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 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 Layla Law-Gisiko

—Council District 3 Candidate Carl Wilson

And, directly below, find our Q&A with Council District 3 Candidate Jamin Enquist

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

Jamin Enquist (Jamin): I am a Hell’s Kitchen resident, LGBTQ+ community activist, and immigration attorney working in deportation defense. I decided to launch this campaign for the special election in District 3 because I realized that in this unprecedented moment for both our city and country it has never been more important for new voices to enter our system and challenge the political insiders who have been promising little more than moderate incremental change to working New Yorkers. Having grown up poor in rural Virginia, I know that my neighbors who are working long hours and living paycheck-to-paycheck should not be forced to settle for less than they deserve.

As an immigration attorney, I have seen firsthand how the most vulnerable among us are often only prioritized by politicians when it is politically expedient to do so. My neighbors and New York City as a whole—deserve public servants who not only care deeply about their day-to-day needs, but are also committed fighters who are unwilling to accept the paucity of half-measures.

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? 

Jamin: Recent elections have taught us that campaigns and politicians fail when they take for granted the genuine needs of their constituents and the solidarity that is required to effect change on their behalf. I have a deep commitment to the priorities of our district because, like our neighbors, they are front of mind for me everyday. As a working New Yorker who has known what it’s like to live paycheck-to-paycheck, the cost of living and affordability crises that tens of thousands of our neighbors in the Third District affect me as well.

As an immigration attorney and member of the LGBTQ+ community, the need for reliable and accountable community safety is of paramount importance. When a public servant’s lived experience is tied to the needs and priorities of their constituents, their salience is magnified exponentially. As an avowed progressive, I am committed to developing real solidarity with other council members because I know that only through such coalitional work can progress be forged.

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? 

Jamin: Part of the reason I started this campaign is that I believe strongly in ending the cycle of insider politics. I have not preselected a Chief of Staff or a Community Liaison. I am committed to filling those roles through a transparent and open application process. Neither position should be filled as a reward to insiders or based on political loyalty. I will conduct an open hiring process immediately after the election, prioritizing qualified individuals who have served this district, not just politically-connected social climbers.

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

Jamin: Yes, you can follow us now on all major social media platforms at @jaminenquist. Upon the forthcoming launch of our website, jamin4ny.com, you can immediately join our email list and receive campaign updates. In the meantime, we’re happy to directly communicate with any interested residents of the district at hello@jamin4ny.com. 

CCNews: Did you vote in the State Senate District 47 Special Election? 

Jamin: Yes, I voted for Erik Bottcher and believe he will do a great job in the state senate. I have great respect for him and the legacy he has left behind in the Third District. By the same token, though, I truly think that now is the time for new voices outside the political establishment to be centered, including in the Third District. Our community and country are at a precipitous inflection point and our neighbors cannot afford to have a public servant who is anything less than a relentless advocate for their core needs.

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

Jamin: Most recently, I’ve consistently voted early. I genuinely believe that early voting has been a fantastic development for the city, and I am strongly supportive of all methods that expand voting access. We should be taking all possible steps to ensure that the greatest number of New Yorkers are empowered to make their voices heard at the ballot box.

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 reflect on them as well as yourself? 

Jamin: As we are a recently-launched campaign, we are just in the beginning-stages of speaking to organizations about their respective endorsement processes and making the case for our vision of the Third District. Unlike some of the other campaigns that have had the luxury of resources and time because the personal situations of their respective candidates permit such freedom, our campaign is run by people who all have full-time jobs and are not political insiders. I, our leadership team, and our volunteers are all giving ourselves to this venture because we think new voices who are not yoked to the professional politician class are exactly what our city needs. We will be eager to provide more information about endorsements soon.

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?

Jamin: I will absolutely serve the full term if elected. I vehemently believe that public service is a responsibility not to be taken lightly and should only be undertaken by those with a good faith intention of serving out their term. Our neighbors are rarely well-served by representatives who are always looking for their next electoral leg-up.

CCNews: If elected, your term would coincide with major changes at NYCHA properties in Chelsea. What is your position on demolition vs. renovation and public/private partnerships? 

