Wednesday, January 15, 2025
Lisa Lin is a Merrick resident, a mom of two and an attorney — but she’s also a first-time Democratic candidate, running for the 5th State Senate District seat.
A graduate of John Jay College, where she worked with justice-involved youth to help reintegrate them into their communities through job training and educational programs, Lin went on to graduate from St. John’s University School of Law. For the last decade, she’s continued to work in public service, and is currently the supervising court attorney in Queens County Criminal Court.
Some priorities of Lin’s, if she is elected on Nov. 5, include protecting women’s access to reproductive health care, public safety and environmental protection measures.
Asked about Prop 1 on the ballot, which seeks to expand and codify an Equal Rights Amendment in the state Constitution, Lin said she feels there’s a lot of “fear” surrounding what it entails. It includes mention of pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes.
Because of the 2022 Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, she said this is what the federal government wants — for the people, in each state, to decide. “All of these protections in that amendment are things that New York already protects, and now it’s just making it a constitutional right,” she said.
Lin said it’s time New York “gets serious” about public safety. Nassau County was recently named the safest place to live, according to a U.S. News & World Report, and she said it is imperative it stays that way.
“But in addition to that, it’s not just about being reactive — it’s about being proactive,” she said. “We should talk about how get opportunities to people and address mental health and mental illnesses, drug abuse and substance addiction, so that they don’t end up in the system in the first place.”
In terms of the environment, Lin said, it’s important that money is actually coming into the district, and seeing where funding can be directed accordingly. “There’s so much money that’s out there in Albany that is being underutilized by us in Nassau County, when it’s us who need it the most,” she said.
On the topic of affordability, Lin said that affordable housing developments could be tremendously helpful. Originally from Queens, she does not want to disrupt the suburban life that district residents love, but hopes to find solutions that could make affordable housing work. Through a state initiative called the Smart Growth Program, the City of Glen Cove was able to obtain $400 million in funding to build affordable housing units, she said.
“We have to have the money and those opportunities, so we can look into places in the community where we can build affordable housing,” she said. “It’s not just for young families or young people — it’s for senior citizens who are on a fixed income, and veterans.”
Lin said that being on the campaign trail for the last few months has been empowering — and has reinforced why she is running for public office.
“I feel like I am 100 percent one of the people in the community,” she said. “I have two little kids, and I just want a better and brighter future for them. That’s exactly why I’m running.”
