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Morales, Johnson, Aboushi score Owles club endorsements
BY MATT TRACY
Nearly seven months after the Jim Owles Liberal
Democratic Club hosted the fi rst mayoral forum
of the election cycle, the club endorsed Dianne
Morales for mayor and out gay Speaker Corey Johnson
for comptroller.
The club, which announced a batch of endorsements on
May 4, also endorsed Public Advocate Jumaane Williams
for re-election and Tahanie Aboushi for Manhattan district
attorney.
Jim Owles is the fi rst citywide LGBTQ political club to
back Morales, who has built a visible base of queer support
during her campaign. She has welcomed endorsements
from LGBTQ leaders at different levels, from lawmakers
such as Brooklyn State Senator Jabari Brisport and
Queens Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas to
district leaders like Jesse Pierce and Samy Nemir-Olivares
of Brooklyn, Émilia Decaudin and Zachariah Boyer of
Queens, and John Blasco of Manhattan.
During the Jim Owles forum last year, Morales voiced
strong support for comprehensive sex work decriminalization
and blasted supporters of the oft-criticized Nordic
Model, which would only remove criminal penalties for sex
workers but not others involved in the sex trade.
“Morales clearly has the leadership qualities and savvy
needed to lead our city out of crisis and into a vibrant
future,” club president Allen Roskoff said in a written
statement. “She sees eye to eye with our club on issues of
concern to us, and we are eager to help elect her so that she
Mayoral candidate Dianne Morales (right) has the
support of the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club.
can work on behalf of all of the city’s diverse communities.”
In a tweet, Morales wrote, “From fi ghting for LGBTQ+
equality to hosting the fi rst mayoral forum for this race, @
JimOwles members are true trailblazers — I’m honored to
receive their endorsement and expand this coalition. I am
proud to stand with the @JimOwles Liberal Democratic
Club members and President @allenroskoff for comprehensive
sex work decriminalization, restaurant and nightlife
protections, just decarceration, and for a care economy
for all New Yorkers.”
The club’s mayoral endorsement comes at a time when
two other LGBTQ political clubs — the Stonewall Democratic
Club of New York City and Lambda Independent
Democrats of Brooklyn (LID) — are reconsidering their
support of mayoral candidate Scott Stringer following allegations
of sexual misconduct. Stonewall will reconvene
on May 5 to determine a path forward for the club’s endorsement,
while LID will meet on May 6 to do the same.
Johnson, meanwhile, received the club’s support for
comptroller after Stonewall and LID opted to go with
Brooklyn Councilmember Brad Lander in the comptroller
race. Johnson, a former mayoral candidate, offi cially
stepped into the comptroller race in March.
“Speaker Johnson dazzled us with his acumen and
detailed knowledge about important policy matters of
concern to club members,” Roskoff said. “He has done a
spectacular job as Council Speaker, and we could not be
prouder to embrace one of our own with this endorsement.”
In a tweet, Johnson said he is “so proud to have earned
their support in this campaign.”
In the crowded race for Manhattan DA, the club acknowledged
that multiple candidates in the race were
worthy of consideration.
“There were several other strong progressive candidates
who would be effective District Attorneys for Manhattan,
but Aboushi won our support over her competitors,”
Roskoff noted. “She is an inspiring leader who would
transform the district attorney’s offi ce into a dynamic force
for systemic change. She would prioritize alternatives to
incarceration rather than pursue a single-minded focus
on prosecution.”
Yang snags endorsements from Chinese American businesses and organizations
BY DEAN MOSES
Mayoral hopeful Andrew Yang
and Manhattan City Council
Gigi Li were given a brief tour
of a community in need while traveling
to their latest endorsement in Chinatown
Tuesday.
Walking through the area, Yang received
waves and fi st bumps from many onlookers,
a number of whom see him as a wouldbe
savior for a neighborhood ravaged by
COVID-19 and anti-Asian violence.
Before endorsing Yang outside Hwa
Yuan at 42 East Broadway, offi cials from
the Chang Le America Association, the
Fujian Foundation in USA, and the United
Overseas Fujianese Association of America
walked their pick for mayor around
the East Broadway Mall, which is now a
barren collection of empty storefronts.
After viewing the vacant spaces behind
Andrew Yang holds up a gift from
his new endorsers.
glass windows, Yang pledged to help restore
the mall to its former glory if elected.
“This means a lot to our community
and to me personally. I grew up the son
of immigrants personally and I vividly remember
when my parents would bring me
and my brother into Chinatown to do some
shopping,” Yang said, sharing his memory
of a once bustling, vibrant Chinatown, but
looking at the East Broadway Mall, it really
highlighted the degree of devastation the
area has faced over the past year.
Yang added, “But we just visited a mall
that has been essentially abandoned that
is owned by the city. There are vacant
storefronts where these stores were very
busy and vibrant not that long ago. The
reality is that Asian American retail districts
and neighborhoods like this have
been hit as hard as any other community
by the coronavirus pandemic.”
Following the tour, Yang and Li (who
Yang cross-endorsed for the City Council
District 1 seat), addressed the press and
onlookers regarding the way in which they
will fi ght for Chinatown businesses to be
seen and receive aid. Yang applauds the
recent federal funds being distributed to
Broadway by Senate Majority Leader
Chuck Schumer, but also says that while
this is a good start, legislators should not
forget the small businesses in areas like
Chinatown.
“Part of it is that the relief that so many
small businesses have received has not necessarily
reached the business owners here
in this community. But also we should acknowledge
that there has been an increase
in racism against Asian Americans and that
includes folks being reluctant to come into
areas like this one,” Yang said, promising
to help and make change.
Yang promises to make fundamental
changes for these small businesses who
he believes simply just want to support
their families.
“These organizations represent the
small business owners that have been the
lifeblood of this community and so many
others,” Yang said, adding “The reality
is right now our recovery depends upon
being able to activate commercial districts
like this one.”
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