DenDekker challenger gets key endorsement
STATEN
ISLAND We Are Pleased
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | DEC. 27-JAN. 2, 2020 5
BY BILL PARRY
The political arm of an
influential immigrant rights
organization has endorsed a
challenger to Assemblyman
Michael DenDekker, the sixterm
incumbent representing
AD 34, which includes Jackson
Heights, East Elmhurst
and parts of Woodside and
Corona.
Make the Road Action
(MRA), a leading progressive
community organization
announced it would back
Jessica González-Rojas. A
nationally-recognized expert
on health care reform, gender
and racial justice who
was formerly the Executive
Director of the National Latina
Institute for Reproductive
Health.
MRA members expressed
support for González-Rojas
because of her commitment
to their top state priorities,
including keeping ICE
agents out of courts, raising
taxes on the super-wealth,
passing true fair elections
legislation, enacting the New
York Homes Guarantee, addressing
racial disparities
in school discipline, decriminalizing
sex work, and expanding
voter protections.
“I am humbled and excited
to receive Make the
Road Action’s endorsement
for our campaign. They are
a powerful, grassroots force
fighting for Latinx, immigrants,
LGBTQ+ and other
marginalized communities,”
González-Rojas said. “As an
advocate and daughter of an
immigrant, I have been fortunate
enough to work alongside
Make the Road Action to
move important policy forward.
I proudly stood shoulder
to-shoulder with their
members during key moments
in the struggle to build
power for all working people.
I am honored that they have
chosen to put their trust and
faith in our campaign to
build a better future.”
DenDekker, who was born
and raised in Jackson Height
and resides there with his
wife and four children, has
not faced a primary or general
election opponent since he was
first sent to Albany in 2008.
“I acknowledge Make the
Road Action’s advocacy efforts
and their work to help
immigrant communities and
people of color, but I am proud
of my record of standing up
for immigrants and fighting
for their rights,” DenDekker
said. “I am proud of being one
of the original co-sponsors
of the New York DREAM Act
and the Green Light Law this
past year. I am also proud of
my work to combat alcohol
and substance abuse and addiction,
enacting marriage
equality, and reforming the
criminal justice system. I
know we still have a lot of
work to do, and I will continue
to work hard to protect the
rights of my neighbors.”
DenDekker’s district has
the largest Latinx population
in Queens, and it is among the
most Latinx district in all of
New York, and the largest to
never have been represented
by a Latinx Assemblymember,
according to MRA.
“Jessica is the representative
our community deserves
and needs,” MRA member
and AD 34 resident Aracelly
Cantos said. “She has fought
for our community at the local
and national level, and
we know she will fight for us
in the Assembly, especially
when it comes to defending
the rights and needs of immigrants
and workers and
tenants of color. I can’t wait
to knock on doors to make
sure she’s our next Assemblymember.”
Former Manhattan prosecutor
Nuala O’Doherty
Naranjo, a Jackson Heights
civic leader is also challenging
DenDekker in next year’s
Democratic primary.
Reach reporter Bill Parry
by e-mail at bparry@schnepsmedia.
com or by phone at
(718) 260–4538.
Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas scored a key endorsement in her effort to
unseat incumbent Assemblyman Michael DenDekker.
Photo: Max Parrott/QNS
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