To keep doing experiments with column style, this week I’ll write about how four unions of the #LaborStrong2021coalition announced endorsements for 31 candidates for city council. Mostly what they have in common is they’re likely to win, so the next 31 sentences of this article will be about those races.
In Lower Manhattan’s District 1 they support Jenny Low, but Chris Marte or Gigi Li could also win. Carlina Rivera of District 2 is great and unopposed.
Erik Bottcher is Council Speaker Corey Johnson’s chief of staff in District 3: he is Manhattan’s most-favored non-incumbent. Incumbent Keith Powers in District 4 maybe has no opponent. They are supporting former New York City Census head Julie Menin in the Upper East Side’s District 5, but I’m with Kim Moscaritolo and others are with Tricia Shimamura; it’s a strong field.
Borough President Gale Brewer drops back down to her old Upper West Side District 6 position and should win handily. Shawn Abreu in District 7 is running against a strong field. Ydanis Rodriguez’s former Chief, assemblywoman Carmen De La Rosa, is expected to succeed him in District 10.
In Manhattan/Bronx’s District 8, they endorsed incumbent Diana Ayala. They endorsed the council’s newest incumbent Kevin Riley in District 12 on the other side of the Bronx. Althea Stevens would be only the third-strongest candidate if she were in District 15, but luckily she’s running in District 16. To round out the Bronx, Amanda Farias is favored in District 18 now that Ruben Diaz Sr is no longer running.
In Queens, they endorsed two incumbents. Francisco Moya of District 21 faces many opponents, while Jamaica’s Adrienne Adams isn’t facing any in District 28. Tiffany Caban is heavily favored in District 22 after nearly becoming Queens DA two years ago. In District 32, Felicia Singh has nearly as many endorsements as Tiffany does. #LaborStrong2021 endorsed Sandra Ung in District 20, but the Flushing-based seat will be a battle. Labor unions generally will go hard for Austin Shafran in District 19, but Richard Lee is looking to put up a fight.
In lovely Forest Hills, they endorsed Lynn Schulman for District 29; she ran for it back in 2009. They’re supporting Selvena Brooks-Powers for Donovan Richards’ seat in the 31st district special. My old buddy tenants attorney Shekar Krishnan got the nod in District 25.
Finally, Brooklyn: Lincoln Restler is favored in District 33 unless all the other candidates gang up on him, and maybe even then. The coalition endorsed Antonio Reynoso’s chief Jen Gutierrez for District 34 (she’s such a favored non-incumbent she doesn’t even have an opponent!). Incumbents Alicka Ampry-Samuel (41), Justin Brannan (43), and Farah Louis (45) also were endorsed.
But these unions endorsed Sandy Nurse in District 37 against new incumbent Darma Diaz, and good on them! They also endorsed Alexa Aviles in Sunset Park’s District 38, as has DSA. They endorsed Henry Butler in Bed Stuy’s District 36. Henry’s a nice guy but I’d want someone more progressive; I’m not sure who. In southern Brooklyn, they endorsed Ari Kagan in District 47 and Boris Noble in District 48.
Probably some of these candidates will lose. It seems I only needed 31 sentences for this piece, but I like an extra.
