Ripple effects from recent elections are being felt in Chelsea and its nearby nabes, turning winter’s normal dormancy into a whirlwind of online forums, in-person petitioning, and endorsement announcements—all part of the process culminating in April 28’s Special Election for City Council District 3.

That seat was vacated last week, when Erik Bottcher handily won his bid to become the NYS Senator representing District 47. (Bottcher succeeds longtime office holder Brad Hoylman-Sigal, now in his second month as Manhattan Borough President.)

That leaves one more political puzzle piece in play—with a field of familiar locals seeking to represent the Hudson Square, West Village, Chelsea, Hudson Yards, Meatpacking District, Garment District, Times Square, and Hell’s Kitchen areas that comprise Council District 3.

Chelsea Community News recently sent each candidate the same set of questions, yielding detailed and revealing Q&As from: 

—Council District 3 Candidate Leslie Boghosian Murphy

—Council District 3 Candidate Lindsey Boylan

—Council District 3 Candidate Carl Wilson

And, directly below, Council District 3 Candidate Layla Law-Gisiko

Scott Stiffler, for Chelsea Community News (CCNews): What makes you uniquely qualified to be the NYC Council District 3 rep, and why are you a candidate?

Layla Law-Gisiko (Layla): For more than two decades, I’ve served this district from the ground up–as a community organizer, a District Leader, and as President of The City Club of New York, one of the city’s most respected civic institutions. I’ve spent years reading the fine print of land use deals, environmental impact statements, zoning text amendments, and budget documents–because that’s where the real decisions get made, often far from public view. I know how special interests operate in New York, and how easily communities get sidelined when no one is watching closely enough. I’m running because District 3 deserves a representative who understands how City Hall actually works, and is willing to stand up to it when it doesn’t work for people. What makes me uniquely qualified is experience, proximity, and independence.

I’m running because accountability in this city has, at times, become optional. That’s not acceptable.

On housing, I’ve worked directly with tenants, NYCHA residents, and neighborhood groups. Often, we have been told that displacement is “inevitable” and that deeply affordable housing is “unrealistic.” I reject that framing. We can create and preserve permanently and deeply affordable housing if we stop treating public land as a bargaining chip for luxury development and start treating housing as core infrastructure. I’ve challenged opaque redevelopment plans including Vornado’s lunacy at Penn Station, demanded real transparency, and brought independent experts into the conversation because people deserve facts, not talking points.

On public safety and quality of life, I believe in safe streets that work for everyone–pedestrians, cyclists, seniors, families, and small businesses. Safety is not about rhetoric. It’s about design, enforcement, services, and trust. It’s about well-lit streets, functioning infrastructure, and a city that takes everyday disorder seriously without criminalizing poverty.

I’m also running because I am not beholden to developers, lobbyists, or political machines. My career has been built outside of elected office, which means I don’t owe anyone favors–and I intend to keep it that way. That independence matters in a district as complex, high-stakes, and contested as District 3.

CCNews: If elected, you’ll be in office very shortly thereafter. How will you arrive ready to effectively serve, in terms of top local priorities and relationships with other Council Members?

Layla: I will arrive on day one ready to serve, with clear priorities to deliver results. I have a concrete plan for the NYCHA buildings at Fulton and Elliott-Chelsea, centered on increased funding, transparency, and tenant protections; a practical roadmap for public safety and quality of life with safer streets and functioning infrastructure; and a disciplined strategy to negotiate the City budget so District 3 receives its fair share of resources.

I am prepared to fight for municipal retirees’ healthcare, to take the next steps to save the Tony Dapolito Recreation Center as essential public infrastructure, and to make thoughtful, independent Community Board appointments grounded in competence and integrity, not special interests.

Years of civic leadership have given me strong working relationships with many seated Council Members, and I am proud to be endorsed by Council Member Christopher Marte, allowing me to be effective immediately. Come day one, I will be focused on outcomes, not onboarding.

CCNews: Talk about how you’ll use the District Office to serve constituents. Do you currently have a Chief of Staff and a Community Liaison in mind? If so, who? If not, when?

Layla: Constituent service will be a core function of my office. I will assemble a strong, dedicated team from day one, with a clear intake and tracking system so every constituent request is logged, addressed, and followed through in a timely manner. I have a clear vision for staffing–experienced constituent services professionals focused on problem-solving; dedicated Community Board liaisons who understand district-level issues; a legislative director capable of producing serious, high-quality policy work; and a land use planner on staff to help Community Boards and residents navigate complex proposals with real expertise.

The goal is simple and non-negotiable: Deliver the most responsive constituent services and the sharpest, most competent work District 3 has ever seen from a Council office. I will announce staffing the week after the election.

CCNews: Does your campaign have a website and/or social media presence? How can a person join your email subscriber list?

Layla: Yes. You can find us at www.laylaforny.com, the digital front door to the campaign. It’s where we lay out our priorities, share what’s ahead, and keep things refreshingly transparent. There’s an easy sign-up to join our email list, which is the best way to hear directly from me about what we’re working on and how to get involved. We’re also active on social media, sharing updates, policy, and life on the ground. But if you want the signal, not the noise, the mailing list is where it’s at.

CCNews: Do you tend to be an Early Voting or an Election Day participant, and why?

Layla: I almost always vote early. As a District Leader, I’m the local organizer for the Democratic Party, and Election Day is my busiest day of the year–activating volunteers, turning out voters, and visiting poll sites throughout the district to ensure the election is conducted without incident and to the highest standard. Voting early allows me to focus on protecting the process and helping others participate on Election Day.

