Both Democratic candidates for the 20th Senate District picked up multiple endorsements Thursday at separate campaign events.
Challenger Zellnor Myrie picked up key endorsements from four democratic assembly members, while incumbent State Sen. Jesse Hamilton received support from community activists and leaders. The Central Brooklyn district includes Brownsville, Crown Heights, East Flatbush, Gowanus, Park Slope, Prospect Heights, Prospect Lefferts Gardens, South Slope, and Sunset Park.
“I am honored to receive the support of this amazing array of activists and advocates for justice,” said Hamilton outside the Crossroads Juvenile Center, 17 Bristol Street in Brownsville. “These men and women have been working for years to ensure everyone is treated with the human dignity they deserve, to educate and empower our communities, and to make our justice system worthy of the name.”
Leaders in the community rallied around Hamilton for fighting for criminal justice reform. Multiple community activists said Hamilton has demonstrated his ability to provide for his district
“In Senator Hamilton, Brownsville and the entire 55th Assembly District have a man committed to our community and our needs. He has been fighting for us since he first stepped foot in the senate and we need him to continue fighting for our community. I support him because he leads in Albany and he leads in our neighborhood,” said 55th Assembly District Leader Anthony Jones.
“He led initiatives like creating The Campus, connecting the dots between health, wellness, in-school and after-school programs, and workforce development. Senator Hamilton’s leadership helps stop the school to prison pipeline and build pipelines to opportunity for our community,” Jones added.
Community activists also praised Hamilton for taking interests of his constituents from all walks of life. Geoffrey Davis, the District Leader for the 43rd Assembly District, said Hamilton’s track record of working on behalf of the people and for policy change should lead him to another term in the Senate.
“Senator Hamilton has been a proven leader in our community for more than two decades, working with educators, working with the Black community, working with the Jewish community, working with educators and parents, working with the small business community, working with all members of our community so we can thrive together. Senator Hamilton is about bringing our community together to face tough challenges and find real solutions. As we collectively confront the serious ills of our justice system, I appreciate the leadership Senator Hamilton exhibits so we can overcome challenges and get to a brighter day for all New Yorkers,” he said.
Across the district at Myrie’s140 Empire Boulevard campaign office in Prospect Lefferts Gardens, Assemblymembers Walter Mosley (D-Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights, Crown Heighst), Diana Richardson (D-Crown Heights, Prospect Lefferts Gardens, Flatbush), Jo Anne Simon (D-Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, Brooklyn Heights) and Robert Carroll (D-Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Kensington) all threw their support behind Myrie.
The lawmakers also offered harsh criticisms for Hamilton and his decision to separate himself from the Democrats in the Senate, instead opting to join the Independent Democratic Conference, a group of breakaway Democrats who formed a coalition with the majority Republicans before returning to the party fold earlier this year.
“For too long, constituents and politicians alike have put up with elected officials who are more interested in self-promotion and craven opportunism; today we say enough. The only way to change Albany is to elect people who are committed to public service and doing the people’s business, not their own. Today we must all rededicate ourselves to working for the needs of our constituents, our city, and our state,” said Carroll.
“Zellnor Myrie is running a campaign focused on improving our rent laws, funding our public schools, protecting a woman’s right to choose, and passing the New York State DREAM Act. None of this can be accomplished unless we elect a new guard of State Senators who are reform-minded, courageous, and progressive. Zellnor Myrie is at the top of that list, and I am proud to endorse him,” Carroll added.
Myrie, who said he was born and raised just two blocks from his campaign headquarters, said Central Brooklyn was at a critical point where real change could be made, and he hopes to give back to the community which he said made him into the person he is today.
“This is the community that raised me, this is the community that loved me, this is the community that supported me,” Myrie said.
Myrie blamed his opponent for the lack of progressive legislation that has been enacted into office because of the IDC.
“Year after year after year they have passed progressive bills in the state assembly and it goes to die in the Senate,” he said.
Richardson said she knows Myrie will be the candidate that goes from door-to-door listening to the needs of the residents of the 20th district.
“Our community deserves public servants who lead with transparency, dedication, and a powerful vision for our families,” Richardson said, “I know without a doubt that Zellnor Myrie will be an effective advocate for Central Brooklyn, and I proudly endorse him for State Senate. I will do everything I can to support his candidacy and hope my neighbors will join me in casting their votes for him as well.”
