Incumbent Eric Dinowitz prepares for another term

‘We’ve gotten things done at the hyperlocal level. With something as seemingly small as garbage cans, which are not a small feat, people love them.’”

ERIC DINOWITZ, Democratic incumbent

Incumbent Democrat Eric Dinowitz is seeking his second term as District 11’s city councilman. With his first term coming to an end, the 37-year-old says he has a lot to be proud of.

“We’ve gotten things done at the hyper local level,” Dinowitz told The Riverdale Press in an interview. “With something as seemingly small as garbage cans, which are not a small feat, people love them. And just yesterday (Oct. 26) we had the ribbon cutting of the newly renovated Clinton pool.”

During city budget hearings, the councilman raised the issue of DeWitt Clinton High School pool being left unclean and unusable for eight years. He was able to secure money for renovations. By working with the superintendent, School Construction Authority and Department of Parks, he helped create the opportunity for a swim team, lifeguard jobs and a more accessible pool for the community.

Earlier this year Dinowitz introduced legislation assisting students with disabilities and seeking to go to college that was passed. During his term he also proposed a bill that officially recognizes anyone who serves as a veteran. That was not just those who have been honorably discharged, but those who may have been discharged for being a member of the LGBTQ, for their skin color or being pregnant.

Growing up in the northwest Bronx, the son of Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz realized the impact that elected officials could have on people’s lives. It was not, however, the future councilman’s initial path. After earning a bachelors degree at SUNY Binghamton University and a master’s at CUNY Hunter College, Dinowitz spent 15 years as a special education teacher.

“It became very clear that so many of the needs of my students happen outside the four walls of my classroom,” Dinowitz said. “And so when I’d have students who were hungry for example, there was but so much I could do as a teacher. When I saw students who became unhoused, they lost their homes, there was only but so much I could do as a teacher.”

Dinowitz assumed office in 2021 in a special election, following the resignation of then Councilman Andrew Cohen who became a justice of the Supreme Court in the Bronx. As a councilman Dinowitz could address the limitations of being a teacher and work with the city education department in ensuring students were being fed and also making sure housing vouchers were available.

The education background gave him the perspective of the impact after-school programs and sports programs had on students, as well as how curriculum is designed. He recently held a joint hearing on the education committee regarding the seal of biliteracy, a certification that demonstrates a students ability to read and speak English and another language. During the Spring semester, Dinowitz was a mentor at the Eva Kastan Grove Fellowship Program at Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute at Hunter College where two students researched and drafted a resolution on the certification that was presented at the recent education committee hearing.

“In a way I think more (and) more people are recognizing students aren’t just a high stakes exam,” the chair of the Higher Education Committee said. “And so we are working on the DOE sharing data, and CUNY providing credit for students who graduate high school with a seal of biliteracy.”

Through budget hearings Dinowitz has brought $30 million to District 11, with millions going to parks, community centers and schools. John F. Kennedy High School got $5 million to re-do their football fields, scoreboards, baseball fields and tennis courts.

There were some losses during the hearings though. The councilman said there is a big challenge ahead with Mayor Eric Adams’ proposed 15 percent cuts to city services. He says he’ll fight to make sure schools, senior centers, nonprofits and agencies get the funding and support they need to keep residents safe and enhance quality of life.

Dinowitz spoke about how everyone’s daily living and crises may look different for all District 11 residents. For some they might not necessarily be thinking of asylum seekers or Israel, but instead a pothole outside their home that is damaging their car or making them trip, he explained.

Other challenges the district has seen are the proliferation of illegal car washes and cannabis shops. City council recently passed a law that holds landlords accountable if they knowingly rent to those selling unlicensed cannabis.

“We are restricted in certain laws we want to pass because the state essentially has control of a lot of the issues. We’re superseded by the state,” Dinowitz said. “But we are working with the sheriff’s office to visit some of those sources.”

When asked about his opponent, Dinowitz said the first time he heard his name was when he was on the Campaign Finance Board.

“I watched his video (on the New York City Votes website),” he said. “And I think it’s certainly far outside the mainstream of what most people in the Bronx need. Besides the fact that he’s anti-science, he says he doesn’t want to talk about crimes, he doesn’t want to talk about safety, he doesn’t want to talk about any of those things. But I remain hyper focused on making sure I’m addressing the needs of the people in the North Bronx.”