Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Erik Bottcher for City Council District 3
Candidate Name: Erik Bottcher
Office Seeking Election for: New York City Council District 3
Campaign Website: www.tiffanycaban.nyc
1. Based upon your life experiences and accomplishments, why do you believe you are best qualified to represent your district?
My personal journey from a small town in the Adirondack Mountains, where I was the only openly gay individual I knew, has deeply informed my commitment to advocating for marginalized communities. These early experiences with homophobia and depression instilled in me a profound empathy and drive to effect meaningful change.
Prior to my tenure on the Council, I served as the LGBTQ & HIV/AIDS Community Liaison in the City Council’s community outreach unit, organizing grassroots campaigns on issues such as hate crimes, transgender rights, housing for people with HIV/AIDS, and marriage equality. I also worked as the statewide LGBTQ Community Liaison in the governor’s office, where I helped organize the fight for marriage equality in New York State.
In my current role, I serve on several committees, including Mental Health, Disabilities, and Addiction; Public Housing; Small Business; Technology; Economic Development; Civil Service and Labor; Contracts; Higher Education; and Immigration. I am also the Co-Chair of the LGBTQIA+ Caucus and Co-Chair of the Manhattan Delegation.
Throughout my tenure, I have championed policies to expand access to affordable housing, address mental health issues, and support our communities. When the federal government mismanaged the initial response to the monkeypox epidemic, I helped lead the fight to raise awareness and to get more vaccines for our community. When bigots came to Chelsea and the Village to shut down drag story hour, I stood up against them, and we sent a message to the whole country; hatred and ignorance are not welcomed in our city. Our community responded when nightlife patrons were drugged and robbed in queer spaces. I organized the distribution of nightlife safety tips to help spread awareness, while ensuring that law enforcement investigated with all the resources at their disposal. I’ve also been able to help secure funding in the budget for social service programs supporting our communities.
I believe my experience, compassion, and unwavering commitment equip me to tackle these challenges head-on. I am dedicated to making bold, data-driven decisions that prioritize the needs of our community over special interests.
Our campaign remains people-powered, fueled by a grassroots movement of New Yorkers who are ready for change. We continue to build a coalition of teachers, sanitation workers, tenants, LGBTQ+ advocates, and everyday New Yorkers, united in our determination to create a more just and equitable city for all.
2. What LGBTQ organizations have you been involved with, either on a volunteer basis or professionally? What LGBTQ candidates have you endorsed?
I’ve been working with organizations like the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club for many years and have endorsed many LGBTQ candidates for office throughout my career.
3. If you receive our endorsement, do you agree to identify the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club on all literature and electronic materials?
Yes
4. What press conferences, demonstrations, rallies and protests in support of LGBT issues, pro-choice legislation, racial justice, criminal justice have you attended, including rallies specifically against Donald Trump?
Throughout my career, I have actively participated in countless events supporting LGBTQ+ rights, reproductive freedom, racial justice, and criminal justice reform. I have been, and remain, deeply engaged in efforts to resist the Trump agenda. I have joined demonstrations alongside organizations such as the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club, Stop the Arrests, Black Lives Matter, Rise and Resist, Gays Against Guns, ACT UP, Queer Nation, and many others, standing in solidarity with communities fighting for justice and equality.
5. In light of the upcoming Trump Administration’s war on women, the LGBTQ+ community, racial minorities and immigrants, what are your plans to organize and combat the Trump agenda?
As Chair of the City Council’s LGBTQIA+ Caucus, I am committed to using every tool at our disposal to fight back against the Trump agenda and defend the rights of women, the LGBTQ+ community, racial minorities, and immigrants.
In City Hall, we will introduce and pass any legislation in our purview that would strengthen protections for our most vulnerable communities, expand access to healthcare and reproductive rights, safeguard immigrant families from federal attacks, and ensure New York City remains a beacon of inclusion and equality. We will leverage our oversight powers to hold agencies accountable, push for stronger tenant protections, and continue to fund vital social services that the federal government seeks to dismantle.
