Whereas, Julie Menin is a candidate seeking the endorsement of the United Federation of Teachers in her primary election race to represent the residents of City Council District 5 in Manhattan as their next City Council Member; and

Whereas, Julie Menin collaborated with our union during her time as Chair of Community Board 1 to build three new public schools in lower Manhattan to address school overcrowding in the neighborhood, with one school established as the first “green” school in the city; and

Whereas, Julie’s policy positions are aligned to our union’s positions demonstrated by her press conference with our union in 2011 calling on the state to levy the Millionaire’s Tax to cover threatened education cuts; and

Whereas, Julie’s policy positions are aligned to our union’s demands demonstrated by her leadership in opposing the appointment of Cathie Black as New York City Department of Education Chancellor; and

Whereas, as Commissioner of the Department of Consumer Affairs, Julie launched NYC Kids Rise creating college saving accounts for 10,000 kindergarten students in community school district 30 in Queens; and

Whereas, as Commissioner of the Department of Consumer Affairs, she launched and implemented the paid sick leave law and living wage law; and

Whereas, as Commissioner of the Department of Consumer Affairs, she led investigations into for profit colleges, debt collectors and banks that preyed on low-income New Yorkers; and

Whereas, most recently as the NYC Census Director she partnered with our union on our Census 2020 efforts to ensure a proper Census count for our city; and

Whereas, on Thursday, November 12, she participated in our formal interview process for candidates seeking to represent Council District 5 in the City Council; and

Whereas, the interview committee unanimously ranked Julie Menin as the top candidate to recommend for endorsement; now, therefore, be it,

RESOLVED, that the UFT endorse Julie Menin in her primary election for New York City Council District 5 in Manhattan as we believe she will continue to be our ally and a champion for public education.