By Gus Saltonstall
Lately, there is growing attention surrounding Jack Schlossberg, the 33-year-old grandson of President John F. Kennedy, and one of many Democrats vying to succeed longtime Rep. Jerrold Nadler in New York’s 12th Congressional District, which includes the Upper West Side.
In part, that increased buzz comes from Schlossberg being shown to be leading the Democratic primary race in two polls conducted in recent months by other candidates, George Conway and Assemblymember Alex Bores.
Importantly, there has been no independent poll conducted for the NY-12 race yet.
Long before Schlossberg decided to run for Congress, he spent much of his childhood on the Upper West Side attending the Collegiate School.
Professionally, Schlossberg has business and law degrees from Harvard University, spent time working at an e-commerce company in Japan and within the U.S. State Department, served as a political correspondent for Vogue, and a surrogate for the Biden and Harris campaigns during the 2024 Presidential Election.
This is his first time running for political office.
Including Schlossberg, there are 10 Democrats still running for the NY-12 seat, along with five Republicans and four Independent candidates.
West Side Rag is looking to profile as many of these candidates as possible in the run-up to the June 23 primary elections.
Most recently, we spoke with Schlossberg. Our interview focused on his stances related to important campaign issues, his family’s political history, how he views President Donald Trump, his thoughts on the Upper West Side, and why, in his opinion, Barney Greengrass serves the best food in the world.
This interview has been lightly edited for clarity.
WSR: This is your first time running for political office. Why was this the right time and the right district to do so?
Schlossberg: This is the only district. This is where I’m from. I was born and raised here. I live here now. My family has lived here for many generations. And, why now? Because I think I would be a great person to represent this place, which is among the most important and consequential districts in the country. At a moment where we really need to do things differently than how we have in the past. I understand how to practice politics in 2026 in a way that others don’t, and I’ve got the experience and skills that would make me a great congressperson.
WSR: Did your family’s political history motivate you to seek elected office?
Schlossberg: I’m really inspired by my family’s legacy of public service. I certainly think about that history all the time, especially now, when it’s under attack by President Trump. The work of not just my family, but anyone who has a family who had a hand in building America, building New York City. President Trump is trying to dismantle a lot of that work and when faced with that, of course I want to do something.
WSR: If elected, you’d be put side to side with the Trump Administration. What would your mindset be within that relationship?
Schlossberg: It would be a combination of knowing when to fight and when to dance. How to deliver for the district without compromising on our values. I would be focused on getting the Democratic Party’s confidence back, and that we can do two things at once. We can hold this administration accountable, we can hold President Trump accountable, we can hold his cabinet secretaries accountable for the corruption and abuses of civil rights — violations that we have seen with our own eyes in broad daylight — and we can also have a responsibility at the same time as a party to be more persuasive and to bring people to our side and advocate for what we want to accomplish, whether it’s our plan to make rent more affordable, healthcare, immigration, there’s so much work to be done. It’s a combination of fighting back and delivering for the district and the country.
WSR: How would you look to balance the work you have in D.C. on national and global issues with making sure you show up for the residents in the district on quote-unquote smaller issues?
Schlossberg: [A] representative’s top job and number one priority is delivering for the constituents that elected them. That is my priority. I don’t believe that those two things are at odds with each other. A reason that I would be a great congressman, and I have a lot of confidence in myself, is that I think I could do both for the district in a way that others couldn’t. I could bring people to the table and I can elevate the stature of this district on Day 1 in a way that others can’t. I can pass legislation that has national significance and also do things like get funding for infrastructure projects in the district like the Second Avenue subway, while also speaking to the larger national questions that our country is facing now.
WSR: What would you look to accomplish on affordability in NY-12, especially when it comes to housing?
Schlossberg: I talk to people every day. Housing and affordability are at the top of pretty much everybody’s list of focuses. We have released a plan, it’s called “Jack’s Housing Fairness Plan,” which has three pillars, one for renters, one for property owners, and one for public housing. Our plan for renters has been very well received. I’m the only person who has ever proposed this, which is shocking to me, but I am proud of it, deduct your rent from your taxes. If you can allow residents here to deduct their rent from their federal income taxes, or at least a portion of it, it would save people thousands of dollars a year immediately.
