District 33 stretches along Brooklyn’s northern waterfront, from Greenpoint and Williamsburg to Brooklyn Heights and Boerum Hill. It’s a district on the frontlines of the climate crisis, a flashpoint for debates over street safety and livable public space, and a test case for whether a neighborhood shaped by past development fights can still rise to meet today’s housing needs. The district needs a council member who can match the scale of these challenges with bold policy and effective governance.

Council Member Lincoln Restler has proven himself up to the task. Since taking office, he has championed ambitious housing, climate, and transit policies rooted in both progressive values and tangible outcomes. He was an early and vocal supporter of the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity plan to allow a little more housing in every neighborhood, and has pushed for affordable and supportive housing at sites like 90 Sands and Gowanus Green. On climate, Restler authored legislation to close loopholes in the City’s building emissions law (LL97), and has advanced bills to accelerate bike lane installation and empower residents to report blocked bus and bike lanes—cutting through red tape to make New York’s streets safer and more efficient.

At first glance, the race between Lincoln Restler and challenger Sabrina Gates looks like a standard progressive-vs-establishment matchup. Gates, who won just 5.5% of the first round of ranked choice voting in 2021, has the backing of the county Democratic machine—an institution Restler has long criticized and sought to reform through the New Kings Democrats, a political club he cofounded. But the real divide here is between action and inertia. Gates has expressed skepticism of protected bike lanes that significantly improve safety for everyone, seeking to undo hard-won progress. Restler, by contrast, has advanced meaningful reforms to make our streets safer and housing more affordable. He’s the right choice to keep District 33 moving forward.