Why I am running for NYC Comptroller

We are living in a time of peril for our democratic institutions and rapidly eroding trust in government. People doubt that our government will do what it promises, that it will spend our money wisely, that it can serve as a vehicle for people to come together with their neighbors, across lines of difference, to confront our problems and make our life in common better.  

Even as we fight to restore our democracy at the federal level, we must also continue to work for a fairer, more inclusive, more sustainable New York City. I know that it is possible to manage our city in a way that is consistent with our values.

Too much of politics (and society in general) is obsessed with short-term gratification and self-interest at the expense of our longer-term collective interests. That’s true when it comes to climate change, to shifts in the economy, to retirement security, to infrastructure investments, to budgeting. 

The job of the Comptroller is to take the long-term view on NYC: To invest our resources wisely. To tell the truth about our finances and the performance of our agencies. To make sure we are accounting for our values.

The NYC Comptroller is both the city’s Chief Financial Officer and its Chief Accountability Officer. The Comptroller’s office has the tools and the responsibility to ensure that we are investing our pension funds wisely for the long-term and living up to our commitments to each other and to future generations. The Comptroller leads a staff of over 700 employees to carry out responsibilities including oversight over the City’s finances, auditing City agencies, reviewing City contracts for integrity and accountability, enforcing prevailing wage and living wage laws, and serving as a fiduciary to the City’s five public pension funds.

I believe that by taking the long-term view on our collective future -- by accounting for our values -- we can build a more equitable and more sustainable future for all of us. 

I am running to lead the NYC Comptroller’s office to put those tools to work to build a better NYC. With your help, I’m building a strong foundation for a citywide race to improve how our city delivers effective services, develops a sound budget, provides retirement security, and invests in sustainable infrastructure for the long-term -- to make sure that all New Yorkers have access to good jobs, affordable housing, better public transportation, good schools, safe streets, and a healthy environment for generations to come.