In the courts, we will work alongside advocacy groups and legal organizations to challenge discriminatory policies at every turn. Whether it’s protecting gender-affirming care, fighting back against abortion restrictions, or standing up for immigrant rights, we will take this fight to the judiciary and ensure New York City is a fortress against regressive federal policies.
And in the streets, we will stand shoulder to shoulder with activists, unions, and grassroots organizations to make our voices heard. Direct action has always been a powerful force for change, and we will continue to organize protests, rallies, and demonstrations to resist every assault on our freedoms.
We will not be passive in the face of injustice. We will fight, we will organize, and we will ensure that New York City remains a national leader in the fight for equity, dignity, and human rights for all.
6. Will you seek or accept endorsements of individuals who oppose LGBTQ+ and reproductive rights, such as Ruben Diaz Sr., Fernando Cabrera or Erick Salgado? Will you pledge to denounce their homophobia and anti-choice positions in the event you receive an endorsement from such individuals?
No. Yes.
7. In light of the upcoming Trump Administration’s war on women, the LGBTQ+ community, racial minorities and immigrants, what are your plans to organize and combat the Trump agenda?
See question 6.
8. Do you support the unrestricted right to reproductive care and abortion?
Yes.
9. Have you hosted, funded or otherwise supported Drag Story Hours in your community?
Yes.
10. What proposals will do you support to increase the protection of immigrants and cement New York City’s status as a Sanctuary City?
I will fight to ensure the full enforcement of our sanctuary city laws and make sure the city remains steadfast in its commitment to protecting immigrants. We cannot allow pressure to weaken our resolve—New York City must be held accountable to its values. I will continue partnering with the advocacy community to strengthen protections, resist any attempts to undermine our sanctuary status, and ensure all immigrants can live without fear in our city. I am proud to have secured new funding for the Arc Immigration Clinic, which is helping immigrants stay in our country, and I will keep working to expand critical resources like these.
How will you represent the most vulnerable, including individuals experiencing homelessness and asylum seekers? Have you ever opposed any shelter in your district?
I am committed to representing and advocating for our city's most vulnerable, including individuals experiencing homelessness and asylum seekers. I am proud to have funded increased homeless services and helped open a new Safe Haven respite center on 14th Street, as well as a drop-in center on Ninth Avenue, providing critical support to those in need.
I have never opposed a shelter in my district because I believe in expanding, not restricting, access to housing and services. My track record as a Council Member demonstrates my
dedication to immigrant communities. The district I represent has become the primary arrival point for tens of thousands of asylum-seekers arriving in New York by bus, and I have been on the ground to support them.
I was at the Port Authority Bus Terminal, welcoming them alongside the New York Immigration Coalition and other volunteers. I have visited the hotels where they are housed to ensure they receive proper care, and I am in our local schools, working to make sure asylum-seeking children are welcomed, supported, and given the education they deserve. I use every platform available—television, radio, print, and social media—to advocate for our new neighbors and ensure they are treated with dignity, compassion, and respect. I will continue to be a steadfast champion for those in need.
11. If incumbent, are you a co-sponsor of Resolution 2970, introduced by Council Member Shahana Hanif? If not yet elected, will you promise to co-sponsor the resolution? The text urges the NYS Legislature to pass the New York for All Act, which would ensure state and local resources are not used to facilitate federal immigration enforcement. If not, please explain.
Yes.
12. If incumbent, are you a co-sponsor of Resolution 2917, introduced by Council Member Crystal Hudson? If not yet elected, will you promise to co-sponsor the resolution? The text endorses the Access to Representation Act, which would establish a “universal right to counsel” for indigent New Yorkers who are subject to removal proceedings under federal immigration law. If not, please explain.
I firmly believe that all immigrants facing removal proceedings deserve access to legal representation. While I strongly support the goal of the Access to Representation Act, I have concerns about the feasibility of implementing a universal right to counsel, particularly regarding the availability of qualified attorneys and the financial resources required to sustain such a program. That said, I am committed to working with advocates, legal service providers, and my colleagues in government to explore solutions that expand access to counsel for indigent New Yorkers while addressing these challenges in a responsible and effective way.
