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Benjamin is from Queens, New York and is the son of Burmese Chinese immigrants.

Benjamin Chou (New York) - Ballotpedia

Benjamin Chou secures Democratic nod in District 19, takes on GOP ...

Benjamin is a firefighter with the New York City Fire Department (FDNY). He joined the FDNY in 2014. He also worked as an emergency medical technician (EMT). 

Benjamin's campaign for New York City Council Member, District 19, is his first entry into politics. 

Supports reducing the city's portion of the hidden property tax on Con Edison bills and demands transparency from Con Ed on property taxes.

Supports closing tax loopholes for luxury properties to ensure they are taxed based on their true worth, saying this will "bring in much-needed revenue for the City without raising taxes on middle-class homeowners."

- Demands transparency on property taxes.
- Supports closing tax loopholes for luxury properties to ensure they are taxed based on their true worth, saying this will "bring in much-needed revenue for the City without raising taxes on middle-class homeowners."

Economy

Plans to work with the NYC Parks Workforce Development unit to launch a pilot program improving sidewalks, public spaces, and other neighborhood areas.

Supports the New Yorkers for Parks campaign, which is pushing to increase parks funding back to 1%.

Plans to start the District 19 Mural Program, which will support local artists, engage local school art programs, deter graffiti, and beautify the community.

Supports the Eastern Queens Greenway and the Queens Waterfront Greenway, which will expand access to 3,000 acres of parkland.

Supports increased funding for Auxiliary units, with a focus on cycling equipment.

- Plans to work with the NYC Parks Workforce Development unit to launch a pilot program improving sidewalks, public spaces, and other neighborhood areas.
- Supports the New Yorkers for Parks campaign, which is pushing to increase parks funding back to 1%.
- Plans to start the District 19 Mural Program, which will support local artists, engage local school art programs, deter graffiti, and beautify the community.
- Supports the Eastern Queens Greenway and the Queens Waterfront Greenway, which will expand access to 3,000 acres of parkland.
- Supports increased funding for Auxiliary units, with a focus on cycling equipment.

Public Services

Supports investing in smart, sustainable infrastructure to protect communities from flooding, including restoring natural barriers, upgrading stormwater systems, and requiring flood-resilient designs in new developments.

Plans to soundproof homes under high-traffic flight paths.

- Supports investing in smart, sustainable infrastructure to protect communities from flooding, including restoring natural barriers, upgrading stormwater systems, and requiring flood-resilient designs in new developments.
- Plans to soundproof homes under high-traffic flight paths.

Housing & Urban Development

Supports increasing entry-level police salaries to attract and retain qualified officers.

Plans to launch a pilot program to provide free motion-sensor lights to homeowners and tenants across Northeast Queens, believing that better outdoor lighting can reduce nighttime crime by at least 36%.

Plans to work with the Department of Transportation to review the most dangerous intersections in the district and restore cuts to school crossing guards.

- Supports increasing entry-level police salaries to attract and retain qualified officers.
- Plans to launch a pilot program to provide free motion-sensor lights to homeowners and tenants across Northeast Queens, believing that better outdoor lighting can reduce nighttime crime by at least 36%.
- Plans to work with the Department of Transportation to review the most dangerous intersections in the district and restore cuts to school crossing guards.

Public Safety

Plans to ease congestion along Bell Boulevard by redesigning street parking, creating a parking lot or garage, updating parking signs, and introducing a valet service.

Plans to ease congestion along Bell Boulevard by working with residents and local businesses to redesign street parking, create parking lots or garages, update parking signs, and introduce valet services.

- Plans to ease congestion along Bell Boulevard by redesigning street parking, creating a parking lot or garage, updating parking signs, and introducing a valet service.
- Plans to ease congestion along Bell Boulevard by working with residents and local businesses to redesign street parking, create parking lots or garages, update parking signs, and introduce valet services.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Supports investing in smart, sustainable infrastructure like wetlands, oyster reefs, and marshes to protect communities from flooding.

- Supports investing in smart, sustainable infrastructure like wetlands, oyster reefs, and marshes to protect communities from flooding.

Energy & the Environment

Supports legislation to protect city retirees' access to comprehensive healthcare and prevent enrollment in Medicare Advantage plans.

- Supports legislation to protect city retirees' access to comprehensive healthcare and prevent enrollment in Medicare Advantage plans.

Healthcare

Supports raising wages for paraprofessionals in New York City Public Schools to recruit and retain skilled support staff for students with specialized needs.

Supports expanding access to free, high-quality after-school programs that include Specialized High School Admissions Test (SHSAT) preparation.

Supports fully funding the City University of New York (CUNY) system and reducing tuition.

