Election Q&A: Meet NY-12 Candidate Karen Ortiz

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — Independent candidate Karen Ortiz is running for Congress in District 12, which includes the Upper West Side, Upper East Side, Roosevelt Island, Hell's Kitchen, Midtown, Chelsea, NoMad, Flatiron and Union Square, in New York City's general election on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

In November, Ortiz will face off against Micah Lasher, the Democratic nominee, Caroline Shinkle, the Republican nominee, as well as Wilneida Negron, another independent candidate.

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

Ahead of the election, Patch posed several questions to Ortiz about her platform, priorities, experience, and district. See her 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 Ortiz said during this interview has been fact-checked.

PATCH: What neighborhood are you from?

ORTIZ: I currently live in Chelsea. I have also lived in East Harlem, the Upper West Side, and the Upper East Side.

PATCH: What languages do you speak?

ORTIZ: English, Legalese, Spanglish, and some French.

PATCH: What’s your professional and educational background?

ORTIZ: I am a lifelong civil servant and have worked for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission as an administrative judge, the Social Security Administration as Assistant Regional Counsel, MTA New York City Transit as a Legal Director, NYC Parks & Recreation as an agency attorney, NYC's Office of Administrative Trials & Hearings/NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission as an administrative law judge, and I began my career working as an assistant to famed criminal defense attorney Barry Slotnick. I earned my B.A. from Columbia University (Columbia College) and my J.D. from Fordham Law School. I also have a Yoga Teacher Training Certificate from Laughing Lotus Yoga Center.

PATCH: Renter or owner?

ORTIZ: Renter.

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

ORTIZ: I am part of a coalition of Congressional candidates proposing no federal taxes on the first $100k of income. I also will fight for Medicare for All, which will eliminate medical debt (which is the number one reason Americans file for bankruptcy). I will fight to fully restore benefits such as SNAP. I will fight for tax credits for residential rental payments. Much of the inflation that has led to the affordability crisis in NYC and the nation correlates to the Pentagon's outrageous "budget" and illegal wars. I will also fight to end all aid to Israel and any other foreign state/entity that is engaging in genocide and the murder of civilians. Americans' hard earned tax dollars should not fund genocide and forever wars. That money must be spent on Americans.

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

ORTIZ: Providing for people's basic material needs is correlated with a decrease in crime and increase in safety. That is where my focus will be. I will fight for Medicare for All alongside Democrats who have also made this a big part of their platforms. I will fight for public housing by fully funding the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and repealing the Faircloth Amendment so the artificial cap on public housing units is lifted and NYC can actually build more Section 9 housing.

PATCH: What changes would you support to ICE’s authority and funding, and how would those priorities guide your votes in Congress?

ORTIZ: ICE must be abolished and DHS must be defunded. They are the modern-day Gestapo. I support reverting back to a system like we had under the Immigration and Naturalization Service that centers due process and a humane approach to dealing with the challenges of our city being a beacon for immigrants seeking a better life. I also support giving Immigration Judges more autonomy to render decisions without fearing retribution from any administration.

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

ORTIZ: As a whistleblower who spoke out about the Trump administration's attacks on trans people and Elon Musk's DOGE operation, I would fight against their corruption by introducing Articles of Impeachment and calling for a vote on day one. And I will keep going until the rot is eliminated from the Executive Branch. On this I will not compromise. I will happily work closely with those willing to uphold their oaths to the U.S. Constitution.

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

ORTIZ: I am the only one saying loudly that Israel's genocide of the Palestinian people is wrong and all U.S. support to Israel must end. I am also the only candidate calling for the impeachment of Trump and other members of his cabinet. I have the moral clarity to stand on business regardless of any personal attacks aimed at me. That is what a true leader does.

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