It was the end of an era at the end of the year last December, when we learned of the departure of Jordan Feiner. A longtime and very visible presence in the District 3 Office of NYC Council Member Erik Bottcher, Jordan will be missed—and given that a new person was recently appointed to take over his position, we’d be amiss if we didn’t greet them with our traditional (inquisitive and only slightly nosy) Q&A. And with that we welcome—and introduce to you—Quentin Heilbroner, Manhattan Community Board 4 (MCB4) Liaison for NYC Council Membeer Erik Bottcher.

Scott Stiffler, for Chelsea Community News (CCNews): You were recently introduced to the full board of  MCB4 as Council Member Bottcher’s liaison to the board. What do you bring to the job, and why take on this particular type of public service?

Quentin Heilbroner, Manhattan Community Board 4 Liaison for New York City Council Member Erik Bottcher (Quentin): It’s hard to imagine that anybody in this role wouldn’t have deep knowledge of, and love for, New York City—so that probably doesn’t make me special, but it’s still true! This is a unique place in the United States in so many ways, from our multiculturalism and public life to our transit network and our abundance of good bakeries, and I feel a responsibility to play whatever part I can in making it all work.

CCNews: What about Council Member Bottcher and his work made you want to be part of it?

Quentin: Throughout his time as a public servant, Erik Bottcher has been one of the strongest examples of integrity in New York City politics. That’s always a good thing in an elected official no matter what, but I think it’s safe to say that given the news over the last few months, we need leaders who work with honesty and a backbone now more than ever.

CCNews: What’s your previous work experience?

Quentin:I’ve worked on political campaigns pretty much non-stop (with a little break to spend part of a year in Kazakhstan wearing a cowboy outfit and trying to talk about renewable energy in my broken Russian – probably the wildest job I’ll ever have). From starting as an organizer with Hillary Clinton’s campaign in Iowa to electing legislators and governors across the country, campaigning has been an incredible adventure and chance to explore the US and do work that really matters. It was also my first time not being able to easily walk to a grocery store, and as silly as it may sound, that was actually a kind of awakening for me.

CCNews: How does Council Member Bottcher’s District 3 Office follow up on questions and points of discussion that come out of MCB4 meetings?

Quentin: We have a very strong working relationship with Community Board 4 and our partners at City Agencies. If there is ever an issue that is brought to our attention from the Board that requires the participation of other agencies or outside stakeholder, I will work collaboratively with my colleagues to make sure everyone is gathered together to talk through what action we can take.

CCNews: You’re also a “Community Liaison” in that people (affiliated with local groups or on their own) see you as a someone who has direct access to Council Member Bottcher. So they seek you out and speak their mind. What happens when you bring a new concern back to the District Office?

Quentin: When Community Board 4 residents reach out with concerns, we do our best to resolve them as quickly as possible, with solutions ranging from contacting the relevant city agencies to planning site visits and helping constituents parse through what can be complicated bureaucratic processes.

CCNews: You were born and raised on the Upper West Side. What area are you living in currently?

Quentin: Still right here on the Upper West Side! While I’ve been fortunate enough to travel all over for work, my permanent home has been here for my entire life aside from college and a few years afterwards.

CCNews: Does your longtime experience as a NYC resident give you any particular insight into the temperament of Manhattanites and/or District 3?

Quentin: I’ve been a New Yorker forever, but 100% of 30 years is still just 30 years. There are some who’ve been here for 80 more, during our best and worst times, and truthfully I just hope that I get to witness as much history and evolution as they have. I will say this: It’s easy for people who come and go to paint New York as a place where people just spend some time (I’ve heard “it’s perfect for your 20s before you move somewhere else” more times than I can count), but millions of us live here—really, truly live here—and I think that can often get forgotten in discussions on how we build our city and who we build it for. That goes double for Manhattan, and triple for Manhattan south of 59th. Yes, the amenities for visitors are great and fun (I love doing touristy stuff!), but our ultimate goal should always be trying to make it a more affordable and accessible place for people who love our city and want to make it their permanent home to actually put down roots, whether their family has been here for generations or they’ve just stepped off the plane for the first time.

CCNews: Where were you and what were you doing during the pandemic? What was the experience like during that period, and what, if anything, about it continues to resonate with you?

Quentin: I spent most of 2020 as Deputy Campaign Manager for a State Senator on Long Island. I didn’t have a permanent place to stay that year, so I spent a lot of it sleeping in friends’ basements and living rooms while simultaneously running one of the largest field operations of any legislative race across the state. Honestly, I kind of enjoyed the ridiculousness of it all. I still keep in touch with folks from that election and I’m really proud of what we were able to accomplish!

CCNews: Your predecessor, Jordan Feiner, also attended 10th Precinct Community Council meetings and was regular presence at other community meetings. Will that be part of your work?

Quentin: Absolutely! Expect to see me everywhere. I plan to be as present as possible, from Manhattan CB4’s full board meetings to Block Association check-ins, and will help ensure that anyone who reaches out to our office has their concerns taken care of. I’ve already helped dozens of constituents with a wide range of issues and I’m excited to see what’s next. Anybody living in District 3 who needs to get in touch with me can call 212-564-7757 or email district3@council.nyc.gov.

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