WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES MAY 13, 2021 15
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Meng endorses Yang
BY ARIAMA C. LONG
EDITORIAL@QNS.COM
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
Mayoral candidate Andrew Yang (c.) is fl anked
by his wife Evelyn (l.) and U.S. Rep. Grace
Meng. Photo via Twitter
“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.”
Who do they like?
Mayoral hopeful
Garcia scores
endorsement
from Queens
assemblywoman
BY GABRIELE HOLTERMANN
EDITORIAL@QNS.COM
@QNS
Mayoral hopeful Kathryn Garcia got a
significant endorsement in Queens
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.
“I was standing with her just this weekend
at another rally against Asian hate crimes.
We need to make sure that they are reported,
that they are enforced strongly, but that we
also are embedding in all of our education the
curriculum that talks about what every New
Yorker, regardless of their religion or their
ethnicity, what they have contributed to building
the city,” Garcia said.
@QNS
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 term-limited
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.
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