BY BEN VERDE
Brooklyn Councilmember
Brad Lander offi cially
secured his role as the city’s
next comptroller, cruising to
a a commanding 70-30 percent
margin in the Nov. 2 general
election against Republican
long-shot candidate Daby
Carreras.
At an Election Night watch
party at Threes Brewing in
Gowanus, Lander thanked
supporters and vowed to
carry out his campaign promises
of fi ghting for a more equitable
city.
“New Yorkers voted overwhelmingly
for a just and equitable
recovery, a thriving
city that works for all neighborhoods,
and one that’s more
prepared for crises to come.
As New York City’s next
Comptroller — our budget
watchdog, pension fi duciary,
and chief accountability offi
cer — I’ll fi ght hard every
day to build that city,” Lander
said in a statement.
Lander also used his
speech to vow to divest city
pension funds from fossil fuels,
bring accountability to
city agencies, and ensure
COVID-19 economic aid was
spent equitably in every corner
of the city.
“New Yorkers in every single
neighborhood can go to
sleep at night knowing they’ve
got a New York City that looks
out for them,” he said.
Lander, 52, has represented
IN SCHOLARSHIPS & GRANTS AWARDED ANNUALLY
COURIER L 10 IFE, NOVEMBER 5-11, 2021
Park Slope, Carroll
Gardens, Gowanus, Cobble
Hill, and parts of Kensington
Park Slope Councilmember Brad Lander speaks at his election night party in Gowanus. Photo by Ben Verde
and Borough Park in the
City Council since 2010, garnering
a reputation as one of
the most far-left elected offi -
cials in New York City. He ran
on progressive credentials
in the crowded primary race
for comptroller with endorsements
from Rep. Alexandria
Ocasio-Cortez and the New
York Times Editorial Board,
trouncing other candidates
who emphasized their fi nancial
expertise rather than ideological
politics.
In the lead-up to the general
election, Lander has targeted
the city’s spending of
COVID aid, which he claims
is being spent without accountability
or adequate
tracking. He pledged to set
up a tracking system within
his fi rst 100 days in offi ce to
identify what exactly is being
spent and whether that spending
is bringing about the desired
services.
“The money that has been
spent has been a random wishlist
as opposed to a strategic
approach,” he told Bloomberg
News.
“I’m deeply grateful for
the support of New Yorkers,
and eager to make government
work better for all of us.
Let’s get to work,” the incoming
bean counter said.
Land-slide!
Slope Councilmember Brad
Lander secures easy victory
in Comptroller’s race
ELECTION 2021
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