ABOUT ME
Hi, I'm Layla Law-Gisiko
WHY AM I RUNNING
After 17 years serving on Manhattan Community Board Five, I want to be your voice with our Democratic Party. Issues such as affordable housing, homelessness, education, or healthcare are the reason why I am running.
Midtown Manhattan is the economic engine of the region. It is imperative to fix the highly dysfunctional Penn Station. Housing is a basic right and the affordability crisis must be tackled with new tools that work. Healthcare is a human right that should be given to every New Yorker.
A THRIVING CAREER
I was born in Paris, France, to a French father and a Tunisian mother. After graduating from high school,
I started college at La Sorbonne University in Paris. With a master's in French literature and a master's in journalism, I started my career in France as a journalist and documentary filmmaker. At 25, I emigrated to New York to broaden my career. I traveled extensively through the US and produced and directed numerous documentaries on current affair issues for French TV outlets such as Canal Plus, FT1, and France 2.
A FIGHTING HEART FOR THE COMMUNITY
I joined Manhattan Community Board in 2005, where I served on the landmarks committee. Over the course one my 17 years on the board, I've served on almost every committee. Alongside my great colleagues, we have advocated for housing, education, healthcare issues. We half a decade, we negotiated the East Midtown rezoning, a comprehensive zoning change that facilitates transit and public realm upgrades, as well as historic preservation.
I currently chair the Land Use, Housing and Zoning Committee of CB5, as well as the landmarks committee.
