FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 15, 2009
Contact: Neal Kwatra (917) 337-7661
NY Hotel Workers Union Endorses Candidates for City Council Seats in Brooklyn
One of NYCs largest unions plans comprehensive effort in support of Maritz Davila, Brad Lander, Stephen Levin & Jumaane Williams
Union’s endorsement highly coveted, as union plans aggressive field program to communicate with its members & intensive canvassing effort
NEW YORK, NY-- The New York Hotel and Motel Trades Council, AFL-CIO (HTC), a 30,000-member union representing hotel workers throughout New York City today endorsed four candidates for City Council seats in Brooklyn: Maritza Davila (34th district), Brad Lander (39th), Stephen Levin (33rd), and Jumaane Williams (45th).
The union, which has 14,000 members in Brooklyn , plans a comprehensive program to communicate with its numerous members in these districts, and plans to recruit volunteers for the campaign using an intensive canvassing effort.
“These candidates have a clear vision of how to bring leadership and change to their districts, and that’s why we fully support them,” said Peter Ward, President of the Hotel Trades Council. “All of these candidates have worked very hard over the years at the grass roots level to improve the communities in which they live. They have shown a dedication in their communities that is worthy of our endorsement. We look forward to making sure that New York City has Ms. Davila, Mr. Lander, Mr. Levin and Mr. Williams as their representatives from their respective districts.”
The union’s decisions were based on the candidates’ records fighting for affordable housing and improving the quality of life in their respective districts. As a community organizer and district leader for the last 20 years, Maritza Davila has been a dedicated advocate for her community. As an Assembly chief-of-staff and a dedicated advocate for the working poor, Stephen Levin has worked tirelessly to create more affordable housing in Brooklyn . Brad Lander now directs the Pratt Center for Community Development and has spent his entire professional life fighting for more livable, affordable communities. And Jumaane Williams has been a community organizer for 15 years, most recently heading up the affordable housing organization NY State Tenants and Neighbors, which fights to preserve at-risk affordable housing in neighborhoods throughout New York State .
“I am honored and humbled to have the support of these hardworking men and women for my campaign,” said Maritza Davila. “I have family members that work in the hospitality industry upstate, and I know how difficult it can be to fight for your rights at work without a union. I’m fortunate to have such strong, hardworking members in my corner.”
“I am proud to receive the support of the Hotel Trades Council and its members,” said Brad Lander. “These workers keep our visitors coming back to the greatest City in the world. I am proud to have their endorsement and will fight with them, side by side, when I win this election with their support and dedication.”
“These workers are tireless advocates for social justice, and since their inception they have been fighting for the same things that I fight for in the poorest neighborhoods in Brooklyn ,” said Stephen Levin. “I cannot wait to ride the wave of the Hotel Trades Council all the way to the City Council.”
“I intend to fight for issues important to the community when I’m elected, and I’m proud of the fact that the Hotel Trades Council is going to fight for me to get there,” said Jumaane Williams. “I so appreciate their support and look forward to sharing a partnership with them beyond the election.”
"We are ready to fight for these candidates because we know they’ll fight for working families when they get to City Hall,” said Peter Ward. “They have fought for working people all of their lives, and I have no doubt they will continue to do so once we help get them elected."
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