Elizabeth Crowley Turns On The Lights

BY ALISON GENDAR

The Uniformed Fire Officers Association, representing 2,500 lieutenants, captains, battalion chiefs, deputy chiefs, medical officers and supervising fire marshals of the New York City Fire Department, is pleased and proud to endorse City Council Member Elizabeth Crowley in the Democratic Primary in the 6th Congressional District.

“Elizabeth Crowley has repeatedly demonstrated strong support for a Fire Department that is constantly being threatened with firehouse closings and roster shortages,” Captain Alexander Hagan, President of the UFOA, said at an endorsement ceremony outside Engine Company 305 in Forest Hills today.

“Council Member Crowley is the Chair of the Fire and Criminal Justice Committee. And as such, she has been in the forefront of annual budget battles over firehouse closings,” Captain Hagan said. “And she has won every time.”

“I’m proud to have the support of New York’s Bravest who are always our first line of defense when emergencies occur,” Council Member Crowley said. “New York is still a top terrorist target, and I will continue being a strong advocate who will fight for more federal funding it needs to be the preeminent fire department that it is and New Yorkers need it to be.”

The Democratic Primary for the nomination in the 6th Congressional District will be held on June 26.

“The UFOA will be notifying its 2,500 active and 4,700 retired Fire Officers to get out the vote for Elizabeth Crowley, and in the meantime, give her a hand with her campaign,” Captain Hagan said.

The New York City Uniformed Sanitationmen’s Association, Local 831 IBT, today endorsed City Council Member Elizabeth Crowley in the June 26th Democratic primary to fill the seat in the 6th U. S. Congressional District in Queens.

“The city’s sanitation workers union — 6100 members strong — is proud to endorse Councilwoman Crowley,” said President Harry Nespoli. “I know that as a member of Congress she will stick up for working men and women.” Nespoli praised the Councilwoman for a resolution she recently sponsored calling on the State Legislature to pass a bill that would make attacking a city sanitation worker an assault in the second degree. State law already provides such protection for traffic enforcement agents, registered nurses, emergency service workers, firefighters and police officers.

“Councilwoman Crowley will be a voice in Congress to protect key services like Social Security and Medicare, to encourage job growth by investing in our infrastructure, and to protect access to affordable healthcare,” Nespoli said.

In thanking the union for its endorsement, Councilwoman Crowley said, “I’m proud to have the support of New York’s Strongest –our sanitation men and women — who play such a vital role in keeping our city clean and healthy.

MACHINISTS ENDORSE COUNCIL MEMBER ELIZABETH CROWLEY FOR NEW YORK’S 6^TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

Queens, NY – Today, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers District 15 endorsed Council Member Elizabeth Crowley’s campaign for Congress in New York’s 6^th Congressional District. The Machinists, headquartered in Brooklyn, represent more than 12,000 workers in a variety of occupations including truck mechanics, aerospace engineers, and black car drivers.

In its 119-year history, District 15 has been a constant ally for workers. In the late 1990s, it led the fight against companies classifying full-time employees as independent contractors in order to avoid payroll taxes. District 15 helped organize black car drivers and fight back against their self-employed status and bargain for fair wages.

“Elizabeth Crowley is someone who we know will be a strong voice for Labor in Congress. Her personal history as a union-member, her work in the City Council championing causes important to the Machinists, and her tireless dedication to fighting for the needs of working families makes her the best candidate for Congress in this race. We will do everything we can to help her win,” said IAM District 15 Directing Business Representative Jim Conigliaro, Sr.

“I want to thank the Machinists for their support. Throughout the Machinists’ history, they have fought to improve the lives of working and middle class families. In Washington, I will continue to advocate for the Machinists’ values where all Americans are rewarded for hard work and are provided the opportunities to achieve the American Dream,” said Council Member Crowley.

INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF TEAMSTERS LOCAL 210 AND LOCAL 553 ENDORSE ELIZABETH CROWLEY FOR CONGRESS

Queens, NY – Today, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 210 and Local 553 endorsed Council Member Elizabeth Crowley for Congress in the 6^th Congressional District in Queens. Together, Local 210 and Local 553 represent nearly 30,000 workers in various industries, including pharmaceuticals, warehouse and distribution, air conditioning service, dispatching, home heating oil delivery, and JFK Airport fueling operation and support.

