By Ericka O’Connell, Roosevelt Island Daily
This week on The Beat, we’ve explored the broader landscape of the 2025 general election. Today, we focus on a race that directly impacts our community — the District 5 City Council race. This district encompasses Roosevelt Island, the Upper East Side, and parts of East Harlem, making it a pivotal area in the upcoming election.
The Candidates
Julie Menin (Democrat)
Council Member Julie Menin represents District 5, covering the East Side of Manhattan and Roosevelt Island. An attorney, civic leader, three-time City Commissioner, and former small business owner, Julie has over two decades of experience in the public and private sectors. She currently serves as the Chair of the City Council Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection. Julie has been a strong advocate for Roosevelt Island, working on issues to improve the quality of life for its residents.
Alina Bonsell (Republican)
Challenging Menin is Republican candidate Alina Bonsell. Bonsell is focusing her campaign on issues such as public safety, fiscal responsibility, and supporting small businesses. She aims to bring a fresh perspective to the City Council, advocating for policies that she believes will benefit the residents of District 5.
Key Issues in the Race
Housing
Housing affordability is one of the most pressing issues in District 5, where skyrocketing rents and limited housing options affect longtime residents and newcomers alike. Both candidates acknowledge these challenges, but they approach the issue from markedly different perspectives.
Julie Menin has made housing affordability a cornerstone of her campaign and her current term. She has championed policies aimed at increasing affordable housing development across the district, including initiatives to expand income-restricted units and protect tenants from displacement. Menin has supported stronger rent protections and worked to prevent the erosion of affordable housing stock through community-based planning. For Roosevelt Island, Menin has been an advocate for ensuring that housing development meets the needs of both existing residents and newcomers while preserving the community’s character and accessibility.
Alina Bonsell emphasizes market-driven solutions to address housing shortages. She argues that reducing regulatory barriers and streamlining the development approval process will incentivize developers to create more housing, which she believes will naturally help lower costs over time. Bonsell also focuses on empowering property owners and encouraging private sector investment to increase supply. While her approach prioritizes economic incentives, critics argue it may not guarantee affordability for the most vulnerable residents unless paired with stronger safeguards.
The differences in approach highlight the core of this debate: whether housing affordability should be pursued through stronger public protections and regulation, as Menin advocates, or through incentives and deregulation, as Bonsell proposes. For District 5, and especially for Roosevelt Island residents facing unique housing pressures, this will be a defining issue of the 2025 election.
Public Safety
Public safety remains a key concern for residents of District 5, especially as communities grapple with rising concerns over crime, emergency preparedness, and equitable policing. Both candidates highlight safety as a priority, but their strategies differ in approach.
Julie Menin supports community-based policing initiatives, emphasizing strong collaboration between police and local communities to build trust and improve safety. She advocates for increased funding for mental health services as a complementary approach, aiming to address root causes of crime. Menin also promotes expanded programs to improve neighborhood safety without over-policing, ensuring that public safety efforts respect civil liberties and community relationships. On Roosevelt Island, where safety and accessibility are closely tied to transportation and public space design, Menin’s approach includes advocating for enhanced lighting, emergency services, and coordinated safety planning.
Alina Bonsell frames public safety through the lens of increased police presence and resources. Her platform stresses the importance of supporting law enforcement with better equipment, staffing, and funding to ensure quick responses to crime. Bonsell argues that visible policing deters crime and reassures communities. Her platform also emphasizes swift action on quality-of-life issues, such as public sanitation, noise regulation, and street maintenance, as part of a broader safety strategy. Critics, however, caution that such an approach could lead to over-policing in certain neighborhoods without addressing underlying issues.
This difference reflects a larger debate about the balance between enforcement and prevention — and for Roosevelt Island, public safety measures will influence daily life, from commuter security to the usability of shared spaces.
Transportation and Infrastructure
Transportation and infrastructure are central to the wellbeing of District 5 residents, and Roosevelt Island — uniquely dependent on the Tram and other transit connections — feels these concerns acutely. The two candidates offer distinct visions for improving access and infrastructure.
Julie Menin has been a consistent advocate for transit improvements in her current term. She has pushed for better coordination with state and city agencies to address Tram reliability, exploring proposals such as a Fast Pass program to make boarding more efficient for residents and commuters. Menin also supports upgrades to public transit facilities and infrastructure that enhance accessibility for people with disabilities, seniors, and families with children. Her platform ties transportation improvements to environmental sustainability, encouraging investment in green transit and bike-friendly infrastructure.
Alina Bonsell focuses on broad infrastructure investment with an emphasis on connectivity and efficiency. Bonsell advocates for streamlining transit development projects to expedite improvements and reduce cost overruns. Her proposals include better integration between subway, bus, and tram services, as well as targeted infrastructure upgrades to reduce congestion and enhance safety. Bonsell also emphasizes leveraging private sector partnerships to fund and manage infrastructure projects, with the goal of creating a more responsive and adaptable transit system. Critics note that without specific protections and oversight, such partnerships may risk prioritizing profit over equitable access.
For Roosevelt Island residents, transportation isn’t just about convenience — it is a lifeline. How each candidate plans to improve it will have a direct effect on daily life, access to jobs, and the long-term sustainability of the community.
Small Business Support
Supporting small businesses is a priority for both candidates. Menin has worked on initiatives to assist small businesses in navigating city regulations and accessing resources. Bonsell aims to reduce bureaucratic hurdles and provide incentives for small businesses to thrive.
Impact of Julie Menin’s Tenure on Roosevelt Island
During her time in office, Julie Menin has been a strong advocate for Roosevelt Island. She has worked on issues to improve the quality of life for its residents, including efforts to grant residents the power to vote for members of the board of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC). Additionally, Menin has been involved in discussions with state officials to improve transit options for the community, such as advocating for a Fast Pass proposal for the Roosevelt Island Tram.
Menin has also prioritized safety and accessibility, supporting improvements in lighting, emergency services, and transit access. These efforts reflect her commitment to addressing Roosevelt Island’s unique needs within the larger context of District 5. For voters here, Menin’s record offers concrete examples of how leadership can shape life in our community — a key consideration as we head into the election.
As we approach Election Day, it’s crucial to stay informed about the candidates and their platforms. Visit the candidates’ official websites and attend community forums to learn more about where they stand on the issues that matter most to you. Your vote is your voice — make it count.
A Different Kind of Bet
For years, Roosevelt Island did not behave like a system constrained by limits. Internally, the budget was often treated less as a boundary and more as a reservoir to be used.
