Well he won, I am guessing in large part due to your endorsement. Here’s hoping you were right.
The driving record of Mr. Williams speaks volumes of his total disregard for reasonable rules of society. Not someone I would trust to always keep the best interest of people foremost in his mind.
8
The NYC real estate industry isn’t known for throwing money at their sworn enemies. However, a senior official at Forest City Ratner and two members of Bruce Ratner’s family have donated thousands of dollars to Williams. Pledging not to take money from real estate companies is fine & good, but it’s skirting the issue if you turn around and take money from developers themselves.
Nomiki Konst has pinpointed the real estate industry as a driver of income inequality. It’s the central issue of her campaign. She seems willing to make enemies in high places, and not to use the Public Advocate position as just a stepping stone to higher office.
27
Mark Green was not good on a lot of things, including affordable housing, so I would not invoke his name here. And Jumaane, for all of his good deeds, was too quiet on a matter of immigration services funding that was devastating to immigrants with convictions, a silence that was confusing given his other positions. The one candidate who did not stay silent was Melissa Mark Viverito, and she has my vote.
8
Mr. Williams is the only elected official in the city who is trying to fight the non stop out of control over development in residential neighborhoods like mine. My block of wood frame home is being destroyed by the erection of 5 and six story apartments in the middle of our beautiful homes. Jumaane has surely won my vote.
1
Your endorsement of Jumaane Williams blew my mind...as does your silence on his (or any other candidate's position) on the environment.
With 60 degree temperatures this winter along with high winds (55 mph) I find myself wondering whether the editors of the NY Times aren't living in a parallel universe.
The NYC Campaign Finance Board published the candidate's top 3 positions. Not one...let me repeat...not one of the candidates (other than Espinal) touched this issue. For Espinal, his #1 issue is/was "Create a Greener NYC" wherein he acknowledges and addresses our climate catastrophe (yes, catastrophe...tune in to the 10/18 UN report...12 years to limit devastating climate warming) includes green roofs and banning plastics. Not as radical as I would hope but at least a nod to the crisis we face.
Why why why does the NY Times continue to ignore the crisis we face by prioritizing issues that will be soooo irrelevant when the flooding of NYC hits. The issues you give priority to over the environment are absolutely and completely dust in the wind.
Bill Moyers said "The consensual seduction of the mainstream media by and with the government is one of the most dangerous toxins at work in America today."
Your failure to take on this issue...as evidenced in your endorsement of Jumaane Williams (who made no mention of this crisis)...seems to prove Moyer's claim.
Coverage of and concern about the urgency of this issue, is why I subscribe to the Guardian, not the NY Times.
3
Michael Blake has my vote, although I cannot vote in NYC. His positions on affordable housing are needed - Housing is the #1 issue in the city. Mr. Williams is reckless and irresponsible - i.e, those speeding tickets. He is not ready for prime time.
1
There is no evidence that Jumaane Williams has "evolved" on gay rights or women's rights. He is a far right conservative christian on every issue except for black lives matter. He still maintains that marriage is between a man and a woman and that a father should have the right to veto an abortion. He has said that he wouldn't let his personal beliefs "impose" these policies on others, but in this day and age when personal rights are being rolled back across the country we need someone who won't sit back and let the federal government take away our rights. We need someone who will actively expand our rights and do things like expand access to birth control and abortion care.
63
Threw a chair at his girlfriend. Is this the kind of person you want in public office?
4
I suppose that when you describe one of the candidates as an "ambitious" assemblyman what you more clearly mean is that he wants more power than he can wisely use. Also, that you dislike him.
BTW, when Robert F. ("Bobby") Kennedy ran for president in the Democratic primary in 1968, the major criticism against him was that he was, again, "ambitious." More thoughtful voters then parried by asking, "Aren't all politicians ambitious?"
Yes, but do they all amass 40 speeding tickets and not pay them?
7
I mean 18 tickets. No point in exaggerating.
2
@B. I'm not sure which person you're referring to, but more to the point, please explain the connection between getting speeding tickets and ambition.
Thank you.
Ipm puzzled by this endorsement and comments about the other Public Advocate candidates. First, would the Times have endorsed Jumaane Williams in light of the article in today's Times reporting that Wiliams had been arrested about a decade ago on domestic assault charges? That record has been sealed.
Also, who is Nomiki Konst? Other commentators seem to approve of her because she claims Progressive credentials. An article in Politico defines the problems with her candidacy including her ever changing resume and the fact that she first voted in New York City in November 2018. I don't think the second in line to become Mayor of New York City should come with virtually no qualifications.
