Press Release: Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club Announces New Endorsements in 2021 NYC Races
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Allen Roskoff, President Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club
aroskoff@mac.com, 917-553-7180
NEW YORK - The Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club announced today its second round of endorsements in 2021 New York City races. The club made the endorsements, which include selections for Brooklyn Borough President and City Council districts in three boroughs, at its January 9 meeting.
Among the endorsed candidates enthusiastically supported by the Jim Owles Club was Erik Bottcher, an openly gay candidate running to replace NYC Council Speaker Corey Johnson, whom he served until recently as Chief of Staff. Club President Allen Roskoff stated, “The 3rd City Council district, including Greenwich Village, Chelsea and Hell’s Kitchen, has been represented by a member of the LGBTQ community since 1991. Erik will continue this proud tradition, adding his exceptional ability to build coalitions to achieve progressive change.”
The club also endorsed Briget Rein, an organizer for the United Federation of Teachers, for District 39 in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Mr. Roskoff said, “Bridget Rein is a long-time member of the Jim Owles Board of Governors who has helped us build strong ties with the city’s progressive unions. Briget has been a strong advocate for many years for the city’s teachers and working people, and will show the same determination and effectiveness when fighting for the residents of the 39th Council District.”
The club endorsed Shaun Abreu in Manhattan District 7, currently represented by Mark Levine. Mr. Roskoff noted, “Club members were moved by Shaun’s description of how he went from being evicted as a child to becoming an attorney specializing in tenant rights. As the child of immigrants from the Dominican Republic, he will be an ideal fit for a remarkably diverse district.”
For Brooklyn Borough President, the club endorsed State Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon, an attorney specializing in disability rights and a longtime community activist. Simon is also a longtime member of the Jim Owles Board of Governors.
The Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club, named for the legendary gay rights pioneer Jim Owles, is a citywide, progressive Democratic political club founded in 2004. Mr. Roskoff said, “We raised numerous issues of importance to members of our club and other progressive New Yorkers, including decriminalizing sex work, the need for more affordable housing, and depopulating New York prisons and jails including by granting clemency to aging and reformed prisoners.”
Club members questioned all candidates about whether they would sponsor legislation to remove former Mayor Edward Koch’s name from the 59th Street Bridge. Every candidate interviewed expressed support and promised sponsorship of legislation to rescind the honor, due to Koch’s history of blatant racism and his infamous inaction during the dark days of the AIDS epidemic, which cost the lives of countless gays and others. Mr. Roskoff said, “One candidate, one out of 58, Doug Schneider, running in Park Slope, shamefully declined to support legislation to rescind the undeserved renaming of the 59th Street Bridge for Ed Koch. Schneider's refusal shows that he is out of touch with progressive civil rights activists and those who lost loved ones during the AIDS crisis. New Yorkers, and of course our organization will work hard to ensure that he is rejected by voters.”
The club endorsed the following candidates, and intends to endorse others at its upcoming meetings on January 23, and subsequent meetings in February:
Jo Anne Simon – Brooklyn Borough President
Erik Bottcher - NYC Council District 3
Shaun Abreu – NYC Council District 7
Pierina Sanchez – NYC Council District 14
Lincoln Restler – NYC Council District 33
Sandy Nurse – NYC Council District 37
Briget Rein – NYC Council District 39
The club endorsed the following candidates at its prior meeting on December 19:
Donovan Richards - Queens Borough President
Jenny Low - NYC Council District 1
Carlina Rivera - NYC Council District 2
Keith Powers - NYC Council District 4
Carmen De La Rosa – NYC Council District 10
Marjorie Velazquez – NYC Council District 13
Elisa Crespo – NYC Council District 15
Amanda Farias – NYC Council District 18
Shekar Krishnan – NYC Council District 25
Lynn Schulman – NYC Council District 29
Justin Brannan – NYC Council District 43
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