1 million new homes a cornerstone of mayoral candidate’s policy platform

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — State Sen. Zellnor Myrie, a Democrat representing part of Brooklyn, wants to be the city’s next mayor and thinks he has the platform to do it.

Myrie’s online campaign platform touts a plan to create 1 million new homes across the city, includes a focus on gun violence prevention, and a promise for free universal after-school programs.

He has served in the State Senate since 2019 where he’s backed major legislation, including the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019, and authored the Community Violence Intervention Act.

Myrie spoke with the Advance/SILive.com in May about what some of his priorities would be if elected mayor, and recently responded to 17-part questionnaire about his policy platform. Here were his answers unedited:

Public Safety

Crime continues to drop post COVID, but there’s a constant chorus of people saying they don’t “feel safe.” What can be done to ensure people’s sentiments meet statistical realities?

One of the drivers of our city’s feelings of unsafety is our homelessness crisis. When thousands of New Yorkers are forced to live on the streets or in our transit system – without access to housing, treatment, or care – the result is a pervasive feeling that systems have broken down. Addressing homelessness is essential to restoring order and rebuilding trust.

My bold Rebuild NYC housing plan calls for one million homes in the next decade. The increase of supply and the direct investment in affordable housing will drive down rents, making housing more accessible for all. Homelessness is a housing problem, and solving it is a public safety solution.

Safety also requires more trust in the police. If New Yorkers don’t trust the NYPD, they don’t feel safe, no matter what the crime stats say. That’s why solving every shooting will be a cornerstone of my administration. My administration will fully staff the detective bureau to solve every shooting. We will restore the overall NYPD headcount to its 2018 levels, reversing staffing shortages that have led to ballooning overtime and too many crimes left unsolved.

People in mental health crisis have become a focus with more elected officials calling for increased institutionalization. How do you balance safety concerns with people’s civil rights?

The social safety net intended to support New Yorkers experiencing mental health crises has left too many New Yorkers without the care that they need. As mayor, transforming our city’s response to people experiencing mental health crises will be one of my top priorities – especially in public spaces.

Through my Rebuild Public Safety plan, my administration will build Stabilization Centers in each borough to serve as a safe space for people in distress. The Stabilization Centers will allow New Yorkers to access resources and connect to services, instead of being subjected to incapacitation.

In 2024, we saw subway homelessness reach a two-decade high. However, the state and city’s current SCOUT and PATH teams, which are supposed to address this matter, are highly limited in scope. SCOUT operates city-wide, but only during the day, and PATH operates overnight and is currently only deployed in Manhattan. There are also only 10 SCOUT teams in the entire city. My administration will expand the co-responder model to 150 PACT (Police and Clinician Trio) Teams working 24/7 throughout the entire transit system and hotspots above-ground in our first year in office.

Through this approach, my administration will connect New Yorkers experiencing mental health crises to the care they need and deserve by providing accessible resources and stable housing with clinical support, and expanding access to critical treatment options.

A 2023 survey conducted by the Advance/SILive.com found most Staten Islanders were concerned with property theft crimes. What do you think can be done at the city level to better prevent those types of crimes?

Property crimes like motor vehicle theft, burglary, and larceny can leave residents feeling violated and erode the sense of security in a community. Addressing these crimes requires a comprehensive, multi-pronged approach that focuses on both solving existing crimes and preventing future ones.

First, we must fully staff the detective bureau. New York City has lost over 1,500 detectives in the past 25 years, which is a 22% decline that directly undermines our ability to investigate and solve property crimes. Under the Myrie administration, we will promote 2,000 detectives and restore the NYPD’s overall headcount to pre-pandemic levels. With a full complement of detectives, we can ensure NYPD has the staffing resources necessary to fully investigate car theft rings, burglary patterns, and high-frequency larceny incidents.

Another critical component to my administration’s public safety plan will be crime prevention. This includes smart community and programmatic investments to address the root causes of crime and deal with its impacts, including Summer Youth Employment Program, Afterschool for All, Every Block Counts, and Next STEPS.

As mayor, I will add 50,000 seats to the city’s Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), which will total 150,000 placements and create universal access to summer jobs. I will also provide free, universal afterschool programming for every child from 3-K through 12th grade until 6 p.m. daily through my Afterschool for All initiative. This is critical because keeping kids engaged during high-risk hours, including afterschool and during summer, is one of the best tools we have to reduce crimes over time.