4
Nomiki Konst for Public Advocate! She is the most uncompromised candidate.
2
I'm an independent voter. I voted against ONE PARTY RULE. There isn' a breath of fresh air in political thinking and governing in New York. And as far as I can tell... it's getting worse... to the point of harm to democracy.
6
I'd like to see Benjamin Yee emerge from the pack like AOC.
9
After the Amazon debacle I don't ever want to hear the word "progressive" again.
54
@sharon5101Why?
@sharon5101 I agree. That's why I'm voting for Eric Ulrich. He had the courage to back Amazon. NYC really need those jobs. People acted like NYC was handing over $3B, they didn't bother to research that it was in tax credits, and those credits would be used up after generating $27B and not be renewed. BTW, I'm a democrat.
3
@sharon5101 I am a liberal and I agree with you. From their economic socialism to their near sadistic, hate-filled intolerance for all things they consider offensive to their identity politics and politically-correct lemming-like behavior, I have watched progressives destroy the Democratic Party, a party I once proudly considered myself a member of. I hope sanity returns but I'm not holding my breath.
2
You didn't even mention Ron Kim. He is the most progressive candidate in this race. Shame on you.
24
My vote is going to be for Eric Ulrich for the simplest reason of all--regional chauvanism. Ever since Anthony Weiner's spectacular fall from grace the Rockaways and Southern Queens have been trying to fill a political void. If Ulrich becomes Public Advocate maybe there's a glimmer of hope that Southern Queens will be taken seriously. I don't even have a problem with Ulrich being a Republican in a race dominated by Democrats. Besides the Democrats sounded as though they were reading from the same script. I've heard it all before and it's not resonating.
21
@sharon5101 His debate answer in response to Riker's was atrocious.
For those who believe the Amazon attempted deal was wrong for NYC the candidate for public advocate who rejected this deal from the start was Ron Kim. Surprising not to see him mentioned here. Here are quotes from literature he sent out to voters: "Do you want to end corporate giveaways and instead invest in New Yorkers by fixing the MTA, building more affordable housing and improving our schools? Ron Kim will....Do you want to reform the student debt industry that has forced 1 million New Yorkers of all ages into financial straits...Do you want a Green New Deal....Something is desperately wrong when politicians give billions of our tax dollars to the wealthiest companies in the world instead of investing that money into the critical programs and services we need." See him interviewed about his role as a force for change on Democracy Now: https://www.democracynow.org/2019/2/19/amazons_defeat_in_nyc_galvanizes_movement.
18
I agree with many comments on the purpose and role of the Public Advocate, but Jumanne Williams has impressed me as a fighter for the poor. As people in this City fall further behind in a quality life, I would rather have Mr. Williams advocating than some of the other candidates. He does walk the walk and cares for people, not corporations. He has my vote and I would be delighted to see him win.
65
But not poor gay kids.
And not poor women who need abortions.
58
NYers should keep in mind that this election for Public Advocate is also a potential "pre-vote" for the next Mayor of New York. This procession from Public Advocate to Mayor is of course not a certainty, but the former now appears to stand as a major stepping stone for the latter. Given that consideration and some aspects of Mr. Williams' past record, I am planning to vote for the candidate with whom I would be most comfortable seeing as Mayor - Melissa Mark-Viverito. In addition to her qualifications, isn't also about time we've had a woman Mayor in the Big Apple?
69
@Steve
I'm for a woman mayor, but not her. Because of her its now OK for people to urinate on my front stoop. And why close Rikers just to put jails in family neighborhoods? Use the money to build new jails to improve Rikers. Close it, and it will just be an island of glass condos for the rich. She was also against Amazon... cost NYC 25,000 jobs.
1
I adore Jumaane and everything he stands for and has accomplished. But I am seriously irked that he is on record with 20+ speeding tickets in school zones. Wha?? Voting for him doesn’t feel quite right for this reason. But not voting for him feels worse.
71
I do not adore Williams's stance on abortion and marriage equality. He opposes both. His sympathies do not lie with gay people or women whose pregnancies need to be terminated.
Nor do I admire his push to release criminals from jail. My neighborhood is much quieter ever since the cops and the courts put away about a dozen drug dealers. Quieter, too, in that we have had no shootings since that time.
His many unpaid speeding tickets in school zones don't detract from your adoration? They should.
115
Williams is an aggressive advocate for himself, speeding tickets and all. Why do you adore him?
