New York City Council Member Bob Holden may be one of the last remaining centrists – if you can even call him that – in New York City politics, but he somehow became one of the most polarizing figures during his eight years in office. A founding member of the Common Sense Caucus, Holden is known for his tough-on-crime approach to public safety and love of enforcement when it comes to quality-of-life issues. He’s what many on the left call a Democrat in name only, and frequently sides with the council’s Republicans. But Holden is nothing if not outspoken: He can always be counted on to tell you exactly how he feels about an issue, even if it’s not particularly popular. As he prepares to depart the council, he reflected on his time in office with City & State. This interview has been edited

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