CCNews: Talk about the endorsements you’ve received and how they reflect on your stated goals as a candidate. Conversely, how do endorsements given to other candidates in the race reflect on them as well as yourself?

Layla: I’m proud of the endorsements I’ve received because they reflect exactly what this campaign stands for: independence, competence, and governing in the public interest.

I’m endorsed by Council Member Christopher Marte (Lower Manhattan), as well as Democratic Leaders Mariama James, Vittoria Fariello, Mar Fitzgerald, David Warren, and Fran Haselkorn, representing Downtown, the West Village, and Chelsea. I’m also honored to have the support of civic, tenant, and community leaders including Pamela Wolff, Renee Keitt, Susan Marshall Palmer, Inge Ivchenko, Lizette Colon, civil rights attorney Norman Siegel, Hudson River Park founder Tom Fox, and former City Council Member Justin Brannan. Together, these endorsements underscore that this campaign is about delivering real results for District 3, not serving special interests. Voters can learn a great deal from who is supporting whom, whether a campaign is grounded in grassroots organizing and public-interest advocacy, or more closely aligned with particular political machines or interest groups. I respect that different candidates have different coalitions, but I’m clear about mine: It reflects a commitment to independence, accountability, and putting residents first.

CCNews: If elected, do you intend to serve out the full term? How do you feel about the fact that the Special Election you’re running for was compelled by Erik Bottcher’s ascension to another elected position?

Layla: Yes. If elected, I intend to serve out the full term and give District 3 the stable, focused representation it deserves. The Special Election is the result of an unusual circumstance–the sitting Council Member’s election to another office shortly after beginning a new term. Erik Bottcher served the district for four years, and prior to that he was of service as the District 3 Council Member’s Chief of Staff. It is not unusual for electeds to seek other offices when seats become vacant–and Erik Bottcher will continue to represent the district as NYS Senator.

CCNews: If elected to this and all other terms qualified for, your time in the position would coincide with the next several years worth of changes coming to the two NYCHA properties in Chelsea. What is your position in demolition/construction vs. renovation and public/private partnership matters? What level of influence do you have in those matters, and how will you use that influence?

Layla: I am opposed to demolition and to the privatization of public land. Renovation and rehabilitation were the promise made to NYCHA residents, and that is where we must return. We need a tenant-centric approach that puts people before expediency. We must acknowledge that making promises and reneging of them, whether on public housing or any other topic, is the most corrosive form of governing action. 

I am the only candidate in this race who has taken concrete action on this issue. I sued the New York City Housing Authority pro se to force the release of public documents–and I won–because transparency is the minimum owed to residents and neighbors whose homes are at stake.

As a Council Member, I will use land use authority, budget negotiations, and oversight powers to work with city, state, and federal partners–including the Housing Development Corporation–to deliver a financing roadmap that funds repairs, preserves affordability, and keeps public housing public in fact, not just in name.

CCNews: As a Council Member, how will you navigate matters that might be beneficial to the City as a whole vs. what’s best for Council District 3?

Layla: My responsibility is to represent the people of District 3 clearly, forcefully, and honestly. Fortunately, what’s good for District 3 (deeply affordable housing, accountable land use, safe streets, climate resilience, and transparent government) also aligns with New York City’s broader goals. When there is tension, I will advocate for the district without equivocation while working constructively to shape citywide policy that delivers real local benefits.

CCNews: How will you use your position to influence the annual City Budget process?

Layla: The City budget is one of the most powerful tools a Council Member has. For those who don’t know me, I read municipal budgets as a regular habit! I will engage early, build coalitions, and press agencies for clear, enforceable commitments. My focus will be securing District 3’s fair share of funding for education, the arts, parks, libraries, public housing, and street safety. Those are the everyday infrastructure that make a neighborhood livable. Just as importantly, I will use oversight to ensure funds are actually spent as promised.

CCNews: This is not your first Q&A with Chelsea Community News. Are there statements in this Q&A that have changed over time or remain particularly relevant for the office you’re currently seeking?

Layla: As I reflect on my responses, I find that I fully stand by the statements I made back in 2022. I have only sharpened my resolve and honed my skills to represent the people of Chelsea in elected office.

Back then, I emphasized that public service requires technical expertise and a willingness to hold power to account, from writing legislation to reading environmental impact statements–and that hasn’t changed. I’ve long believed in fighting for affordable housing, community control of land, accountable government, and working closely with other elected officials when our district’s residents’ benefit. Those remain core to how I would serve as Council Member. What has evolved is the context: In 2022, I was running for Assembly with those values. Today, I’m running for City Council with real fights over NYCHA’s future, public land, and transparency already underway, and with concrete wins and experience behind me that show I don’t just talk about accountability. I’ve delivered it in practice.

CCNews: Thanks for your time. Please use this space to talk about anything of note not covered by the above series of questions.

Layla: I am the only immigrant in this race, and I know firsthand how deeply ICE has traumatized our city, our neighborhoods, and our families. I will be an unapologetic advocate for immigrants, for dignity, and for safety without fear. That means standing up to policies that harm our communities, calling for the abolition of ICE, and ending New York City’s entanglements with it–including canceling the Hudson River Park Trust’s contract with ICE. District 3 deserves leadership that is prepared, principled, and willing to challenge entrenched power to deliver a more just city. One thing I want to say clearly is this: I am a fighter. And I fight with knowledge, savvy, and a refusal to accept the status quo as inevitable.

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