現任州議員愛波斯坦 宣布競選第二選區市議員 

現任州議員哈維·愛波斯坦（Harvey  Epstein）宣布競選第二選區市議員，15日來 華埠與華文記者講述參選政綱。 

與華埠接連的第二選區，現任市議員利 華娜因任期限制不能再連任，有6位參選人 角逐該位，已當了8年州議員的愛波斯坦可 以說是大熱門，由於其州選區及市選區有 60%地區重壘，去年愛波斯坦競選連任時高 票當選，因此他對這次換跑道充滿信心。 

愛波斯坦表示，令他從沒有任期限制的 州議員改成只能當兩屆市議員的職位，他表 示，發覺不少對選民有利的州議會法案下放 到市議會時，都出現難以推動的現象，令選 民未能物盡其用，例如自疫情後，紐約出現 不少精神病患者，州議會撥出過億經費給紐 約市，但遭受種種阻礙令選民無法充份利用 資源，如位於下東城的利民頓樓(Rivington House)，是一間由安老院改成精神病住房， 目前只有75%入住率，空置25%，前陣子一 精神遊民隨機殺死三個人其中一人為華人， 是從監獄放出來的病患者，若嫌犯在監獄移 

轉至利民頓樓，可能就可避免了這宗悲劇。 愛波斯坦表示，紐約市正處於面臨著一 場需要大膽、變革行動的心理健康危機。我 們不能滿足於過時的解決方案。而是以創 新、富有同情心的領導重新構想公共安全和 心理健康服務，他參選市議員，是因為社區 的緊迫優先事項需要值得信賴的領導和對未 來的雄心願景。一個全面框架和政策計劃， 以應對我們城市面臨的心理健康危機。他 認為通過擴展床位並為這些計劃注入所需資 源，可以打破忽視的惡性循環。 

愛波斯坦表示，住房是一項人權，一個 公正的紐約市始於為所有人提供安全、穩定 的住所。我們必須大膽地加倍發展支持性住 房單位，為面臨心理健康困難的無家可歸的 鄰居提供住所。每個從醫院、監獄和收容所 過渡的個體都必須有一個明確、可操作的計 劃：穩定住房、藥物管理、持續的心理健康 支持和就業途徑。這是保護公共安全同時提 升人類尊嚴的方式。 

愛波斯坦住在下東城已超過30年，近三 十年來一直致力於建設一個更強大、更公平 的曼哈頓東區社區。在擔任州議員期間，推 動50多項法案成為法律，優先考慮租戶保護 和可負擔住房。他的立法成果包括為公立學 校、早教項目和交通提供資金；擴大提前投 票權等。他競選第2區市議員，競選綱領以 可負擔性、環境正義、公共安全以及為從 3K到大學的公立教育提供充分資助為核心。 

儘管愛波斯坦對選舉充滿信心，但他希 望更多華人認識他，因第二選區的亞裔選民 佔15%，他也會在二月搞一個農曆新年慶祝 會，與華人選民拉近距離。 

愛波斯坦曾住在法拉盛，並在皇后學院 取得法律學位，30年前移居曼哈頓下東城， 與他的妻子及兩子女居住在東村。 

本報記者周靜然紐約報道 

Current state legislator Epstein announces candidacy for District 2 City Council

Current state legislator Harvey Epstein announced his candidacy for City Councilman in District 2. On the 15th, he came to Chinatown to talk to Chinese reporters about his campaign platform.

In the second district adjacent to Chinatown, the current city council member Li Hua Na cannot be re-elected due to term limits. There are 6 candidates competing for this position. Epstein, who has been a state legislator for 8 years, can be said to be the favorite. 60% of his state and city constituencies are heavily contested, and Epstein was elected with a high vote last year when he ran for re-election, so he is confident about this change of race.

Epstein said that the reason he changed from being a state legislator with no term limits to serving only two terms as a city council member was that he found that many state legislature bills that were beneficial to voters were difficult to pass when they were passed to the city council. phenomenon, which prevents voters from making full use of resources. For example, since the outbreak, many mentally ill people have appeared in New York. The state legislature has allocated over 100 million yuan to New York City, but it has encountered various obstacles that prevent voters from making full use of resources. For example, in the Lower East Side, Rivington House

House, which was converted from a nursing home to a mental hospital. Currently, it has only 75% occupancy rate and 25% vacancy. A while ago, a mentally ill vagrant randomly killed three people, one of whom was a Chinese patient who was released from prison. If the suspect is transferred from prison

This tragedy might have been avoided by moving to Leamington House. Epstein said New York City is facing a mental health crisis that requires bold, transformative action. We cannot settle for outdated solutions. Instead, he is running for City Council because the community’s pressing priorities require trusted leadership and an ambitious vision for the future. A comprehensive framework and policy plan to address the mental health crisis facing our city. He believes that by expanding bed capacity and injecting the resources these programs need, the cycle of neglect can be broken.

Epstein said housing is a human right and a just New York City begins with providing safe, stable homes for all. We must boldly double down on supportive housing units to house our homeless neighbors facing mental health challenges. Every individual transitioning out of hospitals, jails, and shelters must have a clear, actionable plan: stable housing, medication management, ongoing mental health supports, and a pathway to employment. This is a way to protect public safety while promoting human dignity.

Epstein has lived on the Lower East Side for over 30 years and has been working for nearly three decades to build a stronger, more equitable East Side community. During his tenure as a state legislator, he pushed more than 50 bills into law, prioritizing tenant protections and affordable housing. His legislative achievements include funding for public schools, early childhood programs, and transportation; and expanding early voting rights. He is running for District 2 City Councilman on a platform centered on affordability, environmental justice, public safety, and adequate funding for public education from 3K to college.

Although Epstein is confident about the election, he hopes that more Chinese people will know him, as Asian voters account for 15% of the voters in the second district. He will also hold a Lunar New Year celebration in February to get closer to Chinese voters.

Epstein lived in Flushing and earned a law degree from Queens College before moving to Manhattan's Lower East Side 30 years ago, where he resides in the East Village with his wife and two children. 

Our reporter Zhou Jingran reports from New York