Sarah Batchu (District 2 City Council candidate) – Meet the Candidates 2025!

The 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?

Improving our streets and quality of life requires a thoughtful and balanced approach, one that addresses both immediate concerns and long-term solutions. Our neighborhoods face real challenges—individuals who need support to stabilize their lives, alongside residents who are understandably concerned about safety due to issues like public drug use, harassment, and violent crime.

As a public servant, I understand that with the resources we already have, we can make our neighborhoods safer and cleaner. Every city agency must work together to address these concerns. When necessary, law enforcement can play a role, especially in high-need areas, to ensure public safety laws are enforced. However, law enforcement alone cannot solve the problem.

I’ve seen firsthand how effective collaboration can bring about meaningful change. While working in City Hall, I witnessed how a coordinated task force—bringing together agencies like the Department of Sanitation and the Department of Health—helped tackle quality of life challenges on 125th Street. This type of coordinated effort is what our neighborhoods need, and as your Council Member, I will bring all relevant agencies to the table to ensure we’re making real progress.

At the same time, we must address the root causes of these issues. Enforcement alone won’t solve everything—if it could, the city’s current approach would have already fixed these problems. That’s why we need a comprehensive strategy that includes not only public safety measures but also investments in housing, mental health services, education, and job opportunities. By tackling the root causes of homelessness, crime, and public health issues, we can create lasting change that improves the lives of all our residents.

How are you going to handle the illegal migrant situation that has escalated into NYC?

New York City has always been a city of immigrants, and our district has a proud history of welcoming new neighbors while ensuring long-term residents can continue to thrive. But right now, federal inaction on immigration has left New York City to deal with a crisis without the necessary resources. The mayor’s mismanagement has only made things worse—wasting taxpayer dollars on ineffective policies instead of investing in real solutions that benefit everyone.

The biggest strain has been on housing, and unfortunately, the mayor has taken an approach that is both unsustainable and fiscally irresponsible. Instead of prioritizing cost-effective, permanent housing solutions, his administration has relied on high-priced shelter providers charging nearly $400 per night—when rental assistance costs less than $80 per night. At the same time, his 30-day and 60-day shelter eviction rules are making our neighborhoods less safe by forcing more people onto the streets. These policies don’t just fail new arrivals—they fail all of us, driving up costs and making our homelessness crisis worse.

As your Council Member, I will fight for policies that keep our neighborhoods stable and livable. That means ending these wasteful eviction policies and redirecting funds toward real housing solutions that work for both longtime residents and new arrivals, including strengthening rental assistance and expanding affordable housing.

Of course, housing stability is tied to economic opportunity. Right now, the city’s bureaucracy is preventing asylum seekers from working legally, which only increases the burden on our social services. I will push the city to cut red tape and expand work authorization so that new migrants can contribute to our economy, as many would like to do.

Beyond housing and jobs, true integration requires strong community networks. I will work alongside local organizations to ensure that new arrivals have the tools to succeed. That means expanding legal aid to help immigrants navigate their status and ensuring that our schools, hospitals, and public spaces are safe spaces for all to seek support.

When the city takes a smart, coordinated approach, we can prevent the chaos we see now and build a district where longtime residents and new arrivals alike feel safe, supported, and secure—that’s the leadership I will bring to the Council.

How can housing become more affordable and not just for low income candidates?

I believe that affordable housing is not just a right for all but the foundation of a strong, thriving community, and every neighborhood has a role to play in creating new housing opportunities. Since my time at City Hall, I have championed policies to make housing more accessible, affordable, and sustainable for all New Yorkers.

As Council Member, I will support the creation of new homes. Right now, New York City is facing a housing shortage, record low vacancy rates, and sky high rents. We need new housing units at all income levels if we want to decrease rents for everyone. We need to expand housing options with studio apartments for young people, larger units for growing families, and senior housing that allows New Yorkers to age in place with dignity. I will support innovative housing approaches such as office-to-residential conversions and co-locating housing over existing infrastructure like railyards or libraries to meet the moment.

As Council Member, I will support the creation of new homes. New York City is currently facing a severe housing shortage, record low vacancy rates, and soaring rents. To lower rents for everyone, we need to build more housing at all income levels. This means expanding housing options with studio apartments for young people, larger units for growing families, and senior housing that allows New Yorkers to age in place with dignity. I will also advocate for innovative housing approaches like office-to-residential conversions and co-locating housing over existing infrastructure such as rail yards and libraries, maximizing underutilized spaces to meet the moment.

