NYC Comptroller Candidate Mark Levine Visits Boro Park; Exclusive Interview with BoroPark24

By Y.M. Lowy

Mark Levine, Manhattan Borough President and candidate for NYC Comptroller, visited Boro Park yesterday afternoon. He began his visit at the Imrei Emes Gur Yeshiva, followed by the Hadran Yeshiva, then continued along the streets, greeting locals and hearing directly from them about issues they face day to day. He later stopped in at the BoroPark24 office, where we sat down to hear more about his campaign and priorities.

When asked what his first move would be as Comptroller, Levine didn’t hesitate.

Affordable housing, he said, is at the top of the list. Families across the city, and in Boro Park especially, are having a hard time keeping up with rent. He is well known for understanding large families and the importance of being present in the community. He plans to push for more housing to be built in every neighborhood and put this as a priority in the budget decisions.

Public safety is another issue, he says, it can’t wait. Antisemitic hate crimes have risen sharply. In 2024, Jews made up 12% of the city’s population but were the target in 54% of hate crimes. In 2025, that number has already climbed past 60%. Levine says he wants to use the Comptroller’s role over the budget to make sure more police officers are hired and assigned to precincts, streets, and subways.

“We’re down about 2,500 officers right now,” he said. “That has to change if we want New Yorkers to feel safe.”

Where does the city have room to improve how it manages its money? Levine spoke animatedly of this.

“We have a $115 billion budget. I’m talking U.S. dollars, not Israeli shekel,” he said with a smile. “It’s an astounding amount of money, and we’re not feeling the benefit of it in the neighborhoods.”

Levine pointed to basic city services that too often fall short. Overflowing garbage cans, unkempt parks, and slow transportation are problems New Yorkers see every day. In his view, it’s about spending the city’s money smarter, not spending more or less.

As Comptroller, he says he would audit every agency, making sure the city is getting real value for what it spends. That means more efficient services, more accountability, and making sure taxpayer dollars actually show up in the form of cleaner streets, safer playgrounds, and more housing that people can afford.

“These are budget issues,” he said. “Every one of them. And I’m going to fight to make sure we spend that money better.”

Reflecting on his time as Manhattan Borough President, Levine pointed to one issue that’s become a growing source of frustration across communities: delayed payments to nonprofits.

“This is a scandal in New York City,” he said. “The city contracts with amazing nonprofits—including many right here in Boro Park—for services like special education. These organizations do the work, pay their staff, cover rent, and then wait. Sometimes six months, sometimes two years, even longer.”

Levine said the Jewish community has been hit particularly hard by these delays. He’s heard of multiple cases where payments were stalled without explanation. It’s destroying the nonprofit sector. And he’s clear on where the Comptroller fits in.

“The Comptroller reviews and certifies every city contract,” he said. “That gives the office real power to fix this. To make sure nonprofits get paid on time and can keep doing the work our communities rely on.”

Mark Levine closed with a message directed to the Jewish community, calling this moment one of deep challenge. 

He sees this election as a chance to choose leaders who understand the needs of the Jewish community and are ready to stand up for it. 

His record speaks for itself. He’s a fluent Hebrew speaker, with family in Israel, and served as chair of the Jewish Caucus in the City Council. In the days following October 7, while many shied away from public statements, Levine led a delegation of twelve elected officials, both Jewish and non-Jewish, to Israel.

This is not new for him. It’s how he’s operated throughout his career. And if elected Comptroller, he says that commitment will only continue. His goal is to stand up for the Jewish community, and for every community across New York, using the tools of the office to deliver real accountability, resources, and results.

photos by: Dovid Y. Jaroslawicz