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Faith Bondy (District 4 City Council candidate) – Meet the Candidates 2025!
MHNAThe Murray Hill Neighborhood Association reached out to all the candidates running for office in 2025 that intersect our neighborhood (Mayor, Manhattan Borough President, City Council District 2, and City Council District 4, etc.) with questions sourced directly from our members via our Ask the Candidates questionnaire. See the candidate’s answers below.
How you would improve our streets and quality of life?
I will prioritize the needs and concerns of those who live, work, and do business within our community. I will fight every day to deliver our fair share of funding, resources, and opportunities to uphold our quality of life through strategies such as curbing abuses by mopeds and e-bikes through stricter laws and enforcement, expanding rat mitigation efforts and funding, and increasing sanitation initiatives within the District to ensure clean and accessible streets. Investing in recreation throughout the 4th District will swiftly improve residents’ quality of life; therefore, I’ll strive to ensure that our Parks and Library budgets are adequately and fully funded. Finally, I would prioritize funding for neighborhood associations, parks conservancies, and community groups and providers that work daily on quality of life issues in our communities.
How are you going to handle the illegal migrant situation that has escalated into NYC?
NYC is a city of immigrants. Immigrants should be able to attend school and church and seek medical care, protection from law enforcement, and city services without fear of deportation. However, anyone – regardless of immigration status – committing a violent or serious crime should be held accountable. All levels of government need to work together to manage migrant flows, improve asylum and refugee processing centers, and increase support for local governments. We can foster open communication between immigrant communities and NYC residents to address concerns and maintain transparency.
How can housing become more affordable and not just for low income candidates?
Housing costs are too high and rising quickly. We must build more and develop incentives to create truly affordable housing for NYC. Those who work here should be able to afford to live, stay, raise a family, and age in place here. Affordable housing starts with an increase in housing supply but does not end there. We need to work with stakeholders to provide more low-interest funding and grants without conditions that become obstacles and more effective programs that incentivize the development of affordable housing buildings or units, including housing for middle-income families. We must also work with our state and federal legislative partners toward the same goal. A commitment to building substantially more housing – both affordable and market-rate – can help drive down costs for all New Yorkers.
How would you address homelessness and mental illness in NYC?
We must work with agencies and non-profit providers of affordable, low-income, and shelter housing to understand how to create the best new opportunities for long-term stable and supportive housing with wrap-around services as well as better support existing ones. Concerning mental health, in partnership with stakeholders, we need to examine how existing funding for mental health services is being allocated to ensure that it is being used efficiently and effectively, that it is reaching those who need it most, and, if necessary, reallocate funds, bridge budgetary gaps, and increase funding. We need to ensure that programs have the beds necessary to serve those with mental health needs on a short-term and long-term basis so that mental health providers are not forced to release patients prematurely to make room for those with greater needs. Finally, we need to ensure that the various agencies and providers are working together and sharing information so that there is continuity of care, treatment, and outreach to improve successes in transitioning people to treatment and housing.
How would you support the Murray Hill Neighborhood Association?
I would maintain an open-door policy with all community groups and providers, such as the Murray Hill Neighborhood Association and those with which they work such as the Turtle Bay Association, to understand the ever-changing landscape of issues facing the community. I will work with MHNA to help resolve concerns as they arise and support initiatives and programs that preserve, improve, and beautify our neighborhoods.
Bio
Faith Bondy is a lifelong Democrat and New Yorker who has been deeply connected to every part of the 4th City Council District for over three decades. She has resided in East Midtown for nearly 25 years with her husband, Matthew, and two daughters, Lila and Rose. Faith has been an active and respected litigator for over 25 years and has been recognized by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star, Top Women Attorney, and Super Lawyer for her advocacy. She graduated from Binghamton University and the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. Faith has demonstrated a deep-seated commitment to preserving and improving the quality of life in New York City, in her community, and in her neighborhood. She has established herself as a staunch advocate for the community concerning education, public safety, housing, and quality of life issues affecting New Yorkers.
She is the President of the Samuel J. Tilden Democratic Club, one of the oldest and most highly respected Democratic clubs in New York City; a Board member of, and legal advisor to, the Sutton Place Parks Conservancy, a charitable organization whose mission is to help preserve and maintain several parks in the midtown east community; a member and Officer of the Board of Directors of the East Sixties Neighborhood Association, and a former member of Community Board 8’s Street Life Committee. As a public school parent, Faith has unparalleled experience with education issues affecting our community. For a decade, she served as a member of the Executive Board of the PTA of PS 59, a local District 2 public elementary school, as well as several years as a member of the School Leadership Team.
Faith seeks to bring all of this experience to the City Council as your representative for the 4th City Council District, where she will passionately advocate for pragmatic and practical solutions with only the best interests of the District, its residents, children, and businesses at heart and in mind.
