I’m a proud working mom, a lifelong New Yorker, and a product of District 38—which includes Sunset Park, Red Hook, Greenwood Heights, Borough Park, Dyker Heights, and parts of Bensonhurst. I know these neighborhoods because I’ve lived in them since immigrating to the U.S. with my mother at age 14. I went to public school here. I learned English here. I raised my family here. And I’ve spent my career working in city government, helping people navigate real problems—problems that can’t be solved with a slogan or a press conference.
Let me be clear: protest has its place. I respect its power. But once you’re elected to the New York City Council, your job goes beyond protesting—it’s to govern. And far too often in this city, we’ve seen elected officials confuse performative outrage with real public service.
District 38 doesn’t need another professional protester. We need a serious leader who understands how to write legislation, pass budgets, and hold city agencies accountable. We need someone who doesn’t just talk about housing—but fights to build it. Someone who doesn’t just criticize the system—but knows how to fix it.
Our neighborhoods face urgent challenges. In Sunset Park, families are being priced out by rising rents and living costs. In Red Hook, public housing has been neglected for too long. In Dyker Heights, Borough Park, and Bensonhurst, small homeowners are overburdened by ever-increasing property taxes. Across the district, residents worry about crime, congestion, and quality of life. We need more youth and senior services, and more support for the small businesses trying to stay afloat.
None of these problems will be solved by shouting on the steps of City Hall. They’ll be solved by showing up, doing the work, and delivering results.
That’s exactly what I’ve done throughout my career in public service. I’ve helped immigrant families find housing, seniors access benefits, and working parents navigate city bureaucracy. I didn’t do it for headlines—I did it because I know how hard life in this city can be, and I believe government has a responsibility to work for the people who call it home.
One of the clearest examples is how under-allocated our community is when it comes to basic services—from sanitation to police coverage. These agencies rely on census data, which chronically undercounts immigrant communities. As your Council Member, I will fight for a fair share of resources by urging agencies to also use more accurate metrics, like school enrollment data. That’s not ideology. That’s equity.
The job of a Council Member is not to make noise. It’s to make progress. That means returning phone calls. Attending community board meetings. Holding oversight hearings. Reading every line of the budget. And working with everyone—regardless of political affiliation—because our neighborhoods can’t afford gridlock or grandstanding. They need results.
I’m not running to make a point. I’m running to make a difference.
Our families, seniors, tenants, homeowners, and small businesses deserve a City Council Member who is focused on them—not on building a personal brand. I will be that Council Member. I will fight for our neighborhoods—not just with words, but with action.
Because leadership isn’t about being the loudest voice in the room. It’s about being the most effective one.
Ling Ye is a candidate for City Council District 38.
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