I would tend, on the other hand, to "adore" someone who can get guns away from -- and lock up -- the young men who can't aim worth a darn and tend to kill innocent bystanders, including little girls reading in their own beds.
44
@CT Why cannot he take a bus or subway, like ordinary New Yorkers?
1
Ranked choice voting (like the type passed recently in Maine) is needed is this election, as in many, because the several strong leading Progressive candidates will inevitably split the vote among them, and a candidate with policies with which most voters disagree may very well walk off as the winner. The Dems newly in control in Albany should pass it, as should the NY City Council.
262
@JJ
This, this, this, this, a million times this.
34
Ranked voting should be the policy for any race with more than 5 candidates, and certainly should apply in races like this with 17 candidates.
2
I used to take the Times' endorsement far more seriously.
Their sharp tilt leftward in the last couple years from sensible, rational, left of center to far left screeds has changed that for me.
34
I'm voting for Eric Ulrich as a protest vote to the complete incompetence of certain candidates and their inability to be thoughtful about the juxtaposition of jobs and housing. No pitchforks and fire breathers for any office anymore! We have enough of that in the White House!
23
Jumnaane Williams has many appealing virtues and has unquestionably been a sincere and effective advocate for his constituents in Brooklyn. But his personal driving record - as the Times and others have reported- shows not just an indefensible recklessness and selfishness, but a disturbing sense of beyond-the-law entitlement that is unacceptable in a public official.
As of the end of 2018, according to public records, he had collected 53 - 53! - ticketed violations, including 27 for speeding in school zones, in neighborhoods where both children and parents have been hit and in some tragic cases killed by similarly reckless motorists:
27 | School Zone Speed Camera Violation
10 | Bus Lane Violation
4 | Failure To Display Meter Receipt
4 | Inspection Sticker Expired Or Missing
2 | No Parking - Day/Time Limits
45
This Editorial mentions affordable housing prominently as a criterion for evaluating the candidates. But what is affordable housing? Implicitly here, subsidized units for below market rents. Obviously worthy. Where do the revenues to support the subsidies come from? Well, it was never going to be Amazon, which would have got its own subsidies. Not developers of all the big shiny towers, they get tax breaks to include a poor door. Not Manhattan corporate headquarters like the New York Times's. None of all these trickle down developments seem to enlarge the tax base enough to keep the biggest threat to existing affordable housing at bay: spiraling City property taxes on ordinary, often low income, home owners. A rise of 40% in the past five years, no let up in sight, hitting moderate income areas hardest (much less so places like Park Slope where the Mayor pays half for his house than is generally assessed for the privilege of owning and living in an Archie Bunker row house in Rego Park.) Sadly though unsurprisingly not mentioned in this editorial or among the selling points of the endorsed candidate.
9
I'm in!
1
@Linda
Me too!
Nomiki Konst - who is extremely popular with the progressive left - is the best candidate. Of course, no mention by the NY Times.
31
Nomiki Konst, a bonafide progressive, is also running but she's the last person the elite NY Times editors want to see in that job.
Nomiki, BTW, is the only candidate who is refusing corporate contributions. I guess the Times forgot to mention that.
39
I find it fascinating that the NYT has a nearly invisible metro section these days yet somehow finds it appropriate to weigh in on political races while purposefully ignoring the very credible candidacies of David Eisenbach, Nomiki Konst, and Ben Yee. This is some real heavy-handed credible outsiders, I figured the Times would have learned their lesson by now about freezing candidates out.
46
Why hasn't the Times put more effort into covering this race?
41
I’m most impressed with, and will be voting for, Nomiki Konst. We’d be lucky to be represented by someone so fired-up.
24
Council Member Jumaane Williams sponsored the SBJSA in 2010. In Mark-Viverito’s 2014 Council he flip-flopped and withdrew his name from the bill citing the bill had “legal problems”, perpetuating this false REBNY talking point. CM Williams recently flip-flopped again and signed back onto the bill, and days later announced his candidacy for Public Advocate. In 2017 it was reported Williams received money from a convicted felon who sought favors from Council Members and regularly certified projects at his Buildings Department office using a bogus stamp. During his failed campaign for Lieutenant Governor it was reported that like Mark-Viverito, he also lied about taking money from big real estate. Indeed, he accepted donations from several real estate developers like Durst Organization, Extell and Forest City Ratner. He also took money from REBNY’s PAC-Taxpayers for an Affordable NY and lobbyist groups, including real estate law/land-use lobbyists. When candidate Nomiki Konst challenged Williams during the first debate about money he received from real estate, Williams defended himself stating “Every single person on this stage has received money from someone associated with real estate.”. “It's cool I take real estate money because everyone else does it” is an interesting play from someone who fancies himself to be a fair housing advocate.