- Supports raising wages for paraprofessionals in New York City Public Schools to recruit and retain skilled support staff for students with specialized needs.
- Supports expanding access to free, high-quality after-school programs that include Specialized High School Admissions Test (SHSAT) preparation.
- Supports fully funding the City University of New York (CUNY) system and reducing tuition.

Education

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Benjamin Chou

As of August 22, 2025, Benjamin Chou’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Benjamin Chou is from Flushing, New York. He attended Bronx Science High School. He has a bachelor’s degree from Queens College and a master’s degree from Baruch College. He lives in Douglaston. He attends Community Church of Great Neck.

Benjamin is a firefighter. He works at the New York City Fire Department (FDNY), where he has been since 2014. He previously worked as an EMT.

Benjamin Chou's campaign for New York City Council Member, District 19, is his first entry into politics. 

Benjamin Chou is from Douglaston, New York. He attended Bronx Science High School, PS 94, and MS 67. He has a bachelor’s degree from Queens College and a master’s degree from Baruch College. He attends Community Church of Great Neck.

Benjamin is an active-duty firefighter with the New York City Fire Department (FDNY). He joined the FDNY in 2014 and has spent 11 years responding to emergencies and helping New Yorkers on their worst days. He also served as an emergency medical technician (EMT). In addition to his firefighting duties, he currently serves as president of the FDNY Phoenix Society, an organization that supports Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) firefighters.

Buket Urgen

Supports public service initiatives like repainting playgrounds, planting trees, and cleaning sidewalks to create good-paying jobs and enhance neighborhood safety, inclusivity, and community ties.

Supports the New Yorkers for Parks campaign to increase parks funding to 1%.

Supports public art, believing it can unite communities, enhance local aesthetics, and boost the economy.

Supports the Eastern Queens Greenway and the Queens Waterfront Greenway, but believes such projects should involve community input.

Supports reducing tuition costs for the City University of New York (CUNY).

Supports increased funding for Auxiliary units in the district, with a focus on cycling equipment to help them cover more ground as they build a greener, more connected Queens.

Supports the Eastern Queens Greenway and Queens Waterfront Greenway projects, which would expand access to 3,000 acres of parkland and improve safety for children and families.

Plans to launch a pilot program providing free motion-sensor lights to homeowners and tenants in Northeast Queens, believing it will reduce nighttime crime by at least 36%.

Plans to launch a pilot program providing free motion-sensor lights to homeowners and tenants in Northeast Queens.

Supports the Eastern Queens Greenway and the Queens Waterfront Greenway, which will expand access to 3,000 acres of parkland and improve safety for children and families.

Supports restoring funding for school crossing guards.

Believes in investing in education to protect community character and make everyday costs more manageable.

District 19 - Vickie Paladino

Vickie has lived in Whitestone for 45 years with her husband and their two sons.

Vickie and her husband owned a successful family business for over twenty-five years.

Vickie is currently a New York City Council Member representing District 19. She was elected in 2021 and has served one term. In 2025, she was appointed to serve as the Council's Minority Whip.

Supports creating a small business disaster recovery and resiliency advisory board.

Sponsored legislation to create a small business disaster recovery and resiliency advisory board.

Supports establishing a prevailing wage requirement for covered workers in financially assisted facilities.

Sponsored legislation to establish a prevailing wage requirement for covered workers in financially assisted facilities.

Supports waiving permit fees for mobile food unit commissaries that reserve space for veteran vendors.

Sponsored legislation to waive permit fees for mobile food unit commissaries that reserve space for veteran vendors.

Supports discounted quarterly municipal parking field permits for seniors.

Sponsored legislation to discount quarterly municipal parking field permits for seniors.

Supports a pilot program to establish a pet food pantry.

Sponsored legislation for a pilot program to establish a pet food pantry.

- Sponsored legislation to create a small business disaster recovery and resiliency advisory board.
- Sponsored legislation to establish a prevailing wage requirement for covered workers in financially assisted facilities.
- Sponsored legislation to waive permit fees for mobile food unit commissaries that reserve space for veteran vendors.
- Sponsored legislation to discount quarterly municipal parking field permits for seniors.
- Sponsored legislation for a pilot program to establish a pet food pantry.

Supports establishing an office of quality of life.

Sponsored legislation establishing an office of quality of life.

Supports requiring the parks department to repair damage caused by city-owned trees.

Sponsored legislation requiring the parks department to repair damage caused by city-owned trees.

Supports requiring the department of parks and recreation to publish tree maintenance prioritization ratings.

Sponsored legislation requiring the department of parks and recreation to publish tree maintenance prioritization ratings.

Supports requiring the preparation of five-year capital plans for parks at the community board level.

Sponsored legislation requiring the preparation of five-year capital plans for parks at the community board level.

