By Janet Howard | Photo courtesy of Justin Brannan Campaign 

In the bustling world of New York City politics, where the stakes are as high as the skyscrapers, Justin Brannan emerges as a passionate contender for NYC Comptroller. As the city’s financial watchdog, Brannan’s vision is clear: “Knowledge is power,” he states emphatically, emphasizing the importance of transparency and accountability in managing the city’s $115 billion budget.

Brannan, a progressive voice from Brooklyn, is no stranger to the intricacies of fiscal management. As the current chair of the Finance Committee in the City Council, he believes, “The budget is ultimately what the city cares about.” His commitment to rewriting the budget to reflect the city’s values is a testament to his dedication to fiscal responsibility and equity.

In his candid conversation with People Power and Politics, Brannan highlights the urgent need for procurement reform, stating, “The city is absolutely bleeding money on bad contracts and mismanagement.” His mission is to empower New Yorkers and ensure they understand that the city budget is their money—a sentiment echoed by host Pearl Philipp, who noted it’s the first time a comptroller candidate has emphasized this point.

Currently serving as Chair of the New York City Council’s Finance Committee, Brannan is running on a platform rooted in real-life experience and legislative victories. He’s known for aggressively defending essential services like schools, libraries, parks, and CUNY. “I don’t just talk about values—I rewrite the budget to reflect them,” he says. “If you want to know what someone cares about, look at where they spend their money. The city is no different”.

Brannan’s philosophy is grounded in the belief that government should be a tool for advancing equity. “Our government’s number one job should be to keep people safe, and number two, to level the playing field so everyone’s got the same fair shot,” he explains. Yet, with a $115 billion budget, many New Yorkers feel they’re not seeing the return on their investment—especially in outer boroughs like Southern Brooklyn, Southeast Queens, and the South Bronx. “People shouldn’t feel like they’re fighting over crumbs while other neighborhoods are getting the full loaf of bread,” Brannan notes.

A central pillar of his campaign is procurement reform. Brannan vows to address long-standing issues with city contracts, which often leave nonprofits and small businesses waiting months—sometimes years—for reimbursement. “The city needs to pay its damn bills on time,” he asserts. He wants to overhaul the procurement system to level the playing field for Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs), offering them access to credit and capital to compete with larger corporations. “Right now, we’re putting MWBEs in rooms where they can’t compete,” he says. “We’ve got to do a better job at that.”

Brannan’s agenda includes ethical, results-oriented investment in the city’s $250 billion pension fund. While he insists that achieving a stable return for nearly a million retirees is the top priority, he believes it’s not incompatible with investing in affordable housing, renewable energy, and climate resilience. “It’s not either-or,” he says. You can get strong returns while investing in the future.”

Listen Here: A Conversation with Justin Brannan: The Working People’s Bulldog – Candidate for NYC Comptroller

One way Brannan aims to make the Comptroller’s office more accessible is by producing neighborhood-specific reports that expose disparities in city services. He wants residents in areas like Far Rockaway to know why their taxes don’t seem to translate into better schools or cleaner streets. “Let’s find out why that is. Let’s use the office’s audit power to spotlight these gaps,” he proposes.

More broadly, Brannan sees the Comptroller as a crucial counterweight to the Mayor—no matter who holds the office. “Your job as Comptroller is to be that independent watchdog, that independent bulldog,” he says. In a political environment where budgetary decisions often feel opaque and top-down, Brannan promises to stand up and fight, not issue hollow reports or symbolic letters.

With early voting beginning on June 14 and Election Day set for June 24, Brannan is urging New Yorkers to vote for Mayor and pay close attention to the Comptroller’s race. “I want to be the people’s Comptroller,” he says, emphasizing his commitment to transparency, equity, and restoring faith in public institutions. “If we’re spending the money properly and people are seeing a return on that investment, we can make them believe in our democracy again.”

He is primarily focused on the working-class families who form the foundation of New York’s economy. “They are the bedrock,” Brannan says. “We cannot afford to lose them to other cities where it’s easier to buy a home, start a family, or open a small business. The city’s got to do something about it, and I plan to do just that”.

Ultimately, Brannan positions himself as a “working people’s bulldog,” committed to fighting for equity and economic justice across New York City’s five boroughs. He stresses the importance of keeping essential services well-funded and advocates for protecting the interests of working families who form the backbone of the city’s economy.

Brannan directs those seeking more information on his campaign to his website, justinbrannan.com. He urges all New Yorkers to participate in the democratic process and vote for real change. As he puts it, “Real change starts with real conversations,” and Justin Brannan is ready to lead that dialogue.

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