23
I am voting for Nomiki Konst, because she will not
be corrupted. She signed an oath to never take dark money.
And I am talking about the hand outs and bribes from NY developers and real estate people. I know our governor has
no such scruples and we were told by NYT to vote for him
anyway but to hold his tootsies to the fire. Well this is one
way to do it. She actually wants to protect regular people.
It isn't just empty talk. And she has vowed to root out other corruption. And I believe she means it. I know the establishment is so used to corruption that is an odd thing to think of some person not doing it but it is nice to have a change and try an honest politician.
26
Vote for Nomiki Konst. She’s a former reporter for The Young Turks who wants to fight corruption and work towards healthcare for everyone. She was a staffer for Bernie Sanders 2016.
Nomiki Konst to Jumaane Williams in the last debate: You have evicted tenants for being $300 short on their rent. You have taken dirty developer money after promising you wouldn’t.
27
You did not mention Nomiki Konst.
33
Eric Ulrich! Time to stop the radical left from taking over NYC!
11
This is a ridiculous “job” that wastes taxpayer money. It should be abolished. There was a time when the predecessor position, President of the City Council, had some power in NYC. When the reorganization of city government eliminated that power, money sucking political hacks who shuddered at the potential loss of dozens of patronage jobs, created this joke of an office. That it is now a nursery for mayoral candidates shows just how low the quality of those candidates has fallen.
Why doesn’t the New York Times run an editorial endorsing candidates for Miss Subways; it’s an equally important position. If the Editorial Board of this newspaper were truly reformist and future oriented, it would propose abolishing this Office, as well as the useless and wasteful Borough Presidents’ Offices.
8
Anyone is better then Letitia James,her office never got back to me with complaints regarding egregious building code violations.
Mark Green had a great public advocate office ,the only time I liked him with all of his political attempts at various NYC government positions.
Melissa Mark -Vivrerito has stated in the NYT to the effect that there were to many whites in our city administration at the top.
Jumaane Williams has some traffic ticket issues that show arrogance but he also has adverts on TV which will make him no doubt win,wonder who besides the NYT is behind him ?
5
Williams has run so many adds on TV.
Where is he getting all this money to pay for all these adds??
The cost of these adds must be in the many millions.
What’s the real story with this guy ?
I’m voting for Nomiki Konst !
29
I'm looking at Ulrich. And I'm a Democrat.
If I vote for him, it will be only the second time in 35+ years of voting that I've voted for a Republican.
19
In the 39 years since I turned 18, I have never voted for a Republican, and have given large sums of money (for me) to Democratic candidates throughout the country in various elections. Before I turned 18, I only worked for Democratic candidates. In other words, I have and will continue to be a life- long Democrat. Nevertheless, the one thing I know about this public advocate election is that no Democrat running supported the Amazon deal. Thus, I will vote for the Republican who I know nothing about to protest the overwhelming foolishness that now pervades the Democratic Party. There is one thing that matters above all others in 2020, and that is defeat Donald Trump who is a threat to our Republic; and yet, in a time where the dangers posed to our country by the Republican Party have never been so clear, we look less like a Party who knows it must win at any costs, and more like the Party that will follow the 1972 example of McGovern and go down in flames. And while I will vote for any Democratic candidate for national office and the Presidency, our behavior as a Party and in this city is akin to Political Malpractice. Maybe electing a Republican public advocate (a truly not that important position) will start to wake this Party up before it is too late and Donald Trump gets another 4 years.
14
This is an absurd, do nothing job. No responsibility, and no authority. Don’t we waste enough of our taxpayers money? The political class is destroying our city.
4
Shame that you did not speak about the only job the Public Advocate is really in charge of is to be the Chair of the Commission of Public Information and Communication.
It's the political arm that oversees how New Technology are used in the city for or against its citizen.
Shame that the NYTimes did not take the time to read the 1000 pages charter of New York to discover this little gem and educate New Yorkers about the possibility of the office.
We have seen trough the ages how new technology can be use to perpetuate mass murder (facebook a few years ago, IBM more than 70 years ago.)
That little commission can ensure that Information is not used for ills. Shame the New York Times did not consider that position important.
I discovered the power of the Public Advocate when someone asked me: "Why are you running for PA." Maybe the other candidates were not paying attention when I was speaking next to them.
