Meet Carl!
Meet Carl!
Carl Wilson is a longtime Hell’s Kitchen resident, community leader, and advocate who has spent his career fighting for working people in New York City. After serving as Council Member Erik Bottcher's Chief of Staff, he is now running to succeed him and represent District 3 in the New York City Council.
"New York City deserves fresh leadership - someone who is not afraid to fight for our freedoms, and someone who is ready to enact action to lower our cost of living and advocate for those affected by the housing crisis."
Carl's roots
Originally from Bowie, Maryland, right outside of Washington, D.C., Carl was raised by two lifelong civil servants. Attending Bowie High School as a part of the Summit Program and member of the Bowie Youth Leadership Program, Carl has always been a leader in uplifting his community. Carl moved to New York City in 2009 to attend New York University, where he studied drama and briefly pursued a career as an actor. He moved to the West Side of Manhattan in search of community and acceptance - and he found it. Carl knows first-hand the struggles that many New Yorkers go through, facing the same affordability pressures as so many of his neighbors. But Carl also believes in the promise of New York City and all that it has to offer.
Community Organizing
His transition into politics was sparked by the 2016 presidential election, a turning point that motivated him to shift from the arts to active civic participation. Seeing that too many voices were excluded from local decision making, Carl stepped up to organize with his neighbors, build coalitions, and help overthrow the century-old McManus Democratic machine. Carl became deeply involved in community organizing as a founding member of the Hell’s Kitchen Democrats, creating a grassroots home rooted in transparency, acceptance, and community power. Carl served as a Community Liaison in the NYC Council Speaker’s Office and worked for the Fifth Avenue Business Improvement District, gaining valuable experience in both government operations and community affairs. He also served on Community Board 4, where he was active on key committees and played a role in mediating local quality-of-life issues, such as advancing plans for a permanent dog run in Chelsea Park.
Experience in City Hall
Carl has built a record of hands-on service across all neighborhoods on the West Side of Manhattan working as the Chief of Staff to Council Member Erik Bottcher. Carl works every day to help tenants stay in their homes, support our seniors, strengthen public schools, and connect families to critical city services. He has been a consistent and outspoken advocate for the LGBTQ+ community against right-wing attacks in our own backyard. Known for his encyclopedic knowledge of the district and his tireless presence on the ground, Carl leads by listening and delivering results. Hoping to succeed Council Member Bottcher, Carl will continue to bring proven leadership and a community-first vision to City Hall in order to improve the lives of New Yorkers. He lives in Hell’s Kitchen with his partner, James.