Of course, we also need to increase the supply of housing here by building, but that takes time. A renter’s reduction would help people immediately. The same is true for property owners with a full repeal of the SALT Cap. President Trump punishes blue states like New York for our political beliefs by making us pay more into the federal government than we get out, and the SALT Cap is a primary mechanism he uses to do that.
On public housing, I want to make sure we protect and fully fund Section 9 here in New York City. We don’t have to choose between development and public housing, so I’ve proposed what I call the “Fix it Now” caucus, which would be devoted exclusively to addressing the backlog in repairs nationwide in municipal public housing authorities. NYCHA tenants need to live in safe, dignified, and habitable places, and too often they don’t. Repair requests take on average more than a year to [fulfill] and the federal government can do a lot more, and we can do better for the people that live here.
WSR: There’s a debate between the need to preserve a neighborhood like the Upper West Side and the importance of creating new development. Where do you stand on that balance?
Schlossberg: The best answer is to have the community decide. Community input should really be guiding these decisions. We have to serve both interests at the same time. Nobody wants to have the character of the Upper West Side fundamentally change, but at the same time you can still alleviate the problem and expand housing supply without doing that. But, it should be up to the people who actually live there on how that’s done.
WSR: What would you look to accomplish on the subject of immigration, if elected?
Schlossberg: It’s a two-part answer. The first is to abolish ICE, dismantle ICE, and that’s because ICE didn’t exist in its current form before the Big Beautiful Bill was passed, and now it’s the highest funded federal law enforcement agency in the country. They are violating civil rights and there’s virtually no accountability there. So, I’m proudly in favor of dismantling ICE and creating a new federal agency in its place with much more specific guard rails and protections for civil rights, but that’s not an answer to the big question. The question of what to do about immigration.
The only answer there is comprehensive reform to our system that both addresses the problem of illegal immigration by investing in processing people and having more administrative judges and courts to make sure that we can process people that come here. And then also, providing a pathway to citizenship for people that live here, who may be undocumented but who have lived here and worked here and who have families here and pay taxes. They need to be given a pathway to citizenship in a way that works for our time and without violating civil rights.
WSR: Among these issues, do you have a first bill that you would look to sponsor?
Schlossberg: It’s very hard at this moment to choose one specific issue that is more important than the others. With that being said, if we don’t reform our campaign finance laws, it’s going to be pretty hard to do anything about any of the issues that we care about, whether it’s healthcare, education or immigration. Corporate interests and billionaires have so much influence on our elections now, more than they ever have. Billionaires made up 20% of spending on election costs in 2024. The Super PACs, Corporate PACs, AIPAC, taking money from big tech, it’s all part of the integrity pledge that I have made as a candidate, which I am very proud of, because I think we need to offer the American people a solution to Citizens United and that the Democratic Party can impose a new standard on itself by electing candidates who choose not to take that money.
More than that, we need to reform our campaign finance laws because otherwise, powerful interests are going to continue to control members of Congress and flood money into primary races, so their preferred candidate wins. That’s going to make it very hard, and is responsible for why on so many issues, despite the public agreeing, the ball doesn’t move forward at all. So, campaign finance should be our top priority.
WSR: On a more local level. What comes to mind when you think about the Upper West Side?
Schlossberg: My childhood, my upbringing, all of my friends from high school, taking the bus to school every day, memories, a proud tradition, and a very specific culture. The Upper West Side is where my dad’s family is from, I went to to the Collegiate School in the neighborhood, and the Upper West Side is an example of a community that prizes intelligence, work ethic, and stands for progressive values that are the backbone of the Democratic Party.
WSR: What would you say to a voter who agrees with your stances and messaging, but worries slightly about your age or lack of experience holding political office?
Schlossberg: I would say our campaign is for the young at heart, regardless of age. It’s for anyone who thinks the status quo and the playbook that our party has been using needs to be changed and we need to try something else. If not now, then when? If there are questions about my experience because of my age, I would hope that they know my experience, because I think that’s why people are drawn to my campaign, because of my experience. My experience working at the State Department for Secretary [John] Kerry, my experience working in Tokyo for a Japanese company, my experience with a law and business degree, and as a top surrogate for the Biden and Harris campaign. My experience is one that has taught me how to practice politics in a way in 2026 that is the way of the future.
I may look young, but I have the soul of a retiree, of an 85-year-old man who loves to read and listen to music and hang out with his parents most of all.