3
I am surprised and frankly disgusted once again that the NY Times failed to address Jumaane’s personal finances in their endorsement. A public advocate is 2nd in line to Mayor. He is not qualified to be Mayor. You need to know how to manage a budget. Debt is common but $600,000 is a lot, and if we break a promise, how could you be trusted? Also I did not care for his initial response to being caught speeding in school zones. Finally, I would not describe his arrest record as civil disobedience. Instead of taking an ACD like the others, he went to trial, waste of $, and was convicted.
25
The last charter revision left this position in. It’s time to eliminate it. There is no use for it and its a waste of money.
5
In the 39 years since I turned 18, I have never voted for a Republican, and have given large sums of money (for me) to Democratic candidates throughout the country in various elections. Before I turned 18, I only worked for Democratic candidates. In other words, I have and will continue to be a life long Democrat.
Nevertheless, the one thing I know about this public advocate election is that no Democrat running supported the Amazon deal. Thus, I will vote for the Republican who I know nothing about to protest the overwhelming foolishness that now pervades the Democratic Party. There is one thing above all others in 2020, and that is defeat Donald Trump who is a threat to our Republic; and yet, in a time where the dangers posed to our country by the Republican Party have never been so clear, we look less like a Party who knows it must win at any costs, and more like the Party that will follow the 1972 example of McGovern and go down in flames. And while I will vote for any Democratic candidate for national office and the Presidency, our behavior as a Party and in this city is akin to Political Malpractice. Maybe electing a Republican public advocate (a truly not that important position) will start to wake this Party up before it is too late.
8
@Jay Most Queens residents dodged a bullet on the Amazon hq, even if some of them and people from the surrounding areas aren't sensitive to that. There was a lot of confusion around its terms, which provided wriggle room to push the most favorable narrative possible. If it was so great for New Yorkers though, Amazon could simply have addressed some of their concerns.
Even if you disagree, I'm not sure that voting for someone who demonizes inmates at Riker's as criminals solves anything. It's cutting off your nose to spite your face.
….sorry, I can't support someone who's gotten 18 speeding tickets in the city....not 8, 18.
Jumaane Williams has shown a complete disregard for speed limits - it's a problem - regardless of his futile attempts to defend them.
There are other qualified individuals who I believe are as qualified or more than Mr. Williams.
His juvenile and reckless driving record isn't indicative of someone I would want as Public Advocate of New York City.
27
all of the democrats, especially williams, disqualified themselves by their pandering, ignorant opposition to amazon. Ulrich is the ONLY responsible candidate.
12
@local Responsible for what? I don't understand people who so passionately rage over the loss of a destabilizing Amazon city that would have had massive, abrupt impositions on just about every resident of LIC and the surrounding areas, and that wouldn't pay a dollar of taxes for ten years for all of the costs that the city would bear due to their presence in that time.
Ah- Shouldn't he pay the 10k in taxes he owes? What about the 625k real estate loan he defaulted on? Legit questions that should be asked and answer. Why? As we know this role is a launchpad for Mayor. Easy quid pro quo; favors for money to pay back loans
25
Mr. Williams really doesn't care much about the law.
If he did, he wouldn't speed or if he did would pay his tickets; and he would care more about the victims of crime than the perpetrators.
His "civil disobedience" is sheer grandstanding. In that way he is very similar to Mr. de Blasio.
1
What does it even mean for a male candidate to be personally opposed to abortion but be pro- choice?
19
I am voting for Eric Ulrich as he is the only
candidate who backed bringing Amazon to LIC. All of the others took Progress out of Progressive
15
@Peggysmom What is progressive about a backroom deal to let a massive corporation establish their own neighborhood without paying a dime in taxes for a decade while driving up the rent for every single business and resident in nearby areas, further imposing on an already drastic traffic situation and not offering a single middle-class job?
I would like to know why Jumaane Williams got 18 speeding tickets over the last few years. How is it possible for a responsible citizen to flagrantly and recklessly violate the traffic laws.
We're not talking about 8 tickets....he got 18 tickets! He could have seriously hurt someone speeding so many times.
How can anyone in good conscience support Jumaane Williams for Public Advocate after such disregard for our laws. I believe there are several other candidates who are much better suited for Public Advocate than Jumaane Williams.
32
He is antigay and antichoice. No thanks.
People don't "evolve" that quickly. He is just a political opportunist who desperately wants to win something. Council speaker (lost), lieutenant governor (lost), and so now why not public advocate? The NYT can't seriously think he is the most capable person running?
