NYC-CC21: District 21 candidate Erycka Montoya leads progressive push in race to replace Francisco Moya
As the termed-out Francisco Moya prepares to leave office in Council District 21, a slew of candidates have lined up to replace him in one of the most hotly-contested districts in the upcoming City Council elections. Erycka Montoya, a staffer for Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, has touted her “lived experience” in the local community as one of the chief drivers of her campaign for District 21.
Montoya said she was inspired to run for the City Council after the election of President Donald Trump last November, stating that the “entire city is under attack” from the Trump Administration, while District 21 is “feeling it in every way.”
The race to succeed Moya has become an increasingly crowded field in recent months, with Montoya set to battle it out with Sandro Navarro, district director for State Sen. Jessica Ramos, and LaGuardia Airport redevelopment consultant Shanel Thomas-Henry in the upcoming Democratic primary. District leader Yanna Henriquez, 2021 challenger David Aiken, and former Council Member Hiram Monserrate, who previously pleaded guilty to corruption charges related to his past council tenure, are also contesting the June primary.
The district has been under intense scrutiny in recent months, with major developments ongoing and on the horizon. Roosevelt Avenue, which runs through the district, has also been under the spotlight due to a rise in crime along the thoroughfare, while the area also boasts one of the most immigrant-heavy populations in the city.
https://qns.com/2025/04/erycka-montoya-district-21/