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Working Families Party, SEIU 32 BJ, Congressman Nadler support Brad

Working Families Party, SEIU 32 BJ, Congressman Nadler support Brad

Brad Lander welcomes endorsement by key progressive leaders in New York

Pledges to continue fighting for good jobs, affordable housing, better schools and public transit

Brooklyn – Brad Lander’s campaign for City Council has been endorsed by the Working Families Party, SEIU Local 32BJ, and by Congressman Jerrold Nadler.  

“Brad Lander has a strong record of fighting for New York’s future,” said Congressman Nadler.  “He’s been a leader on improving public transportation, and on affordable housing for working and middle class families.  I’ve been impressed in our work together with his record of results, and his abiding commitment to making New York City a more fair, more sustainable place to live.”

“Brad is a smart, strategic, hardworking fighter who has a great track record of results on the issues that matter to working families,” said Dan Cantor, executive director of the party.  “He has already been a leader in so many efforts – creating and preserving tens of thousands of units of affordable housing, making sure our tax dollars create good jobs, fighting for a fair share approach to funding our public schools, and helping to create the green economy.  To tell the truth, we’ll be a little sad to be losing him as one of the city’s leading progressive policy advocates … but he’s exactly the kind of candidate we want to see in the City Council.”

“Brad Lander has stood up time and time again to ensure that working New Yorkers can live affordably in their own neighborhoods, are paid a living wage, and have access to high-quality public education and a healthy environment,” 32BJ President Mike Fishman said of the endorsement. “We’re proud of Brad’s strongly progressive, pro-labor record and know he’ll be a loud, clear voice for working people on the City Council.”  SEIU 32BJ represents more than 70,000 members in New York City, including a wide range of maintenance workers and security officers.

“These are thrilling and humbling endorsemenst,” Lander said. “The Working Families Party, SEIU 32BJ, and Congressman Nadler are true champions of New York City, for an economy that provides opportunities for success to every New Yorker, and a city and fosters strong, sustainable communities.  That’s the vision I will fight for every day as a City Council Member.”

Brad’s endorsement by the Working Families Party was recommended unanimously by the South Brooklyn Club and approved by the Citywide Coordinating Committee.  “I’ve admired Brad’s work in our community for years,” said Dorothy Siegel of Cobble Hill, chair of the South Brooklyn Club.  “He has a consistent record of results on the issues that matter to working families in our community – helping seniors save their homes, giving kids a chance to find their first job, and providing services that our families need.  He’s independent, progressive, and has the courage to stand up for what’s right.”

“Congressman Nadler has been a stalwart in Washington DC on so many issues that matter to us," said Lander.  Just last month, he led the effort to include more resources in the stimulus bill for public transportation.  From his opposition to the most pernicious aspects of George W. Bush’s PATRIOT Act, to his leadership for the Cross Harbor Rail Freight corridor, to his strong defenses of the First Amendment and a woman’s right to choose, it’s no wonder the New York Times has called him one of our ‘smartest and hardest-working House members.’”

Lander continued:  “The Working Families Party has led the fight on so many critical issues in our community – for a fair share approach to stop devastating cuts to our public schools, subways, buses, and hospitals, and against Mayor Bloomberg’s extension of term limits without a public vote.  I’m thrilled to be part of the best progressive team in the state.”  

Nadler represents the 8th Congressional District, which stretches from Manhattan’s Upper West Side to Brighton Beach in Brooklyn, and includes the Borough Park and Columbia Street waterfront sections of the 39th Council district.  He is Chair of the Housing Committee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties Subcommittee of the Housing Judiciary Committee, and the ranking Democrat from New York State on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

The Working Families Party has been extremely effective in the neighborhoods of the 39th Council district (Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Borough Park, and Kensington).  With strong support from the WFP, State Senator Daniel Squadron won his insurgent race against Martin Connor, winning three-quarters of the vote in Cobble Hill and Carroll Gardens, both part of the 52nd Assembly District.  The WFP typically garners in largest vote in New York State in the 52nd AD and 44th AD, which includes Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, and Kensington.  

Lander is the leading candidate for the seat, which is currently held by Bill de Blasio, who is running for Public Advocate.  Lander leads all candidates in fundraising and has been endorsed by State Senators Daniels Squadron and Liz Krueger, City Council members Rosie Mendez and Melissa Mark-Viverito, UFCW Local 1500, Community Board 7 Chair Randy Peers, and dozens of community leaders.

Lander is a senior fellow at the Pratt Center for Community Development and one of the city’s leading advocates for affordable housing and sustainable communities.  He was previously the director of the Fifth Avenue Committee, a not-for-profit community development group in Brooklyn that creates and preserves affordable housing, good jobs, and livable neighborhoods.  He is also the Housing and Community Development Chair of Brooklyn’s Community Board 6.

For more information about Brad Lander, please visit www.bradlander.com.