There are good public servants in this race -- Mark-Viverito and O'Donnell are two -- who would be a better choice.
20
My initial instinct was to support Melissa Mark-Viverito, whom the Editors list first among the many candidates and give a stellar summation about. In fact, I don't see anything mentioned that would lead someone not to support her - on the contrary, one would expect the Editors to recommend she be beatified. So I don't understand why you endorse Jumaane Williams. I simply don't understand what makes him better than Melissa based on this piece. Are you trying to be all things to all people and slip your endorsement in under the radar by lauding others and then for some reason concluding that HE is better than SHE? I'm not against him, mind you, it's simply this Editorial that I find peculiar, to put it mildly.
9
@ManhattanWilliam
Interesting observation. I too noticed the strange flip, and can also attest to it being done previously by The Times. Used to be candidates of color were applauded, but someone else was anointed, then it became women who received the applause, but did not become the chosen one. Now I guess they had to toss a coin.
1
I attended a debate among the candidates for Public Advocate on January 28th at the Jackson Heights Jewish Center and was impressed by several of the candidates, namely Jumaane Williams, Michael Blake, Ron Kim and Ben Yee.
However on February 19th, the New York Daily News published an article about one of Mr. Williams’s staffers who was let go for inappropriate tweeting; another staffer was also let go for inappropriate emailing to an underage girl and his chief of staff apologized for some obscene tweets.
Going by the saying that one is known by the company one keeps (President Trump is, needless to say, a prime example of this!), I have decided not to vote for Williams.
That leaves Blake, Kim and Yee and, at the moment, I am leaning towards Blake.
As for Mark-Viverito, well I had an issue with my Council Member, Daniel Dromm, a year ago and so appealed to her in her role as Speaker at the time for assistance - she did not do me the courtesy of a response so that takes care of her, as far as I am concerned!
10
After such a glowing write-up of Rafael Espinal, it is surprising to see this editorial pivot into a Williams endorsement.
Espinal is a standout in City Council because he has fresh, bold ideas, and he actually gets a lot of them done. If you watched the last debate, you saw that Espinal was one of the few candidates to keep his cool (along with Ron Kim and Smalls). Williams, who granted was under attack, became increasingly flustered and petty. Not a good look for someone who will need to take difficult stands and withstand criticism in office while remaining a serious force.
The public advocate's office needs a shake up, and Espinal has the optimism, the experience, and a real dedication to making this city more just and liveable for all. He also has a much-applauded knack for complex budgetary issues, something that would serve him well as a PA charged with being a watchdog over the mayor and the city budget.
Williams has done a lot of good work in his career, but his personal opposition to marriage equality and a woman's right to choose-- in NYC, in 2019-- and his dozens of speeding tickets in school zones make some of his convictions seem hollow.
35
@Ellen. Nomiki Konst is one of the new breed of politicians, a progressive fighting hard for the citizens, unafraid to challenge the status quo. As simple as that.
13
@Jackie Nomiki Konst is a cipher who some people seemed to have latched onto, and she's certainly racked up substantial donations from a few prominent people on the left.
But she is a person of little substance and few qualifications, who loves the spotlight, with virtually zero NYC roots or knowledge or service, whose background and true motivations are difficult to pin down. She calls herself an investigative journalist, but has no substantive investigations to her name. She's also an Arizonan, who first voted in NYC in 2018.
I am sure there are Konst supporters who support her because they think she will do the good work we all want done, but I'd urge you to reconsider.
https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/albany/story/2019/02/21/who-is-nomiki-konst-865219
9
@Ellen Yeah, I knew that piece would work on someone. They emptied the barrel on it, and while I certainly don't approve of her resume inflation, it's hardly the most disqualifying problem on the panel. I do love the idea of having an advocate who swears off the business sauce though, and who is an aggressive voice against that brand of NY politics. While she's not my ideal candidate by any means, Konst is the person of all the candidates running that I want dogging the mayor.
Thanks but no thanks. I will be voting for Melissa Mark-Viverito because she is the only one who has made fixing the MTA a priority. Nothing else really matters when you can't get to work or back home. That needs to be our laser focus until these ridiculous service interruptions and safety lapses come to an end.
13
I attended the Downtown Forum for Public Advocate candidates and the turnout was extraordinary. One of the candidates - Ben Yee - impressed me quite significantly. He's probably the youngest candidate - but his earnestness, his passion for public service and his many years of activism on behalf of New Yorkers are incredibly impressive. Ben would truly be a gift to the residents of NYC and I fervently hope he'll be given the chance to serve as our Public Advocate.
