Marcela Mitaynes migrated to New York City from Peru as a child with her family and was raised in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. She is now raising her own family in that same vibrant, beautiful community.

Meet Marcela | Marcela for NY

Previous Occupation

Childcare worker, retail worker

Education

AS Accounting CUNY Kingsborough Community College

Organizational Affiliation

Board member- Tenant PAC, Member- Democratic Socialists of America

Meet the Candidates: Marcela Mitaynes | NYC Votes

Marcela attended elementary school at P.S. 169 in Sunset Park. Her daughter went on to go to the same elementary school and Marcela served as president of the PTA at P.S. 169. She has also proven to be an active member of her community as a member of Community Board 7 for 10 years.

Assemblymember Marcela Mitaynes | Biography

Marcela Mitaynes migrated to New York City from Peru as a child and was raised in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. She earned an associate degree in accounting from CUNY Kingsborough Community College. She has served as president of the PTA at P.S. 169.

Marcela Mitaynes | New York City Campaign Finance Board

Marcela Mitaynes - Assembly District 51 - New York State Assembly

Current Occupation

Tenant Organizer- Neighbors Helping Neighbors

Previous Occupation

Childcare worker, retail worker

Current Occupation

Tenant Organizer- Neighbors Helping Neighbors

Previous Occupation

Childcare worker, retail worker

Education

AS Accounting CUNY Kingsborough Community College

Marcela Mitaynes currently works as a tenant organizer at Neighbors Helping Neighbors. She previously worked in child care and retail.

Marcela Mitaynes is a member of the New York State Assembly, representing the 51st Assembly District. She was elected to the Assembly in 2020. Mitaynes is a member of the Democratic Party and has been involved in various community and political organizations.

Marcela Mitaynes

Marcela currently serves in the New York State Assembly, representing the 51st Assembly District. She was elected in 2020.

Marcela Mitaynes - Ballotpedia

Marcela currently serves in the New York State Assembly, representing the 51st Assembly District. She was elected in 2020 and is in her third term. 

2026 New York General Election

Assemblymember Marcela Mitaynes said, “Recent news has made it clear, the Trump Administration plans to put the wants of a few billionaires over the needs of the rest of the country. It is time New York step up, and provide the critical relief our vulnerable populations desperately need. Every week I have seniors, mothers, and fathers coming into my office seeking help with food insecurity. We need to transition to chip-enabled cards for SNAP benefits and provide an avenue for reimbursement for those impacted by SNAP theft; this is how we provide for the working class. The bills we have re-introduced this year, A3578 and A0699, both aim to address that.”

Congressman Dan Goldman Joins Assemblymembers Mitaynes, Lee, Gonzalez-Rojas

New York is one of the richest states in one of the richest countries in the history of the world. There is no reason for us to struggle financially. The solution to this issue is taxing the rich, and making them pay their fair share. We must significantly raise taxes on high incomes, wealth and big business — and fund services like universal healthcare, a housing guarantee and free college that we all deserve.

Tax the Rich | Marcela for NY

Today, a New Yorker earning $21,000 pays essentially the same tax rate as a New Yorker earning $900,000. As a matter of economic policy and basic fairness, this is not right. Our tax code should be progressive, placing bigger tax burdens on those who can most afford them. Our proposal would create new brackets and rates for individuals earning more than $300,000 per year and married filers that earn more than $450,000 per year. The people who’d see the most meaningful tax increases would be those earning an income of more than $1 million per year.

We want that federal policy to end right away. Until that happens, we can address the problem at the state level by adding a surcharge right here in New York. Our proposal adds a capital gains tax that is equal to the federal tax break for the rich. It also kicks in at $150,000 in capital gains so that retirees and other lower-income investors are unaffected.

Currently, New York’s constitution prohibits the taxation of intangible property like stocks and bonds. While all New Yorkers are taxed on their homes, the richest among us are allowed to hold on to their most valuable property tax-free. If we are to fund this state’s future and begin to address economic inequality in New York, we must amend our state’s constitution to allow for a wealth tax.

Plans to reintroduce bills establishing chip-enabled Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program cards and reimbursement for benefits stolen from recipients.

Aims to pass legislation establishing chip-enabled Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program cards and reimbursement for benefits stolen from recipients.

Supports significantly raising taxes on high incomes, wealth, and large businesses to fund public services.

Proposes new income-tax brackets for high earners, with the largest increases for people earning more than $1 million annually.

Proposes a state capital-gains tax surcharge on gains above $150,000.

