New York NOW Endorses Christine Quinn for Mayor

[hrmjustin]

By John Surico

For the mayoral race, another day, another endorsement. But this time, it falls upon an electoral landmark. Today, the Daily News has reported that the New York chapter of the National Organization for Women will officially endorse City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, a candidate who, if elected, will be the first female and openly gay mayor in New York City's history.

NOW cites the advantage Quinn's position has given her on women's' issues as further reason to endorse her. President Sonia Ossario called Quinn "inspiring to women across New York, not simply because she is a woman, but because she is a woman who has the strongest record of accomplishment of anyone in the race." In her statement yesterday, Ossario referred to Qunn's work with regulating crisis pregnancy centers and raising the punishment for drivers involved in sex trafficking.

"Make no bones about it, electing the first female mayor of New York City will be an historic accomplishment," Ossario said. "But what makes her candidacy even more inspiring is the fact that of all the people in this race, no one can hold a candle to her in terms of actual accomplishment on behalf of all New Yorkers."

Of course, given her status, NOW's support for Quinn was almost a given. However, the endorsement provides a shelter to the speaker from predecessor comparisons, providing her campaign with a historical tone that's way softer than the "Bloomberg 2.0" label she cannot seem to escape. Especially as she faces backlash from the LGBT community on her record on progressive issues, which stood at the center of a Voice cover story on the speaker from last month.

Read more at http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2013/06/new_york_now_en.php

[graham4anything]

1. Great and important endorsement. I am supporting her. nt

[hrmjustin]

2. I think in the end she will win. I do believe there will be a runoff but I am not sure Weiner will

be the one in the runoff with her. I am still going to vote for Weiner but I will vote for the democratic nominee no matter who it is.

[allin99]

3. The Brooklyn-Queens chapter endorsed Liu though, : )

[Smarmie Doofus]

4. Working class-type women. Teachers and such who've been royally screwed by....

Bloomberg/Quinn-ism.

The "little people." They don't count.

Gloria Steinem, Cathie Black, Caroline Kennedy: they count. They know nothing of consequence ( and can DO even less) but in the Gatsby-esque NYC we've allowed to evolve they are ALL that counts.

[allin99]

5. exactly right...

when i look back on CQ's trying to keep the paid sick leave bill from passing it just burns my blood...

http://laborpress.org/sectors/health-and-safety/1857-ill-quinn-continues-to-ignore-overwhelming-support-for-paid-sick-leave-act

gee, i wonder how that would have affected women had it not passed. I guess N.O.W. gives her points for finally caving after blocking it for 3 years.