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Mayoral candidate Kathryn Garcia (c.) receives
the endorsement of Assemblywoman Nily Rozic
(l.) on May 6. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann
Garcia scores
endorsement
from Rozic
BY GABRIELE HOLTERMANN
Mayoral hopeful Kathryn Garcia got a
significant endorsement in Queens Thursday,
May 6, as local Assemblywoman Nily Rozic
— who had initially endorsed City Comptroller
Scott Stringer — shifted her support to the
former sanitation commissioner.
Rozic had rescinded her support for Stringer
after a woman came forward accusing him
of sexual harassment last week.
Standing under the iconic Unisphere in
Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Rozic said
this mayoral election was the most important
in her lifetime, and that it was critical to have
someone in charge who has the experience
and knowledge to cut through bureaucratic
red tape and get things done.
“And that’s Kathryn Garcia, without a
doubt in my mind,” Rozic said. “Our city faces
an uphill battle in the recovery from the pandemic,
and we really need experienced leadership
that won’t let anything stand in their
way of getting the job done.”
Garcia, who was responsible for an army of
10,000 sanitation workers as the department’s
commissioner, also garnered an endorsement
earlier in the day from Manhattan state Senator
Liz Krueger.
Garcia thanked Rozic, the youngest woman
ever elected to the state Assembly, for her
support, praising her as an outspoken advocate
for working and middle-class New Yorkers.
The native Brooklynite thanked Rozic for
tackling the rise in hate crimes by promoting
education against hate crimes in New York
City communities and said that it was important
to encourage and streamline reporting of
hate crimes.
Meng endorses Yang
Mayoral Candidate Andrew Yang (c.) is flanked by his
wife Evelyn (l.) and U.S. Rep. Grace Meng.
Photo via Twitter
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TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | MAY 14-MAY 20, 2021 13
Ung scores endorsement from
Koslowitz
Councilwoman Karen Koslowitz (District
29), whose district encompasses Rego Park,
Forest Hills, Kew Gardens, Richmond Hill, endorsed
Sandra Ung for City Council in District
20.
Ung’s campaign has focused on prioritizing
quality-of-life issues, including expanding senior
affordable housing and restoring the budget
of the sanitation department.
“With New York facing a series of monumental
challenges as it recovers from the pandemic,
we need to elect bold and experienced leaders
to the City Council,” Koslowitz said. “With her
experience both as a nonprofit attorney and in
government, Sandra Ung is the best candidate
to represent District 20. I am proud to endorse
Sandra knowing that she will be a powerful advocate
for her community in City Hall.”
Miller endorses Kanu for District 27
seat
District 27 City Council candidate Al-Hassan
Kanu received the endorsement of termlimited
Councilman I. Daneek Miller, who
currently holds the southeast Queens seat.
“More than ever, southeast Queens needs
dedicated, competent community-oriented
leaders, and Al Kanu fits the bill for Council
District 27,” Miller said. “I’ve seen Al’s work
up close as my district director, and also while
he worked for then-Councilman Leroy Comrie.
Al has been a tireless community advocate for
over a decade, organizing efforts to keep homeowners
in their houses, connect families to affordable
housing, and mitigate flooding issues
in our residential community.”
Kanu said he is “proud” to receive the endorsement
from Miller.
BY ARIAMA C. LONG
U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens) on May 10 endorsed
Andrew Yang for mayor outside of P.S. 20Q
John Bowne Elementary School in Flushing, close to
where Yang’s wife Evelyn grew up.
“This is a really serious decision,” Meng said. “I’ve
spent a lot of time trying to talk to constituents on the
ground here throughout Queens, trying to talk to everyday
community leaders who represent different
constituencies. Different leaders, different community
members like different people in this race, but of all of
them I have heard the most frequent and positive feedback
that they want Andrew to be the next mayor of this
city.”
Meng has been a powerhouse for Asian American
and Pacific Islander rights, pushing legislation to protect
against hate crimes, attacks and the sharp rise of
anti-Asian sentiments since last year with the COVID-
19 Hate Crimes Act.
Her endorsement of Yang’s campaign is a major
move for the Asian American community and, she said,
a chance to increase Asian visibility and voter turnout
while also reaching out to other marginalized communities.
“I endorse Andrew not just because he will help
strengthen the presence of the Asian American community,
but even more importantly, to strengthen and
build upon the coalitions that are so necessary right
now,” Meng said.
Meng said that she over identifies with being an
“unconventional” candidate in regards to her race. She
said people had wondered if she would only be able to
“get Asian American votes” in her run for Congress and
how that thinking is too narrow to make an impact.
Meng said that mobilizing all communities and communities
of color to solve the inequities witnessed during
the pandemic last year will help the city recover.
Yang is also being endorsed by U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres
(D-Bronx) and Martin Luther King III.
“This is a very diverse coalition,” said Yang about
his supporters. “As Grace described, we are drawing
voters from every part of the city, every community,
and I’m excited to say every part of the political spectrum.
I think that New Yorkers are not that ideological
when it comes down to it; they just want our city to work
better.”
Both Yang and Grace also emphasized the importance
of focusing on the “outer boroughs.” Yang said
that he wants to be an administration that bolsters every
neighborhood and community, and not just “let’s
say one borough that starts with an ‘M.’”
Who do they like?
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