 10 12 13 14
Benjamin 10 11 12
Parker 9 9
Iscol 5
• Poll link • Respondents: 1,558 LV • MOE: +/- 2.5 • Sponsor: StudentsFirstNY
Note: Respondents were asked to rank their top three choices in this poll.

First-choice candidate polls

The following results show respondents' first-choice candidates only. Click [show] to the right below to see the polls.

Campaign finance

Satellite spending

See also: Satellite spending

Satellite spending, commonly referred to as outside spending, describes political spending not controlled by candidates or their campaigns; that is, any political expenditures made by groups or individuals that are not directly affiliated with a candidate. This includes spending by political party committees, super PACs, trade associations, and 501(c)(4) nonprofit groups.[39][40][41]

This section lists satellite spending in this race reported by news outlets in alphabetical order. If you are aware of spending that should be included, please email us.

  • The Hotel Workers for Stronger Communities, the NY Hotel Trades Council's political action committee, spent $574,894 supporting Johnson as of June 21, 2021.[42] Politico reported in May the group planned to spend $2 million on ads supporting Johnson, mayoral candidate Eric Adams (D), and several city council candidates.[43]
  • Together for NYC PAC spent $305,174 supporting Caruso-Cabrera as of June 21.[42]

Debates and forums

June 20, 2021

Eight candidates participated in a debate hosted by WNBC-TV, Telemundo 47/WNJU-TV, POLITICO, the Citizens Budget Commission, and the New York Urban League: Benjamin, Caruso-Cabrera, Iscol, Johnson, Lander, Parker, Patel, and Weprin.

Click here to view a video of the debate.

June 10, 2021

The city Campaign Finance Board's first sanctioned debate took place, featuring eight candidates: Benjamin, Caruso-Cabrera, Iscol, Johnson, Lander, Parker, Patel, and Weprin.

Click here to view a video of the debate.

June 9, 2021

Seven candidates participated in a 77 WABC debate: Benjamin, Caruso-Cabrera, Iscol, Johnson, Lander, Parker, and Weprin.

77 WABC's NYC Comptroller Debate - June 9, 2021

May 25, 2021

Benjamin, Caruso-Cabrera, Iscol, Johnson, Lander, Liftin, Parker, Patel, and Weprin participated in a forum sponsored by PIX11, the 92nd Street Y, and City & State New York.

Click here to view a video of the forum.

May 10, 2021

Benjamin, Caruso-Cabrera, Iscol, Johnson, Lander, Liftin, Parker, Patel, and Weprin participated in a forum sponsored by the Association for a Better New York.

2021 Comptroller Candidates Forum - May 10, 2021

Primaries in New York

A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. New York utilizes a closed primary process, in which the selection of a party's candidates in an election is limited to registered party members.[44][45]

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

Pivot Counties

See also: Pivot Counties by state

Eighteen of 62 New York counties—29 percent—are Pivot Counties. Pivot Counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.

Counties won by Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012 and 2008
County Trump margin of victory in 2016 Obama margin of victory in 2012 Obama margin of victory in 2008
Broome County, New York 2.01% 5.31% 8.02%
Cayuga County, New York 11.64% 11.40% 8.48%
Cortland County, New York 5.58% 9.11% 9.96%
Essex County, New York 1.14% 18.77% 13.32%
Franklin County, New York 5.45% 26.07% 22.23%
Madison County, New York 14.20% 0.89% 0.87%
Niagara County, New York 17.75% 0.84% 1.00%
Orange County, New York 5.50% 5.65% 4.13%
Oswego County, New York 21.99% 7.93% 2.44%
Otsego County, New York 11.13% 2.72% 5.91%
Rensselaer County, New York 1.41% 12.19% 9.34%
St. Lawrence County, New York 8.82% 16.71% 16.33%
Saratoga County, New York 3.21% 2.44% 3.40%
Seneca County, New York 11.01% 9.08% 2.60%
Suffolk County, New York 6.84% 3.69% 5.99%
Sullivan County, New York 11.23% 9.02% 9.46%
Warren County, New York 8.47% 2.32% 2.64%
Washington County, New York 18.40% 1.90% 0.81%

In the 2016 presidential election, Hillary Clinton (D) won New York with 59 percent of the vote. Donald Trump (R) received 36.5 percent. In presidential elections between 1792 and 2016, New York voted Democratic 45.6 percent of the time and Republican 35 percent of the time. In the five presidential elections between 2000 and 2016, New York voted Democratic all five times.[46]

