The June
14 Delegate Assembly decided
on PSC endorsements in this fall's city elections. For City
Council, delegates voted to back 24 candidates, including some
members of the PSC. Term limits will mean a drastic change in the
makeup of the Council, and 20 of the PSC-backed candidates are
running for open seats.
Union
delegates made no endorsements in citywide contests. “We were
impressed with both Steve DiBrienza and Norman Siegel in the race
for public advocate,” said Legislative Committee Chair Cecelia
McCall, “but there was no consensus for the PSC to support one
over the other.” The union has not made any endorsement in the
race for mayor, but that may change, depending on results from a
questionnaire that aims to further clarify the candidates’
stands on CUNY issues.
The
decisions on June 14 came after a lengthy process of candidate
evaluation (see p. 7). Among those backed by the PSC is Anthony
Andrews, running for City Council from District 28 in Queens.
Andrews is a PSC member and a HEO at York College, where he works
as governmental relations director. He has been active with the
York chapter’s Political Action Committee, going to Albany with
other PSC members to lobby for increased funding for CUNY. A
former legislative aide to Councilman Archie Spigner, Andrews is
backed by the NYC Central Labor Council. “We’re very
enthusiastic about his candidacy,” says Peter Ranis, a professor
of political science at York. “He’s one of our own.”
In
District 16 in the Bronx, the PSC is supporting Michael Benjamin,
currently on the staff of Assemblywoman Aurelia Greene. Benjamin
says his top issue is working for quality public education, “K
through CUNY.” His mother is a CUNY graduate and he has done
work towards a master’s degree at Hunter. He was a speaker at
the “Teach CUNY” event at BCC, and has won the support of many
other unions, including 1199, UNITE and CWA 1180, as well as the
Working Families Party (WFP).
Gale
Brewer, running in Manhattan’s District 6, has pledged to take
on CUNY as her #1 issue. A long-time activist on the Upper West
Side, she has served as deputy public advocate and director of the
NYC Commission on the Status of Women. For over ten years she was
chief of staff to then-Councilwoman Ruth Messinger. Brewer says
that if elected, she would be an independent voice in the
tradition of the district’s current council member, Ronnie
Eldridge.
In
District 24 in Queens, Jim Gennaro is a PSC member and has taught
political science as an adjunct at Queens College since 1996. His
campaign literature prominently describes him as “a proud
member” of the PSC. Gennaro puts a high priority on CUNY issues,
and sought the PSC’s endorsement early. Gennaro has worked as
environmental policy advisor to the NYC City Council since 1990,
and is president of the Saul Weprin Democratic Club. He is also
active with St. John’s Bread and Life, a Catholic soup kitchen
and social services provider.
In
District 10 in Manhattan, former City College student activist
Ydanis Rodríguez is running with the support of both the PSC and
CUNY Is Our Future. A community activist who has built his
campaign through grassroots support, he has supported the PSC in
its contract campaign. Rodríguez is a teacher in the public
schools, and was a leader in the coalition against Edison
Schools’ attempted takeover at P.S. 161 in Harlem. He has been
executive director of the Dominican Youth Union.
Joanne
Seminara is co-president of the Alliance of Bay Ridge Block
Associations. She is running in District 43, where she has been a
leader in fighting for better subway service, improvements in
public schools and opposing a waste transfer station that would
have disrupted local neighborhoods.
The other
Council candidates endorsed for open seats are listed below, along
with their districts: 1 – Rocky Chin; 7 – Robert Jackson; 12 -
Larry Seabrook; 19 – Arthur Cheliotes; 20 – John Liu; 21 –
Hiram Monserrate; 22 – Peter Vallone, Jr.; 27 – Helen
Cooper-Gregory; 29 – Melinda Katz; 31 – James Blake; 35 –
Pete Williams; 36 – Al Vann; 39 – Steve Banks; 50 – Libby
Hikind.
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