Heading to Hot 2025 Primary Battle: 4 Candidates Already Declared for Council Seat Now Held by Keith Powers

The race is on–It’s no secret. Keith Powers District 4 City Council seat is up for grabs in 2025. Term limits keep Powers out of the race. And the race to replace him is on and getting hotter.

Fundraising figures have been filed with the Campaign Finance Board. Candidates who filed include: Faith Bondy, Rachel Storch, Benjamin D. Wetzler, and Lukas Florczak. I’ve been in communication with Bondy, Storch, and Wetzler. Although I was at a Four Freedoms Democratic Club meeting and heard Florczak announce his candidacy and an upcoming fundraiser, I have not spoken to him and invite him to contact me - askayatt@gmail.com. Full Disclosure: Ben Wetzler was a District Leader in my AD. He moved from Yorkville where he grew up to Stuyvesant Town recently and was the first to announce his candidacy for the Powers seat. I attended his first fundraiser and made a $50 donation.

The CFD filing shows the following for Amount Raised by each candidate: Bondy, $24,352. Storch, $59,652. Wetzler, $34,781. Florczak, $1,672. Based on these figures, candidates, pursuant to a formula, will be entitled to public matching funds. Following are edited comments by Bondy, Storch, Wetzler: Bondy: “We’re humbled how much our community-driven campaign has achieved and the overwhelming momentum and support we have gained in such a short period of time. With so many in-district donations, our campaign has qualified to receive over $100,000 in public matching funds and is on track to obtain the maximum public funds allowed. Our results speak to the community’s excitement about the campaign and desire to see us succeed, establishing our campaign as the community’s choice for the 4th Council District next June.” Storch: “I’m really proud to have gotten off to such a strong start and encouraged by the outpouring of support across the district. As I meet and talk to residents, it’s clear people want a City Council that’s focused on livability and affordability–with extra attention to public safety and quality of life issues that matter so much to East Side families. Wetzler: “For too long our leaders have waited until problems became full-on crises before taking action. It’s time to anticipate our challenges and plan for a bigger future, and together we can reimagine our infrastructure to improve health and safety, build a comprehensive approach to make housing more affordable, and invest in the next generation” and that his “fundraising was driven by small contributions from local donors.”

Clearly, this race is not waiting for November 2025. Undoubtedly, there will be June 2025 primary and I’ll be reporting on the happenings throughout the year. Keep reading and stay tuned.

Return of the Papaya. Would you believe? I didn’t. But now do. There is a Papaya on East 86th Street. Not on the northwest corner of 3rd Ave. where it was located for several generations dating back to the 1930’s, and no more iconic yellow sign that was its own landmark. All’s forgiven–or not–but happy that Papaya’s alive and back near the corner of 86th and 3rd on the southeast side of the street opposite a bus stop. The franks have the same snap. The place has some seating. And didn’t check out if the mustard was still on counter or table tops. But I’ll be back.

Subways are for coffee–And I don’t mean the Second Ave. or Lexington Ave. subways. I mean the fast food/grab and go/sit and stay where you get six- foot sandwiches, all kinds of pile-on meats, cheeses, salads, dressings. And now, the bestest coffee–French Vanilla - that’s really a latte for $2.17 including tax. It’s a secret I didn’t want to tell, but since my motto is readers first, now you all know. After finding the find, I wiki-ed Subway and learned that earlier in time they had publicized their coffee cafe. Didn’t work. Well now, you and they, know. Better luck this time.