Presidential results by legislative district

The following table details results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by state Assembly districts in New York. Click [show] to expand the table. The "Obama," "Romney," "Clinton," and "Trump" columns describe the percent of the vote each presidential candidate received in the district. The "2012 Margin" and "2016 Margin" columns describe the margin of victory between the two presidential candidates in those years. The "Party Control" column notes which party held that seat heading into the 2018 general election. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled by Daily Kos.[47][48]

In 2012, Barack Obama (D) won 114 out of 150 state Assembly districts in New York with an average margin of victory of 46.5 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) won 99 out of 150 state Assembly districts in New York with an average margin of victory of 50.3 points. Clinton won four districts controlled by Republicans heading into the 2018 elections.
In 2012, Mitt Romney (R) won 36 out of 150 state Assembly districts in New York with an average margin of victory of 10.5 points. In 2016, Donald Trump (R) won 51 out of 150 state Assembly districts in New York with an average margin of victory of 17.6 points. Trump won 13 districts controlled by Democrats heading into the 2018 elections.


Seat election history

2017

See also: Municipal elections in New York, New York (2017)

New York City held elections for mayor, public advocate, comptroller, and all 51 seats on the city council in 2017. New Yorkers also voted for offices in their boroughs: The Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island.

Primary elections were scheduled for September 12, 2017, and the general election was on November 7, 2017. Under New York law, candidates who run unopposed in a primary or general election win the nomination or election automatically, and their names do not appear on the ballot.[50] Incumbent Scott Stringer (D) defeated Michel Faulkner (R), Julia Willebrand (Green), and Alex Merced (Libertarian) in the general election for comptroller of New York.

New York City Comptroller, General Election, 2017
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Scott Stringer Incumbent 76.72% 838,943
     Republican Michel Faulkner 19.50% 213,192
     Green Julia Willebrand 3.14% 34,371
     Libertarian Alex Merced 0.56% 6,100
Write-in votes 0.09% 958
Total Votes 1,093,564
Source: New York City Board of Elections, "2017 General Certified Election Results," November 28, 2017

Incumbent Scott Stringer ran unopposed in the Democratic primary election for comptroller of New York City.[51]

Ballotpedia will publish vote totals here after they become available.
New York City Comptroller, Democratic Primary Election, 2017
Candidate
Green check mark transparent.png Scott Stringer Incumbent
Source: New York City Board of Elections, "2017 Primary: Election Night Results," accessed September 12, 2017