WSR: Rep. Jerry Nadler has become a figurehead of the Upper West Side. Are there parts of his legacy that you would look to continue, if elected?
Schlossberg: Absolutely. Congressman Nadler is a progressive stalwart and champion on environmental issues, on LGBTQ issues, among many things, he led the impeachment against President Trump and his time in the [House] Judiciary Committee is inspiring. I would say most of all, something I’ve heard from people, especially on the Upper West Side, is that they felt he was a congressperson who was available and accessible to them, and that his constituent services were incredible and he was attentive to the needs of his district. I want to continue that.
WSR: Favorite places on the Upper West Side?
Schlossberg: Barney Greengrass is where my family celebrates all of our major accomplishments. There’s literally no better food in the entire world than Barney Greengrass, it just makes me so happy when I go there, I absolutely love it.
Whenever I walk by where I went to high school or when I visit my friends from high school, one of them, their parents live on Riverside Drive and it’s about the people who made me who I am. All of the important lessons I learned in life, I learned between the Upper East and Upper West Side, those are the memories that come to mind for me. I love Riverside Park. I paddle on the Hudson River all of the time. I constantly paddle up and down Riverside and I look at the people running on the pathway. And the JCC because it’s where I play basketball.
WSR: Important follow up. What’s your Barney Greengrass order?
Schlossberg: I’m actually somebody who shakes it up. Sometimes I want Leo’s lox and onions, but other times I just want a bagel with nova. I can’t really be pinned down. I almost always get poppyseed but sometimes I get sesame. And there’s really no rhyme or reason to that. And then, usually I take home with me a couple of pieces of sturgeon but I don’t eat that there, I save it for a snack after.
WSR: And finally, what do you say to someone who simply asks, ‘Why should I vote for you?’
Schlossberg: Our campaign is different from all of the other campaigns for many reasons. One is where our where our money comes from. We’re powered by small dollars; our average contribution is under $40. I don’t take money from Super PACs. We are meeting people in the district. Being more accessible. Shaking more hands. The second is we have released more policy proposals to address the issues of the people who live here than anybody else. We have plans for protecting houses of worship, we have our “Ricochet Rule” to stop the flow of illegal guns, and I am the only person who has asked the question of how much is the city paying for the permanent perimeter around Trump Tower, and who has a plan to get President Trump pay the $300 million bill, so that we can invest it in cops, teachers, and transit.
It also shows I’m focused on the concerns of the people who live here. Deduct your rent from your taxes, that is something that everybody can get behind.
Lastly, I would say, probably nobody, in the history of our politics, knows how the House of Representatives, where I seek to serve, how that works, what political power means there, than Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Speaker Pelosi has endorsed our campaign proudly, and I’m very proud to have her endorsement. She has the confidence in me, and if others believe, as they should, that she is the backbone of our party, since she has done more for more healthcare, for children, for civil rights, than nearly anybody. She is the most important female certainly in American political history, and she’s behind us all the way.
Our campaign slogan is “Believe in Something Again,” and it’s as dumb as it is true. Believe in something again—why? Because our country and this city were built by people who believed in something larger than themselves, that we were all in this together, that their vote counted, but right now we can’t believe in anything. We can’t believe what Trump says at all. We’re at war and we’ve got no idea what’s going on. The president lies to us constantly. I still believe in politics and I always will. I want others to reconnect in their belief of something larger and their belief that things can get better, if we all participate.
You can find out more about Schlossberg’s campaign — HERE.
Read More:
- A WSR Conversation With Candidate Nina Schwalbe in the Race to Represent the UWS in Congress
- Meet the UES Candidate Running to Represent Both the UES and UWS in Congress
- Meet Karen Ortiz, an Independent Candidate Running to Represent the UWS in Congress
- A WSR Conversation With Candidate Laura Dunn in the Race to Represent the UWS in Congress
- Meet Caroline Shinkle, a Republican Candidate Running to Represent the UWS in Congress
- A WSR Conversation With Candidate Patrick Timmins in the Race to Represent the UWS in Congress
- An Interview With the UWS Elected Official Running to Represent the UWS and UES in Congress
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I am gratified that Mr. Schlossberg believes so much of his current character was molded here on the UWS however that does not detract from the fact our congressional seat is a valued object and should go to someone with a demonstrated track record as an elected official working and delivering for the people of the district. If Mr. Schlossberg is so desirous of elective office there are other positions he could start with and build up a reputation of delivering for his constituency. I appreciate his grandfather started his career as the representative of the 11th District of Massachusetts, but that was 80 years ago and it should be remembered that Mr. Kennedy was often criticized for taking little interest in his constituency, and used his three terms as representative as a stepping stone to the senate and beyond. With that in mind I do not plan to support Mr. Schlossberg at this time for this office.
