With Primary Day coming down the stretch, Local 1549 wanted their voice heard on which candidates they support.
The union representing clerical administrative employees recently endorsed New York State Senator Brad Hoylman for Manhattan borough president.
Union officials cited the state senator’s track record of working with Senate Democrats on trans discrimination, immigrant rights, protecting tenants from COVID-19 and strengthening vaccine requirements for the virus.
“I am honored to receive this endorsement––and will always fight to ensure that New York’s clerical administrative workers have the support they need to keep our city running,” stated Hoylman. “Together we can build a Manhattan where access to affordable housing and good wages are available to any working family. When I’m elected, I’ll work to do just that.”
The union also cited Hoylman’s endorsements from the likes of Rep. Jerry Nadler (NY-), New York State Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal, Manhattan County Leader Keith Wright and the Amsterdam News.
“Union Local 1549 represents 14,000 employees of the City of New York, including 911 and 311 operators, public hospital and social service employees endorses Brad Hoylman for Manhattan borough president,” stated Local 1549 President Eddie Rodriguez. “Brad is a strong advocate against guns. He is a leader in the State Senate fighting for fairness in taxation, supporting public hospitals, tenants, and LGBTQ rights. He is a strong proponent of childcare, led the fight to prevent ICE from entering court houses and getting justice for victims of child sexual abuse. He would make an excellent borough president for Manhattan.”
Elsewhere, the Local 1549 endorsed New York State Senator Brian Benjamin for New York City comptroller. Rodriguez said that “Brian has the experience as an investment banker and Harvard graduate to be an effective comptroller and safeguard pensions.
Benjamin has championed himself as the voice of the average New Yorker and on the frontlines of police reform. On the anniversary of George Floyd’s death Benjamin highlighted some of the bills he helped introduced or advocate for including the Disclosure of Police Settlements bill (which makes police settlements publicly available), the Eric Garner Anti-Chokehold Act (which makes it a felony in New York for police officers to use chokeholds), Repeal of 50-a (which makes police disciplinary records public) and the Wandering Officers Act (which prevents officers who have been fired or resigned in other states from being re-hired as police officers in New York State).
Benjamin used his familial bonafides to connect with New Yorkers.
“As the child of Caribbean immigrants who came to this country seeking opportunity, my parents were able to provide a life for our family thanks to the unions that gave them good-paying jobs and protected their rights,” said Brian Benjamin of today’s endorsement.
“Protecting the pensions of our city’s hard-working union employees is personal for me, and I’ll put my unmatched experience in investment management to work for the people of New York City as the next Comptroller,” said Benjamin.