Erik Bottcher is a public servant and community advocate who has devoted his life to advancing Democratic values and improving the city he calls home. He was elected in 2021 to represent New York City Council District 3, covering the West Village, Chelsea, @^&%’s Kitchen, Times Square, Hudson Square, Flatiron, and the Garment District. His mission is clear: To make sure our city and country live up to their promise.
Raised in a small Adirondack town as the only gay person he knew, Erik’s struggles with depression gave him a deep understanding of the challenges facing marginalized people. His commitment to public service began in 2009 as the City Council’s LGBTQ and HIV/AIDS Liaison, where he organized grassroots campaigns for equal rights, supportive housing, and protections for LGBTQ youth. He later served as the statewide LGBTQ Community Liaison in the Governor’s Office and helped lead New York’s successful fight to legalize marriage equality.
In the City Council, Erik has established a strong reputation for results. He has authored landmark mental health legislation, delivered thousands of units of affordable housing, advanced major sanitation reforms including the city’s move toward garbage containerization, and championed sustainability initiatives such as universal composting, protected bike lanes, and the expansion of the city’s tree canopy.
Erik currently serves as Chair of the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Libraries, and International Intergroup Relations, and as Co-Chair of both the Manhattan Delegation and the LGBTQIA+ Caucus. His leadership reflects a steadfast belief that policy must both meet people’s needs and affirm their dignity.
Erik’s work demonstrates a central conviction. New Yorkers deserve a government that solves problems, lifts up every community, and protects the values that make this city a beacon of possibility.
Erik Bottcher is a public servant and community advocate who has devoted his life to advancing Democratic values and improving the city he calls home. He was elected in 2021 to represent New York City Council District 3, covering the West Village, Chelsea, @^&%’s Kitchen, Times Square, Hudson Square, Flatiron, and the Garment District. His mission is clear: To make sure our city and country live up to their promise.
Raised in a small Adirondack town as the only gay person he knew, Erik’s struggles with depression gave him a deep understanding of the challenges facing marginalized people. His commitment to public service began in 2009 as the City Council’s LGBTQ and HIV/AIDS Liaison, where he organized grassroots campaigns for equal rights, supportive housing, and protections for LGBTQ youth. He later served as the statewide LGBTQ Community Liaison in the Governor’s Office and helped lead New York’s successful fight to legalize marriage equality.
In the City Council, Erik has established a strong reputation for results. He has authored landmark mental health legislation, delivered thousands of units of affordable housing, advanced major sanitation reforms including the city’s move toward garbage containerization, and championed sustainability initiatives such as universal composting, protected bike lanes, and the expansion of the city’s tree canopy.
Erik currently serves as Chair of the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Libraries, and International Intergroup Relations, and as Co-Chair of both the Manhattan Delegation and the LGBTQIA+ Caucus. His leadership reflects a steadfast belief that policy must both meet people’s needs and affirm their dignity.
Erik’s work demonstrates a central conviction. New Yorkers deserve a government that solves problems, lifts up every community, and protects the values that make this city a beacon of possibility.
