NY District 7 candidate spotlight: Julie Won
In a crowded field where candidates are emphasizing housing and affordability, NYC Council Member Julie Won is focusing on what she calls a “lifetime of care” approach.
More Stories
The race for New York’s 7th Congressional District is entering its final stretch on the heels of the New York primary.
In a crowded field where candidates are emphasizing housing and affordability, NYC Council Member Julie Won is focusing on what she calls a “lifetime of care” approach, drawing on her experience as an immigrant and mother to inform her platform.
“A lifetime of care simply means that from the moment you’re born until the day that you die, the government has your back,” Won said. “So that’s universal healthcare, universal childcare, prenatal and postpartum care, and retirement care.”
She also pointed to gaps in care for vulnerable populations, citing concerns about a lack of prenatal services for women living in shelters.
Won says rising costs are placing pressure on families across Brooklyn, particularly women balancing work and caregiving responsibilities.
“They’ve had to give up their careers to take care of their babies because it’s simply cheaper for them to not work than to pay $4,300 like me every single month,” she said.
She argues that additional federal support is needed to ease the burden of childcare expenses and the challenges of caring for aging parents.
On immigration, Won is calling for major changes, including abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in its current form, ending family separations and separating the criminal and civil enforcement actions of immigration.
“For civil enforcement, it should not be carried out violently in the way that it currently is, and it should be separated out by a completely new agency that is not violent,” she said.
Won is also pointing to her record on the City Council, including efforts to bring free internet access to public housing residents and support for affordable development projects.
She says she wants to expand green space and waterfront access in the district, highlighting Bushwick Inlet Park as a key example.
“We need more waterfront access and green space. Bushwick Inlet Park should have been connected 20 years ago,” Won said.
Voters will soon decide whether Won’s message resonates. Polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 9 p.m. on Tuesday.
