Dear Friend,

All elections are important, and this year's mayoral election is no exception. Many New Yorkers have lost faith in our mayor. The Trump administration and its MAGA allies in Congress are hellbent on punishing our city by revoking federal grants, decimating the social safety net, and attacking city institutions. We need a strong leader– in both vision and character - to lead us forward.

This year I’m supporting my two close friends and urge you to rank them #1 and #2 on your ballot – Brad Lander and Zellnor Myrie. This is our second electoral cycle using Rank Choice Voting, which gives us an opportunity to support and rank multiple candidates for Mayor.

I have known Brad Lander for many years and know him to be an incredibly thoughtful leader with a record of accomplishments that began even before he was elected to the City Council more than a decade ago. From passing the city’s “Freelance Isn’t Free Law” to the landmark Gowanus Rezoning to cracking down on dangerous drivers, Brad has a record of success. Through our shared vision to make our city streets safer to all who use them, I have seen firsthand how he works collaboratively with advocates, individuals and stakeholders to get results and make our city better. Brad has a strong track record of sticking to his values and delivering meaningful results for NYC and would make an excellent Mayor.

I’m proud to call Zellnor Myrie both a colleague and a friend. He is a tireless fighter in Albany for the issues that have the biggest impact in his district and he will bring that same fighting spirit to City Hall. Whether tackling the affordability crisis, combating gun violence, or fighting to save Downstate Medical Center from closing, Zellnor has delivered for our city. New Yorkers are yearning for change and Zellnor has proposed innovative solutions to tackle the housing crisis, lay out a blueprint for universal afterschool, and keep New Yorkers safe. Zellnor is thinking big to meet the moment and usher in a new chapter for the city -- in which New Yorkers' needs are finally met.

These two candidates have the best platform and message to counter former Governor Cuomo’s candidacy. Despite him running on his record of being a skilled manager and effective administrator, there are many examples where he missed the mark on issues important to me and to this city. Cuomo was responsible for years of underfunding CUNY, a lack of attention to the MTA and mass transit that culminated in the 2017 “Summer of Hell”, cuts to Medicaid forced onto NYC in 2019, and the shutting down of several thousand in-patient mental health beds that have pushed our mental health system to the brink leaving those who need treatment lingering on the streets and in our subways. Furthermore, Cuomo’s lack of accountability for mistakes made during Covid, including covering up the death toll in nursing homes, raises serious questions of integrity for me. And lastly, as someone who has worked to lift up the voices of sexual harassment victims and fight to dismantle the systems that protect abusers, I simply cannot ignore the multiple women who bravely and credibly accused him of sexual harassment and who it seems the world has just forgotten all about.

This election is critically important. Leadership is first and foremost about integrity. The leaders we choose right now will set the agenda for the future of our city. I’m proud to support Brad Lander and Zellnor Myrie because I believe they have the character and vision to lead us forward.

As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts on what you think the future of our city ought to be and who can help lead us there.