Press Release: Announces New Endorsements in 2023 New York City Council and New York City Judicial Races

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Allen Roskoff - 917-553-7180, aroskoff@mac.com

NEW YORK - The Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club, New York’s city-wide, progressive LGBTQ+ Democratic club, announced endorsements in 2023 New York City Legislative and Judicial races. The club endorsed 18 Council incumbents and one challenger.

The club is proud to have endorsed the following members of the LGBTQ+ community: Erik Bottcher (D3), Tiffany Caban (D22), Lynn Schulman (D29), Crystal Hudson (D35), and Chi Ossé (D36).

One hotly contested race is Harlem’s 9th District. Owles endorsed Inez Dickens. In addition to having worked with Dickens for decades, the Jim Owles Clubs BELIEVES she is the strongest candidate to defeat New York City Council candidate Al Taylor who is homophobic, transphobic, anti choice and a misogynist. “Assemblymember Taylor is anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-choice. He has no place in New York State or City government. He is a lying hypocrite,” said club President Allen Roskoff.

Many incumbents interviewed seeking another term received the club’s endorsement with special commendation going to Erik Bottcher and Shekar Krishnan (D25) for all their work advancing Drag Queen Story Hour. Bottcher and Krishnan were the victims of repeated harassment by anti-trans protesters that the media referred to as “unhinged.” Chi Ossé (D36) also suffered homophobic abuse, his at the hands of MAGA Republican Council Member Vicky Paladino. 

“At a time when LGBTQ+, particularly transgender, and women’s rights are under attack by a growing homophobic, misogynist right, it is vital to support our partners in the legislative body who work hardest to ensure the clock does not roll back on all the progress we have fought so hard for,” continued Allen Roskoff. “We commend our Council Members for standing behind Drag Queen Story Hour, an educational tool designed to promote reading and inclusivity before the far right can indoctrinate youth with their own personal hatred and irrational phobias.” 

“We are proud of this year’s endorsements as their values and priorities most closely align with ours, including decriminalization of sex work, immigrant protections, access to reproductive healthcare and legislation ending qualified immunity,” Allen Roskoff added.

All endorsed city council candidates support the removal of Ed Koch’s name on the 59th Street Bridge in memory of all those who died of AIDS and as an important statement against racism. 

The club asks all candidates to complete a questionnaire, and these are available at https://jimowles.org/questionnaires.

2023 NYC Council

Carlina Rivera – Council District 2

Erik Bottcher – Council District 3

Keith Powers – Council District 4 

Julie Menin – Council District 5

Shaun Abreu – Council District 7

Inez Dickens – Council District 9

Carmen De La Rosa – Council District 10

Marjorie Velázquez – Council District 13

Pierina Ana Sanchez – Council District 14

Tiffany Caban – Council District 22

Shekar Krishnan – Council District 25

Julie Won – Council District 26

Lynn Schulman – Council District 29

Lincoln Restler – Council District 33

Crystal Hudson – Council District 35

Chi Ossé – Council District 36

Sandy Nurse – Council District 37

Alexa Avilés – Council District 38

Rita Joseph – Council District 40

2023 Judicial Endorsements

Betsey Jean-Jacques – Civil Court Borough Wide Brooklyn

Marva Brown – Civil Court Borough Wide Brooklyn

Linda Wilson – Civil Court Borough Wide Brooklyn

Monique Holaman – Civil Court Borough Wide Brooklyn

Lola Waterman – Civil Court District 2 Brooklyn

Javier Ortiz – Civil Court District 3 Brooklyn

Lauren Esposito – Civil Court District 1 Manhattan 

Andrea Krugman  – Civil Court District 3 Manhattan

Anna Mikhaleva  – Civil Court District 6 Manhattan

Dana Cantanzaro  – Civil Court Countywide