Woodside should remain a neighborhood where working families, seniors, and longtime residents can build a life and stay rooted. That starts with protecting rent-stabilized housing and preserving the affordable homes that already exist. Too many residents are being squeezed by rising costs and a housing market that too often rewards speculation over stability.

Steven Raga will fight to protect rent-stabilized tenants, strengthen programs like Mitchell-Lama, and push for deeper investments in permanently affordable housing. The goal is simple: keep people in their homes and keep Woodside a neighborhood for working people, not just the wealthy. Housing is not just about buildings. It is about security, stability, and the future of the community.

He will also fight to fix the Area Median Income (AMI) formula by basing it on true local incomes in New York City—not inflated regional averages—so that housing affordability standards actually reflect what New Yorkers earn and can realistically afford.

Steven Raga will fight for a truly community-driven Sunnyside Yards plan that prioritizes affordable housing, green space and open space, new schools and child care, and infrastructure improvements before development moves forward. He will push for strong anti-displacement protections, local hiring and union jobs, and transit investments that keep pace with growth. The future of Sunnyside should be shaped by Sunnyside residents, with responsible planning that protects neighborhood character while building opportunity.

Woodside is stronger because of its immigrant families. They are the heart of the neighborhood, powering small businesses, strengthening schools, supporting houses of worship, and shaping the culture and energy that define this community. No family should have to live in fear just to go to work, take a child to school, or seek healthcare.

Steven Raga will fight to pass the full New York For All Act and the MELT Act to stand up against policies that tear families apart and undermine trust in our communities. He believes public institutions should serve people, not scare them. When immigrant families feel safe, Woodside is safer, stronger, and more united. Protecting immigrant neighbors is not just a policy position. It is a statement about who we are.

No one should have to beg for heat, hot water, or basic repairs in their own home. Yet for too many residents of NYCHA in Woodside Houses, that has become a way of life. Broken systems, delayed repairs, mold, and neglect have denied families the dignity they deserve.

Steven Raga will fight for real accountability and urgent investment in NYCHA so residents get safe, healthy, livable homes. That means faster repairs, stronger oversight, and a clear message that public housing residents matter. Woodside Houses residents are not asking for special treatment. They are asking for basic respect, and they deserve leaders who will fight to deliver it.

Clean streets and well-maintained public spaces are not luxuries. They are part of what makes a neighborhood feel cared for, safe, and welcoming. In Woodside, trash piling up under the elevated tracks and a lack of basic sanitation infrastructure have sent the opposite message for too long.

Steven Raga will invest in beautification project, lead stronger coordination on sanitation efforts between state and city partners, and initiate more frequent cleanups so Woodside’s streets reflect the pride people feel in their neighborhood. This is a basic quality-of-life issue, but it is also bigger than that. It is about whether government respects the community enough to do the basics well.Raga will fight for stronger flood mitigation infrastructure, expanded green space, and investments in cleaner air and healthier streets, especially in Blissville. He will support improvements to stormwater management, tree canopy expansion, and projects that reduce the environmental burdens facing Western Queens communities. By strengthening climate resilience and environmental health, Sunnyside can remain a safer and healthier sustainable neighborhood for generations to come.

Woodside runs on public transit. Families, workers, seniors, students, and people with disabilities depend on it every day. But unreliable service, slow commutes, and persistent accessibility gaps have made daily life harder than it should be. Riders on the 7 train and the Q18 bus know the frustration of a system that too often fails to meet the moment.

Steven Raga will fight to hold the MTA accountable for reliable service, real accessibility improvements, and investments that riders can actually feel. That means fixing delays, demanding results, and making sure seniors, disabled riders, parents with strollers, and everyday commuters can move with dignity. Transit should connect Woodside to opportunity, not stand in the way of it. He will push MTA to adhere to construction timelines and bring investment to the district to improve accessibility.