(Bronx, NY) Today, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., Bronx County Democratic Chairman, Assemblymember Carl E. Heastie (AD -83), Assemblymembers José Rivera (AD-73), Jeffrey Dinowitz (AD-81), and Victor Pichardo (AD-86), and New York City Councilmembers Andrew Cohen (CD-11) and Richie Torres (CD-15) announced their support for Adriano Espaillat in the NY-13 Congressional Primary. Today’s endorsements come just days after Senator Espaillat participated in the first debate of the campaign in Harlem where Congressman Rangel stated he was apprehensive about representing The Bronx.
“I am proud to announce my support today for Adriano Espaillat in his bid to represent the 13th District in Congress,” Ruben Diaz Jr., Bronx Borough President said. “In the State legislature we worked together to fight for environmental justice in our community, to bring expanded healthcare options to our boroughs, and lead the charge for truly affordable housing in the City. Adriano is a proven fighter in our community and I know he will give our residents a strong voice in Washington. I look forward to working with him on his campaign and in Congress on these and so many other issues our residents face.”
“For residents of The Bronx there is no stronger advocate than Adriano Espaillat,” Carl E. Heastie, 83rd District Assemblymember said. “Adriano has walked Fordham Road, he knows the struggles our local businesses face and I know he will listen and act when our community speaks. Adriano is a proven fighter and he will carry that tradition on in Congress.”
“I proudly endorse my friend and colleague, Adriano Espaillat, to be our next Congressman from the 13th district,” Jeffrey Dinowitz, 81st District Assemblymember said. “We have worked together for over 15 years, so I know firsthand that he is hard working and effective. He will fight for the people of The Bronx and for every neighborhood throughout the district. He will bring together and unite the diverse communities in every corner of the 13th CD. His strong, energetic leadership will serve us well.”
“Too many families in the Bronx are struggling to find a decent job and pay the rent,” City Council Member Ritchie Torres said. “Adriano Espaillat will bring new economic opportunities to our borough and fight to help Bronx residents living below the poverty line. That’s why I am endorsing him for Congress and will work hard to make sure his campaign is successful.”
“I am truly humbled to have the support of the Bronx County Democrats,” Adriano Espaillat said. “The 13th District spans a diverse community in Upper Manhattan and The Bronx and with their support I know I can unite the District in the fight for affordable healthcare and housing, thoughtful economic development and environmental justice. In Congress, one of my first actions will be to open an office in The Bronx – for far too long residents have had nowhere to turn to be heard by their Congressmember – that changes week one. Together, we will give a voice to thousands of Bronx residents who have been forgotten in Washington, I thank the Bronx County Democrats for their support and I am ready to continue to fight together for our community in Congress.”
Espaillat is far outpacing his rivals with key endorsements from the Transport Workers Union Local 100, New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, Senators Brad Hoylman (SD-27) and Gustavo Rivera (SD-33), Assemblymembers Karim Camara (AD-43) and Gabriela Rosa (AD-72), Council Members Mark Levine (CD-7) and Ydanis Rodriguez (CD-10), the Barack Obama Democratic Club of Upper Manhattan, and the Democratic Club of El Barrio & East Harlem.
In Congress, Adriano Espaillat Will:
- Champion Affordable and Low-income Housing: Affordable and low-income housing is disappearing in our community, and longtime residents are being driven from their homes. Adriano Espaillat led the fight to renew and strengthen New York State’s tenant protection laws, and he will bring the same determined focus to Washington.
- Empower our District Through Immigration Reform: Immigration reform is a defining civil rights issue of our time. Espaillat believes the time is now to fix our broken immigration laws and bring over 11 million Americans out of the shadows. The current system has split families apart, and left Latino, Caribbean, and African immigrant communities in the 13th congressional District vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.
- Make Economic Development about the Community: Espaillat believes that economic development isn’t successful if current residents are left behind. Espaillat will fight to shift public subsidies from the big box chain stores paying minimum wage salaries to existing small and minority owned businesses looking to grow, and local entrepreneurs who need capital to get started.
- Fight for Healthcare & An End to Health Disparities in Communities of Color: From diabetes, to obesity, to childhood asthma, Upper Manhattan and The Bronx residents have urgent needs that are not being met in Washington. Espaillat will push to prioritize federal research, education and grant funding towards targeting low-income communities of color to close the minority health disparity gap for children and seniors alike.
More About 13th District Congressional Candidate Adriano Espaillat:
- Adriano Espaillat got his start as a community activist in Northern Manhattan, and currently serves in the New York State Senate. In the legislature, he quickly distinguished himself as a reformer and progressive fighter who has stood up for working families.
- In 2011, Espaillat led the fight to renew New York State’s tenant protection laws, which were set to expire that year. Espaillat’s advocacy safeguarded over 1 million units of affordable housing, and earned new protections for over 2.5 million people, including the creation of the Tenant Protection Unit to stop harassment and abuse.
- As Chair of the Senate Latino Conference, Espaillat has championed state-based immigration reforms, including: legislation allowing undocumented immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses, the DREAM Act, and the Farmworkers Bill of Rights.
- Espaillat has been a vocal advocate for tenants, consumers, veterans, immigrants and local businesses. He has championed marriage equality and civil rights issues, and efforts to protect our environment from hydrofracking and other dangers.
- He has passed laws preserving affordable housing, giving low-income day care workers the right to organize and obtain health care, and sponsored measures to improve hospital translation services. He established a higher education scholarship fund for relatives of the victims of American Airlines Flight 587, which crashed on November 12, 2001.
For more information about Espaillat for Congress please visit our website www.EspaillatForCongress.com.
