Progressive Power Coalition Endorses Shelley Mayer for State Senate

by | Mar 16, 2018 | Press Releases

Top community advocacy groups back Mayer as a progressive candidate with a strong track record of standing up forNY’s working families

Westchester, NY — Today, the Progressive Power Coalition (PPC) – a coalition of 5 powerful membership organizations—Citizen Action New York, Community Voices Heard Power (CVH-P), New York Communities for Change (NYCC), Make the Road Action (MRA), and VOCAL-NY Action Fund (VAF) announced its endorsement of Shelley Mayer for State Senate, citing her strong record of progressive accomplishments.

Local residents who interviewed Mayer were impressed by her strong stands for the rights and needs of working families over the interests of big corporations and the ultra-wealthy. They recalled her leadership on many issues, including her work to pass the Wage Theft Prevention Act to crack down on bad-actor employers, her steadfast support of overhauling our campaign finance system to put working people ahead of big money donors and Albany insiders, and her leadership on expanding childcare for New Yorkers.

“I’m proud to have the support of these diverse and progressive organizations which advocate tirelessly to improve the lives of all New Yorkers,” said Democratic State Senate candidate Shelley Mayer. “Donald Trump’s constant attacks on our values and the failures of his Republican allies in the State Senate have made this special election critical for our future. I’m proud of my track record fighting forfamilies and creating better opportunities for Westchester’s hard working families, and I will continue that work in the State Senate.”

“Time and time again, Shelley Mayer has stood up for working people like me,” said Mary Lucy Castaño, member of Make the Road Action and Westchester resident. “Whether fighting to pass legislation to crack down on employers who steal workers wages, demanding investments in affordable housing, or standing up for immigrant families, she has shown me that she has my community’s back. Now, as we approach this special election, I’m excited to have hers.”

“Shelley is the kind of representative we deserve in the State Senate: smart, responsive, and community-minded,” said Diane Torstrup, member of Citizen Action of New York and Westchester resident. “She recognizes the pressing need to reform our campaign finance system so that all New Yorkers have a meaningful voice in our democracy. As a Senator, I know I can count on her to put working families before big donors.”

“Shelley Mayer is a powerful leader for New York State,” said Sojourner Salinas, member-leader of Community Voices Heard Power and White Plains resident. “She stands tall and firm on what we believe in: fighting for communities of color and low-income families of New York State on all the tough issues that we are being attacked on by the Trump administration.”

“New York State is in the midst of a housing and homelessness crisis that it will never address as long as the State Senate is controlled by Republicans who are owned by billionaire New York City real estate tycoons,” said Norman Frazier, board member of New York Communities for Change. “New York Communities for Change is proud to support Shelley Mayer as she takes on these special interests and fights for a state that is free from homelessness and is affordable for every resident of Westchester.”

“Our state is experiencing record levels of homelessness from Buffalo to the Brooklyn and rampant inequality continues to hurt communities across the state,” said Jawanza Williams, Statewide Organizer of VOCAL-NY Action Fund. “For too long Albany has been a barrier to progressive change and elected officials respond more to moneyed donors, rather than the most vulnerable among us. We are proud to endorse Shelley Mayer because she is committed to our shared vision of justice and progress – we look forward to working together to lift New Yorkers out of poverty and provide a strong social safety net for those in need.”

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