Diana Ayala

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Ayala earned a degree in human services from Bronx Borough Community College and studied sociology at CUNY-Herbert H. Lehman College.[1][2][3]

At the time of her 2017 run for city council, Ayala was the deputy chief of staff for District 8 Councilwoman and Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito (D). Her professional experience also includes work as Mark-Viverito's constituent services director, as a caseworker at Corsi Houses, and as a program director at Carver Senior Center.[1][3]

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Diana Ayala did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2023 Candidate Connection survey.

Diana Ayala did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2021 Candidate Connection survey.

Ayala participated in [the profile publisher]'s 2017 survey of municipal government candidates.[12] The following sections display her responses to the survey questions. When asked what her top priority would be if elected, the candidate made the following statement:

Securing affordable housing in good condition for residents in my district. This is the most pressing issue that our residents in East Harlem and the South Bronx are facing.[13]

—Diana Ayala (August 31, 2017)[3]

Ranking the issues

The candidate was asked to rank the following issues by importance in the city, with 1 being the most important and 12 being the least important: city services (trash, utilities, etc.), civil rights, crime reduction/prevention, environment, government transparency, homelessness, housing, K-12 education, public pensions/retirement funds, recreational opportunities, transportation, and unemployment. This table displays this candidate's rankings from most to least important.

Issue importance ranking

Candidate'sranking

Issue

Candidate'sranking

Issue

1Housing7Government transparency

2Homelessness8Public pensions/retirement funds

3Unemployment9Environment

4Crime reduction/prevention10City services (trash, utilities, etc.)

5Civil rights11Transportation

6K-12 education12Recreational opportunities

Nationwide municipal issues

The candidate was asked to answer questions from [the profile publisher] regarding issues facing cities across America. The questions are in the left column and the candidate's responses are in the right column. Some questions provided multiple choices, which are noted after those questions.

Question

Response

Is it important for the city’s budget to be balanced?Answer options: Not important; Not important, but required by state law; A little important; A little important, but required by state law; Important; Very important

Very important

Which level of government do you feel should set a minimum wage?Answer options: None, Local, State, Federal

Federal

How do you think your city should emphasize economic development? Candidates could write their own answer or choose from the following options: Changing zoning restrictions, Create a more competitive business climate, Focusing on small business development, Instituting a citywide minimum wage, Recruiting new businesses to your city, Regulatory and licensing reforms, and tax reform

Focusing on small business development. Also an increase in minimum wage. The cost of living in this city does not align with the wages many of our residents are making.

What is the one thing you’re most proud of about your city?

Among many things, I am most proud of our commitment to protecting our status as a Sanctuary City, defying the bigotry and intolerance of our current administration.

What is the one thing you’d most like to change about your city?

Economic inequity. Low-income residents in my district and others throughout NYC are struggling in one of the richest cities in the world. Many are living in public housing units that are in unacceptable condition, and that is if they even have housing at all. Far too many people struggle to pay bills and purchase necessities for their families. As a city, we can do more to ensure that all of our residents have everything they need to achieve a good quality of life, regardless of the neighborhoods they live in.

Do you approve of the city's approach to policing and public safety? What changes, if any, do you think the city should make?

The city has made much-needed changes to law enforcement practices, but there is room for improvement. We must work to improve police transparency and accountability. The proposed Right to Know is a great step towards improving relations between law enforcement and the communities they serve.

Do you approve of the city's sanctuary policy? What changes, if any, do you think the city should make?

Absolutely. I wholeheartedly support the city's current status as a sanctuary city and would never do anything to jeopardize the protection of the immigrants who live here.

Do you approve of the city's approach to public transportation? What changes, if any, do you think the city should make?

Our transportation system needs to be revitalized, especially the subways. I support the Mayor's proposed millionaire's tax to provide additional funding to our subway system. Far too many New Yorkers rely on the subway for it to be consistently in disrepair.

Do you approve of the city's approach to housing policy? What changes, if any, do you think the city should make?

I approve of affordable housing mandates for new buildings, especially in low-income communities. Existing affordable housing units, especially NYCHA developments, need to retained and repaired when necessary. Specific to District 8, the Mayor must listen to the needs expressed by people in this community before implementing housing plans here. His current plan is being rejected by East Harlem residents because their suggestions were not included.

Ayala provided the following additional comments with the survey:

I am running for City Council because the concerns of this community have also been mine. I have been displaced, homeless, hungry, a victim of domestic violence, and I have lost the father of my children to gun violence. I understand the plight of our community and together we can bring that knowledge to City Hall. It does not take a career politician to be a good representative. It takes genuine concern and thorough understanding of a community's issues. I have both.[13]

—Diana Ayala (2017)[3]

Additional themes

In the New York City Campaign Finance Board's voter guide, Ayala listed her top three issues as:

Support NYCHA, Preserve Affordable Housing

Fully funding our schools

Strengthening senior services[13]

—Diana Ayala[14]