NYU alum running for city coucil

NYU alumna Rosie Mendez is running for re-election as Democratic City Council member of District 2. Today, she faces off against Republican candidate Bryan Cooper in the polls.

Yesterday morning, Mendez was up early, decked out in Bill Thompson garb, campaigning for the Democratic candidate in subway stations in preparation for today's election. She represents the Lower East Side, the East Village, Gramercy Park, Rosehill, Kips Bay and South Murray Hill.

"We've had 16 years of Republican mayors, and now it's time for a change," Mendez said. "There needs to be a refocus on the middle- and lower-income classes. Many of them are facing financial difficulties and eviction. Meanwhile, there's all that money going into building the new Yankee Stadium."

But the 1987 graduate wasn't always set on politics, though her political ambitions were influenced by childhood experiences.

"It wasn't like I thought, 'Oh, I want to run for office when I grow up,' " Mendez said.

Mendez, who is of Puerto Rican descent, grew up poor and faced discrimination in the projects of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, where she was born and raised.

She was planning on leaving New York, but decided to stay in town once she was accepted to NYU. In her undergraduate years, she worked actively against discrimination toward women, people of color, the LGBT community and the poor.

"When things aren't right, they affect me," Mendez said. "Even when it doesn't affect me directly, it affects my neightbor, which affects me."

Prior to her election to the City Council, Mendez found both professional and personal fulfillment as a tenant organizer and housing specialist. She still seeks to strengthen tenant rights.

"It's rewarding when I help my constituents, making sure they get heat in their water, they get jobs in spite of their race, and they get their kids into school even though they're poor," Mendez said. "Working with people gives me energy."

Mendez is trying to pass a law that gives each senior citizen the right to an attorney when facing eviction.

"If they have no family, they're left with no place to stay, with no job prospects," Mendez said. "Senior citizens are the most vulnerable citizens out there. Somebody has to protect them."

Mendez is also pushing for a bill that bans the use of exotic animals for public displays in places like the circus.

On the campaign trail Monday, Mendez encountered both criticism and support from commuters in the northeast corner of Union Square.

Nigel Erickson, 33, derided Mendez's focus on animals.

"She should spend less time on elephants, more time on actual citizens," Erickson said.

But Georgina Christ, 59, a regular volunteer at Mendez's campaign who was with the candidate yesterday, applauded Mendez's hard work.

"She fights hard for the people," Christ said. "She's not after her own financial gain, and she's very forward, which is hard to find in a politician."

Jenny Tai is a staff writer.