Sanchez opposes charter expansion that diverts resources from neighborhood public schools and supports fully funding public schools to ensure every child has access to a high-quality education regardless of zip code.

Illapa believes public education should be accessible and excellent, and that the city's future is shaped by its public schools.

Mariama James believes that schools and youth programs in Lower Manhattan have not kept up with the growing number of families, leading to overcrowded classrooms and uneven opportunities.

Lilah Mejia supports investing in reading programs to improve literacy, supporting parents navigating IEPs and special education services, bringing more resources into public schools, expanding after-school and youth programs, and ensuring every child has access to safe, supportive learning environments.

Sanchez supports expanding community-based healthcare including federally qualified health centers, school-based clinics, and mobile health units; integrating mental health care with increased Medicaid reimbursement rates and non-police crisis response; lowering prescription drug costs through negotiation, public manufacturing, and out-of-pocket caps; and ensuring healthcare access for immigrants, LGBTQIA+ communities, people with disabilities, and other marginalized groups regardless of immigration status.

As a former social worker, Illapa believes the state has an obligation to provide high-quality healthcare to every New Yorker regardless of employment, citizenship status, pre-existing conditions, or ability to pay.

Mariama James supports full Medicaid and Medicare funding, and opposes the '24 Option' that would reduce access to nursing home and rehabilitation services. She notes that healthcare is deeply personal in her district, especially for those affected by 9/11.

Jacky Wong affirms healthcare as a basic right, aiming to keep coverage affordable and accessible by strengthening the New York State of Health marketplace, protecting the Essential Plan, expanding funding for hospitals and community health centers, and improving enrollment and renewal processes. He also focuses on streamlining Medicaid recertification for seniors, strengthening oversight of home care programs, prioritizing home and community-based care, and expanding training for home care workers.

Sanchez believes housing is a human right and supports dramatically increasing deeply affordable housing for households earning 30-50% of AMI and below, fully funding public housing capital needs, expanding social housing models, strengthening Mitchell-Lama-style affordable housing, expanding SCRIE and DRIE eligibility, and fully funding rental assistance and supportive housing.

Illapa supports affordable housing through tenant organizing, building tenant associations, pressuring negligent landlords, passing tenants' rights legislation, and creating community land trusts. He believes private developers and big landlords have controlled housing and that New Yorkers should take back control of their homes.

Mariama James supports building 100% affordable housing on the jail site, opposes NYCHA privatization and demolition, and aims to protect Elizabeth St. Garden. She emphasizes that housing in Lower Manhattan is disappearing and that longtime residents are being pushed out.

Lilah Mejia supports protecting NYCHA and fully funding public housing, preserving rent-stabilized and Mitchell-Lama housing, fighting displacement, expanding truly affordable housing (not luxury development), holding landlords accountable for unsafe conditions, and supporting tenants in organizing and knowing their rights.

Sanchez advocates for a public health approach to safety, investing in stable housing, guaranteed income, youth employment, quality schools, and mental health services; directing state funding to community-based violence interruption programs, restorative justice, and non-police crisis response teams.

Illapa opposes relying on police and armed officers for public safety, instead advocating for care work and wraparound services to de-escalate and create safer communities. He supports decarceration, opposes targeting communities of color, and believes true public safety comes from stable communities with affordable housing, healthcare, childcare, and good union jobs. He wants to shift resources away from policing and jails toward schools, housing, healthcare, and jobs.

Mariama James defines public safety as creating communities where people feel secure, supported, and treated fairly, emphasizing accountability, prevention, mental health support, and investments that strengthen neighborhoods rather than policies that criminalize poverty or rely on mass incarceration.

Jacky Wong supports investing in neighborhood policing with improved responsiveness and consistent presence, expanding language access and cultural competency in law enforcement, ensuring adequate staffing so citywide events do not reduce routine policing, strengthening enforcement against illegal gun trafficking with interagency task forces and gun tracing, and fixing the shelter system with fair distribution, transparent siting, and oversight focused on permanent housing outcomes.

As an anti-war activist, Illapa is committed to advancing state-level proposals to cut off funding for war, displacement, and weapons, and to advance peace, social justice, and human rights at home and abroad.

Sanchez supports the full implementation of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act and opposes delays or weakening of tools like cap-and-invest, arguing that such delays are political decisions that hurt frontline communities and working-class ratepayers.

Illapa helped pass the 2023 Build Public Renewables Act to help New York meet climate targets, lower costs, and create publicly owned renewable energy. He believes big corporations harm the environment and raise costs.

Mariama James treats climate resilience, environmental justice, and quality of life as urgent priorities, citing the district's experience with Superstorm Sandy and rising sea levels.

Sanchez would use every legislative, legal, and organizing tool to defend state sovereignty and sanctuary laws against federal incursion, advance state-level protections codifying immigrant rights, strengthen legal defense funds, and ensure the Attorney General challenges unconstitutional federal overreach in court.

As the child of immigrants, Illapa has led Know Your Rights trainings, grown local rapid response networks, and provided schools with tools to protect neighbors from ICE. He opposes Trump's anti-immigrant policies and believes the state must step up to protect immigrant communities.

Jacky Wong supports protecting NYCHA and Section 8 residents including mixed-status families from displacement, expanding Know-Your-Rights education and legal outreach, advancing legislation to require judicial warrants for commercial spaces to prevent unlawful ICE enforcement, expanding language access across government agencies, strengthening outreach to immigrant communities, and investing in grassroots organizations as trusted points of contact.

Illapa believes New York should prioritize safety, accessibility, and sustainable modes over car culture. He supports funding for street redesign, mass transit, accessibility, and active transport, and wants to reshape the environment to prioritize livability, safety, and sustainability.

Mariama James supports repairing or dismantling congestion pricing in Chinatown and the Lower East Side.

Jacky Wong supports improving transit access in underserved areas of far eastern AD65, ensuring fair reinvestment of congestion pricing revenue into impacted communities, improving bus reliability and service frequency, including underserved neighborhoods like the Lower East Side in free bus pilot programs, and accelerating elevator installation at Essex Street and other high-ridership stations.

As a proud gay person, Illapa has fought for LGBTQ siblings as a social worker and tenant organizer. He believes a safe, dignified, and good life can be possible for every LGBTQ person across New York State.

Mariama James supports anti-racism efforts.

Sanchez stands with workers organizing for dignity, safety, and fair pay, and pledges to be a partner on the picket line, in the legislature, and at the bargaining table.

Jacky Wong supports strengthening enforcement against wage theft, protecting safe working conditions and fair wages under New York labor law, supporting small businesses with state financing, tax credits, and technical assistance while advocating for relief from excessive regulatory burdens, and investing in workforce development and apprenticeship programs for stable jobs.