Mayoral hopefuls speak at DC 37 / Community Mayoral Forum

NEW YORK, May 16, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Thursday, May 16, District Council 37, New York City's largest public employee union along with two New York AFSCME affiliates — District Council 1707 and the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) — and 13 community-based organizations hosted a Mayoral Forum 2013 titled "Labor and Community: Expectations of New York's Next Mayor." At the event in the Tribeca Performing Arts Center at Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) in lower Manhattan, more than 900 members of DC 37 and its labor/community partners had an opportunity to hear New York City mayoral candidates, who are seeking the union's support, speak to their issues.

Speaking at the forum were: Sal Albanese, former City Council member; Bill de Blasio, New York City Public Advocate; John Liu, New York City Comptroller; Rev. Erick Salgado, former President of Radio Cantico Nuevo Inc.; and Bill Thompson, former New York City Comptroller.

District Council 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts said: "DC 37 members and all New Yorkers face a critical mayoral election this November, which could bring a truly great mayor who will end the current favoritism toward the wealthy 1% and restore government 'for the people'— the poor and working-class people of New York City. The city needs a mayor who makes New York City's neglected communities and the public workers that serve them a priority. This forum provided a significant opportunity for DC 37 members and our labor and community partners to evaluate the candidates seeking our support."

Co-sponsoring the Mayoral Forum 2013 with DC 37 were: Alliance of South Asian American Labor (ASAAL), Coalition for Public Education (CPE), Commission on the Public's Health System (CPHS), Community Service Society (CSS), Community Voices Heard (CVH), CSEA, DC 1707, Fiscal Policy Institute (FPI), La Fuente, York City Parent Union, New Yorkers for Fiscal Fairness (NYFF), Met Council, Real Rent Reform (R3), Tenants PAC, and Vocal New York.

DC 37's endorsement process is as follows: In coming weeks, the DC 37 Screening Committee will officially review the mayoral candidates and recommend an endorsement to the DC 37 Executive Board. Once the DC 37 Executive Board discusses and approves the Screening Committee's proposed endorsement, the recommendation then goes to the DC 37 Delegate Assembly for final approval.

District Council 37 is New York City's largest public employee union, with 121,000 members and 50,000 retirees.

Contact:
Zita Allen, Communications Director
Molly Charboneau, Rudy Orozco
(917) 309-2210

SOURCE District Council 37