Tricia Shimamura
5th Council District - Manhattan
Tricia is a proud Japanese Puerto Rican woman of color. Growing up in a working class household, Tricia was the first in her family to graduate college. She received her bachelor's degree from Kenyon College and received her masters in social work from NYU.
Tricia is a proud resident of the Upper East Side, where she lives with her husband, Dov, and their son, Teddy. On any given night, you can find her participating in a community forum, walking along the East River Esplanade, eating at her local pizza place, or meeting with other residents to discuss concerns in our community.
She currently serves as Vice Chair of Manhattan Community Board 8, as well as Co-Chair of the Parks and Waterfront Committee. In her time serving on Community Board 8, Tricia has actively worked on local efforts calling for the restoration and enhancement of the East River Esplanade, improved pedestrian safety measures, protecting and preserving our small businesses, expanding services for seniors, increasing the range and quantity of affordable housing, and creating additional pre-k seats for families living on the Upper East Side and Roosevelt Island, among many other initiatives.
Tricia believes there's no better place to live than in the 5th Council District, and wants to ensure that her community stays safe, affordable, and protected for generations to come.
Tricia is an ardent advocate on issues that affect the Upper East Side and New Yorkers at large. As Deputy Chief of Staff to Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, Tricia fought against the construction of the Marine Transfer Station, worked to ensure the on-time opening of the Second Avenue Subway, organized inter-agency meetings to repair and enhance the East River Esplanade, and actively worked with local residents to preserve our post offices. She also represented Congresswoman Maloney's office on the Cornell Tech community task force and served as a liaison to Community Boards 4, 5, 6, and 8, and the East 79th Street Neighborhood Association.
As a social worker, Tricia worked on the Mayor's Interagency Taskforce on Truancy, Chronic Absenteeism and School Engagement. She has been a passionate advocate for public schools and services for families with developmental disabilities.
Tricia is a longtime community activist, committed to enacting change in her local New York community. She serves on the Democratic County Committee in the borough of Manhattan, and has volunteered on several Democratic campaigns in New York City. In 2017, Tricia formed She Will Rise NYC, a civic organization focused on building a pipeline for progressive New York women to become the next generation of leaders in government and the private sector.
Tricia is the Chair of the Diversity and Outreach Committee of Four Freedoms Democratic Club. She has organized events focused on gun safety, equal pay, voting reform, immigration, and environmental justice in her local community. In 2017, Tricia was given a Woman of Action award by Women of Color for Progress.