Supports creating a public database to track funds spent on migrants.

Sponsored legislation creating a public database to track funds spent on migrants.

- Sponsored legislation establishing an office of quality of life.
- Sponsored legislation requiring the parks department to repair damage caused by city-owned trees.
- Sponsored legislation requiring the department of parks and recreation to publish tree maintenance prioritization ratings.
- Sponsored legislation requiring the preparation of five-year capital plans for parks at the community board level.
- Sponsored legislation creating a public database to track funds spent on migrants.

Supports requiring the department of housing preservation and development to submit reports on veteran preference in Mitchell-Lama developments.

Sponsored legislation requiring the department of housing preservation and development to submit reports on veteran preference in Mitchell-Lama developments.

Supports establishing a real property tax exemption for Cold War veterans.

Sponsored legislation establishing a real property tax exemption for Cold War veterans.

Supports requiring home improvement contractors to provide information on required permits to owners and public outreach on contractors working without a permit.

Sponsored legislation requiring home improvement contractors to provide information on required permits to owners and public outreach on contractors working without a permit.

- Sponsored legislation requiring the department of housing preservation and development to submit reports on veteran preference in Mitchell-Lama developments.
- Sponsored legislation establishing a real property tax exemption for Cold War veterans.
- Sponsored legislation requiring home improvement contractors to provide information on required permits to owners and public outreach on contractors working without a permit.

Supports eliminating fees for firearm licenses and permits.

Sponsored legislation eliminating fees for firearm licenses and permits.

Sponsored legislation requiring the NYC Department of Education to report the number of students diagnosed with sickle cell disease or trait.

Supports requiring the city to report on the impact of social media on the mental health of young people.

Sponsored legislation requiring the city to report on the impact of social media on the mental health of young people.

Supports requiring the installation of cameras on street sweepers to photograph and report parking violations.

Sponsored legislation requiring the installation of cameras on street sweepers to photograph and report parking violations.

Supports requiring each community board to establish a veterans committee.

Sponsored legislation requiring each community board to establish a veterans committee.

- Opposes closing prisons.
- Sponsored legislation eliminating fees for firearm licenses and permits.
- Sponsored legislation requiring the NYC Department of Education to report the number of students diagnosed with sickle cell disease or trait.
- Sponsored legislation requiring the city to report on the impact of social media on the mental health of young people.
- Sponsored legislation requiring the installation of cameras on street sweepers to photograph and report parking violations.
- Sponsored legislation requiring each community board to establish a veterans committee.

Supports removing benchmarks for bus lanes and bicycle lanes from the streets master plan.

Sponsored legislation removing benchmarks for bus lanes and bicycle lanes from the streets master plan.

Supports creating a groundwater flood risk area map.

Sponsored legislation to create a groundwater flood risk area map.

Supports requiring the director of long-term planning and sustainability to conduct an infrastructure risk study in flood risk areas.

Sponsored legislation requiring the director of long-term planning and sustainability to conduct an infrastructure risk study in flood risk areas.

Supports requiring speed humps on roadways adjacent to parks larger than one acre.

Sponsored legislation requiring speed humps on roadways adjacent to parks larger than one acre.

Supports requiring the Department of Transportation to consult with the Fire Department of New York prior to approving open street applications, bicycle lane projects, and major transportation projects.

Sponsored legislation requiring the Department of Transportation to consult with the Fire Department of New York prior to approving open street applications, bicycle lane projects, and major transportation projects.

- Sponsored legislation removing benchmarks for bus lanes and bicycle lanes from the streets master plan.
- Sponsored legislation to create a groundwater flood risk area map.
- Sponsored legislation requiring the director of long-term planning and sustainability to conduct an infrastructure risk study in flood risk areas.
- Sponsored legislation requiring speed humps on roadways adjacent to parks larger than one acre.
- Sponsored legislation requiring the Department of Transportation to consult with the Fire Department of New York prior to approving open street applications, bicycle lane projects, and major transportation projects.

Supports delaying the greenhouse gas emission reduction requirements outlined in Local Law 97 by 7 years.

Sponsored legislation delaying the greenhouse gas emission reduction requirements outlined in Local Law 97 by 7 years.

Supports requiring the provision of official waste containers at no cost to certain residential buildings with 2 or fewer dwelling units.

Sponsored legislation requiring the provision of official waste containers at no cost to certain residential buildings with 2 or fewer dwelling units.

- Sponsored legislation delaying the greenhouse gas emission reduction requirements outlined in Local Law 97 by 7 years.
- Sponsored legislation requiring the provision of official waste containers at no cost to certain residential buildings with 2 or fewer dwelling units.
- Sponsored legislation requiring the department of parks and recreation to publish tree maintenance prioritization ratings.

