Affordability

Stephanie Ruskay supports increasing funding for affordable early childcare and early childhood education, expanding access to afterschool options, calling for a Manhattan Tenants Union, advocating for robust public transportation including a busway on 110th Street, increasing production of affordable housing units (especially 2- and 3-bedroom units), and ending the Commercial Rent Tax for small businesses south of 96th Street.

Infrastructure & Environmental Justice

Ruskay supports stopping unjustified utility rate hikes and new fossil fuel infrastructure, advancing the New York Climate Initiative with Cap-and-Invest, championing the NY HEAT Act, lowering energy bills for renters and homeowners, boosting renewable deployment (offshore wind, 20 GW solar, $200 million for new renewables), supporting the Insure Our Future Act, decarbonizing transportation, and pushing for state climate resilience investments for public housing and transit.

Education & Schools

Ruskay supports increasing Universal Pre-K and 3K seats, protecting public school funding and finding new revenue streams, increasing SUNY and CUNY funding, universal afterschool and summer programming through 8th grade, strengthening religious literacy education to combat hate-based bullying, and supporting nutritious school meal programs and increased funding for guidance counselors, social workers, and staff for students with IEPs and 504s.