Furthermore, my administration will also fully restore and expand location-based violence prevention programs like Every Block Counts and Next STEPS, which offer mentorship and intervention to high-risk young adults, especially those living in or near NYCHA developments.

Trqnsit/Traffic

Staten Island has no rail connection to the rest of the city. What can a mayor do to advocate for that kind of transit improvement? Where would it connect?

I’m a lifelong rider and proud advocate for public transportation. I’ve taken the subway almost every day of my life. I know firsthand how essential transit is to opportunity, equity, and quality of life in this city. As mayor, I’ll be a tireless champion for expanding our transit system, especially in communities that have been historically disconnected or left behind.

One proposal we are watching closely is the Staten Island North Shore Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project, currently under review by the MTA. This line would run from West Shore Plaza down South Avenue and along the old North Shore Railroad right-of-way, all the way to the St. George Ferry Terminal. It would bring fast, reliable service to neighborhoods with little or no public transit today. I support the goal of this project and will push the MTA to make Staten Island a priority in upcoming capital plans. I’m also open to exploring a light rail option instead of BRT, especially if it would provide more capacity and longer-term connectivity.

I’m also interested in exploring potential regional transit options, like connecting Staten Island to New Jersey’s Hudson-Bergen Light Rail via a light rail extension over the Bayonne Bridge. This could open a new pathway for Staten Islanders to access jobs and services across the metro area and could even tie back into the North Shore line to form a modern, integrated light rail system.

Ultimately, I believe that connecting communities through transit spurs affordable development, and gives people back time in their day. As mayor, I’ll bring urgency, creativity, and leadership to make sure Staten Island is no longer an afterthought in New York City’s transit future.

Most Staten Islanders drive. What can the city do to improve traffic conditions on the Island?

Most Staten Islanders drive because they don’t have many other viable public transit options. The Island is one of the most transit-underserved parts of New York City. In order to improve traffic, our city must provide alternatives to driving, including more reliable public transit, safer walking and biking infrastructure, and more mixed-use development.

Under my administration, we’ll work to accelerate projects like the Staten Island North Shore Bus Rapid Transit line, which would connect West Shore neighborhoods to the ferry and to one another. We’ll also explore regional rail connections to New Jersey’s Hudson-Bergen Light Rail via the Bayonne Bridge, so Staten Islanders have more access to jobs and services without sitting in traffic.

We also have to address traffic conditions directly by improving traffic signal coordination, expanding camera enforcement against blocking the box and illegal turns, and cracking down on double parking and dangerous driving on local roads. As mayor, I will repair and re-stripe streets promptly – especially around schools and commercial corridors – and will work with state partners to re-evaluate the design and tolling impacts of our highway infrastructure.

Would you commit to keeping Staten Island Ferry service free?

The Staten Island Ferry is not just a symbol of New York – it’s a lifeline for thousands of working-class New Yorkers who rely on it every day. Charging a fare would penalize Staten Islanders who do not have a direct subway or regional rail connection. Keeping the ferry free is a matter of fairness, equity, and basic access.

Housing

What is your position of Mayor Adams City of Yes for Housing Opportunity?

I support the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity because our city is experiencing a housing crisis, and we can’t afford to say no to new homes. Rents are unaffordable, homeownership is out of reach, and working-class families are being pushed out of our city everyday.

The City of Yes initiative takes important steps to remove outdated zoning barriers and allow more housing – especially near transit. City of Yes is a good start, but we have to go even further. I believe we need to legalize more multi-family homes, allow for mixed-income housing on underused public land, and make sure every neighborhood is part of the solution.

My Rebuild NYC plan will build and preserve one million homes in the next 10 years because that’s the scale this crisis demands. City of Yes moves us in the right direction, but I’ll bring the urgency, leadership, and follow-through to finish the job.

What can be done to improve housing costs for homeowners and renters around the five boroughs?

My Rebuild NYC plan will build and preserve one million homes over the next 10 years. It’s the most ambitious housing proposal on the table, and it treats this crisis with the urgency it demands.

