Meet the People Behind the Policies
Seven local leaders powering New York's abundance movement
A reminder that our May happy hour is on the 14th—RSVP here!
As conversations about abundance build momentum nationally, we’re focused on defining what that vision looks like here in New York—and doing the work to make it a reality.
We’re not doing it alone. Building a more abundant city and state takes a wide range of partners—who conduct research, draft policy, organize communities, and drive legislation. Our role is to help connect the dots, stitch together a cross-issue coalition, and bring more people into this movement.
With just over a month left in the state’s legislative session, we’re passing the mic to leaders we admire—each advancing the abundance agenda from a different angle.
Read on to hear from them, in their own words, about their organizations, the policies they’re pushing, and how you can get involved.
Open New York is NY’s pro-housing nonprofit advocacy organization working across the city and state to build more homes of all kinds and ensure that all neighborhoods are contributing to NY’s growth. We organize 800+ grassroots volunteer members to advocate for housing in their own backyards; we run policy and legislative campaigns at the city and state levels; and, along with our electoral arm, we help elect pro-housing champions at all levels of government.
Recently, our staff and members played a central role in passing City of Yes for Housing Opportunity, as well as local rezonings, from Arrow Linen in Brooklyn to Bruckner in the Bronx to SoHo/NoHo and Gowanus.
This year, our policy agenda includes:
In Albany: we are running the first pro-housing bill alongside a coalition of faith leaders and advocates: the Faith-Based Affordable Housing Act. This is the first bill in NY to finally model the types of statewide zoning reforms we need to see to take our housing crisis seriously (which most other states are already doing).
Citywide: We are very engaged in the current Charter Revision Commission’s focus on land use reform. Open New York’s report helped set the stage for the Commission’s preliminary report; after another round of public hearings, these will become final proposals that go on the ballot to all NYC voters in November.
Local projects: Our members are organizing around neighborhood rezonings in Long Island City, Atlantic Ave, and Midtown South.
To get more involved, check out our website, become a member to join our Slack and take action in your local community, sign up for our newsletter, and follow us on social media.
I joined Open Plans three and a half years ago after running for City Council in 2021 on a platform of building more housing and investing in safe, vibrant streets and public spaces. I was excited to bring an abundance mindset to the organization—and in the last few years we’ve worked on issues at the intersection of housing and transportation, like eliminating parking mandates.
This year, we’re focused on:
Universal Daylighting: Daylighting—which prohibits parking within 20 feet of an intersection to increase visibility for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists—is state law, but New York City opts out. We’re supporting Intro 1138, which would mandate compliance with this law and daylight 1,000 intersections each year—as well as a similar state bill, S9769/A9985A. Advocating for both city and state action ensures that if one should not succeed, this vital policy still has a path forward.
Dining Out NYC reforms: In 2023, the City Council made curbside dining permanent under Dining Out NYC. However, the seasonality, design restrictions, and compounding fees have caused participation to plummet 90%. We’re advocating for the City Council to make the program year-round, and for DOT to reform the program’s rules to increase transparency, cut red tape, and make the program more accessible to small businesses.
Piloting a Low Traffic Neighborhood: The Low Traffic Neighborhood (LTN) model implements simple design changes to a section of residential blocks, redirecting cut-through traffic back onto major boundary roads. The result is a section of safe, shared streets that still allow for access for residents, deliveries, and emergency vehicles. This strategy is used successfully across the globe, including in London, which now has over 70 LTNs!
You can learn more about these projects and others on our website.
Riders Alliance is New York City’s grassroots organization of bus and subway riders. We believe public transit should work for every New Yorker, in every neighborhood—offering the most reliable, affordable, and quickest way to get around. We organize riders to build power, demand change, and become an undeniable political force for the transit New Yorkers rely on and the just, livable city we all deserve.
This year, we’re defending the enormous success of New York’s congestion relief program. We're suing the federal government to stop its unlawful attempts to derail the program—and making sure the hundreds of millions it generates go to the projects riders need most. At the state level, we’re fighting for long-term, stable funding to modernize the subway and prevent harmful service cuts. And at the city level, we’re demanding a new mayor who actually rides transit and is ready to be the bus and subway mayor New Yorkers deserve: one who will build 30 miles of new bus lanes each year, expand Fair Fares to reach more low-income riders, and invest in housing and health so no one has to use the transit system as shelter.
Riders are the driving force behind everything we do—setting our political agenda and shaping every campaign. Our members come from every borough, every background, and all levels of organizing experience. If you’ve got a few minutes or a few hours, whether you're curious or committed, there's a place for you in the movement. Join us at www.ridersalliance.org/take-action.
Since 1973, Transportation Alternatives has been advocating for safer streets and better walking, biking, and public transit for all New Yorkers. We believe NYC streets should be free of fear and full of life, and that the greatest city in the world should have the greatest streets in the world—and we’re making that a reality through community events, neighborhood advocacy, and city and state policy campaigns.