Supports amending the state constitution to allow a wealth tax.

- Aims to pass legislation establishing chip-enabled Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program cards and reimbursement for benefits stolen from recipients.
- Supports significantly raising taxes on high incomes, wealth, and large businesses to fund public services.
- Proposes new income-tax brackets for high earners, with the largest increases for people earning more than $1 million annually.
- Proposes a state capital-gains tax surcharge on gains above $150,000.
- Supports amending the state constitution to allow a wealth tax.

Economy

We must stop neglecting our public utility infrastructure, and rapidly make a transition to 100% renewable energy sources that don’t make our communities sick. That is why I support expanding New York’s public power authority, NYPA, to develop new renewable energy and supply power directly to consumers (A8937/S7243), and requiring publicly owned properties to shift to 100% renewable energy and buy it directly from NYPA by 2025 (A8938/S7232).

Climate Change | Marcela for NY

That is why I support expanding New York’s public power authority, NYPA, to develop new renewable energy and supply power directly to consumers (A8937/S7243), and requiring publicly owned properties to shift to 100% renewable energy and buy it directly from NYPA by 2025 (A8938/S7232). I also support creating a Downstate Power Authority, which would take over existing energy companies, either by buying them or through eminent domain, and provide energy as a public agency accountable to people, not corporate profits (A8887/S7273).

In addition to requiring a shift to 100% renewable energy, New York must also take affirmative steps to end the use of fossil fuels. That is why I oppose development of any new pipelines and other fossil fuel infrastructure-- including the Williams pipeline, which harms many families in Staten Island and Brooklyn. We must also take New York’s money out of the existing fossil fuel economy, beginning with divesting the New York State pension fund from fossil fuel holdings (A1536-A/S2126-A).

Supports expanding the New York Power Authority to develop renewable energy and supply power directly to consumers.

Supports creating a Downstate Power Authority to take over existing energy companies and operate as a public agency.

Opposes new fossil-fuel pipelines and infrastructure and supports divesting the state pension fund from fossil-fuel holdings.

- Supports expanding the New York Power Authority to develop renewable energy and supply power directly to consumers.
- Supports creating a Downstate Power Authority to take over existing energy companies and operate as a public agency.
- Opposes new fossil-fuel pipelines and infrastructure and supports divesting the state pension fund from fossil-fuel holdings.

Energy & the Environment

29. Discuss your stance on reproductive rights, including access to contraceptives and abortion services.
The ability to make decisions about our own bodies and healthcare is a fundamental human right. I believe that it is not the place of government to tell people whether/how to use contraceptive or abortion services. I will fight to defend this right, and to make sure that contraception and abortion are covered by insurance companies operating in NY.

Candidate Answers to JOLDC: Marcela Mitaynes for NY Assembly District 51

I firmly believe that healthcare is a human right. The size of your bank account or the type of insurance you have should not determine the quality of care you receive. The fact that in New York we have millionaires and billionaires who own multiple houses or luxury yachts while hard working people are struggling to keep up with medical bills or forgoing medication due to cost is completely immoral. The goal of healthcare should be to keep people healthy. However under capitalism, its goal is to make as much profit as possible. We must ensure that all people have access to high quality healthcare regardless of their age, insurance or immigration status. We must stop predatory insurance companies from getting rich off of people’s illnesses.

Healthcare | Marcela for NY

Pass the New York Health Act -

(Bill #: A5248/ S3577)

Similar to Bernie Sanders’ Medicare for All Bill, this would ensure all New Yorker’s have access to free healthcare and eliminate private insurance companies in our state. The New York Health Act would eliminate premiums and copayments as well as provide healthcare, including vision, dental, home health aides and mental health, to all New Yorkers regardless of immigration status.

We have lived through 19 hospital closures in New York City since the year 2000. This would be unprecedented in a lifetime, but in two short decades it’s a catastrophe. To add insult to injury, a panel convened by Governor Cuomo proposed about $400 million in cuts to hospitals. This includes cuts to safety net hospitals which have a legal obligation or mission to provide healthcare regardless of insurance status or ability to pay and largely serve low income and undocumented residents. As a state Assemblyperson, I will continue to fight to fully fund our hospitals and bring struggling hospitals under public ownership.

Abolishing Medical Debt 

No one should go into debt just to stay alive. Many New Yorkers are crushed with medical debt that prevents them from moving into the middle class. This process only serves to make banks and insurance companies richer on the backs of working people. I would propose eliminating medical debt for all New Yorkers.

