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Notes:
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District 17 - Council Member - Democrat - Council Member Justin Sanchez represents New York City Council District 17, encompassing the South Bronx neighborhoods of Mott Haven, Melrose, Morrisania, Longwood, Hunts Point, Bronx River, and Crotona Park East. A lifelong New Yorker, Council Member Sanchez is committed to building a cleaner, safer, stronger, and more affordable South Bronx through bold legislative leadership and the delivery of responsive, high-quality constituent services.
Justin Sanchez’s life and career are deeply rooted in service to the Bronx communities he proudly calls home. Raised by a single teenage mother and guided by grandparents who were first-generation Americans, he learned early the values of resilience, hard work, and giving back. Some of his earliest memories include accompanying his grandparents to church, senior centers, and food pantries—places where community was built through care, sacrifice, and mutual support. Though they worked multiple jobs, they never hesitated to give what they could to those in need, instilling in Justin a lifelong commitment to service.
Like many families in the Bronx, the Sanchez family moved frequently between buildings, neighborhoods, and schools. While these transitions brought challenges, they also gave Justin a firsthand understanding of the systemic issues facing working-class families—and the realization that his struggles were shared by neighbors across the borough. These experiences shaped his belief that strong communities are built through collective action and effective government.
Inspired by the working-class families around him, Justin began his public service journey as a student at the Bronx High School of Science, where he first interned with a local State Senator, and launched his career in government and politics. There, he learned the fundamentals of community organizing and deepened his engagement with local advocacy. He went on to serve as a Community Liaison in the New York City Council, continuing to fight for his neighbors from within local government. His dedication and effectiveness earned the recognition of Bronx Borough President Rubén Díaz Jr., who recruited Justin to join his administration.
Following Borough President Díaz’s term, Justin advanced his public service career in the New York State Assembly, where he served as Chief of Staff to Assembly Member Nathalia Fernandez. He continued in this role when she was elected to the State Senate, leading her office and working collaboratively with partners across the city and state to deliver stronger representation and tangible results for Bronx families.
Justin’s commitment to public service extends beyond government. He has served as Director of Latino Outreach for the New York State Democratic Party; Vice President of the Bronx Young Democrats; Chair of both the Hispanic and Latinx Caucus and the LGBTQ+ Caucus of the Young Democrats of America; and President of the Stonewall Democratic Club of New York City—amplifying voices that have too often been excluded from the political process.
Justin Sanchez is a proud graduate of the Bronx High School of Science, the Valedictorian of his class at the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies, and holds a Master of Public Administration from New York University. He currently attends Fordham University School of Law, where he is a candidate for his Juris Doctor.
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