This year, some of our advocacy campaigns include:
Stop Super Speeders: The most reckless 1% of drivers are responsible for more than 20% of the fatal crashes on the road. This state bill would require speed limiters to be installed on vehicles of the most reckless repeat speeders, keeping their vehicles within 5 mph of the legal speed limit.
End the Safe Streets Hiring Freeze: NYC DOT is currently subject to a "two out, one in" hiring freeze—driving vacancies twice as high as the citywide average and limiting their capacity to deploy legally mandated safe streets projects. Along with environmental and labor partners, we are calling on the Mayor and City Council to end this hiring freeze.
Open the Queensboro Bridge Pedestrian Path: The Queensboro bridge is the only city-owned bridge on the East River without a separate dedicated lane for bicyclists or pedestrians. A two-way pedestrian path has been promised for years, but continually stalled. Along with elected officials on both sides of the river, we are pushing to open the pedestrian path as soon as possible.
To learn more and get more involved, become a member, sign up for our newsletter, read our full policy agenda, or contact ben@transalt.org - would love to be in touch!
StreetsPAC is New York City’s only political action committee dedicated to improving the safety, mobility and livability of one of the city's greatest assets: its streets. Our sidewalks, roadways and plazas account for the majority of all public space in the five boroughs, and are a precious resource to be shared and enjoyed by all.
Founded by a team of the city’s most committed advocates, StreetsPAC backs candidates who support redesigning city streets to prioritize safety and mobility; increased and improved transit access for all New Yorkers; parking and toll reform; more thorough crash investigations; and better, more equitable enforcement of traffic laws, especially through increased deployment of automated speed and red-light cameras. We are currently interviewing candidates running in New York City’s 2025 municipal elections, and will soon be making endorsements for Mayor, Comptroller, City Council, and other offices.
In addition to our electoral work, we advocate in City Hall and in Albany for progressive transportation policies like lowered speed limits, secure bike parking, and congestion pricing. You can help us in those and other important initiatives by supporting us with your contributions and volunteering your time.
Regional Plan Association (RPA) is a century-old independent nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the health, sustainability, equity, and prosperity for everyone that calls the New York metropolitan region home. Founded in 1922, RPA conducts in-depth research, develops long-term plans, and advocates for bold policies to address the region’s most pressing challenges. From pioneering ideas like the regional greenbelt and the original Penn Station to shaping today’s debates on housing, climate resilience, and infrastructure, RPA has helped define critical ideas to plan for a region as dynamic and complex as ours.
In 2025, we continue to focus our research, planning and advocacy efforts on creating a region that works for everyone. Through our New York Neighbors coalition and partnership with dozens of groups across the state, we will focus on housing reforms to build more affordable and resilient housing in places where New Yorkers need them most. We will stand alongside our amazing partners to defend congestion pricing and build support for investments in our transit system, especially in transformative projects like the Interborough Express. And we will continue to build buy-in and support renewable energy projects to meet our climate goals and foster a green economy.
Our advocacy and research priorities strive to build inclusive, forward-thinking planning to benefit all New Yorkers. Achieving these goals will require all of us—residents, advocates, public officials, and private partners—to act with urgency and unity. Together, we can shape a region that is more just, livable, and prepared for the future. If you’d like to learn more, check out our work and get engaged, visit us at www.rpa.org.
The 5BORO Institute is an innovative, action-oriented nonpartisan non-profit think tank advancing creative solutions to strengthen NYC and improve the lives of New Yorkers. We exist to help solve NYC’s most challenging problems. We believe our city must remain vibrant, dynamic, and diverse — a home for New Yorkers to thrive in and a destination for trailblazers, immigrants, and visionaries.
We partner with policymakers, the private sector, academia, and community leaders to bring best practices to government and tackle complex issues with innovative thinking and actionable plans. Our independent think tank has been punching above its weight since it launched in 2022 — introducing innovative policy ideas and solutions to support New Yorkers.
We created an extensive policy roadmap to address the city government staffing crisis and transform the way local government recruits and retains talent. We have seen several of our recommendations adopted — key steps to ensuring we have a strong and effective government that can deliver for New Yorkers.
We developed a new housing model called Flexible Co-Living to maximize affordability and housing production in office-to-residential conversions, so they actually work for New Yorkers.
We conducted a major citywide issues poll with four major foundation partners, known as the People’s Pulse, to ensure the voices of New Yorkers are driving civic conversations during this critical election year.
To get more involved, please sign up for our newsletter or email 5BORO Executive Director Grace Rauh at grace@fiveboro.nyc.
Inspired by the work these folks are doing and want to advocate for the policies they're advancing? Fill out our onboarding form, and we’ll share opportunities to help—then come rub elbows with them and other abundance leaders at our happy hour next Wednesday!