Council Member Crowley was a member of Local 210 for several years when she worked with the Consortium for Worker Education in creating job training and education programs for labor groups and underemployed New Yorkers.

“As a member of the City Council, Elizabeth Crowley has been a champion for working families,” said Local 210 Principal Officer George L. Miranda. “We need Elizabeth Crowley in Washington because she is a fighter who will put the interest of the middle class first by supporting smart policies to boost our economy and makes sure we all share in that growth. She is a former Teamster, which by definition means she is a fighter for working men and women. I am proud to endorse her.”

“When it comes to helping working men and women, Elizabeth Crowley is a stand-up person who doesn’t back down from a fight,” said Local 553 Principal Officer Demos P. Demopoulos. “She has the integrity, passion and knowledge to be an excellent member of Congress. We need Elizabeth Crowley fighting for us in Washington, and I am proud to endorse her.”

“Teamsters have been true leaders in the fight for middle class families across the country,” said Council Member Crowley. “I’m proud to receive the endorsement from my former union and Local 553, and in Washington, I will be an independent fighter for the creation of good jobs and working families’ rights.”

TWU LOCAL 100 ENDORSES ELIZABETH CROWLEY FOR CONGRESS

Queens, NY – Today, Transport Workers Union Local 100 has endorsed Council Member Elizabeth Crowley for Congress in the 6^th Congressional District in Queens. Council Member Crowley is running in an open seat following the retirement of Rep. Gary Ackerman.

“We think Elizabeth is going to be a dynamic new voice in Congress for New York’s working families,” said TWU Local 100 President John Samuelsen. “We are thrilled to be endorsing a person with such a strong union background, and a person who we believe will advocate aggressively for a strong national policy for public transportation. We know she will represent her district, our City, State and nation with great distinction.  Local 100 will do everything within our power to get out the vote and help her across the finish line in the upcoming primary”

TWU Local 100 represents 38,000 workers and 26,000 retirees in New York City’s public transit system. Local 100 is currently fighting for a fair contract from the MTA, and Council Member Crowley fully supports Local 100′s decision to fight back against multi-year pay freezes and cuts to member benefits.

“I’m proud to receive the endorsement from the workers who help drive our City’s economic growth,” Council Member Crowley said. “We need strong leaders in Washington that will fight for fair funding for public transit and stick up for working class families and protect their pay and pensions.”

Council Member Crowley is a union member, and throughout her career has been an advocate for job growth through infrastructure investments and protecting working men and women’s benefits and retirement.

She has also received endorsements from, the Uniformed Firefighters Association, Uniformed Fire Officers Association Mason Tenders District Council, the NYPD’s Captains Endowment Association, the Correction Officers’ Benevolent Association, and International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 9.

Photo Caption: (from l-r) TWU Local 100 track worker Shannon Poland, Council Member Elizabeth Crowley, TWU Local 100 President John Samuelsen, and TWU Local 101 Vice President Mike Conigliaro at a rally demanding justice for American Airlines employees this morning. (Photo credit: Jim Gannon, TWU Local 100)

CORRECTION OFFICERS’ BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION TO ENDORSE COUNCIL MEMBER ELIZABETH CROWLEY FOR CONGRESS

Queens, NY April 20, 2012 — The Correction Officers’ Benevolent Association will formally endorse Council Member Elizabeth Crowley for New York’s 6^th Congressional District today on COBA’s popular radio show hosted by COBA President Norman Seabrook on WWRL 1600 AM at 11:35 A.M. COBA has demonstrated a strong track record in selecting winning candidates, which have included President Barack Obama in 2007 and Mayor Michael Bloomberg in 2001.

COBA represents New York’s Boldest, 15,000 active and retired men and women who patrol the toughest precincts in the City, the City jails. As Chair of the Fire and Criminal Justice Services Committee, Council Member Crowley has been a strong advocate for stronger safety measures that keep correction officers safe and increasing staffing to ensure all City jails have enough correction officers to keep officers protected.

