Sixteen candidates submitted their own unique responses to the Better Blocks candidate questionnaire before the election on November 4, 2025.
Due to the large number of responses, we have grouped candidates by office sought and then linked to a pdf version of their response to make comparisons easier for voters.
We have made note where we tried to get in touch with a candidate and failed to hear back versus candidates where we reached out and they declined to reply.
And while we work on our voter guide, think about which candidates you would endorse based on their responses and tell us *why* by taking this survey.
Ward A
Brandi Warren – Team McGreevey
Governor McGreevey’s response to the Better Block’s survey is a response on behalf of Team McGreevey and Brandi Warren did not submit a separate response.
Pamela Johnson – Team O’Dea
Pamela Johnson supports more housing development; opposes bus lanes on MLK/Bergen and Summit/Baldwin but was supportive of a plan for JFK. She is in favor of Vision Zero and more pedestrian spaces in Greenville.
Denise Ridley – Team Solomon
While Denise Ridley’s responses were supportive of development, Ridley favors more development that includes parking and is largely opposed to bus lane projects on city-owned streets.
Better Blocks was unable to reach Floyd Jeter on Team Watterman.
Ward B
Efrain Orleans was part of the broader Team McGreevey response.
Joel Brooks (Team O’Dea) and Lorena Loayaza (Team Solomon) declined to respond.
Better Blocks was unable to reach Idriss Zahidi (Team Ali) and Dannon Hill (Team Watterman).
Ward C
Rich Boggiano – Team McGreevey
Rich Boggiano is the current Ward C councilman. He replied but failed to provide a separate response by the deadline so we have linked to Team McGreevey’s default answer.
Tom Zuppa – Team O’Dea
Tom Zuppa supports development and exploring ways to expand affordable housing. He also discusses support for bus lanes on Summit and Baldwin and increasing park space.
Dawn Giambalvo – Team Solomon
Dawn Giambalvo supports Councilman Solomon’s housing policies and comes out in favor of a 20% affordable housing mandate and rent control. She is supportive of Vision Zero and more park space.
Better Blocks was unable to reach Shahab Khan of Team Ali.
Ward D
Patrick Ambrossi – Team Ali
Patrick Ambrossi supports transit-oriented development and Mussab Ali’s plan for R2 development. He is also supportive of bus lanes on city streets, Vision Zero, and public parks.
Catherine Healy – Team McGreevey
Catherine Healy largely supports Governor McGreevey’s response to the Better Blocks questionnaire but added her own statement on low-income housing ownership and elevated bike lanes.
Elvin Dominici – Team O’Dea
Elvin Dominici supports increased housing density in exchange for affordability and trying to balance rent control with increasing housing supply. He is against bus lanes on city-owned streets and supports Vision Zero.
Veronica Akaezuwa – Team Solomon
Veronica Akaezuwa supports Councilman Solomon’s housing policies and comes out in favor of affordable housing mandates and rent control. She demurs to support city-owned bus lanes but is broadly supportive of Vision Zero.
Jake Ephros – Independent (DSA)
Jake Ephros supports expanding rent control and demanding more affordability in new developments and Summit/Baldwin one-way bus lane pair. He mentions strong support for Vision Zero.
Ward E
Stacey Lawrence – Team Ali
Stacey Lawrence supports more housing development downtown, including 150 Bay Street and reducing car dependency. She supports reducing on-street parking to free up space for bus lanes.
Ryan Baylock – Team McGreevey
Ryan Baylock supports development and addressing the strain of traffic and infrastructure. Baylock favors parking reform and dynamic parking prices. He also favors expanding and connecting protected bike lanes as part of Vision Zero and shares his plan for Newark Ave.
Daniel Israel – Team O’Dea
Daniel Israel supports more development downtown and supports build 3,700 more affordable units across the city. He supports city-owned bus lanes, one-way pairs, and expanding the Newark Pedestrian Plaza.
Eleana Little – Team Solomon
Eleana comes out strong on increasing housing supply, breaking with Team Solomon to support 150 Bay. She supports city-owned bus lanes, one-way pairs, and other street changes in support of Vision Zero. Her plan to clean up the Newark Ave involves supportive housing.
Better Blocks was unable to reach Alexander Hamilton on Team Watterman.
Ward F
Gloria Walton – Team McGreevey
Governor McGreevey’s response to the Better Block’s survey is a response on behalf of Team McGreevey and Gloria Walton did not submit a separate response.
Frank Gilmore – Team Solomon
Better Blocks received a response from Frank Gilmore before the deadline but is having trouble opening the document. The link will be updated shortly.
Better Blocks reached out to Keith Howell on Team O’Dea but did not receive a response.
At-Large
Meredith Burns, Israel Nieves, and Jen Sarmiento did not respond individually but as part of the Team McGreevey response.
Kristen Zadroga-Hart – Team O’Dea
Kristen Zadroga-Hart supports using land banks and PILOT agreements to build affordable housing, city-owned bus lanes, one-way pairs, and Vision Zero.
Daniel Rivera – Team O’Dea
Daniel Rivera supports more development, density, and supply and using development to grow the city and protect long-time residents. He is supportive of Vision Zero and open to road improvements, including expanded bus/bike lanes and one-way conversions.
Better Blocks reached out to Ira Guilford, Tina Nalls, and Fernando Garcia on Team Ali, Saundra Robinson on Team O’Dea and Floyd Jeter, Kenny Reyes, and Tami Weaver-Henry on Team Watterman but did not receive a response.
Rolando Lavarro, Mamta Singh, and Michael Griffin from Team Solomon declined to respond.
Mayoral Responses
A consolidated list of links to the mayoral campaign responses is reproduced below for convenience and reference:
