If you think it’s a man’s world, than the old adage “it wouldn’t be nothing without a woman or a girl” must be true as some of New York City’s A-list ladies rallied behind Mayor Bill de Blasio yesterday on the steps of Borough Hall.
First Lady Chirlane McCray along with actress Cynthia Nixon, exiting Planned Parenthood CEO Joan Malin, Public Advocate Tish James, and other elected officials came out to launch Women for Bill de Blasio, pledging to reach out to women across the city in support of re-electing de Blasio.
“I am proud to say that I am the original woman for de Blasio,” said McCray.
Accompanied by the 70-person entourage of supporters, McCray boasted the mayor’s accomplishments honing in on his programs that directly impact women –– increased paid parental leave, Universal Pre-K and the continued support of Planned Parenthood despite the attacks the organization has received from Washington D.C.
While the rally’s focus was about mayoral support, the first lady didn’t miss out on an opportunity to promote her mental health initiative, Thrive NYC. “Our NYC Domestic Violence Task Force is providing more pathways for women out of violent relationships and holding their abusers accountable.” said McCray.
McCray wasn’t alone in touting the accomplishments of the mayor, as Nixon, Co-Chair of Women for Bill de Blasio, popped in from the East Village to sing her praises of the mayoral incumbent.
“I am standing here today to ask once again to join me and Women of Bill de Blasio as we continue to fight for progressive change and true gender equality with a mayor who has always and will always have our backs,” said Nixon.
James told the crowd that despite having had some differences with the mayor, she eventually supported him because he signed her bill to prohibit employers from inquiring about previous salary history.
“The use of salary history to determine compensation perpetuates a dangerous cycle of unemployment that follows women from job to job, and even cheats them out of their retirement benefits,” said James.
“Tish, I want to tell you –– first of all, that was a heartful inclusion of your own legislation,” joked de Blasio, within his first few minutes at the podium.
The mayor then went on to say that his “job in life was to warm up the public advocate chair for Tish,” referring to the fact that de Blasio served as public advocate before being elected to mayor in 2013.
Both James and the mayor took a moment to acknowledge Assembly Member Latrice Walker (D-Brownsville), with the mayor noting that the pilot program for Universal 3K will be starting in her district this fall.
KCP spoke to Assemblymember Walker about the mayor’s new Universal 3K initiative that will launch exclusively in the Bronx and throughout seven schools in Brownville –– New York City school district 23. The program will run during the Department of Education’s 2017-2018 school year.
“I am very, very proud to support Mayor de Blasio,” said Walker. “I supported him in 2014. We had our own little operation going on in Brownsville.”
Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte (D-Flatbush, Ditmas Park) also spoke to KCP and commended the mayor for his support on women’s issues from pro-choice rights to promoting entrepreneurship for women.
Bichotte, who serves as the Assembly Chair of the Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBE) Committee, said, “ What I’m very excited about now is that he’s been really supportive on economic justice and economic reform for women-owned businesses. Both have truly been a top priority for Mayor de Blasio.”
Brooklyn Democratic Party boss Frank Seddio, and Assemblymembers Nick Perry (D-East Flatbuhs), Tremaine Wright (D-Bedford-Stuyvesant, Northern Crown Heights) and Maritza Davila (D-Bushwick, Williamsburg) were also in attendance.
