Whereas, the UFT will endorse six NYC Council candidates and two borough presidents in March 2021 after fifteen City Council endorsements in February 2021, after kicking off the 2021 local elections in New York City with one borough president and twenty City Council endorsements in January 2021 following five initial City Council endorsements in 2020; and

Whereas, the 2021 local elections in New York City feature twelve incumbent City Council members and thirty-nine vacant City Council offices and four vacant boroughs presidents’ offices due to term limits with over three-hundred candidates having filed to run for office and represent their communities; and

Whereas, City Council candidates seeking to represent City Council Districts 7, 13, 17, 19, 23, 27, as well as the borough presidents’ offices of the Bronx and Manhattan which will be vacant seats due to term limits, submitted our UFT City Council candidate questionnaire and participated in candidate interviews hosted by interview committees comprised of UFT members who work and live in the districts the candidates seek to represent; and

Whereas, Vanessa Gibson from the Bronx, Brad Hoylman from Manhattan, Stacy Lynch from District 7, Marjorie Velazquez from District 13, Rafael Salamanca, Jr. from District 17, Austin Shafran from District 19, Linda Lee from District 23 and Nantasha Williams from District 27 all demonstrated to their respective interview committees that they will be the best representatives for their districts, and pledge to support their local school communities and prioritize the needs of our union; and, be it

RESOLVED, that the UFT endorses Vanessa Gibson for the office of Bronx Borough President, Brad Hoylman for the office of Manhattan Borough President, Stacy Lynch, Marjorie Velazquez, Rafael Salamanca, Austin Shafran, Linda Lee, and Nantasha Williams to be the next City Council Members to represent their respective districts.