In the East Bronx, City Council Majority Leader Amanda Farías is running for reelection in an uncontested race. Still, the race is notable because Farías is one of the three current council members, along with Manhattanite Julie Menin and Brooklynite Crystal Hudson, most frequently mentioned as a potential next council speaker. The speaker controls the legislative agenda and committee assignments in the 51-member body, and Farías is a strong council member deserving of awareness and support.

Farías, a Soundview native, is a part of a younger generation of council members who are more forward-thinking on addressing the housing affordability crisis that is New York’s most pressing challenge. As a council member, she led the important Metro-North neighborhood rezoning to passage. The plan creates 7,000 new homes and four new train stations. Increasing housing and transit opportunities in the Bronx is vital, and Farías has been an ally on many of those efforts. On the other hand, she is a co-sponsor of an overly onerous bill to require licensure and registration for e-bikes; still, she has promoted protected bike infrastructure in the district and merits support from New Yorkers interested in housing, transit, and climate action.