Sandy Nurse represents the 37th Council District, which includes neighborhoods of Bushwick, Brownsville, Cypress Hills, Cityline and East New York. She currently serves as the Chair of the Committee on Criminal Justice and was formerly Chair of the Committee on Sanitation and Solid Waste Management.

Born in Panama, Sandy’s parents were active service members in the U.S. Military and subsequently she was raised all over the world living on or near U.S. Military bases. Sandy’s global upbringing exposed her stark poverty and inequality, particularly for women and girls. Those experiences inspired her to join movements for social and racial justice and dedicate her life to humanitarian work. 

Prior to being elected to the City Council, Sandy worked for the Department of Defense and the United Nations World Food Programme. She later founded BK ROT, an environmental justice youth jobs program, and co-founded Mayday Space, a grassroots organizing center in her district. Sandy also worked as a carpenter and carpentry instructor for many years, hosting workshops for women, youth and LGTBQ folks interested in power tools. She built large scale farms at Howard Houses, Wagner Houses and Bayview Houses in NYCHA developments with Green City Force. She also served on Brooklyn Community Board 4.

Sandy’s priorities are improving the health and well-being of the communities she represents. She’s focused on housing for all, high quality public education, increasing public safety and fighting for a livable, sustainable and resilient New York City. 

Read Sandy’s 2024-2025 District Agenda here.