Everyone likes to say that all of the “unexperienced” should start out with other positions and build up a career, etc. the problem is that NYC politics don’t allow it because everyone is beholden to the political groups. Where should he start? City Council? The same people run for that seat over and over again and continue to get the backing of the political clubs. Did you vote for the mayor? He had no “experience.”
There is no where to “start”.
Our Mayor, Mamdani, did have experience in the NY State Assembly serving for five years.
You are right – I did forget that fact. mistake on my part. My main point still remains….
Once again, Mamdani was a three term state assembly member before being elected mayor.
There are also lots of ways to gain experience and show you’re serious about public service without running for elected office. With Schlossberg’s Kennedy name and money he could have spent time working as an aide to legislators and governors like Micah Lasher, practicing constitutional law like George Conway (Schlossberg has a law degree he hasn’t done anything with), served in the state legislature like Alex Bores, or at UNICEF like Nina Schwalbe. With the opportunities he was handed in life he could have done anything and he did approximately nothing.
George W. Bush was famously born on third base and thought he hit a triple. This guy was born on third base and has spent his entire adulthood picking dandelions in the outfield.
And when did he ever live on the Upper West Side?
I’m a little unclear what this guy has going for him except being very very rich.
His mother is, doesn’t mean he is. How much is his allowance? Did he inherit from anyone?
Trust fund kid
His lineage.
That would matter if they were royalty, but they are not.
He has a nice head of hair.
Actually, Schlossberg’s biggest attribute is that he is NOT a NY political hack approved by one of the entrenched political groups. Watching the pandering most of these candidates do is nauseating. We need people from outside this corrupt system that have actual real world experience like actually having had a real job. Unfortunately, he falls short there.
Wait — Caroline Junior is “NOT a NY political hack approved by one of the entrenched political groups”??
He’s a Kennedy, for heaven’s sake. He’s all of that, by definition. That’s *exactly* what he is.
It’s not just that he hasn’t held office before, he’s never had an actual job before. His experience consists of what are basically internships he got because of his name.
That may explain why his big idea on affordability has never been proposed before – it’s pretty obviously stupid if you think about it for two seconds. 1) If you create a massive new tax break you either need to raise new taxes or increase the debt 2) tying the rebate to rent means you’re giving the biggest subsidy to the people who pay the highest rent 3) If you subsidize rent without changing supply and demand the rent is just going to go up by the amount of the subsidy. It will end up being a massive new government handout to landlords.
There is a reason he hasn’t released any specifics around the plan (even a cost estimate) and that it hasn’t received any endorsements from any experts. And this is the number one, best thought out idea he chooses to highlight in interviews!
Well, NYC just elected a mayor who never had a real job either
I guess you don’t consider 5 years in the NY State Assembly a real job.
Considering the average state assembly rep. Not really
Probably not.
Well, it’s “real” in that it’s really destructive. I don’t consider that to be a productive job that creates anything useful.
Mamdani was a three term New York State Assembly Member before being elected mayor.
A housing affordability plan that consists only of subsidizing demand via tax breaks & no discussion of increasing supply is entirely unserious and would do nothing to reduce the cost of housing. Seems like a nice guy but for that reason alone, hard pass on Mr. Schlossberg.
Indeed! The excesses that Extell is planning for a residential need and neighborhood cannot fill the bill. An 86-story building smack in the middle of a clogged intersection that includes crosstown busses and heavy traffic is like a smack in the face to the real needs of most local residents. A range of affordable buildings of more modest size and ambition would be a good solution. Anybody step up to the plate?
He actually doesn’t seem like a very nice guy? Seems to spend most of his energy trolling people on social media for attention. He talks about being proud of his family’s history of public service, but there are all kinds of ways that someone with money, fame, connections and lots of free time can serve the public outside of elected office. He hasn’t done any of them.
