Bernie 2020
February 28, 2020

NEWS: Chirlane McCray Endorses Bernie Sanders for President

First Lady of New York City, feminist writer, and mental health advocate throws support behind Sen. Sanders

WASHINGTON – First Lady of New York City Chirlane McCray on Friday announced her endorsement of Sen. Bernie Sanders for president. McCray, who has been a leader on increasing accessibility and quality of mental health care in New York and across the country, highlighted in her endorsement Sen. Sanders track record of expanding mental health coverage and his commitment to ensuring quality, comprehensive mental health and substance misuse care under Medicare for All.

“We have a health care crisis in this country, and that includes a lack of access to quality mental health care services,” said Sen. Sanders. “When only one in three African Americans who need mental health care receives it, it’s critical that we have the leadership of advocates like Chirlane in cities across the country. I’m proud to receive Chirlane’s support today and look forward to working with her to bring mental health care to all of our communities.”
 
“Health care is a crisis in this country,”  said Chirlane McCray. “It is far too expensive and fragmented for most American families to get the health care they need. Bernie Sanders understands how essential quality healthcare is to the strength of our families and future of our country, and that's why I am proud to support him for President. We need a proven advocate and leader in the White House who knows that there is no health without mental health. Bernie's Medicare for All plan will provide comprehensive care for people, with coverage for mental health, addiction, prescription drugs, dental and vision services. We need a president that delivers results and Bernie has proven time and time again that he is a leader that will get it done.” 

McCray is nationally recognized as a powerful champion for mental health reform and dubbed one of TIME Magazine’s 50 Most Influential People in Health Care for 2018. As First Lady of New York City, she created the comprehensive mental health plan, “ThriveNYC,” and spearheads the Cities Thrive Coalition. More than 200 mayors, county officials and thought leaders from all 50 states are part of The Cities Thrive Coalition, together advocating for a more integrated and better-funded behavioral health system. A lifelong activist and writer, McCray continues to fight for gender equity and LGBTQ rights and support survivors of gender-based violence. 
 
Other recent endorsements from progressive leaders in New York include McCray’s spouse and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, anti-corruption scholar Zephyr Teachout, and a slate of local and state elected officials including Albany Common Councilman Owusu Anane, New York City Council Members Helen Rosenthal and Justin Brannan, Utica Council Member Delvin Moody, Orange County Legislator Kevindaryán Luján, Rochester City Councilwoman Mary Lupien, Cheektowaga Council Member Brian Nowak, and Former Binghamton Council Member Dan Livingston. 
 
###

Bernie 2020
February 14, 2020

NEWS: NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio Endorses Bernie Sanders for President

Mayor de Blasio to Join Sanders This Weekend in Nevada
 
WASHINGTON – New York City Mayor and former presidential candidate Bill de Blasio on Friday endorsed Bernie Sanders for President. The Mayor will join Sanders in Nevada this weekend to rally volunteers and supporters at events across the state, including Sunday’s event in Carson City. 

De Blasio is a progressive leader who, as Mayor of the nation’s largest and most diverse city, has championed policies to uplift working families such as paid sick leave, affordable housing, increasing the minimum wage, and universal pre-K. 

“I am standing with Bernie because he stands with working families, and always has,” said Mayor de Blasio. “New Yorkers know all too well the damage caused by Donald Trump’s xenophobia, bigotry and recklessness, and Bernie is the candidate to take him on and take him down. I have called for a bold, progressive agenda, and that’s exactly what Senator Sanders has championed for decades. I am proud to endorse a true progressive leader who will fight for working New Yorkers and families across the country.” 

“Mayor Bill de Blasio knows that the only way we can defeat Donald Trump is by uniting people from all backgrounds around an agenda that speaks to the needs of working families,” said Sen. Sanders. “Jane and I grew up in Brooklyn and we are so proud to have the support of a New York City Mayor fighting every day to improve the lives of New Yorkers. Bill is a leading example of what bringing the Democratic Party together around so-called 'radical ideas' like universal pre-K, paid family and sick leave, and defending our immigrant neighbors can do for our country.”

Mayor de Blasio has championed increased access to healthcare, including mental health services; criminal justice reform, including putting an end to stop-and-frisk; creating and expanding affordable housing and rent regulations; and implementing inclusive policies and programs that support and safeguard New York City’s diverse communities.

Other recent endorsements from progressive leaders in New York include New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, anti-corruption scholar Zephyr Teachout, and a slate of local and state elected officials including Albany Common Councilman Owusu Anane, New York City Council Members Helen Rosenthal and Justin Brannan, Utica Council Member Delvin Moody, Orange County Legislator Kevindaryán Luján, Rochester City Councilwoman Mary Lupien, Cheektowaga Council Member Brian Nowak, and Former Binghamton Council Member Dan Livingston.

###

Bernie 2020
January 2, 2020

NEWS: Jumaane Williams Endorses Bernie Sanders for President

New York City Public Advocate and Progressive Force Backs Bernie Sanders in 2020
 
WASHINGTON -- Today Bernie Sanders received the endorsement of Jumaane Williams, New York City Public Advocate and a leading progressive voice in New York. 

