NY-CC39: Maya Kornberg (D) pitches 'pragmatic progressivism' in Brooklyn council race

Six months out from the Democratic primary, a race for City Council in brownstone Brooklyn is shaping up to be one of the more competitive in the 2025 cycle. Incumbent Council Member Shahana Hanif is facing a challenge from Maya Kornberg, a first-time candidate and senior research fellow at New York University’s Brennan Center for Justice.

A Northern California native with family roots in New York, Kornberg has lived in Brooklyn for more than six years. Her work at the Brennan Center, and at nonprofits and international organizations before that, has centered on democratic governance and combating political violence. Kornberg, who describes herself as a “pragmatic progressive,” has positioned herself as not quite as left as Hanif, a democratic socialist and co-chair of the council’s Progressive Caucus. Kornberg believes her pragmatic approach would differ from Hanif’s and involve building relationships to deliver results rather than political posturing. In one example, Kornberg criticized Hanif for voting against the city budget – a protest move she and other progressives have taken during past budget votes by the council.

Kornberg’s challenge comes amid strained relationships between Hanif and some Jewish leaders, who have raised concern about Hanif’s critical comments about Israel and the war in Gaza, and argue she hasn’t paid enough attention to antisemitic incidents in the district. Kornberg said she’s heard those concerns from residents of the district, as well as broader concerns about public safety, which she argues Hanif has not prioritized as a council member.

But that issue, Kornberg said, is not the focus of her campaign. Reached for comment on several of Kornberg’s arguments, Hanif said that she agrees on that point. “This election isn’t about foreign policy, it’s about who has the best vision for New York City and for our district,” she said in a statement. “Leadership also means standing up for what’s right. I’m proud of my work to combat hate and discrimination,” she said, mentioning bills to combat antisemitism and promote religious diversity in schools.





https://www.cityandstateny.com/politics/2024/12/maya-kornberg-pitches-pragmatic-progressivism-brooklyn-council-race/401878/?oref=csny-category-lander-river