14
@Susan L. Yee is not my first choice but I like him a lot. We really need a rank choice voting (or some other alternative framework) system enacted in NY.
God only knows why NYC needs the public advocate position.
Essentially it's defined as making sure the employees of city departments are doing the jobs for which they are getting paid by the public.
Apart from being elected to higher office does anybody remember anything of importance that either de Blasio or James did while holding the office.
20
@Steve
Well said. I was somewhat involved in the Charter revisions that established this position and did not understand the logic then and still don't. It is not a useful job, and NYC has a lot of "advocates" on almost every issue. The tax payer money could be better spent elsewhere.
1
I'm surprised at this pick. Danny O'Donnell seems to have the most experience and the best track record on fighting for New Yorkers.
13
@George Henderson Agree!
2
I have seen nothing about provisions for a run-off or minimum vote needed. Mathematically, with 17 candidates, that means a candidate with 7% of the vote could win. This is a ridiculous system! We need ranked choice voting or a run-off election. I vote for ranked choice voting.
133
I watched the debate and was not impressed with Jumaane Williams. Like most of the candidates running he seems bought by the NYC real estate industry. As far as I know, the only candidate running that isn’t taking real estate money is Nomiki Konst. That’s who I’ll be voting for.
42
Read about her inability to be truthful about her resume. It’s bizarre and alarming.
7
@David
You are 100% correct David.
Somehow Williams has spent many many millions on TV advertising. Who is bankrolling this guy. Also 18 speeding tickets. He’s a danger in the roads.
12
@Drew B
So where did Williams get the many millions of dollars to run so many TV ads.
I don’t trust him one bit.
15
I applaud your enlightened endorsement of one of the finest of a new generation of progressive political leaders.
12
I don't know. in reading your description of the candidates Rafael Espinal sould pretty good. the concept of city control of the subways alone has me excited about his agenda.
22
Excuse me, if Mr. Williams is opposed to abortion, he shouldn't have one. It's very easy, as a non-pregnant person, to opine on what you would or would not do.
61
@Ella Jackson You are rather unfair I think. There are many matters where I have deep moral or ethical convictions. As a neurobiologist, abortion is one such area. But, I am fervently pro-choice. To seek to impose personal moral views is unacceptable but to respect personal moral views of others (unless utterly reprehensible) seems reasonable.
"It's very easy, as a non-pregnant person, to opine on what you would or would not do." Again, Williams is pro-choice so again unfair.
1
No mention of Ron Kim, an Asian-American?
It would have been more helpful if the Times went through the entire, and rather lengthy list, of everyone running.
As it is, the Times' repeated endorsements of Cuomo for governor after also doing investigative reporting on his actions, including shutting down the Moreland Commission, make me skeptical of Times endorsements.
76
@DaveG
Ron Kim isn't only an Asian-American, his was one of the few voices consistently against Amazon and corporate greed from the start.
I too, was surprised by the omission of his name.
15
@DaveG
One word: real estate.
4
Sigh. Perhaps The New York Times thinks Mr. Kim attended an "elite" high school like Stuyvesant. That is not where its sympathies lie. As usual, in the magic realm of newspaper reporting, Asians are dematerialized.
7
Sorry NY Times. I’m voting for the republican. The progressives have done nothing for my part of the city. I can’t wait to see de Blasio leave.
31
Mr. Williams is a showboat, which is fine for a public advocate; but he has shown himself to not be interested in learning about issues outside his narrow focus. He has been absent on community issues within his own community (e.g. land use, economic development, traffic), especially if they are not in his personal, ideological wheelhouse. These are unfortunate qualities in a Council member, and unacceptable ones in a citywide official.
53
Eric Ulrich is a common sense alternative
to the grandstanding,endlessly publicity
seeking Williams. all these Democrats,
for that matter,are in full throated support
of the the debacle which drove Amazon
and 25,000 jobs out of New York City.
Ulrich supported it and is 100 percent
right.too many Democrats these days,
and yes I am a Democrat, are perceived
as anti growth, anti business and anti
anything which will make New Yorkers
free from too much dependence on
government programs.( I am seventy and benefit from some programs which I have paid into, so I'm not against all programs.) Williams is one more far left professional politician who will change nothing and only try to push himself into City Hall.
53
the Times should endorse no one for Public Advocate and seriously consider joining or organizing an effort to abolish this redundant office.
