Candidates for 48th City Council District

Democratic
* If there is an asterisk next to a candidate's name, s/he did not submit a profile or record a video.
transcripts | English| Español| 中文
Ari Kagan
Democratic

Party Enrolled In: Democratic

Current Occupation: Journalist (TV, newspaper and radio)

Previous Occupation(s): Assistant to NYC Comptroller John Liu; Assistant to Former Congressman Michael McMahon.

Education: Baruch College, Zicklin School of Business; Lvov Military College, Journalism Department.

Organizational Affiliations: Holocaust Memorial Committee; Manhattan Beach Jewish Center; Council for Understanding and Racial Equality; American Brotherhood for Russian Disabled

Prior Public Experience: Democratic District Leader, 45th Assembly District (2012-current)

1. What is the most important issue in Council District 48 you would address if elected?

The first priority for our next Council Member must be helping tenants, homeowners and businesses recover from the devastation Hurricane Sandy caused in our community, and to advocate for resources from the City, State and Federal governments to upgrade our infrastructure, ensuring we're ready for the next hurricane or storm.

 

2. What other important issues would you address if elected?

Small businesses are the backbone of our community, but too often they're hit with unnecessary fines, taxes and fees from the city. We need to do more to help them survive and thrive, giving them access to credit and capital, and give them help navigating an often uncaring city bureaucracy. Shareholders' rights are too often ignored in many co-ops in our district. Affordable housing, senior services, improving quality of public education, health care and transportation are other important issues that must be addressed.

 

3. What makes you the best candidate for this office?

Throughout my twenty years working as a journalist, community leader, and assistant to elected officials, I have a record of accomplishments, working with diverse communities that make up this district to solve important problems, both large and small.

 

Reprinted as supplied by the candidate. Participating in the NYC Campaign Finance Program.

 

This Guide lists all candidates who appear to be on the ballot for the primary election based on the latest information obtained from the New York City Board of Elections, even if a candidate did not submit a profile or record a video for the Guide. Profiles and video scripts were submitted to the CFB by the candidates and are reprinted as supplied, except in the case of egregious errors and minor formatting issues, which may be corrected by the CFB. Videos appearing in this Guide were recorded and approved for broadcast by the candidates. All the candidates have affirmed under penalty of perjury that the information in their profiles and videos is true to the best of their knowledge. Website and social media links were supplied by the candidates. The CFB is not responsible for non-working links, although it does correct or remove them to the extent practicable. The CFB removes links that are not campaign-related.

The views expressed in the candidate profiles, videos, and linked materials do not represent those of the New York City Campaign Finance Board.

View Candidate Submission Disclaimer