In addition, I will work to expand homeownership opportunities by increasing funding for the Department of Housing Preservation & Development (HPD) down payment assistance program and affordable homeownership programs. This will make buying a home accessible to more New Yorkers, especially middle-income families who often find themselves priced out. I will also advocate for streamlining city regulations to support condo and coop owners who are working to maintain their homes.

Finally, I will fight for a rent freeze for rent-stabilized tenants to protect renters from unfair rent increases. We cannot allow skyrocketing rents to push people out of their homes and neighborhoods, especially older adults aging in place. The need for affordable housing is urgent, and I will work tirelessly to make sure that every New Yorker has a home they can afford.

How would you address homelessness and mental illness in NYC?

In neighborhoods where homelessness and mental health struggles are a visible and growing challenge, the strain on the community is undeniable. It’s not just about seeing people in crisis—it’s about the real effects it has on our streets, our safety, and our overall sense of well-being. The issues of homelessness and mental illness require urgent, thoughtful action that acknowledges the unique needs of these communities.

The immediate priority must be providing stable, permanent housing for those who are homeless. A Housing First approach offers individuals immediate access to housing, which is essential to their recovery and ability to rebuild their lives. For neighborhoods grappling with rising homelessness, this means expanding affordable housing options and supporting initiatives like rental assistance and rapid rehousing programs. When people are no longer living on the streets or in shelters, it reduces the visibility of the crisis in public spaces and allows neighborhoods to begin healing.

However, housing alone isn’t a solution if we don’t address the interconnected issue of mental health. Many of the individuals experiencing homelessness in our neighborhoods also struggle with untreated mental health conditions, which can make their situation even more difficult. Over the years, New York City has seen the closure of numerous inpatient psychiatric beds, leaving fewer options for people in crisis. With local hospitals like Beth Israel closing, people who need urgent psychiatric care have nowhere to go. I will fight for more emergency care beds and advocate for increasing state investments to ensure that individuals experiencing mental health crises have a safe place to turn for help.

But we can’t stop there. We need a system that ensures individuals transitioning out of care are not left without housing or support services. The lack of follow-up care after a mental health crisis is one of the reasons people end up back on the streets. A comprehensive solution means pairing housing with mental health services, substance abuse treatment, job training, and other essential resources. It’s about creating a system of support that stays with people, helping them stay stable in the long term.

For neighbors living in areas with visible homelessness and mental health challenges, this isn’t just a political issue—it’s a daily reality. It’s about feeling safe in your community and knowing that people who are struggling are receiving the help they need to recover and reintegrate. With a comprehensive, compassionate approach, we can provide solutions that benefit both those experiencing homelessness and the broader community. By investing in both housing and mental health services, we can create neighborhoods that are safer, more stable, and more supportive for everyone.

How would you support the Murray Hill Neighborhood Association?

As a community advocate, I recognize that neighborhood associations like the Murray Hill Neighborhood Association (MHNA) are the foundation of a thriving community. As Council Member, I am committed to being actively involved with MHNA by regularly attending meetings and engaging with residents to stay informed about the challenges they face. By maintaining a consistent presence in the community, I will ensure that I have my ear to the ground and can effectively advocate for the needs of Murray Hill residents.

In addition to direct engagement, I will work to secure discretionary funding from the City to support MHNA and its local initiatives sustainably. These funds will be vital in enhancing community projects, strengthening local programs, and addressing pressing neighborhood issues.

I will prioritize an open, ongoing feedback loop between my office and MHNA leadership, ensuring I am always up to date on residents’ concerns. This collaboration will enable me to advocate for practical, actionable solutions, while ensuring that the MHNA has the necessary resources and support to continue its essential work.

Bio

I am a public servant and community health leader running for City Council because I believe New York City deserves more than business-as-usual politics—it needs leaders who truly care about the people. At a time when the city is grappling with rising rents, the disappearance of affordable housing, shuttered hospitals, and families being displaced from neighborhoods they have called home for generations, I am committed to bringing change.

Raised in a family deeply rooted in service, my father, an immigrant from India, and my mother, the granddaughter of Jewish refugees, dedicated their lives to providing medical care to their community. Their commitment to dignity, compassion, and community shaped my values and inspired my career.

From the earliest days of my career in New York City government at City Hall, I began tackling big issues head-on—like addressing the city’s crumbling public housing infrastructure and planning an effective response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Following my successful time at City Hall, I joined the Lower Eastside Girls Club as Chief of Staff and was part of the leadership team that launched the Center for Wellbeing & Happiness, an intergenerational community space dedicated to transforming self-care into community care.

My vision for the city is grounded in care and equity, prioritizing affordable housing, access to quality healthcare, and opportunities for every New Yorker to thrive.

https://sarahbatchu.nyc/