On Easter Sunday, 20 Clergy Members Endorse Andrew Cuomo for Mayor
As New York City faces unprecedented challenges and an assault from the Trump administration, we know Governor Cuomo will again stand up, fight back, and is ready to bring that same strong leadership rooted in justice for all. He is the man for this moment, and we enthusiastically endorse his candidacy.
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, candidate for Mayor of New York City, on Easter Sunday proudly received the key endorsement of 20 prominent Black and Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) clergy members in the city, each representing culturally rich and spiritually devoted congregations. These faith leaders add to the other 46 clergy endorsements that Governor Cuomo has received in his bid for Mayor of New York City.
"We are proud to stand with Governor Cuomo, someone who has a long record of actually delivering results and someone we can trust to get the job done as our next Mayor. Andrew Cuomo has long been a friend and true partner to our communities, governing with a compassionate touch and a fierce urgency for action. From building new affordable housing, combating homelessness to protecting immigrants and helping those less fortunate, he is someone who doesn’t just talk about fixing problems but actually solves them. As New York City faces unprecedented challenges and an assault from the Trump administration, we know Governor Cuomo will again stand up, fight back, and is ready to bring that same strong leadership rooted in justice for all. He is the man for this moment, and we enthusiastically endorse his candidacy,” the prominent faith leaders said.
This clergy endorsement comes on the heels of Governor Cuomo’s visit to Calvary Baptist Church on Easter Sunday, and follows the first mayoral endorsement made by Reverend Dr. Kevin R. Johnson since presiding over the historic Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem. These spiritual leaders have preached the gospel to inspire, galvanize, and educate their followers to improve their communities, become engaged participants in civic activism, and advance social justice.
The new clergy member supporters include:
Brooklyn:
- Yi Zhao, Western Buddhist Association
- Imam Maaz Ali, IQRA Masjid
- Bishop Carl Wauchope, Emmanuel Baptist Church
- Minister Carlos Rios, Minister of the World - R.C. Church, Former VA Hospital Chaplain
- Jenny Fu, Guan Yin Citta
- Rui Fa, Buddhist Peaceful Enlightenment
- Chaplain Irfan Cheema, United States Chaplain Force
- Chang Kuan, Western Buddhist Association
- Weijie Zhang, Western Buddhist Association
- Chaplain Mohammad Ayoub, President of CommuniCar
- Tracy Ping Liu, The International Youth Fellowship Church
Manhattan:
- Shaorong Luo, Influential Buddhist and Feng Shui Master
Queens:
- Rev. Dr. Les Mullings, Far Rockaway Community Church of the Nazarene
- Pastor Sheila Johnson, Far Rockaway Community Church of the Nazarene
- Rev. Errol Vieira, Ozone Park Church of the Nazarene
- Rev. Leroy Pascal, Springfield Garden Church of the Nazarene
- Rev. Dr. John H. Boyd, New Greater Bethel Ministries
- Rev. Evan Gray, Macedonia Baptist Church of Arverne
- Rev. Akim Beecham, Macedonia Baptist Church
- Pastor Hongyue Zhou, Good News Flushing Chinese Church
Throughout his career in public service, Governor Cuomo has been a champion for working New Yorkers. He raised wages for millions, protected the right to organize when the Supreme Court tried to break the back of the labor movement, increased access to healthcare, enacted the nation's strongest paid family leave program and expanded apprenticeships, vocational training, and workforce development programs. He also advanced the most substantial infrastructure program in a generation, including the Second Avenue Subway, the Moynihan Train Hall and the new Kosciuszko Bridge and the new JFK and LaGuardia Airports – all major projects built with union labor.
These prolific clergy members join U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres, Democratic Organization of Queens County and Chairman Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, former New York State Comptroller Carl McCall, former Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., New York State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, New York State Senator Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., New York State Senator James Sanders Jr., Brooklyn Democratic Chair and Assembly Member Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, Assembly Member Charles Fall, Assembly Member Eddie Gibbs, Assembly Member Yudelka Tapia, Assembly Member Latrice Walker, Assembly Member Erik Dilan, Assembly Member Jordan Wright, Assembly Member Stacey Pheffer Amato, Assembly Member Sam Berger, Assembly Member Vivian Cook, Assembly Member John Zaccaro, Assembly Member William Colton, Assembly Member David Weprin, Assembly Member Edward Braunstein, Assembly Member Clyde Vanel, Assembly Member Alicia Hyndman, Council Member Lynn Schulman, Council Member Kamillah Hanks, Council Member Farah N. Louis, Council Member Susan Zhuang, Council Member Darlene Mealy, Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers, 32BJ SEIU, the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council, The Uniformed EMTs, Paramedics & Fire Inspectors Local 2507, the New York City Deputy Sheriffs’ Benevolent Association, New York City Coalition of the International Union of the Operating Engineers, The Utility Workers Union of America Local 1-2, Teamsters Local 237, Local 3 IBEW, New York City and Vicinity District Council of Carpenters, District Council 9 of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, 35 District Leaders across the city, former National Director of the Anti-Defamation League Abe Foxman, the Village Reform Democratic Club, Taminent Regular Democratic Club, American Jewish Congress, 46 prominent Black clergy members, and the Italian American Leadership Council in endorsing Governor Cuomo for Mayor of New York City.
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