Footnotes

  1. ↑ New York Daily News, "Here are the leading Democratic candidates in race for NYC Comptroller," May 26, 2021
  2. ↑ Gotham Gazette, "Democratic Comptroller Candidates Pitch Skills and Plans to Budget Watchdog," May 5, 2021
  3. ↑ New York City Comptroller, "Duties Of The Comptroller," accessed May 28, 2021
  4. ↑ The New York Times, "How a Surprise Candidate Has Shaken Up a Key New York City Election," updated March 31, 2021
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 The City, "Where to Watch the First Official NYC Comptroller Debate on June 10," June 7, 2021
  6. ↑ In battleground primaries, Ballotpedia based its selection of noteworthy candidates on polling, fundraising, and noteworthy endorsements. In battleground general elections, all major party candidates and any other candidates with the potential to impact the outcome of the race were included.
  7. ↑ Gotham Gazette, "Democratic Comptroller Candidates Spar at Back-to-Back Debates," June 13, 2021
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 The New York Post ranked Iscol first, Weprin second, Caruso-Cabrera third, and Reshma Patel fourth. New York Post, "The Post’s ranked picks for NYC comptroller: Zach Iscol, three other qualified candidates," June 14, 2021
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 New York Daily News, "David Weprin for comptroller: Make him the first choice on the Democratic primary ballot," June 12, 2021
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 New York Daily News endorsed Johnson for second choice and Benjamin for third choice. New York Daily News, "Corey over Brad: How to rank the choice for city comptroller after David Weprin," June 15, 2021
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Reps. Meeks and Meng endorsed Johnson as their second choice. New York Daily News, "NYC Comptroller candidate Corey Johnson snags slew of 2nd choice endorsements," June 15, 2021
  12. ↑ New Politics, "Endorsement: Zach Iscol for New York City Comptroller," March 8, 2021
  13. ↑ FDNY EMS Local 2507 endorsed Johnson as its first choice and Weprin as its second choice. AMNY, "Johnson and Weprin rank 1-2 among first responder unions’ picks for NYC comptroller," June 14, 2021
  14. ↑ Uniformed Emergency Medical Services Officers Association Local 3621 endorsed Johnson as its first choice and Weprin as its second choice. AMNY, "Johnson and Weprin rank 1-2 among first responder unions’ picks for NYC comptroller," June 14, 2021
  15. ↑ The New York Times, "N.Y.C.’s Election Board aims to certify the vote by July 14, but its track record on deadlines is under scrutiny," July 6, 2021
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 New York City Board of Elections, "DEM Comptroller Citywide," July 6, 2021
  17. ↑ New York City Board of Elections, "DEM Comptroller Citywide," June 30, 2021
  18. ↑ New York Times, "New York Mayor’s Race in Chaos After Elections Board Counts 135,000 Test Ballots," June 29, 2021
  19. ↑ New York City Board of Elections, "Democratic Mayor: Unofficial Ranked Choice Rounds," accessed June 19, 2021
  20. ↑ ABC7NY, "NYC Primary Results: Who's left and what's next in the race for NYC mayor," June 23, 2021
  21. ↑ NBC New York, "NYC Comptroller Candidates Square Off in Final Democratic Primary Debate," updated June 20, 2021
  22. ↑ YouTube, "77 WABC's NYC Comptroller Debate," June 9, 2021
  23. ↑ The New York Times, "Brad Lander for Comptroller," June 8, 2021
  24. ↑ NY1, "Spectrum News NY1/Ipsos NYC Mayoral Primary Poll: May," June 8, 2021
  25. ↑ PIX11, "Race to City Hall: Comptroller Candidates Forum," may 25, 2021
  26. ↑ New York City Campaign Finance Board, "Campaign Finance Summary 2021 Citywide Elections," accessed June 2, 2021
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 27.3 27.4 27.5 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  28. ↑ Brian Benjamin's 2021 campaign website, "Plans," accessed June 15, 2021
  29. ↑ Michelle Caruso-Cabrera's 2021 campaign website, "Issues," accessed June 15, 2021
  30. ↑ Zach Iscol's 2021 campaign website, "Priorities," accessed June 15, 2021
  31. ↑ Corey Johnson's 2021 campaign website, "Issues," accessed June 15, 2021
  32. ↑ Brad Lander's 2021 campaign website, "Priorities and Plans," accessed June 15, 2021
  33. ↑ Kevin Parker's 2021 campaign website, "Platform," accessed June 15, 2021
  34. ↑ David Weprin's 2021 campaign website, "Getting Us Back on Track," accessed June 15, 2021
  35. ↑ New York City Campaign Finance Board, "Ranked-Choice Voting," accessed May 17, 2021
  36. ↑ 44% "Don't know"
  37. ↑ 42% "Don't know," 2% "Someone else"
  38. ↑ 50% "Don't know," 1% "Will not vote"
  39. ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Outside Spending," accessed September 22, 2015
  40. ↑ OpenSecrets.org, "Total Outside Spending by Election Cycle, All Groups," accessed September 22, 2015
  41. ↑ National Review.com, "Why the Media Hate Super PACs," November 6, 2015
  42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 New York City Campaign Finance Board, "Independent Expenditure Summary, 2021 Citywide Elections," accessed June 22, 2021
  43. ↑ Politico, "Hotel workers union launches blitz for Adams, Johnson," May 9, 2021
  44. ↑ The New York State Senate, "N.Y. Election Law § 17–102," accessed December 12, 2025
  45. ↑ The New York State Senate, "N.Y. Election Law § 5–304," accessed December 12, 2025
  46. ↑ 270towin.com, "New York," accessed June 1, 2017
  47. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts," July 9, 2013
  48. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2016 presidential results for congressional and legislative districts," February 6, 2017
  49. ↑ Democrats won Assembly District 9 in a special election on May 23, 2017. The seat was previously held by a Republican.
  50. ↑ New York Election Law, "Sec 6-160. Primaries," accessed July 14, 2017
  51. ↑ Ballotpedia staff, "Email correspondence with the New York City Board of Elections," July 14, 2017
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