Supports abortion and contraceptive access and requiring insurance coverage for those services in New York.

Supports universal access to high-quality healthcare regardless of age, insurance status, or immigration status.

Supports the New York Health Act, which would provide publicly funded healthcare and eliminate premiums and copayments.

Plans to seek full hospital funding and public ownership for struggling hospitals.

Proposes eliminating medical debt for New Yorkers.

- Supports abortion and contraceptive access and requiring insurance coverage for those services in New York.
- Supports universal access to high-quality healthcare regardless of age, insurance status, or immigration status.
- Supports the New York Health Act, which would provide publicly funded healthcare and eliminate premiums and copayments.
- Plans to seek full hospital funding and public ownership for struggling hospitals.
- Proposes eliminating medical debt for New Yorkers.

Healthcare

As of September 9, 2026, Marcela Mitaynes’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Voting & Elections

The conditions in jail have proven to be inhumane, and do not keep people safe; they create more harm and problems. Ultimately, we must change the very foundation of our criminal justice system. We must replace our current punitive system with one that includes mental health services, political education and a restorative approach to accountability.

Criminal Justice | Marcela for NY

Police Reform- While the NYPD’s motto is “Protect and Serve”, many people in our community feel scared when encountering the police. This is because they routinely terrorize communities of color and murder black, brown and trans people. We must redirect resources intended for law enforcement and reinvest them in programs that support the working class people in our community. We also must repeal laws that legally allow police to be abusive or coercive.

We also must repeal laws that legally allow police to be abusive or coercive. I support repealing the “walking while trans” law (A654/S2253) which would no longer allow police to charge primarily trans people with “engaging in prostitution” and prohibiting police from lying during interrogations (S680). Furthermore, I will continue to sponsor “know your rights” trainings so people are prepared to interact with police.

Justice For All- While some people benefit from our laws, many of them only serve to further the oppression of working class, black, brown and poor people. We must decriminalize sex work (A8230/S6419) and allow safe injection sites (A60/S498). We must wipe the criminal record of anyone convicted of a marijuana related crime and release anyone currently incarcerated for those crimes.

Justice For All- While some people benefit from our laws, many of them only serve to further the oppression of working class, black, brown and poor people. We must decriminalize sex work (A8230/S6419) and allow safe injection sites (A60/S498). We must wipe the criminal record of anyone convicted of a marijuana related crime and release anyone currently incarcerated for those crimes. The revenue raised from the legalization of marijuana must be reinvested into black and brown communities.

No New Jails- Our prison system does not rehabilitate people. It is inhumane and harmful to all those who enter it and inherently favors rich and white people. I support closing Rikers and instead of building new jails, we should invest in communities and restorative justice, not prisons. We also must ensure that those who do enter jail are treated humanely that's why we must reduce the torturous use of solitary confinement (A2500/S1623), eliminate cash bail (S2101A) which forces poor people to sit in jail awaiting trial, enact elder parole (S2144), and restore rights to people convicted of felonies (S6821).

Advocates replacing punitive criminal-justice approaches with mental-health services, political education, and restorative accountability.

Supports redirecting law-enforcement resources to community programs and repealing laws that permit abusive or coercive policing.

Supports repealing the “walking while trans” law, prohibiting police deception during interrogations, and providing know-your-rights trainings.

Supports decriminalizing sex work and authorizing safe injection sites.

Supports expunging marijuana-related convictions, releasing people incarcerated for those offenses, and reinvesting cannabis revenue in Black and Brown communities.

Supports closing Rikers Island, reducing solitary confinement, eliminating cash bail, and expanding elder parole and voting rights for people with felony convictions.

- Advocates replacing punitive criminal-justice approaches with mental-health services, political education, and restorative accountability.
- Supports redirecting law-enforcement resources to community programs and repealing laws that permit abusive or coercive policing.
- Supports repealing the “walking while trans” law, prohibiting police deception during interrogations, and providing know-your-rights trainings.
- Supports decriminalizing sex work and authorizing safe injection sites.
- Supports expunging marijuana-related convictions, releasing people incarcerated for those offenses, and reinvesting cannabis revenue in Black and Brown communities.
- Supports closing Rikers Island, reducing solitary confinement, eliminating cash bail, and expanding elder parole and voting rights for people with felony convictions.