A lot of his social media content is designed to discuss politics and raise awareness. Also, how do you know exactly all that he’s done?
Interesting that he singles out AIPAC from all of the PACs out there.
Caught that one also. There is only one candidate that doesn’t go to bed at night thinking that Israel is the root of all evil. And that antisemitism is a problem. And that’s the Republican candidate. Caroline Shinkle
Please leave this family in the history books. The press fawning over him is disgusting and it was embarrassing that his Mommy had to toss him softball interview questions at the 92nd St Y recently. These people, on the whole, have done enormous damage to our country. Please do not elect another generation of them.
Damage? What damage? There is only one politician causing deadly damage in every possible way, and we all know who that is.
I like that he’s not beholden to the local machine, that he isn’t taking money from billionaires, that he grew up in the neighborhood, and that he’s not a career politician.
He grew up on the East Side, commuted to his ritzy private school on the West Side, and then (after stopping at Barney Greengrass, of course — could *you* afford that as an after-school treat everyday?) commuted back to his parents’ Fifth Avenue condo. He’s no West Sider, sorry.
Not taking money from billionaires? He *is* a billionaire — taking it from the predecessor Kennedys.
Not a career politician? What else has he ever done for a living? And what have *any* of the Kennedys ever done for a living, other than run for office? They are generations of career politicians, and he hasn’t done a single thing to distinguish himself from them.
Then what career, exactly IS he?
I think he would be a great asset- the press coverage due to his name would give him a spotlight and promote the democratic values of Manhattan ! We need young folks – like the mayor – to reinvigorate the electorate. As far as experience- his education, law degree, journalist stint and helping run the family foundation is great experience !
I heard Schlossberg speak at a Dem candidate forum at Goddard Riverside a couple of months ago. I was pleasantly surprised and impressed by him.
However, he’s now jumping on the anti-AIPAC bandwagon without specifically naming any other PAC he won’t take money from.
As such, he’s aligning himself with the “progressive” and extreme right anti-Israel crowds and (by accident or design) helping to promote the canard that there is some evil and powerful Jewish conspiracy that dominates US politics.
Schlossberg lost my vote.
AIPAC has only itself to blame for its loss of credibility. For example, coming out against Tom Malinowski because the congressman—who’s been a strong supporter of Israel—said that Israel should abide US law and minimize civilian casualties, is the kind of extreme position that does AIPAC and Israel no favors.
Complete screwup. The Malinowski thing. But Schlossberg is going for the I hate Israel and love Iran/ Hamas / Hezbollah vote. I think that’s misreading the district
I was considering him as well until I saw exactly what you pointed out.
Quick correction – when he went to Collegiate it was still in the high 70s, not at its new location – it moved within the last 10 years, long after he graduated.
He definitely has his pros and cons. I appreciate his enthusiasm. Clearly a very bright guy. Some of his proposals don’t seem very realistic, but welcome to politics. I wish he started out with a more junior office before going for the big time. But I trust that he will surround himself with good people and that is much of the battle. I’m Ok with Pelosi but I don’t like him leaning on her endorsement – what does she have to do with anything?
I am completely turned off by Lasher’s overwhelming media blitz and his history of waffling. So he is a non-starter. Conway still sketches me out. Need to learn more about Bores. Too many candidates without ranked choice voting means this will end up being absolute chaos. Oy vey.
We are on the precipice of a disaster in NYC.
ohhh great, another Kennedy.
So nasty.
As a proud Jew and Zionist, I can’t wait to cast my vote Jack! He strikes me as immensely proud of his Jewish heritage and understanding of the vital importance of the State of Israel to the Jewish people. I’ve listened to his statements and I share his skepticism of backing anything espoused by Bibi and the current far right in Israel apart from continuing to fund Iron Dome and providing other defensive assistance. I firmly believe that Jack will make a terrific representative and will serve us well in D.C.!
Leave your comfortable Jewish life in the UWS if you think Israel is so special. It is insulting to me as a NY Jew that all you Zionists constantly sh*t on NYC, the city that has given you everything
Genuinely curious has to why you think Jews crap on NYC.
Yeah, because it’s the Zionists who set up encampments, destroy property, and march and complain how terrible it is here in the evil USA.