Rebuild NYC includes the following initiatives –

Revitalizing NYCHA: We’ll invest in the long-neglected backbone of affordable housing in NYC. By building 95,000 new mixed-income homes on NYCHA campuses, we can generate revenue to preserve and modernize 150,000 existing units, all without displacing a single resident.
Mega Midtown: We’ll unlock up to 85,000 new homes in Midtown Manhattan by increasing allowable residential density on sites already zoned for towers, and require affordable units through mandatory inclusionary housing.
New Neighborhoods: Just like Battery Park City or Co-op City, we’ll transform underutilized land into entirely new neighborhoods, including the Aqueduct Racetrack and Brooklyn Marine Terminal, building up to 85,000 new homes across the city.
Sandwich Rezonings: In industrial areas hemmed in by residential neighborhoods, we’ll allow mixed-income development that reconnects communities and produces another 85,000 homes.
Homes Not Shelters: We’ll reallocate shelter construction dollars to build 50,000 permanent homes for unhoused New Yorkers. Shelter is not housing, and permanent supportive housing keeps New Yorkers off the streets.
Mixed Income on Public Sites: By redeveloping public buildings like schools and libraries with housing above them, we can create 50,000 new homes while upgrading public infrastructure, all without displacing services.
Small Building Streamlining: We’ll make it easier to build small buildings, 1-7 stories, by reforming outdated zoning rules, pre-approved designs, and financing tools. These 50,000 new homes will help support ownership, affordability, and local development.
Reimagining Preservation: We’ll preserve 150,000 homes through proactive maintenance incentives, full funding for Right to Counsel, deed theft protections, and stronger tenant protections.

Where do you see the most opportunity to build housing in the five boroughs?

Midtown Manhattan has the density capacity to support significant new housing, but currently lacks zoning regulations that will allow more residential development.

My Mega Midtown plan would rezone key parts of Midtown from office or industrial use to residential, unlocking the creation of up to 85,000 new homes, including tens of thousands of permanently affordable units. In a part of the city with unmatched transit access and high-density infrastructure already in place, the only thing keeping us from moving quickly is the failed leadership of the past. We won’t solve the housing crisis with tweaks at the edges. We need bold action in the places where it can make the biggest impact, and that’s exactly what I’m proposing.

Health

What can be done to bring a public hospital to Staten Island?

I’m a proud supporter of our public hospital system, and I’ve put in the work to protect it. When SUNY Downstate – one of Brooklyn’s last remaining public hospitals – was threatened with closure, I stood with healthcare workers and the community to fight back. That hospital serves tens of thousands of working-class New Yorkers, and we couldn’t afford to lose it. I’ll bring that same energy to Staten Island.

Staten Island is the only borough without a public hospital, which is a serious concern. My administration will prioritize exploring how to expand public healthcare access on the Island. That includes working collaboratively with NYC Health + Hospitals, the state, and local stakeholders to evaluate potential locations, funding options, and service models that could help meet Staten Islanders’ healthcare needs

Many Staten Island officials have said the borough hasn’t seen its fair share of the state’s Opioid Settlement Fund. What can the mayor do to see more of that funding directed to Staten Island?

As mayor, I’ll ensure that Staten Island is not overlooked when it comes to opioid settlement funds. The crisis has deeply impacted the borough, and it’s important that resources reflect the level of need. I will work directly with the Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Board and advocate with the state government to direct more of these funds to Staten Island.

I’ll also direct the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) to develop targeted programming for Staten Island, including expanded treatment access, harm reduction services, and overdose prevention efforts.

Community

What would your administration do to improve environmental resiliency around the five boroughs, particularly on Staten Island?

Climate change is here, and our city’s response has to match the scale of the threat. As mayor, I’ll make sure every borough, especially Staten Island, gets the investment and attention it deserves to protect homes, infrastructure, and lives.

We’ll prioritize investments in green infrastructure, from expanding tree canopy coverage and building green rooftops to using porous pavement in flood-prone neighborhoods to reduce stormwater runoff. In the State Senate, I have supported community-preserving legislation like the Climate Change Superfund Act, which makes polluters pay for the damage they’ve caused, and we’ll fight to expand programs like the Resilient Retrofits initiative so we can strengthen our sewers and protect communities from increasingly intense storms.

On Staten Island, where flood risk and coastal exposure remain serious concerns, I’ll work with the federal government, state agencies, and community leaders to push forward long-overdue coastal protection efforts. That includes making sure projects like the East Shore Seawall move forward without delay, and ensuring that future capital plans prioritize nature-based solutions, such as expanding the Living Breakwaters project, restoring wetlands, and building dunes.