“Jumaane is truly an advocate for the people, and I am proud to receive his endorsement today, “ said Sen. Sanders. “Jumaane and I share a common cause -- to change the systems that make it harder and harder for working families to get by. I am grateful to have the support of my fellow Brooklynite, and the grassroots support of so many New Yorkers.”

Williams is the Public Advocate for the City of New York and previously served as a Council Member for the 45th District in Brooklyn. In a video released today, Williams spoke about the inclusive grassroots movement backing Sanders’ candidacy, as well as Sanders’ consistency and commitment on issues like quality housing, health care, and education. 
 
“It’s critically important to have someone like Bernie Sanders as the next President because we have to have someone who’s not just going to heal and unite, but who is going to change the system that’s in place,” Williams said. “When I first got elected, I made a decision that I didn’t get elected to get re-elected. I got elected to try to cause transformational change for people who feel their voice hasn’t been heard. Bernie’s done the same thing. Bernie’s message resonates because everybody understands that they too deserve quality housing, quality healthcare and quality education. We all deserve that, and Bernie Sanders is the one who is going to lead that charge.”
 
The endorsement video can be seen here
 
Williams’ endorsement follows other high-profile endorsements from New York progressives, including U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez; State Senators Michael Gianaris, Jessica Ramos, Julia Salazar, James Sanders, and Luis Sepulveda; State Representatives Ron Kim and Phil Steck; New York City Council Member Rafael Espinal; and anti-corruption scholar and professor Zephyr Teachout. 
 
###

Bernie 2020
December 27, 2019

Zephyr Teachout Endorses Bernie Sanders for President

The anti-corruption scholar and professor will join Sanders for the "End Corporate Greed" Tour in New Hampshire

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Bernie Sanders today received the endorsement of Zephyr Teachout, a nationally recognized corruption scholar, and one of the lawyers on the first Emoluments lawsuits against Donald Trump. Teachout is a longtime progressive activist speaking on the danger of foreign and corporate money in American politics.

“Bernie Sanders has built an extraordinary multi-class, multi-race movement grounded in community and compassion,” said Teachout. “He's showing us that together, we can beat back the corruption of billionaires, beat the reckless profiteering of corporations, and beat Donald Trump. Bottom line: Bernie Sanders is constitutionally incapable of sucking up, and that's why people love him. They know he'll always be on the side of the little guy against big agriculture, big banks, big pharma, big tech, hate, and fear. He's built the kind of movement that we need to fight the corruption that is killing us.”

Teachout’s book, Corruption in America, is generally recognized as essential reading in corruption scholarship and a major contribution to understanding the history of corruption law. Her work was cited in the House Judiciary Impeachment Report, as well as by Justice Stevens in his dissent in Citizens United. She was one of the countries' few experts on Emoluments prior to the Trump Presidency, and wrote the first New York Times article raising questions about Trump's pending constitutional violations. She is currently a plaintiff in an ongoing lawsuit attempting to overturn Citizens United.

“Zephyr has dedicated her life to stamping out corruption in our country,” said Sen. Sanders. “She has directly taken on the greed of Donald Trump and fought tirelessly for a political system that rejects the influence of big money and special interests. I am honored to receive her endorsement and look forward to working together to defeat Trump and create an economy and a political system that finally works for everyone.”

Teachout will join Sanders for the "End Corporate Greed" tour in New Hampshire this weekend, including a Healthcare Affordability Town Hall in Dover, an Environmental and Corporate Greed Panel in Plaistow, a Democracy Town Hall in Concord, and a Town Hall in Newport.

Watch her endorsement video HERE.

Bernie 2020
October 19, 2019

 Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Endorses Bernie for President




(3:05) [Music] AOC: This is not just about running for president. This is about creating a mass movement of working class people.

The first time I ever heard about Bernie Sanders was when I was a waitress in a greasy spoon diner type of restaurant in downtown Manhattan.  And I had been working 12 hour days.  I didn't have health insurance.  I was being paid less than a living wage.  And I didn't think that I deserved any of those things.  I thought that that's just how life was.

The only reason that I thought running for office was even possible for me was because of his example, because he proved that you could run for office and not take big money and you could run a grassroots campaign.

And now that I'm on the other side in the halls of Congress, it astounds me that [Bernie Sanders] has been able to withstand the intense amount of pressure there is here to conform, to stay quiet and to compromise on behalf of the lives of working people so that we can accomodate corporations and not the other way around.

And when he talks about a political revolution and when he talks about "Not me, us," those aren't slogans.

This is not about me, this is not about Senator Sanders.  This is about what we have to accomplish together.  This is not about saying everyone should have health care with some asterisks or that your student loan debt should be forgiven under certain conditions.  This is about unconditional, universal, guaranteed advanced standard of living in the United States of America.  No ifs, no ands, no buts, no matter who you are, where you come from, what you're born into.

We should have a society that guarantees 21st century economic human rights, that introduces democracy to the workplace, where people feel protected and safe at work, where they feel honored and dignified at home.  And that every person has actual power in the United States of America.

We need to have a revolution of working class people.  And it needs to be multi-racial, multi-gendered, multi-generational.

Our future is not going to get better unless we demand it and unless we work for it.

And when you talk to Bernie, he doesn't talk about making a movement so that he can get elected.  He talks about his campaign as part of a mass movement in America and that's the kind of leadership that I think we need right now.