🗽Common Sense Contract with New York City
The Common Sense Contract with New York City lays out 
AthenaClarke’s 7 pledges to restore integrity, safety, and accountability in our city. From repealing sanctuary city policies that strain schools and hospitals, to restoring law and order, supporting small businesses, expanding school choice, defending parental rights, protecting neighborhood voices from top-down zoning, and ending wasteful spending — this contract is a promise to put New Yorkers first.
Athena offers a clear alternative to government corruption and cronyism, fighting for policies that prioritize everyday citizens over political insiders. This is a roadmap for safer streets, stronger communities, and a city that finally works for its people again.
1. Illegal Immigration
“I pledge to sponsor or co-sponsor legislation to repeal New York City’s sanctuary city status and end the laws that are overwhelming our schools, hospitals, housing, and contributing to rising crime involving illegal migrants. These failed policies have already cost taxpayers over $6 billion—money that should be used to help our own struggling citizens instead. We must protect public safety and public services for New Yorkers first, ensuring every family has fair access to education, healthcare, and housing.”
Repeal Sanctuary Status — End New York City’s sanctuary city designation to restore the rule of law and protect our neighborhoods.
Defend Public Services — Illegal immigration has strained our schools, hospitals, and housing at a cost of over $6 billion in taxpayer money, hurting struggling New Yorkers.
Reduce Crime — Sanctuary policies have made it easier for dangerous criminals to stay in our communities, putting public safety at risk.
Prioritize Citizens First — Taxpayer resources must serve law-abiding New Yorkers, not subsidize illegal immigration at the expense of education, healthcare, and housing.
Restore Fairness — Legal immigrants play by the rules; we must uphold fairness and respect for the law by refusing to reward illegal entry into our city.
2. Crime / Law and Order
“I pledge to sponsor or co-sponsor legislation to restore law and order in New York City. The dangerous pro-criminal laws forced on us by Albany must be repealed—even if that means legal action against the state. Our police departments must be fully funded so they can protect every neighborhood. District Attorneys who refuse to prosecute violent criminals must be held accountable, regardless of their party. According to NYPD data, major crime rose 33% citywide after bail reform laws took effect in 2020. Enough is enough—New Yorkers deserve safety and justice.”
Fully Fund Police — Ensure NYPD and local departments have the resources and staffing to protect every neighborhood effectively. Support increasing the NYPD ranks by 7,000.
Hold DAs Accountable — District Attorneys who refuse to prosecute violent criminals will face consequences, regardless of political party.
Protect Public Safety — Crime rose 33% after bail reform; we must restore consequences for criminal acts to keep communities safe.
Stand with Victims — The justice system must put victims first, not criminals, and guarantee fair, swift justice for every New Yorker.
3. Economic Freedom
“I pledge to sponsor or co-sponsor legislation to roll back burdensome regulations that are holding back economic growth in New York City, especially for small businesses, street vendors, and property owners. Excessive rules and red tape have made it harder to open and operate a business, driving up costs and killing jobs. It’s time to support entrepreneurs, grow jobs, and bring back economic opportunity for every New Yorker Roll back excessive regulations that crush small businesses and discourage entrepreneurs from opening their doors.”
Support Job Creators — Empower local employers, vendors, and property owners to grow and hire without burdensome government obstacles.
Revitalize Neighborhood Economies — Encourage small business growth to bring back local jobs and restore thriving communities.
Lower Costs — Simplify licensing and permitting to reduce startup costs and help struggling small businesses survive.
Expand Opportunity — Ensure every New Yorker, regardless of background, has a fair shot to build a successful business and achieve economic security.
4. Education Choice
“I pledge to sponsor or co-sponsor legislation to expand private and charter schools and create a full school voucher program that gives families real choices in education. Too many New York City public schools are failing, with only 47% of students proficient in reading, according to state data. By empowering parents through school choice, we can give our children a brighter future, free from broken bureaucracies. We must put families and students first—not a failing system.”
Expand Charter Schools — Give more families access to high-performing charter schools that deliver results beyond the traditional public system.
Real Choice in Education — Full school vouchers let families pick the best school for their kids.
End Bureaucratic Failure — Stop forcing kids into failing schools; empower parents to choose what’s best for their children’s education.
Focus on Student Success — With only 47% reading proficiency, New York City needs innovative options that truly put students first.
Empower Families — Trust parents, not the broken education bureaucracy, to make the right choices for their children’s future.
5. Parental Rights
“I pledge to sponsor or co-sponsor legislation to protect and strengthen parental rights across New York City. Parents must never be stripped of their rights without due process, and there must be full transparency in special education and child welfare proceedings. From services in schools to custody decisions, parents deserve to be recognized and supported as the primary advocates for their children’s well-being and future.”
Guarantee Due Process — Protect parents from losing their rights without fair hearings and clear legal protections.
Ensure Full Transparency — Require schools and child welfare agencies to be open and honest with parents about decisions impacting their children.
Respect Family Authority — Recognize parents as the primary decision-makers in their children’s education, health, and welfare.
Strengthen Special Ed Rights — Give parents a real voice in developing and approving their child’s special education services and plans.
Hold Systems Accountable — Stop bureaucracies from sidelining parents and make sure every agency respects parents as essential partners.
6. Local Control
“I pledge to sponsor or co-sponsor legislation to stop the so-called “City of Yes” plan, which may sound positive but threatens to override local zoning laws. This top-down approach would silence neighborhood voices and force oversized developments into already crowded communities, straining schools, infrastructure, and public safety. Nearly 70% of residents oppose upzoning without real community input. We must protect local decision-making and preserve the character and stability of our neighborhoods—not hand control to unelected bureaucrats.”
Defend Neighborhood Voices — Stop the City of Yes from overriding local zoning and silencing community input.
Protect Community Character — Prevent forced, oversized developments that could destroy the look and feel of our neighborhoods.
Respect Local Decision-Making — Keep zoning and planning authority with the people who actually live in these communities.
Prevent Overcrowding — Avoid overloading already strained schools, transit, and infrastructure with reckless development.
Stand Up to Bureaucrats — Fight top-down mandates from City Hall that ignore residents’ needs and priorities.
7. Fiscal Accountability
“I pledge to fight to end wasteful spending in every category—no more political payoffs or backroom deals draining taxpayer dollars. The City’s new $115 billion 2026 budget may be record-breaking, but it also contains billions in questionable allocations and cost overruns that hit all of us in the pocketbook. I will support every effort to scrutinize these budgets, demand fiscal discipline, and ensure every dollar is used to strengthen public services—not prop up insiders. It’s time to put New Yorkers first and restore accountability in City Hall.”
End Wasteful Spending — Cut political payoffs and eliminate backdoor deals that waste taxpayer dollars.
Demand Budget Discipline — Scrutinize every line of the $116 billion budget to protect New Yorkers from runaway costs.
Prioritize Public Services — Make sure funding goes to essential services like schools, safety, and infrastructure — not to insider interests.
Stop Budget Gimmicks — Expose and eliminate the tricks and loopholes that allow billions in hidden overspending.
Put Taxpayers First — Protect hardworking New Yorkers by restoring honest, transparent, and responsible budgeting in City Hall.