Finally, I’ll restore Parks Department funding and commit to planting 1 million new trees across the city. Trees lower heat, absorb water, and clean our air. As the ‘Borough of Parks,’ Staten Island has already shown the value of its green spaces – my administration will expand and protect them.

How can the city improve opportunities for small businesses?

Small businesses are the backbone of New York City’s economy and the heart of our neighborhoods.

As mayor, I will launch the Small Business Accelerator Fund to provide direct support to small businesses, especially those owned by Black New Yorkers and other entrepreneurs who’ve been systemically shut out of financing. This will include grants, technical assistance, and access to affordable capital to help businesses not just stay afloat, but grow.

Additionally, one of the biggest challenges small businesses face today is finding qualified workers. That’s why my Opportunity Agenda includes the NYC Pipeline – a bold initiative to train local talent and connect jobseekers with businesses that need staff. This program will ease the hiring burden on small business owners, helping them grow, while also creating meaningful job opportunities for New Yorkers, especially young people who aren’t on a college track, but are eager to build a future in high-demand industries.

With President Trump’s mass deportation strategy, what more can be done to protect our immigrant neighbors, documented and undocumented? How would you uphold the city’s sanctuary city status?

First and foremost, a Myrie administration will uphold and strengthen New York City’s sanctuary city protections. This isn’t a political issue, it is a matter of public safety. I want all New Yorkers – regardless of their documentation status – to feel comfortable reporting crimes to the NYPD and sharing information with police that could help them solve other crimes. Our sanctuary city laws further this important work while protecting the constitutional right to due process.

I would also advance policy initiatives, such as my WorkNYC proposal, which would create a work permit system for migrants and asylum seekers. By allowing newly arrived asylum seekers and immigrants to legally work, they can support themselves and contribute to the city’s economy. This would not only help newly arrived New Yorkers, but also strengthen our city’s workforce.

To defend New Yorkers from federal overreach, I will hire an elite team of lawyers within the New York City Law Department, a Frontline protection force, to protect our people, our policies and our taxpayer dollars from federal incursion. I’ll also expand the budget for the Commission on Human Rights to ensure they can aggressively investigate discrimination based on national origin, immigration status, language, or religion, since the federal government is not.

Education

What can be done to improve city schools?

Improving our schools means investing in students from the earliest years through graduation, and not just during the school day, but before and after it as well. That’s why my Opportunity Agenda includes a sweeping set of policies to support children, families, and educators every step of the way.

First, I will establish Afterschool for All, the first-ever universal afterschool program until 6 p.m. daily for all students from 3-K through 12th grade. After-school programs improve academic achievement, reduce risky behavior, and give working families the support they need. Whether it’s tutoring, arts, sports, or enrichment, every student in every zip code will have a safe, structured space to learn and grow after the bell rings.

Second, we’ll implement Universal Child Care and expand full-day Universal 3-K and Pre-K to ensure every child starts strong. Early childhood education is one of the most effective tools we have to close achievement gaps, support working parents, and improve long-term outcomes for our students. A Myrie administration will treat child care as the essential educational infrastructure it is.

We’ll also build on the success of Summer Rising by expanding summer learning and enrichment programs, helping students stay engaged, safe, and academically supported year-round.

The core of any strong school system is literacy. As mayor, I will continue to support and expand programs like NYC Reads, to provide evidence-based reading instruction to Pre-K and elementary school students. I will use every tool at my disposal to ensure that students with IEPs, students involved in the criminal justice system, and students from historically disadvantaged backgrounds receive the same high-quality education that I was fortunate to receive as a NYC public school graduate.

To ensure NYC Reads’ long-term success, my administration will partner with teachers, community-based organizations, education nonprofits, and experts in literacy and comprehension. These partnerships will help us strengthen the program and ensure it remains responsive to student needs. I will also make literacy a core priority in the city’s education budget, not an afterthought. One change I will pursue is expanding NYC Reads beyond grades K–5 to include Pre-K, middle, and high school students, because every child deserves access to the tools that help them thrive, no matter their age.

In short, I will make our schools stronger by treating education as a full-day, full-year, full-community commitment. That’s how we build a public school system worthy of every New Yorker.

What is your position on charter schools?

Every family deserves to have as many excellent educational opportunities as possible to make the best choice to suit their kids’ needs. As mayor, I will fight to strengthen our public schools and ensure that every parent has as many excellent educational opportunities to choose from.

What is your position on school vouchers?