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? 

Carl Wilson (Carl): I am uniquely qualified to represent District 3 because I have spent years doing the real, on-the-ground work that makes local government deliver for people in Hell’s Kitchen, Chelsea, and the West Village. 

As Chief of Staff to Council Member Erik Bottcher, I helped produce tangible results for our community, from passing first-of-their-kind gun safety and environmental legislation, to securing funding for our public schools, neighborhood nonprofits, and parks, to organizing tenants and taking on abusive landlords. I have also fought for safer, more pedestrian-focused street designs that put people first and make our neighborhoods easier and safer to walk, bike, and move through. I helped shape major land use proposals that affect our blocks and our future, and I chaired the Times Square casino Community Advisory Committee, bringing community voices directly into one of the most consequential land use decisions facing our district. 

I am a longtime West Side resident and live in Hell’s Kitchen with my partner of 10 years, James. I came to New York City in 2009 as a struggling actor, and I know firsthand how hard it is to build a life here. That experience shaped my deep commitment to working people and to the arts community that makes our neighborhood vibrant and unique. 

I am running because District 3 deserves a Council Member who already knows this district block by block, who understands how City Hall actually works, and who is ready to deliver from day one. I am prepared to fight for real affordability, safer and cleaner streets, and a more equitable city, and to bring both proven experience and leadership to the City Council on behalf of our West Side communities.

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? 

Carl: With my broad experience in City Hall, I will arrive as Council Member ready to work on day one. I have strong working relationships with, and multiple endorsements from, current sitting Council Members. I know our committee staff, city agencies, and community leaders across the West Side and throughout the city. District 3’s top priorities, including housing affordability, NYCHA conditions, public safety, sanitation, and protecting our arts and LGBTQ+ communities are already at the center of my work, and serving as Council Member will allow me to jump in head first. My experience means no learning curve and no lost time for constituents.

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? 

Carl: The District Office should be the front door to City Hall for constituents. It should be responsive, accessible, and proactive in every case. My staff will be working day one on casework, community engagement, and overall, meeting our constituents where they are. I intend to hire experienced, neighborhood-focused staff, including a Chief of Staff and Community Liaisons, immediately upon taking office. I’m committed to building a team that reflects the diversity of District 3 and has deep ties to the community.

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

Carl: Yes! Our campaign’s website is www.CarlWilsonNYC.com, where supporters can learn more, sign up for emails, volunteer, and donate. We’re also active on social media to keep voters informed and engaged. You can find me on Instagram and FaceBook as @carlmwilson and on X as @CarlMichaelW.

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

Carl: Yes, I voted early for my good friend and longtime mentor Council Member Erik Bottcher, to serve as our next State Senator. I am honored to have his endorsement to be his successor for City Council District 3.

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

Carl: I’m an early voter whenever possible. Early voting expands access to democracy, makes participation more convenient for working people, and helps ensure higher turnout, which is something I strongly support.

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? 

Carl: I am proud to have the widest array of community and Electeds endorsements among any candidate in this race. I announced my campaign with over 150 community leaders behind me. At the City Council, I have Speaker Julie Menin, Council Member Bottcher, Council Member Shaun Abreu, Council Member Kevin C. Riley, Council Member Lynn Schulman, Council Member Justin Sanchez, and Former Council Member Keith Powers’ endorsements. I am also proud to be endorsed by Comptroller Mark Levine and Former Comptroller Scott Stringer. The Former Council Members from District 3 as well as Former Speakers of the Council, Corey Johnson and Christine Quinn, are also on my team. Some more incredible community leaders who support me are 75B District Leaders Adrienne Ford and Paul Devlin, State Committee Member Marti Cummings, Manhattan Plaza Tenant President Aleta Lafargue, NYCHA Fulton Houses Tenant President Miguel Acevedo, Former Executive Director of Westbeth George Cominskie, and Former Tenant President of NYCHA Elliott-Chelsea Houses Darlene Waters.

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?

Carl: Yes, I fully intend to serve out the term. While Special E lections are never ideal, this transition creates an opportunity for both continuity and a new beginning for District 3. I have worked closely with Council Member Bottcher and understand the priorities and commitments already made to the district, but also have a new perspective and will be laser-focused on housing and affordability. My goal is to build on the good work we have accomplished while bringing my own leadership and vision to the role in this new era for NYC government.

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? 

Carl: My position on Fulton and Elliott-Chelsea begins with responsibility to the tenants and a commitment to oversight. NYCHA faces a massive capital crisis, and decades of disinvestment have left residents living with failing systems and unacceptable conditions. Doing nothing is not an option. But neither is moving forward with a plan without exhaustive scrutiny, enforceable protections, and the clear participation of the people who live there. 

I believe a rebuilding plan can only be justified if it demonstrably delivers better, safer housing for tenants and strengthens the long-term public mission of NYCHA. That requires far more than promises on paper. It requires aggressive, independent oversight and a willingness to change course if the project is not meeting its obligations.

As a Council Member, I will use every tool of the City Council’s land use and oversight authority to demand a top-to-bottom review of the Fulton and Elliott-Chelsea plan. I will work closely with Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Attorney General Letitia James, and Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal to exercise maximum oversight of this project, including its financing, phasing, tenant protections, relocation plans, and construction timelines. Attorney General James’s role is especially critical to ensuring that commitments made to tenants are legally enforceable and that accountability does not disappear once approvals are granted. 

I will not simply accept assurances from NYCHA or the development team. Oversight means continuous monitoring, public transparency, and clear consequences if promises are broken. It also means incorporating community feedback, including key recommendations from Community Board 4, and strengthening community benefits so this project improves quality of life for residents and the surrounding neighborhood. 

That includes concrete investments such as upgrades to PS33 Chelsea Prep, thoughtful urban design that respects Chelsea’s character, and building materials and massing that fit the neighborhood. These buildings should be contextual, durable, and concentrated along 10th Avenue, not overwhelming interior residential streets. 

My bottom line is simple and non-negotiable: What matters most is what is best for the tenants. Any redevelopment must result in safer homes, stronger protections, real stability, and a better future for the people who call Fulton and Elliott-Chelsea home. If this project does not meet that standard, I will use my land use authority and oversight powers to demand changes until it does.

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

Carl: Good citywide policy should uplift local communities—and vice versa. I will always center District 3 while understanding my responsibility to the broader city. I believe collaboration, coalition-building, and honesty with constituents are key to balancing those responsibilities.

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

Carl: The budget is where values become real. I’ll advocate aggressively for District 3 priorities—NYCHA funding, job training, parks, sanitation, arts and culture, and social services—while also pushing for a fair, progressive citywide budget. Having worked through the budget process multiple times before, I know exactly how to fight for resources and deliver results.

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?

Carl: What remains consistent is my commitment to this community. If anything has changed, it is that my experience has deepened. The challenges facing District 3, including affordability, quality of life, and equity, remain urgent, and I am even more prepared to meet them now.

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

Carl: District 3 is my home. I care deeply about protecting its diversity, supporting its small businesses and cultural institutions, and ensuring it remains a place where people of all backgrounds can thrive. I am running to be a Council Member who is accessible, effective, and unafraid to stand up for this community, and I would be honored to earn the trust of its residents.

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