New York City’s 2025 Primary Election Day is eight days from Monday, and News 12 is introducing you to some of the candidates you’ll see on the ballot.  

Justin Sanchez is looking to win the open City Council seat in District 17.   

“I’m running on four simple words, ‘Clean the damn streets,” said Sanchez. “And the way I plan on doing that [is by] making city services actually work for us. Let’s start with some trashcans on our street corners.” 

Sanchez said other top priorities include tackling the opioid crisis and focusing on education. 

“Making sure [that] we’re improving our education system while also doing things to help our parents and grandparents, like free universal afterschool programs, free weekend programs like we had back in the day when I was growing up; and that wasn’t that long ago,” said Sanchez.  

The 33-year-old Democrat was raised in the district on Bruckner Boulevard, and he is the son of a single mother.   

“We’ve been homeless,” Sanchez said. “We’ve been on food stamps. We’ve been the recipients of government resources; but [I] also understand how government - a lot of times - doesn’t really work for us.”  

Sanchez’s experience includes working under former Bronx Borough President Reuben Diaz Jr. and state Sen. Nathalia Fernandez.  

Sanchez said he hopes to offer solutions to families like his.  

“What are the things that would help little Justin [Sanchez] and families like his growing up and give them more opportunities to actually make it in a borough and in a city that constantly seems like everything is working against us,” said Sanchez.      

News 12 requested interviews with all the top-funded candidates in the district race.      

Click on News 12's Power & Politics section to check them out.