As of August 22, 2025, Vickie Paladino’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports requiring all schools to stock airway clearance devices.

Sponsored legislation requiring all schools to stock airway clearance devices.

Supports installing vape detectors in public middle and high schools.

Sponsored legislation installing vape detectors in public middle and high schools.

Supports studying the feasibility of providing parents with an annual $10,000 tuition reimbursement payment per student to cover the cost of nonpublic schooling.

Sponsored legislation requiring the study of the feasibility of providing parents with an annual $10,000 tuition reimbursement payment per student to cover the cost of nonpublic schooling.

Supports prohibiting school bus parking on city streets overnight and on weekends.

Sponsored legislation prohibiting school bus parking on city streets overnight and on weekends.

Supports reimbursing small nonpublic schools for the cost of security guard services.

Sponsored legislation reimbursing small nonpublic schools for the cost of security guard services.

- Sponsored legislation requiring all schools to stock airway clearance devices.
- Sponsored legislation installing vape detectors in public middle and high schools.
- Sponsored legislation requiring the study of the feasibility of providing parents with an annual $10,000 tuition reimbursement payment per student to cover the cost of nonpublic schooling.
- Sponsored legislation prohibiting school bus parking on city streets overnight and on weekends.
- Sponsored legislation reimbursing small nonpublic schools for the cost of security guard services.

Vickie Paladino

Vickie Paladino has been a proud resident of this district for 66 years, a small business owner, mother, and activist driven to undo the damage inflicted on our community by decades of mismanagement and cronyism. She has lived in Whitestone for 45 years with her husband and their two sons.

Vickie is a small business owner. She and her husband owned a successful family business for over twenty-five years. Before entering politics, she spent nearly 40 years raising a family and running two small businesses in the district.

Supports requiring the NYC Department of Education to report the number of students diagnosed with sickle cell disease or trait.

Supports requiring the 311 customer service center to provide certain resources in response to tree pruning-related requests.

Supports requiring annual reporting by district attorneys on expenditures for branded materials.

Supports the creation of a small business disaster recovery and resiliency advisory board.

Supports requiring an interagency portal to track street vending enforcement.

Sponsored legislation requiring an interagency portal to track street vending enforcement.

- Sponsored legislation to create a small business disaster recovery and resiliency advisory board.
- Sponsored legislation to establish a prevailing wage requirement for covered workers in financially assisted facilities.
- Sponsored legislation to waive permit fees for mobile food unit commissaries that reserve space for veteran vendors.
- Sponsored legislation for a pilot program to establish a pet food pantry.

Sponsored legislation requiring the parks department to repair damage caused by city-owned trees and to publish tree maintenance prioritization ratings.

- Sponsored legislation establishing an office of quality of life.
- Sponsored legislation requiring the parks department to repair damage caused by city-owned trees and to publish tree maintenance prioritization ratings.
- Sponsored legislation requiring the preparation of five-year capital plans for parks at the community board level.
- Sponsored legislation creating a public database to track funds spent on migrants.

Supports procurement opportunities for veteran-owned business enterprises.

Supports requiring the NYC Department of Education to report the number of students diagnosed with sickle cell disease or trait to the office of school health.

Supports requiring cameras on street sweepers to photograph and report parking violations.

Supports converting the mandatory residential curbside organics collection program to a voluntary program.

Supports establishing exemptions for third-party food delivery services from the limits on fees charged by such services on food service establishments.

Supports requiring the 311 customer service center to indicate when an agency is unable to respond to a service request and provide proof of action.

Supports requiring speed humps on roadways adjacent to parks of one acre or larger.

Supports providing rental assistance to homeless veterans.

- Opposes closing prisons.
- Sponsored legislation eliminating fees for firearm licenses and permits.
- Sponsored legislation requiring the installation of cameras on street sweepers to photograph and report parking violations.
- Sponsored legislation requiring each community board to establish a veterans committee.

- Sponsored legislation removing benchmarks for bus lanes and bicycle lanes from the streets master plan.
- Sponsored legislation to create a groundwater flood risk area map.
- Sponsored legislation requiring speed humps on roadways adjacent to parks larger than one acre.
- Sponsored legislation requiring the Department of Transportation to consult with the Fire Department of New York prior to approving open street applications, bicycle lane projects, and major transportation projects.

- Sponsored legislation requiring the city to report on the impact of social media on the mental health of young people.
- Sponsored legislation requiring the NYC Department of Education to report the number of students diagnosed with sickle cell disease or trait.

- City Council Members work together to enact local laws, approve the city budget, and oversee land use and zoning regulations. ​
- Council Members oversee city agencies, ensuring they effectively serve the public and address community needs. ​

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New York City City Council Member, District 19

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