Public Employee Press

Winning for Tish

BROOKLYN CITY COUNCIL MEMBER LETITIA JAMES WON the Oct.1 Democratic primary run-off election for Public Advocate decisively with 60 percent of the vote.

"I will use the office of the Public Advocate to push for economic and social justice for all New Yorkers," said James after her victory.

Running unopposed in the Nov. 5 general election, James has been endorsed by DC 37 and will become the first African-American woman to hold citywide office.

As a member of the City Council, the Brooklyn native repeatedly battled the Bloomberg administration's unfair budget cuts, which reduced essential public services and wiped out jobs. A fierce advocate for affordable housing and against contracting out, James held many hearings as chair of the City Council's Contracts Committee to prevent the outsourcing of city jobs to the private sector.

"If you want someone to fight longer and harder, then you want Letitia James," said her City Council colleague, Rosie Mendez, at a recent rally. James introduced the Safe Housing Act, which became law in 2007, ensuring that thousands of families in rental buildings could get prompt repairs to their apartments. She successfully pushed to increase funding for first responders, legal services and after-school programs.

Getting Out the Vote

District Council 37's rallies, phone banking and get-out-the-vote drive helped two-thirds of the candidates that DC 37 endorsed win their primary elections. James Hinton, a member of Local 1549, was one of the hundreds of activists on DC 37's Green Machine who hit the streets on Primary Day Sept. 10 and in the Oct. 1 run-off to get out the vote for Tish James.

"The turnout can be low in primaries, so it was important for us to send the message out for Tish James," Hinton said as he handed out leafl ets in Harlem.

Now the volunteers are urging people to be sure to vote for her, Bill de Blasio and Scott Stringer in the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 5. For a complete list of candidates endorsed by DC 37, see DC37 Endorsements.

— Alfredo Alvarado