CD7 Race Pits Abreu (D) Against Okporo (Indie) and Williams (R)

The race for the Upper West Side’s City Council District 7 seat is nearing its climax.

Democratic Party incumbent Shaun Abreu, who has served in the Council since 2021, is running for re-election. He’s emphasizing a public safety plank, the need to execute on the overhaul of Bloomingdale Library on West 100th Street, and his pushback against federal funding cuts.

For starters, Aubreu will be facing Edafe Okporo, an independent candidate and immigrant-services provider who trailed him back in June’s Democratic Party. Okporo told The Spirit that he has “dedicated my life to ensuring that those who are often ignored, including immigrants, working families, LGBTQ+ people, and New Yorkers struggling to make rent, have a voice in how this city is run.”

Abreu’s also facing Manual Williams, a self-described “militant leftist Republican” who aims to return the party to its 19th-century roots, calling the modern GOP “a demagogic cult fueled by racial hate, replacement myths, fear-mongering, and supremacy.”

The Spirit reached out to all three candidates to get their broader perspectives, in their own words, on why they’re running to represent (or continue to represent) District 7. They were asked three questions: what their relevant background and experience are, what makes them the best candidate, and what they think the most pressing issues in the district are.

Abreu and Okporo’s campaigns responded as of press time. Their answers have been edited for length and clarity.

Shaun Abreu

Background and Experience

I’m Shaun Abreu: a lifelong resident of Upper Manhattan, tireless advocate for affordable housing, and current member of the New York City Council. I was born in Washington Heights and moved to the Upper West Side when I was around 10, after my family was evicted from our home. We fell on hard times after my parents lost their jobs, but through some hard work and good luck, our lives eventually turned around. My mom got a job at Zabar’s (where she still works), and my father got a good union job as a janitor at the Port Authority (also where he still works).

I attended Columbia University for undergrad and Tulane for law school. From there, I became a tenant-rights attorney, fighting to protect families like my own in housing court. Since taking office, I’ve focused on delivering results that make everyday life cleaner, safer, and more affordable. I’ve worked to get trash bags off our sidewalks, bring scaffolding down faster, improve access to mental-health resources, fund our parks and schools, and tackle quality-of-life problems head-on.

Why I’m the Best Candidate

I know what it means to struggle in this city, and I’ve turned that experience into action. I’ve been an effective legislator who not only passes laws but also delivers funding for our neighborhoods, including $34 million for parks, record investments in affordable housing, and millions for cultural organizations like Symphony Space, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, and the Upper West Side Cinema Center. I don’t just talk about problems: I solve them.

I’m also deeply accessible to constituents. My office has helped thousands of residents navigate housing court, obtain repairs, and access city services. We’ve organized tenants, worked block by block to reduce rat sightings, and partnered with community groups to host town halls and bring attention to critical issues.

What sets me apart is that I’m both a policymaker and a neighbor. I’ve lived the challenges I’m fighting to fix, from housing insecurity to overfilled trash bins to under-resourced schools. I know how much is at stake for working families, and I bring the experience and legislative know-how to deliver lasting change.

Most Pressing Issues in the District, Policy Priorities

We have a lot going on, but to pick a couple:

The proposed development at Bloomingdale Library: This proposal is our chance to build something special–a beautiful new library, a public gathering space, and an influx of affordable housing. But how we implement the project matters A LOT. How actually “affordable” will the units be? How many units will be fit for families? How will the community maintain library access during construction? A project this size will have a major impact on the neighborhood, so we have to get it right.

Public safety: Everyone should feel safe on our streets, on the subway, on the way to school or work, and in our parks. Making our city safer for everyone means tackling our mental-health crisis, giving kids a safe and supervised place to be after school, taking shoplifting seriously, investing in violence prevention, and strengthening the relationship between the NYPD and the community.

Threats from Washington, D.C.: Federal funding cuts, rising cost of living, ICE raids, the threat of the National Guard on our streets—we are looking at an immense amount of chaos coming straight from the White House. Our local government needs to be nimble enough to protect our residents. That means supporting programs dependent on federal funding, building our local economy and small businesses, and standing up for our rights.

Edafe Okporo

Background and Experience

I am a proud West Harlem resident, renter, and immigrant who came to this country seeking safety and found community here. I have lived the failures of our city’s systems: homelessness, exclusion, and bureaucratic neglect. I turned those experiences into a blueprint for reform. I built the RDJ Refugee Shelter, the first shelter for asylum seekers in New York City, right here in Harlem. Later, through the Biden administration’s Operation Allies Welcome, I helped resettle Afghan refugees fleeing violence.

Those experiences taught me that government can work when it is accountable to the people it serves. I hold a master’s degree from NYU and have dedicated my life to ensuring that those who are often ignored, including immigrants, working families, LGBTQ+ people, and New Yorkers struggling to make rent, have a voice in how this city is run.

Why I’m the Best Candidate

I am running because I have already done the work that others only talk about. I have seen how broken systems affect real people, and I have built solutions from the ground up, not from a boardroom. My campaign is not funded by billionaires or corporate PACs. It is powered by everyday New Yorkers who want a city that works for the people who keep it running.

I have earned the trust of leaders like Zephyr Teachout and groups like Our Revolution because they know I will fight for working families, not the wealthy few. As a member of the City Council, I will use this office to hold developers, city agencies, and elected officials accountable. I will champion transparency, protect tenants, and invest in social housing because housing is a human right, not a luxury.

Most Pressing Issues in the District, Policy Priorities

The three most pressing issues facing our district are housing affordability, homelessness, and immigrant rights.

To make housing truly affordable, we must invest in social housing and increase funding for NYC Housing Authority (NYCHA) repairs. I will advocate for stronger rent control laws and ensure new developments meet real affordability standards, not developer-friendly loopholes.

To end homelessness, we have to stop treating it as a public nuisance and start treating it as a public responsibility. I will expand funding for supportive housing and mental-health services, and strengthen eviction-prevention programs before families are displaced.

Finally, we must protect immigrants, who are the backbone of New York’s economy and culture. That means expanding access to city programs, language services, and legal protections. Our diversity is our strength, and no one should live in fear because of where they were born.

Every Sunday, I play soccer at Booker T. Washington with people from all different backgrounds. It is a simple joy that reminds me why I love this city. When we come together, New York works. That is the energy I want to bring to City Hall: a city that listens, cares, and fights for all of us.

Manual Williams

Manual Williams did not return answers to our Q&A email as of press time. He is on the ballot as a Republican. The Spirit also reached out to the Manhattan Republican Party but had not received a response by our deadline. We will update online if we receive the info.