NYC Mayoral Candidates Participate in Forum at NYU Wagner, Hosted by Student Organizations and Jones Consulting & Strategy Group
On Thursday, March 20, New York City mayoral candidates Michael Blake and Senator Jessica Ramos participated in an open forum at NYU Wagner, hosted by Wagner’s Black Student Association (BSA), Wagner City Government, the Urban Planning Student Association, and Jones Strategy & Consulting Group, with support from the Dean’s Office and the Office of Student and Alumni Engagement.
Following a VIP reception hosted by Jones Strategy & Consulting Group, BSA President Bryan Matthew (MPA-PNP 2025) delivered welcome remarks to kick off the forum.
“As students at a school of public service, we are taught theories and frameworks that shape our understanding of governance and policy,” Matthew said in his address. “While academic learning is essential, the experiences we gain outside the classroom—through programs, events, and student engagement—are equally crucial in shaping us as future public service leaders.”
NYU Wagner student Austin Celestin (MUP 2025) then moderated a rousing discussion with Blake and Ramos, who each shared their policy positions in their plight for the City Hall job. The candidates discussed critical topics on New Yorkers’ minds heading into the mayoral primaries, including cost of living, housing, public safety, migration, climate change, and trust in government. A “speed round” of short-answer questions included inquiries about a rent freeze, publicly subsidizing CitiBike, and the Department of Parks budget, among others. The discussion concluded with digitally-collected questions from the audience.