Election Q&A: Meet Upper East Side Candidate Lou Puliafito

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — Republican nominee Lou Puliafito is running for Assembly in District 76, which includes the Upper East Side and Roosevelt Island, in New York City's general election on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

In November, Puliafito will face off against Rebecca Seawright, the Democratic incumbent.

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Early voting runs Oct. 24–Nov. 1, and Election Day is Nov. 3.

Ahead of the election, Patch posed several questions to Puliafito about his platform, priorities, experience, and district. See his replies below.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Patch has contacted the other candidates with the same questions and will post replies as they are received. None of what Puliafito said during this interview has been fact-checked.

PATCH: What neighborhood are you from?

Puliafito: I'm from Yorkville on the Upper East Side, where I was born and raised and where I raised my family. This neighborhood is home, and I'm running to make sure our community remains a place where working families, seniors, and future generations can afford to live and thrive.

PATCH: What languages do you speak?

Puliafito: English.

PATCH: What's your professional and educational background?

Puliafito: I spent 25 years in information technology, working with Fortune 100 companies. I started in the mailroom at Merrill Lynch, worked my way into developing financial applications, and eventually managed enterprise-wide systems at New York Life Insurance, where I also supported
charitable initiatives through the New York Life Foundation.

I have also spent 20 years as a member of 32BJ SEIU in residential building services, including eight years as a shop steward, advocating for fairness, safety, and dignity in the workplace. In addition, I served as a Field Operations Supervisor for the 2010 U.S. Census and produced and
hosted more than 200 episodes of Decent Life on Manhattan Neighborhood Network.

My professional experience spans technology, business operations, organized labor, public service, and community media. I graduated from LaGuardia Community College with an AAS in Computer Science with a 3.95 GPA.

PATCH: Renter or owner?

Puliafito: I am a renter in a rent-stabilized apartment. I've lived through decades of change and gentrification in Yorkville, and I understand firsthand how difficult it can be for longtime New Yorkers to remain in the communities they call home.

PATCH: The cost of living in NYC is going up. What's your plan to make New York City more affordable?

Puliafito: New York needs to be a place where working people can afford a decent life. That means addressing the everyday costs that squeeze families, including housing, utilities, transportation, groceries, and childcare.

In Albany, I would push for greater accountability in government spending and taxation, policies that encourage the creation and preservation of affordable housing, and practical measures that reduce unnecessary costs for residents and small businesses.

We must also protect seniors and working families from being priced out of their own neighborhoods. My guiding principle is simple: "Every honest, hard-working New Yorker deserves a Decent Life."

PATCH: List two ways you plan to make New York City safer.

Puliafito: First, improve street and sidewalk safety. Enforce existing traffic and safety laws consistently, including rules governing motorized bikes and delivery riders who ride on sidewalks. Reclaim our shrinking city sidewalk space by addressing obstructions caused by outdoor cafes, overflowing garbage, construction, and improperly parked bikes. Sidewalks should be safe, accessible, and navigable for everyone—especially seniors, children, and people with disabilities. New Yorkers should be able to walk through their neighborhoods without having to weave through obstacles or step into traffic to get around them.

Second, make our communities safer through accountable policing and stronger community partnerships. New Yorkers deserve effective law enforcement that prevents crime, protects residents, and respects constitutional rights. That means properly vetted, well-trained officers who meet professional standards and are held accountable for their actions. We must also strengthen NYPD community outreach, building trust between officers and the neighborhoods they serve.

NYPD law enforcement standards must apply to ICE as well. Federal immigration agents operating in New York should be properly vetted, trained, supervised, and held to clear use-of-force standards. Firing at a moving vehicle should not be a routine response when the vehicle itself is the only alleged threat. Officers must follow strict policies that prioritize de-escalation and protect innocent lives.

Public safety, community trust, and accountability must go hand in hand. No badge or federal authority should place anyone above the law.

PATCH: What type of relationship will you have with the Trump administration?

Puliafito: I will be an independent voice focused on the needs of my constituents, not a spokesperson for Washington or any political party. I will work with the Trump administration when its policies benefit New Yorkers, and I will speak out when they do not.

Being a Republican does not mean giving any president a blank check. I believe loyalty to a party must never come before doing what is right for the people we represent. My allegiance is to God, country, and family—in that order. My responsibility as an Assembly Member will be to the people of New York, and I will judge every policy by how it affects their lives.

PATCH: What sets you apart from the other candidate(s)?

Puliafito: I am a centrist Republican who believes Albany needs an independent, common-sense voice focused on people—not party politics. What sets me apart is the combination of my professional experience, community involvement, and willingness to challenge the political status quo.

I bring 25 years of experience in corporate discipline and technology, two decades working in 32BJ Residential Services (8 years as a shop steward), public-service experience, and years of producing community television. I have worked alongside both white-collar and blue-collar New
Yorkers, and I understand the challenges facing working families, seniors, and people simply trying to build a decent life.

I am also willing to take on reforms that many career politicians avoid. I support open primaries, term limits, easier ballot access for independent candidates, and greater accountability in Albany. I want to make New York more affordable, improve public safety, strengthen our schools and
infrastructure, protect personal privacy, and make sure government keeps pace with rapidly changing technology.

I am not running to represent Washington politics or simply defend the party establishment. I am running to represent the people who live and work in the Upper East Side and Roosevelt Island—including Republicans, Democrats, and independents. My allegiance is to the people of this community, not to a political machine. In 2020, I received 42% of the vote in a district where Republicans typically receive around 20%. That wasn't simply a Republican vote—it showed that a common-sense, independent message can appeal to voters across party lines.

I also want to be fair to my opponent. Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright has sponsored legislation and worked on issues affecting seniors, people with disabilities, and our community. Her focus on seniors is important—and as a senior myself, I understand firsthand why those
issues matter. But recognizing past accomplishments does not mean we should stop asking what comes next. I
believe our neighborhood and our state need leadership that is preparing for the future, not simply responding to the issues of today. We need forward-looking solutions on affordability,
public safety, resilient infrastructure, mental health, education, taxation, and the impact of rapidly changing technology.

I believe the people of the 76th Assembly District deserve a choice about the direction of their community and their state. That is why I have called for a public debate. Voters deserve to hear both candidates answer questions, defend their records, and explain their visions for the future. I am not running simply to hold office. I am running to bring a different kind of voice to Albany—independent, accountable, and focused on moving our community forward.

Not Left. Not Right. Forward Together.

For questions, email Miranda.Levingston@Patch.com.