Public Safety

27. What legislation or other policy changes do you support in order to make college and graduate school affordable for poor, working-class, and middle-class Americans and to alleviate the crushing loan debt that many students and alumni are facing?
I support fully funding CUNY and SUNY, so that we can provide a free (publicly funded) college education for all NY residents, regardless of immigration status.

Supports fully funding the City University of New York and State University of New York to provide free public college regardless of immigration status.

Supports increasing government funding for the City University of New York (CUNY) and State University of New York (SUNY) to provide free public college regardless of immigration status.

- Supports increasing government funding for the City University of New York (CUNY) and State University of New York (SUNY) to provide free public college regardless of immigration status.

Education

Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act

I will fight for the passage of my bill TOPA (S221/A3353), that would give tenants the first right and opportunity to purchase their homes if their buildings come up for sale. TOPA would allow tenants to form a tenant association to bid on a building and democratically run it as a co-operative, limiting displacement and speculation. Versions of TOPA have existed in multiple states and cities for many years now.

Housing | Marcela for NY

Strengthening Rent Stabilization

We must eliminate MCI increases, which allow landlords to pass the cost of building repairs and renovations on to renters-- rather than paying for it out of the rent money they are already collecting. Also, to ensure that our hard-fought tenant protections are actually enforced, we must also fully fund the Office of Rent Administration (ORA, aka HCR or DHCR).

END SUBSIDIES FOR LUXURY DEVELOPMENTS

Decades of tax discounts for development of new housing have created thousands of vacant government subsidized luxury apartments, while thousands of New Yorkers are homeless or on the brink of eviction. We must end tax subsidies for luxury developments, and instead refocus on investing in truly and permanently affordable housing.

PROVIDE RENTAL ASSISTANCE TO LOW INCOME NEW YORKERS

Helping New Yorkers pay their rent is better, and cheaper, than paying for shelter after they are evicted. This is why I support passing Home Stability Support (HSS), a proposal for the state to pay the difference between public assistance and market rent, to make New York rents affordable for low income households who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

LEGALIZE SAFE BASEMENT APARTMENTS

Across New York, countless families are living in illegal basement apartments. We must work to modernize illegal basement laws state-wide, bring basement units up to safety standards, and expand legal protections to basement tenants. We cannot turn a blind eye to this widespread problem.

Plans to advance the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act, giving tenants a first opportunity to buy buildings offered for sale.

Supports eliminating major capital improvement rent increases and fully funding the Office of Rent Administration to enforce tenant protections.

Advocates ending tax subsidies for luxury development and investing instead in permanently affordable housing.

Supports Home Stability Support, which would cover the gap between public assistance and market rent for eligible low-income households.

Supports modernizing laws on basement apartments, requiring safety standards, and expanding tenant protections for basement residents.

- Plans to advance the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act, giving tenants a first opportunity to buy buildings offered for sale.
- Supports eliminating major capital improvement rent increases and fully funding the Office of Rent Administration to enforce tenant protections.
- Advocates ending tax subsidies for luxury development and investing instead in permanently affordable housing.
- Supports Home Stability Support, which would cover the gap between public assistance and market rent for eligible low-income households.
- Supports modernizing laws on basement apartments, requiring safety standards, and expanding tenant protections for basement residents.

Housing & Urban Development

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- Supports significantly raising taxes on high incomes, wealth, and large businesses to fund public services.
- Proposes new income-tax brackets for high earners, with the largest increases for people earning more than $1 million annually.
- Proposes a state capital-gains tax surcharge on gains above $150,000.
- Supports amending the state constitution to allow a wealth tax.

- Supports universal access to high-quality healthcare regardless of age, insurance status, or immigration status.
- Supports the New York Health Act, which would provide publicly funded healthcare and eliminate premiums and copayments.
- Plans to seek full hospital funding and public ownership for struggling hospitals.
- Proposes eliminating medical debt for New Yorkers.

Chazzy Bailey

Buket Urgen

Carla Danielson

- Your assembly member is involved in the legislative process at the state level as part of the New York State Assembly, which consists of 150 members and serves as the lower house of the New York State Legislature.  
- Assembly members are responsible for representing your interests and assisting you with navigating state services while bringing resources back to your district.  
- Assembly members draft laws, approve budgets, oversee the state executive branch, and engage in debates and votes on proposed legislation.  
- In addition to drafting and voting on bills, your assembly member can serve on committees, where many bills may be delayed before reaching a vote.  
- Assembly members are elected for a two-year term with no term limits.  
- Their annual salary is $142,000.  

Your representative and state lawmaker in the New York State Assembly.