This is an office that has no responsibility except to be a political gadfly, this in a city that is already packed with advocates for its citizens. There is the City Council, the Boro Presidents' offices, the State Legislature's Assembly and Senate district offices; not tp mention, the local Community Boards throughout the City plus the Federal level of Congress(wo)men and our two U.S. Senators.
All the public advocate office is is a platform for career politicians to run for Mayor or other higher offices. IT COST $3.5 MILLION A YEAR TO OPERATE, NOT MUCH, BUT DEFINITELY NOT WORTH IT.
62
@Peter Haley agree 100%. but if someone has to fill this job, let it be the one and only candidate with even a modicum of common sense -- the republican.
11
"This is an office that has no responsibility except to be a political gadfly, this in a city that is already packed with advocates for its citizens."
Current "far" "left" Mayor de Blasio only took a break in his much-needed feud with corrupt "liberal" Amazon Cuomo just so they can try to sidestep our City Council to throw $3 BILLION in unnecessary tax breaks to the world's richest man and current creepiest "tech" pusher. ("Alexa, take your always-listening ear and shove it.")
Yeah no, we don't have nearly *enough* advocates.
-----
"but if someone has to fill this job, let it be the one and only candidate with even a modicum of common sense -- the republican."
Thanks, I needed that laugh.
3
There are better options for voters in this election than in most national elections. Very few bad choices, just good, better and best. Kudos to NYC and best of luck to all the candidates!
13
So interesting.... nothing about any of the group of candidates being engaged with the huge issue of transportation namely the MTA and the subway and taxation.
25
Nope. Mr. Williams helped sabotage the Amazon deal. His actions contributed to the loss of 25,000 middle-class jobs, and billions in tax revenues. He destroyed opportunities for New Yorkers, he doesn't deserve this job. I'm happy to be voting against him.
80
@B Thanks for this info. I didn't realize Mr. Williams was one of the people who helped to defeat the disastrous Amazon scam. Those "25,000" jobs were smoke and mirrors, my friend.
I've been having trouble choosing among many good candidates. I think I'll go with Mr. Williams, now that I know he was reading the fine print, paying attention to what Amazon was actually promising and not promising, and understood the economic and social impact of the plan - what a disaster that "deal" would have been for New Yorkers. Thanks!
16
Where were the middle class jobs?? Please advise.
10
@B Amazon sabotaged the Amazon deal, not New York City nor NYC politicians nor NYC unions nor the people of NYC. The alleged "destroyed opportunities for New Yorkers" is just one measure, by no means the most important, with which to assess Amazon's arrogant, anti-democratic, hauteur-enriched withdrawal.
14
Ask Williams about his personal beliefs regarding both marriage equality and the termination of pregnancies.
He might give the standard Democratic answer, but he has consistently been against both.
Doesn't matter if you're only a mayor?
Think again.
39
@B. Did you read the Endorsement?? He is entitled to his personal beliefs but as a representative of his constituents, he supports marriage equality and abortion rights. His is not "the standard Democratic answer". It is the answer of someone who knows who he represents. That should be the strategy of every elected official.
20
@Edish he’s entitled to his personal beliefs, but in this case how are they even relevant? It just confuses people. Why not just focus on policy beliefs?
5
Yes, precisely. The standard Democratic answer.
3
And which of the candidates will help to maintain a strong economy? Will ensure continued development to keep New Yorkers working ? Have any of these candidates even mentioned those issues?
And how about troubling signs of an increase in the crime rate? It seems they want to outdo each other in criticizing the police and letting criminals go.
The future of our city does not look bright given our current political situation.
20
February 21, 2019
Thanks to the Editorial Board for this clarity and support for Jumaane Williams and I will vote gladly on Tues Feb 26 at my UES voting location. I was just contacted by the Election Board about this particular election for Public Advocate and this reading now makes all the difference for enjoying the confidence of the selection by having the support of the Times and its statute and clarity. All the best, again thanks and best wishes for this election - making our city having dignity in in our professional political class - especially in light of the darkness of President Donald J. Trump.
jja Manhattan, N.Y.
2
Jumaane is the best qualified candidate. I am so glad to see this endorsement.
12
We - including the Times! - need to consider that any Public Advocate is first in line to succeed the Mayor, should the incumbent of Gracie Mansion ever fail for any reason to complete his or her term.
Voters should consider not only whether Williams - and any other candidate one might favor - is the best, as "a foil" to our Mayor and as an investigator and supervisor of the effectiveness of City agencies, but also to be the Mayor himself if necessary.
16