On the east side of lower Manhattan, there is an open five-way race to succeed term-limited council member Carlina Rivera. Grabbing the most attention are two longtime politicians: Assemblymember Harvey Epstein, who recently won reelection but is now seeking a job switch; and former council member and congressional representative Anthony Weiner, attempting a political comeback after his sex scandal. Weiner, though, has raised comparatively little money and received no institutional support—and he has not demonstrated much in the way of policy vision beyond arguing that he has nothing left to lose.

The candidates who are actually making the race competitive for Assemblymember Epstein are two younger women of color who have been left out of much of the conversation in spite of more legitimate claims to competitiveness. Andrea Gordillo is the chair and Sarah Batchu is the former vice chair of Community Board 3, the local body made up of volunteer appointees tasked with representing the neighborhood in city decision-making. Both are nonprofit leaders, and Batchu previously worked at City Hall. They both raised the maximum amount of funds available through the public financing program, and have more cash on hand than Epstein entering the home stretch. (A fifth entrant, Allie Ryan, challenged Rivera before on a reactionary platform, and has not raised much money or otherwise gained traction.)

Of the candidates to be taken seriously, Batchu is best—the candidate whose experience and ideas are most equal to the challenges of Lower Manhattan. As a leader on CB3, she was a champion for the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity rezoning to legalize a little more housing in every neighborhood. She defended congestion pricing, a vital plan to fund public transit, speed buses, and make streets safer. And she prioritized the needs of local small business owners. 

Epstein, as the establishment candidate, has the backing of many clubs and elected officials—however, his business as usual politics lack the vision needed today. He has denied the importance of addressing the housing shortage, and he sought carveouts from congestion pricing, positions favoring homeowners and carowners over renters and riders. Epstein has supported rental protections, but they are not enough to reduce prices for tenants who make up the majority of the district.

In a district where politicians with old ideas and outworn welcomes are sucking up the oxygen, voters should take the opportunity to uplift a new generation of elected officials bringing new energy and new ideas to City Hall.