Governor Cuomo Receives Endorsements from the New York City and Vicinity District Council of Carpenters & District Council 9 of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades
Council of Carpenters Represents Over 20,000 of the Most Skilled Tradespeople in New York; District Council 9 Represents 11,000 Skilled Painters and Artisans Across New York
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, a candidate for mayor of New York City, today proudly received the endorsements of the New York City and Vicinity District Council of Carpenters and District Council 9 of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades. The Council of Carpenters represents over 20,000 of the most skilled tradespeople in New York. DC9 represents over 11,000 skilled painters and artisans across New York.
The Governor received these endorsements during a jammed packed and enthusiastic 600-person rally held at the Carpenters Hall.
“The labor movement helped build this great city just as it built the middle class. But now too many working men and women just can’t afford to live here anymore. We lost our way, but we know what needs to be done. We know we need to lower taxes on working families and build affordable housing. Just as we built the Empire State Building in one year in the middle of the Great Depression, we have to stop talking about it and start doing it,” Governor Cuomo said. “There’s much work to be done and I thank my brothers and sisters in the Carpenters and the Painters for their support and their friendship as we work together to save this city.”
“Our delegates were unanimous: New York City needs Andrew Cuomo back,” New York City and Vicinity District Council of Carpenters President Paul Capurso said. “It's not just because the streets were safer with him, or because of the massive projects he started and completed or for taking a state that was once ungovernable and made it function. It’s because he understood why those things mattered. Safer streets meant our families were secure in their neighborhoods and on the subways. Major projects meant good-paying jobs for our members. And when a crisis hit, we had a leader who didn’t care about pissing people off - as long as the job got done. That kind of leadership; that courage; that focus on the middle class, no matter what powerful interests stood in the way is what we need back at City Hall. This is a working man and women’s movement to take back the city we love and we are with Andrew Cuomo all the way.”
“District Council 9 Painters and Allied Trades are proud to endorse Andrew Cuomo for Mayor of New York City,” District Council 9 Business Manager and Secretary Treasurer Joseph Azzopardi said. “As Governor, Cuomo was a steadfast champion for labor and working New Yorkers, delivering major union construction projects like LaGuardia Airport and the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge. We know that his leadership will continue to prioritize union workers, our members, and strengthen the entire construction industry – because when unions thrive, New York thrives. Strong unions mean good jobs, better education, and a stronger economy for all.”
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 unions joined former New York State Comptroller H. Carl McCall, U.S. Representative Ritchie Torres, the Staten Island Democratic Party, Assembly Member Yudelka Tapia, former Brooklyn Democratic party Chairman Frank Seddio, Brooklyn Democratic party Vice Chair Henry Butler, former national director of the ACLU Abe Foxman, the Village Reform Democratic Club, and the Italian American Leadership Council in endorsing Governor Cuomo for Mayor of New York City.
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