District 7 crawls up from the Upper West Side to Washington Heights, encompassing a diverse set of New Yorkers. Incumbent council member Shaun Abreu is seeking reelection, facing a spirited challenge from community activist Edafe Okporo. 

Abreu has been a courageous voice in the district on behalf of marginalized neighbors. A former tenants rights attorney born in Washington Heights, Abreu championed supportive housing in the district for the most vulnerable New Yorkers in spite of loud local opposition. He has led the city’s effort towards trash containerization—already common in other cities and critical for reducing rats’ presence on city streets, but politically challenging in a city where many fear the reimagining of space now used for free parking. Abreu has earned the backing of the Working Families Party, Stonewall Democrats (the city’s premier LGBTQ+ Democratic Club), and other organizations that understand the connection between a dynamic urban future and uplifting the needs of marginalized New Yorkers.

Okporo, his challenger, is a queer immigrant from Nigeria who was homeless when he arrived in New York. His personal story is compelling, and he is emphasizing accountability for Columbia University, which is in the district. However, his policy ideas are not improvements on the incumbent’s. For example, Okporo echoes anti-housing voices across the political spectrum in opposing new homes. The district will be better served by Abreu.