Council District 35 covers an L-shaped swath of central Brooklyn, stretching from Fort Greene and Clinton Hill through much of Prospect Heights and Crown Heights. The district has experienced rapid demographic change in recent years: between 2010 and 2020, its overall population grew by more than 17%—twice the citywide rate—while the Black population declined by 20%, more than four times the citywide decline. Though the area has added a substantial amount of housing, it hasn’t kept pace with demand, fueling both scarcity and fears of displacement. 

Council Member Crystal Hudson has navigated this complex terrain with integrity and thoughtfulness. While few consider her reelection in doubt, the race is important given Hudson’s place as a frontrunner in the backroom race to become the next speaker of the City Council. If a Hudson speakership included continued support for more housing, safer streets, and a more representative democracy, the city could do far worse.

As Chair of the Council’s Committee on Aging, Hudson has championed an accessible vision of a city—where New Yorkers can grow a family, retire, and age in place. Realizing that vision requires a meaningful expansion of the city’s housing supply—something Hudson has worked toward by supporting major initiatives like the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity to legalize 80,000 new homes across the city, and the Atlantic Avenue Mixed-Use Plan, which is expected to bring 4,600 new homes to the district. She has also backed street safety improvements, including daylighting, that make it easier and safer for residents of all ages to navigate their neighborhoods.

Hudson’s approach to land use often emphasizes community consultation, which can slow or constrain critical projects. That being said, she has shown a rare ability to listen deeply and still lead decisively, earning trust from constituents even when opinions differ. Her challenger, Dion Ashman, has put forward a message of community restoration and youth development, but has not outlined a positive agenda on housing, climate, or infrastructure; his plans would reduce new home construction and dial back open streets. Hudson’s record of legislative action, community engagement, and coalition-building makes her the stronger choice to meet this moment.