Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley, Assemblyman Rory Lancman and Assemblywoman Grace Meng rolled out more endorsements in the past week and all tried to show their chops as champions of working-class voters in the run for the 6th Congressional District.
Meng
Meng and Lancman had events on April 16, both adding to their stable of backers.
The two followed the trend of previous endorsements, with Lancman adding another union and Meng adding more politicians.
On the steps of city hall four likely mayoral candidates joined Meng to announce their support.
Comptroller John Liu, Speaker Christine Quinn, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio and former Comptroller Bill Thompson praised her personally and politically.
Quinn pointed to Meng’s support of marriage equality, a higher minimum wage and tax code reform.
“She’s somebody who has demonstrated time and again that she has important democratic values,” Quinn said.
She also called the Assemblywoman someone known for uniting lawmakers.
“I’m not just excited because of your record, I’m not just excited because of your background but because of who you are and your ability to unite people and bring people together,” Quinn said.
Meanwhile, in Forest Hills, Lancman was standing with the Communications Workers of America District 1, calling for tax reform and accepting their backing.
He has shown a strong foothold with labor so far in the campaign, and leaders of this 70,000-member union met with him at a Verizon call center to protest tax inequality.
“Tomorrow on tax day, ordinary Americans will fork over nearly a third of their income in taxes, while the Mitt Romneys and the Verizons of the world will get off without contributing their fair share,” said Lancman. “I’m extremely proud to have CWA by my side in this campaign; we’ve stood together before on picket lines, at rallies, and in the Assembly, and with their support in this race, I’m looking forward to standing with them in Congress and fighting for a tax code that honors work, not just wealth.”
Lancman
Lancman also indirectly took a shot at Manhattan where Meng was making her announcement.
“I’m running for Congress because we need a tax code that helps working families in Queens, not one that rewards millionaires in Manhattan,” Lancman said.
Meng too hit notes in her announcement about working families though.
“We want to make sure that Queens receives the resources and funding it needs so badly but it hasn’t been getting. We want to make sure that we continue to fight for the same working families that we’ve been fighting for all these years,” she said.
Councilwoman Crowley accepted the backing of a union herself on April 11.
The 15,000-member Mason Tenders District Council of Greater New York and Long Island threw its support behind her.
Its leadership too called their chosen candidate a fighter for the workingman.
“Elizabeth Crowley has fought for workers’ rights throughout her entire career,” said Mason Tenders Political Director Mike McGuire. “She understands that people deserve safe workplaces, fair wages, and a secure retirement. Elizabeth Crowley is the best candidate to represent workers and strengthen our neighborhoods.”
Crowley
By Jeremiah Dobruck
j.dobruck@theforumnewsgroup.com
