2025 NYC General Election

Rita Joseph

Rita Joseph is from Flatbush, Brooklyn. She has a bachelor's degree in liberal arts from St. Francis College and a dual master's degree in general and special education from Touro College. She lives with her four children in Prospect Lefferts Gardens. She is an active member of the Holy Innocent Catholic Church.

Rita is a public school teacher. She worked at PS6, where she helped secure hundreds of thousands of dollars each year for technological improvements. 

Rita is currently a New York City Council Member, representing District 40. She was elected in 2021 and is serving her first term. She is the chair of the Committee on Education.

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Rita is a public school teacher. She worked at PS6, where she helped secure hundreds of thousands of dollars each year for technological improvements. Before serving in the City Council, she was a community activist and a proud union member.

Rita is currently a New York City Council Member representing District 40. She was elected in 2021 and is serving her first term. She is the chair of the Committee on Education.

Rita is a public school teacher. She worked at PS6, where she helped secure hundreds of thousands of dollars each year for technological improvements.

Rita Joseph is from Flatbush, Brooklyn. She holds a bachelor of science in liberal arts from St. Francis College and a dual master’s in general and special education from Touro College. She lives with her four children in Prospect Lefferts Gardens. She is an active member of the Holy Innocent Catholic Church.

Rita is currently a New York City Council Member for District 40. She was elected in 2021 and is serving her first term. She is the chair of the Committee on Education.

James Auchincloss

Buket Urgen

District 40 - Rita Joseph

Supports increasing funding for women and minority-owned businesses.

Supports providing tax incentives for new businesses that want to relocate to lower-income communities.

Supports strengthening rent regulations to protect tenants from "unfair & unreasonable rent increases."

Supports the passage of Good Cause Eviction legislation.

Supports implementing an "ultra wealth tax" and a "pied-a-terre tax" to help close the wealth gap.

Economy

Supports increasing community involvement in public education through community events, after school programs, and local partnerships.

Public Services

Advocates for changing the way Area Median Income (AMI) is calculated, so that "affordable truly means affordable for NYC."

Supports addressing "abhorrent conditions" in New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) complexes by overhauling the department responsible for lead paint, infrastructure, and affordability issues.

Supports implementing an "ultra wealth tax" and a "pied-a-terre tax" to help close the wealth gap in New York City.

Supports requiring developers to increase the number of permanent affordable housing units in new construction.

Housing & Urban Development

Supports stronger gun restrictions in New York City.

Supports New York's red flag and bail reform laws.

Believes in holding those in charge of Riker's accountable for the conditions there.

Sponsored legislation to establish a bullying prevention task force.

Sponsored legislation to prohibit the sale of flavored cigarettes.

Public Safety

Supports increasing pedestrian walkways and bike lanes.

Supports congestion pricing to reduce car traffic and pollution.

Supports expanding "fair-fares" to reduce public transit costs for low-income New Yorkers.

Supports installing protected bicycle lanes.

Supports installing speed humps on roadways adjacent to parks larger than one acre.

Supports requiring the Department of Transportation to investigate vehicle collisions.

Supports establishing a parking enforcement unit within the Department of Transportation.

Supports special activation of the Open Streets program during holidays and peak pedestrian traffic times.

Supports increasing Citibike access in underserved communities, including District 40.

Sponsored legislation that would require speed humps on roads next to parks that are one acre or larger.

Sponsored legislation that requires the department of transportation to investigate vehicle collisions.

Sponsored legislation to establish a parking enforcement unit within the department of transportation.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Supports implementing a "full Green New Deal for NYC" to create quality, well-paying green jobs with union benefits and protections.

Supports defending low-income communities and communities of color from pollution.

Supports a climate resiliency plan that addresses vulnerable coastlines in all five boroughs.

Supports reducing the city's carbon footprint by creating more pedestrian and bike-friendly streets.

Energy & the Environment

Supports expanding pregnancy Medicare coverage to one year.

Supports universal access to doula services.

Supports access to healthcare services and affordable prescription drugs for seniors.

Healthcare

Supports increasing teacher pay and decreasing class sizes.

Supports providing every school with the necessary number of counselors, nurses, mental health professionals, and teachers.

Supports improving public education funding by increasing taxes on the wealthy and reinvesting the NYPD's budget into student services.

Sponsored legislation to create a universal summer youth program.

Sponsored legislation to create a pilot program that would involve mental health professional candidates in student wellness clubs in public middle and high schools.

Sponsored legislation to create a pilot program that develops and distributes educational materials on reducing surplus food in public schools.

Education

- City Council Members work together to enact local laws, approve the city budget, and oversee land use and zoning regulations. ​
- Council Members oversee city agencies, ensuring they effectively serve the public and address community needs. ​

Passes laws and regulations for your city

New York City City Council Member, District 40

Election results

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