“New York’s Boldest have one of the toughest jobs in the world, and I have been honored to work with COBA to ensure our City’s correction officers receive fair wages and benefits and are protected on the job,” said Council Member Crowley. “My union fought for me to ensure that I had a safe working environment and fair wages that would support my two children. In Washington, I will fight for unions like COBA and working families throughout Queens.”

“On behalf of the thousands of men and women who are not just the Boldest, but also the best Correction Officers in the world, I’m honored to give our support to Elizabeth Crowley’s candidacy for the 6^th Congressional District in Queens,” said COBA President Norman Seabrook. “Without question, Elizabeth has demonstrated an unyielding commitment to public safety, while also understanding the challenges facing all middle class New Yorkers in this day and age. She has the passion, experience, and integrity to bring real leadership for the 6^th Congressional District of Queens.”

Council Member Crowley is a restorative painter and member of District Council 9. She was also a member of Teamsters Local 210 when she worked with the Consortium for Worker Education providing job training workshops in low-income neighborhoods around the City.

Listen to COBA’s radio show “Real Talk, Real Time” live starting at 11 A.M. at wwrl1600.com or cobanyc.org.

MASON TENDERS DISTRICT COUNCIL ENDORSES ELIZABETH CROWLEY FOR CONGRESS

Queens, NY – Today, the Mason Tenders District Council (MTDC) of Greater New York and Long Island endorsed New York City Council Member Elizabeth Crowley for New York’s 6^th Congressional District. MTDC has nearly 15,000 members in various jobs including construction workers, hazardous materials handlers, waste and recycling handlers, building laborers, and Catholic High School teachers.

“Elizabeth Crowley has fought for workers’ rights throughout her entire career,” said Mason Tenders Political Director Mike McGuire. “She understands that people deserve safe workplaces, fair wages, and a secure retirement. Elizabeth Crowley is the best candidate to represent workers and strengthen our neighborhoods.”

“Investing in our infrastructure is one of the best ways to create good jobs with prevailing wages. In my Council District, workers have helped build new schools, improve roads, and install new sewer lines,” said Council Member Crowley. “Our communities are better because of the work they’ve done, and I’m proud that the Mason Tenders have endorsed me for Congress.”

The Captains Endowment Association, the union representing Captains, Deputy Inspectors, Inspectors, and Deputy Chiefs working in the New York City Police Department, endorsed Council Member Elizabeth Crowley for New York’s 6^th Congressional District.

“Throughout her career, Elizabeth Crowley has fought to protect the public safety of New Yorkers,” said Captains Endowment Association President Roy Richter. “She has been a great supporter of the NYPD and is the best candidate to ensure that police officers in New York and around the country receive the support and resources we need from Washington to keep our City safe.”

Council Member Crowley has always fought to protect the rights of the brave men and women who protect the City. She was a strong supporter of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health bill and she protested the City’s attack against police officers’ pensions when Mayor Bloomberg threatened to eliminate the Variable Supplement Fund last year.

Council Member Crowley has also partnered with the NYPD to raise awareness about domestic violence, sponsored public safety events in her community, and prioritized funding for local police precincts.

“The NYPD has shown time and again that they are up to the task of protecting the City,” said Council Member Crowley. “Police officers risk their lives every day to protect New Yorkers, and they need someone in Washington who will demand they receive funding and equipment necessary to keep New York protected. I am honored that the NYPD Captains Endowment Association believes I am best suited to go to Congress and fight for our police officers.”

Congressional candidates for New York’s 6th Congressional District stood together to condemn a recent incident of hateful graffiti found in the Queens neighborhood of Maspeth. A swastika was found Wednesday morning scrawled onto the doorjamb of 69-38 Grand Avenue in Maspeth in the 104th Precinct.

“We stand together to condemn this thoughtless act of hateful expression, and to declare that it has no place in our community, in our borough or in our city,” said Councilmembers Elizabeth Crowley (D-Queens) and Dan Halloran (R-Queens) and Assemblymembers Grace Meng (D-Queens) and Rory Lancman (D-Queens). “An attack on one faith, one race, one ethnicity, one gender or one sexual orientation is an attack on all of us, and it should be treated as such. Despite this awful display, we can take comfort in the fact that the efforts of small-minded bigots to intimidate and divide us are no match for the virtues of tolerance and unity that define our great city and the people who live in it.”