Jamin: My position is grounded in the simple principle that residents must be at the center of every decision. Residents often do not feel meaningfully heard in the planning and decision-making process. That has to change. Public housing residents deserve safe, dignified living conditions and real power in shaping the future of their homes. The crisis at NYCHA is severe. With enormous unmet capital needs, Chelsea developments continue to face mold, utility failures, and aging infrastructure. We cannot accept the status quo. At the same time, we cannot move forward without deep, binding community involvement and respect for the concerns residents are raising.

The debate between demolition and renovation should be driven by what will deliver safe, modern, permanently affordable housing for current residents. In some cases, rehabilitation may still be viable. In others, rebuilding is the best long-term solution. But demolition must never become a pathway to displacement. There must be ironclad, legally enforceable right-to-return guarantees for every resident, with no loss of affordability and no added barriers. Regarding public-private partnerships, including PACT and RAD, I believe any outside investment must strengthen tenant protections. Residents must retain their rights, rents must remain permanently affordable, and oversight must be transparent and accountable.

Public housing is home to working-class New Yorkers who anchor this community. Any path forward must be guided by the people who live there and have the most at stake.

CCNews: As a Council Member, how will you navigate what’s best for the city as a whole versus District 3?

Jamin: It is a fundamental requirement of public service that an elected representative serve the constituents who put them in office. It would be nothing less than a failure of leadership to advance policies that benefit the city at the expense of our district. However, effective legislating should not force us to make the choice between the two. The policies we believe in and advocate for would uplift New Yorkers throughout the city and bring about meaningful change in their day-to-day lives. A rising tide lifts all boats, and courageous progressive policy-making benefits us all. But should an instance ever arise where policy or a piece of legislation would squarely disfavor the Third District, I will take every conceivable action to defeat it. 

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

Jamin: The New York City municipal budget is the largest local government spending plan in the United States, one of (if not the) largest in the world, and dwarfs the budgets of all but a handful of states. The money it allocates touches the lives of every resident of the city and has the power to bring about enormous change or stymie paths to progress. With such an immense amount of power and influence in the hands of our city government, it is of paramount importance that our council members enter into the budgetary process clear-eyed and with the daily needs of working New Yorkers squarely in their sights.

As the position of council member is only conferred through the ascent of our neighbors, I would prioritize using my position to continue the legacy of participatory budgeting that my predecessor set in the Third District. Each neighborhood in our district has diverse needs and requirements, and it would be trademark political hubris to think that you have a better idea of the neighborhoods’ needs than the people walking the streets in them every day. To that end, I would commit to increasing the amount of money from the council member’s discretionary fund that is open to allocation through the participatory budgeting process.

Understanding the significance of the city’s budget, I would use my position as a council member to ensure that the essential services the Third District relies upon — public housing, mental health, schools, housing stability programs, childcare, and emergency services — are fully funded and not subjected to predatory cuts that harm our neighbors. To that end, I would advocate for measures to raise revenue that will not target my constituents while ensuring that the success of these capital programs protects essential services from ending up on the chopping block. One of the most clear-cut ways to raise capital in this way is to expand paid street parking in the city. Over 80% of households in our district do not own a car and instead rely on our public transit system for transportation. There is no reason for us to prioritize the small minority of households who own cars at the expense of an effective revenue program that would bring in much-needed capital for the Third District and the city as a whole.

Finally, I would put a significant degree of attention towards intense oversight of and transparency for the city’s budget. Mayor Mamdani’s recent revelation that the Adams mayoralty and Cuomo governorship buried a $12 billion budget deficit through intentional under-budgeting and irresponsible financial management should be seen as the enormous scandal that it is. To earn back the trust of New Yorkers, this pattern of corruption and mismanagement must not be permitted to continue. 

CCNews: Please use this space to talk about anything of note not covered above. 

Jamin: Given the current political climate and my own professional work, I would be remiss if I did not take the opportunity to bring attention to the ongoing communal devastation being wrought by ICE. As Operation Metro Surge concludes in Minneapolis, there are rumors that New York City is among the cities being considered for the next oppressive federal invasion. I am genuinely heartened to see so many politicians and community leaders recognize the importance of this moment and use their positions to advocate for the immigrant community. I hope that this advocacy does not end as soon as ICE is no longer front page news, as undocumented and noncitizen New Yorkers deserve more than fair-weather friends who hop on the bandwagon and join the chorus chanting slogans when it is politically expedient to do so. For my part, I will always prioritize the needs of immigrant New Yorkers and fight for immigrant justice with every ounce of my being.

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