Worthy of the Onion.
So Caroline Junior doesn’t like billionaires. Isn’t he one — and only because his great grandfather handed it down to him? (No need to go into the source of the Kennedy wealth here — can’t blame Caroline Junior for that.) And yet he criticizes the political power held by those billionaires. Talk about hypocrisy. He wouldn’t — couldn’t — be running for office without it.
And he has “the soul of a retiree, of an 85-year-old man who loves to … hang out with his parents most of all.” How many 85 year old men does he know who “hang out with [their] parents”? Does he think before he speaks? Don’t the Kennedys have better speech coaches than this?
So this dilettante nepo-baby is leading in the polls to replace a real, dyed-in-the-wool Upper West Sider. We’re doomed.
Removing the SALT cap is a giveaway to the richest of the Rich (i.e. – people like Kennedy!).
Enough with the political dynasties. If he’s really interested in public service, start on the city council or state assembly. I guess those roles are beneath a Kennedy. Pay some dues before you ask for a major position like Congress.
So he thinks he is vaguely “great,” recites a few words salads, and of course doesnt like ICE or Trump. Does he have an original thought ever?
He talks about PACs broadly—but only names AIPAC. That’s a choice.
His desire for accountability seems to only go in one direction.
And Camelot nostalgia, inherited or not, isn’t leadership.
We need someone who represents the entire district. Full stop.
AIPAC is that destructive and evil, so yes, this is good policy
Please explain.
If you’re a Kennedy you’re a great person. Fact.
Tell that to Mary Jo Kopechne’s family.
Ha ha
Jack Schlossberg may not have held elective office before but he has all the qualities required to make an exceptional congressperson. I watched the recent 92nd Street Y candidate forum and saw that Jack is a skilled communicator who understands the the extent to which our democracy is being threatened and our reputation as world leader of liberal democracies is being wrecked.
Unlike his opponents, formidable as they are, Jack has something they lack — the ability to inspire young people to rise up and serve a cause greater than their own self-interests. As much as we’d like to bury our heads in the sand and pretend that we can carry on with business as usual, our country is in deep, deep trouble. Jack has the intelligence, the passion, the sensitivity and the youthful energy we’re going to need in the months and years ahead. And yes, he takes very seriously our collective need to restore the values and to uphold the legacy of his illustrious grandfather.
Jack represents the best of us New Yorkers — let’s send him to Congress and give the younger generations hope for better days to come and the inspirational leadership they deserve.
Campaign aide?
Nope. I’m just a New Yorker that’s following this race and have gotten enthusiastic about Schlossberg’s potential to be a next generation leader in Congress.
People are trying to spin his inexperience as youthful energy. I’m sympathetic to this because the Democratic establishment genuinely is dominated by people who have been in power for decades. But his opponents aren’t people in their 70s – they are young people themselves! More importantly, they are young people who came from less privileged backgrounds and achieved much more in their careers.
Micah Lasher is 44 years old.
Alex Bores is 35 years old.
You can vote for someone with both youth and much more experience!
That’s ridiculous to base it on “less privileged backgrounds.” Also, someone could have more work experience but doesn’t mean they will do a great job.
It’s not just that Jack Schlossberg has youthful energy. He’ll go to Congress with a built-in national following. I watched his interview on NY1 with Errol Louis last night. Schlossberg speaks with clarity and is able to break down complex issues into language people understand. And yes, the fact that he’s handsome and telegenic means he’ll attract media attention and that’s a big plus for his constituents.
This is all a lot of fluff… obviously in this day and age its important to be able to communicate and get media attention, but when it’s paired with frankly terrible ideas about housing/tax policy then what’s the point?
Good grief. You and a couple of others are basically writing ad copy. It’s so obvious that you are part of the campaign. Regular posters to a website like this don’t write like that.
Somehow this young, intelligent, vibrant, handsome, telegenic candidate can’t even get people imitating “regular UWSers” to post in any believable way.
Jane and her assumptions…I will tell you what is obvious…you’re a hater who wants to make it known that you don’t support him. Hate to break it to you, but there are supporters not affiliated with his campaign.
I must confess that although I love the UWS, I reside on the UES. We’re all in the same congressional district 12. I read the West Side Rag, I have friends on the UWS, I shop at Zabars and enjoy eating at Barney Greengrass, going to Lincoln Center and the Beacon Theater and I engage in a host of other activities that find me on the UWS. (Getting to the UWS from my place entails a short walk through Central Park.)