13. Will you join our efforts to pass legislation mandating the review of sentences of incarcerated individuals over the age of 55 who have served in excess of 15 years to determine if they warrant release? The legislation is commonly known as the New York Elder Parole Bill.
Yes.
14. Do you oppose the death penalty?
Yes.
15. Do you support outlawing solitary confinement?
Yes.
16. Do you commit to visit constituents who are incarcerated? Will you work to secure the release of individuals who have demonstrated sincere remorse, worked toward rehabilitation and are not deemed a threat to society?
Yes.
17. Do you commit to working to change our penal system toward a restorative rather than a retributive model of justice?
Yes.
18. Do you commit to make applications for clemencies available to your constituency including a link to an application in a constituent newsletter? Will you submit it to our club?
Yes.
19. . Who did you support for mayor in the 2021 Democratic primary election?
Did not endorse.
20. Which 2025 Democratic candidates have you removed from your consideration? Have you endorsed anyone? If so, who?
Have not endorsed.
21. Do you support the renaming of the Ed Koch bridge and will you work towards the renaming including sponsoring such legislation?
Yes.
22. What are your plans to address rent affordability in NYC? Did you vote for “City of Yes”? If not, please explain.
I proudly voted in favor of the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity initiative, recognizing the urgent need to address New York City's housing crisis through comprehensive zoning reforms. This initiative removes outdated zoning restrictions, allowing for the development of diverse housing options across all neighborhoods. By enabling the construction of new housing units, we can better meet the needs of our growing population and work towards a more equitable city.
A key component of this strategy is the Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan (MSMX), which seeks to transform a 42-block area in Midtown South into a vibrant, 24/7 mixed-use neighborhood.
Currently, this centrally located area prohibits new housing under half-century-old zoning rules. The MSMX plan focuses on expanding housing opportunities, including affordable housing, supporting economic activity, and enhancing the public realm. It is expected to result in nearly 10,000 new apartments, with up to 2,800 units designated as affordable housing for low- and middle-income tenants. This transformation will revitalize the district, making it a dynamic place to live and work.
To further address rent affordability in New York City, I am committed to strengthening tenant protections to prevent unjust evictions and exploitative practices, expanding affordable housing options to ensure accessibility for low- and middle-income residents, and promoting mixed-use development that integrates residential, commercial, and recreational spaces to foster vibrant communities. Additionally, I support initiatives to facilitate office-to-residential conversions, repurposing underutilized commercial spaces to increase the housing stock and revitalize neighborhoods.
By pursuing these strategies, we aim to create a more inclusive and affordable city where all New Yorkers have access to safe and reasonably priced housing. Housing is a human right, and I will continue to advocate for policies that ensure everyone—regardless of income—can afford to live and thrive in New York City.
23. What are your plans regarding short-term housing?
I support regulating Airbnb to protect affordable housing and neighborhood stability. I back laws that limit short-term rentals and prevent large-scale commercial use while opposing efforts to weaken these protections.
24. Based upon your life experiences and accomplishments, why should we believe you would be a dynamic and progressive voice in elected office?
I have been a dynamic and progressive City Council Member in my first three years in office and I will continue this work in my second term.
25. What additional information would you like the Jim Owles club to consider when we are making our endorsement decision?
When I was a college freshman in the late '90s, I wrote to my hometown school district, Lake Placid Central, about the anti-LGBTQ bullying I had endured. After keeping it
bottled up for years, I felt compelled to speak out for future students. My letter was read aloud at a school board meeting, effectively making me come out—both as a gay man and about my high school experiences. Soon after, the district added sexual orientation to its nondiscrimination policy. This experience taught me a lasting lesson: each of us has the power to create meaningful change.
No.
26. Are you a potential candidate for City Council speaker in the upcoming term? If so, what is your platform?
No.