The two also chimed in on the higher/lower density debate. “We have no where to go but up,” said Carrion, who previously worked in city planning. “No one is creating land or working on landfill projects. We have such powerful assets to create communities, I would aggressively upzone around mass transit.”

McDonald espouses a slightly different approach. “The land around mass transit is some of the most expensive, but I think there are many areas of the city that can be developed. We have to look at industrial areas, like brown yards,” he said. “Look at Brooklyn Navy Yards, that is such a success that it's oversold. We need more projects like that.

Both candidates also spoke about the conflict over upzoning Midtown East and the Landmarks Preservation Committee. “Their decision making isn't as transparent as I'd like,” asserted McDonald. “Some decisions are made by staff members and that's hard to penetrate. Of course we're in favor of landmarking but we have to be judicious.”

Added Carrion, “There is a need to ensure that we preserve some of our heritage but we can't retard our growth, or sacrifice it, for the sake of development. I fall on the side of growth and development in Midtown East,” he continued. “We should preserve what we can but to be a globally competitive city, we need to grow.”

Finally the candidates tackled the thorny issue of rent regulation. “I believe in a free market,” McDonald said. “That's America.” Carrion vehemently agreed. “Rent control is a necessary evil we've allowed to exist for far too long. We need to start coming up with solutions for housing, including a more fertile investment environment to create what the market needs,” he said. “Until then we're going to keep living in this housing emergency.”