I am enthusiastically supporting Jack Schlossberg in this race. No one from his campaign coached me or helped me to write anything here — perhaps I should credit my High School English teachers for my fairly decent writing skills. People are understandably quite cynical about politics these days and they question everyone’s motives. Schlossberg strikes me as someone who’s in it for all the right reasons. I suggest folks view the extended interview Katie Couric did with him on YouTube. Getting people excited about a candidacy is what actually brings people out to vote and I feel it’s crucial to get young people engaged in politics if our democracy is to survive. That’s what Jack Schlossberg is doing.
Our congressional district is the highest per capita income district in the country. It’s probably home to more members of the media than any other district. We have never suffered from lack of media attention. The UWS doesn’t need Jack for media attention, but Jack is certainly using us to boost his TikTok following.
Breaking down issues so regular people can understand them (which, I didn’t see at all in the interview, but to each his own!) is a real and important skill. But you’re describing skills for gaining a social media following, not being an effective advocate in congress for our neighborhood. He’s good at the job he has posting videos, I’m not sure why he wants a totally different one (actually I do know, it’s because using a political campaign to boost your media profile is a tried and true tactic. The only risk is that sometimes you actually win).
Definitely a campaign aide. Or a friend.
Jack’s got my vote! We need young, educated persons in congress – who are not tied to political clubs – such as Westside Democrats. They made a huge mistake not endorsing this charismatic young man. Out with the old, in with the new – Godspeed, Jack Schlossberg!
I’ve met him multiple times. His enthusiasm is making this a real congressional race and I think this article shows he will work for the district. Just as importantly, there’s a chance we can actually elect someone to the House that does not take PAC or corporate money. If we can make that a trend I do not care that he does not have time in the state senate or whatever is being asked in so many of these comments. They just gutted the Voting Rights Act, we’re going to need loud voices from what very well may be a long minority in the House.
Before hearing Jack speak in-person at an event, I had only come across lighthearted clips of him on social media, so I wasn’t entirely sure how seriously he approached public office. His talk completely changed my impression, and his responses to the Q&A. I think he takes his legacy seriously and has upfront exposure to public service as a Senate page and intern for then-Senator John Kerry (2009–2011), along with other relevant experience.
Jack has my vote! He continues to impress me with policies that will have a positive impact on my every day life.
He’s the only candidate talking about a Standard Renters Deduction, the burden on tax payers to pay for the perimeter around Trump Tower, protecting NYCHA tenants, Hertz’ AI scanners…the list goes on!
Jack is clearly passionate about the people in this district and I am so proud to say I stood by him in the early days of his political career.
Jack has what it takes and is the right choice. Just because someone has held a job for twenty years doesn’t mean they are effective. Jack, who makes it a priority to connect with the residents of the 12th District, will stand up for them. He also will continue to stand up to individuals such as Robert Kennedy. His educational background, experience, skill set, dedication, and fresh ideas make him the best candidate.
Wow, what a great endorsement. Thanks for highlighting the quality of his policy positions.
Oh wait, you just talked about style.
Who cares about substance.
Let me guess – TikTok generation?
Hi Jane! Isn’t it?! Not everything I wrote was about style. I don’t need to write paragraphs regarding policy positions. Everyone can take away what they like from the article. If I didn’t like his policy positions, I wouldn’t be supporting him. When I wrote fresh ideas- I was referencing policies that he put out. If you couldn’t pick up on what I was saying, maybe you’re from the TikTok generation.
So sorry that Schlossberg felt a need to single out the pro-Israel American lobby AIPAC – whose efforts have helped her survival – while insisting he won’t accept their support.
What about the legions of foreign PACs and government lobbies, Jack?
Would you accept money from Japan interests, where your mother served as US ambassador?
I am tired of my fellow Dems SINGLING OUT Israel…while ignoring all others.
He is not taking PAC money and I feel that’s the biggest draw. We have to at least attempt to get money out of politics. If the congressman from one of the most important district wins without PAC and corporate money that would be gigantic.
So why did he specify AIPAC and no others?
Who could he possibly be signaling to?
Look at all the rust on the subway blockhouse steel.