Queens 21 in ‘21 endorsements unveiled, sparking praise and pushback
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Just 12 women currently serve in the City Council. Photo via @womenscaucusnyc/Twitter
By Rachel Vick
An organization founded to correct a major gender gap on the New York City Council released its much anticipated endorsements Monday, sparking praise and pushback from candidates and political observers.
The group 21 in ‘21 was founded to elect more women to the Council, after the 2017 elections left just 11 women in office — down from a high of 18 in 2009. A 12th woman, Farah Louis, won a special election for a Brooklyn Council seat in 2019. The group encouraged women running for Council seats to seek support and apply for endorsement with a goal of ensuring full representation for women in the 51-member body.
The organization announced their support for 33 candidates Monday, including 11 in Queens.
Eleven of Queens’ 14 Council seats will open at the end of 2021, with candidates either term-limited or choosing not to run for a new term. Overall, 35 of the 51 Council seats are up for grabs next year.
“With 35 open seats, 2021 provides a unique opportunity,” said Chair Amelia Adams. “When we achieve our goal, our government will be truly representative and its actions will reflect the things that matter to the women of this city.”
The endorsements were selected after a vote by dues-paying members of 21 in ‘21, following an interview with the board of directors. The organization has not released its vote totals, prompting criticism about a lack of transparency.
The endorsement process rankled many candidates and observers, who said it lacked transparency and relied on dues-paying members, including individuals who could join for a single month to vote, then cancel their membership.
“I [100%] support womxn supporting womxn, but I do not support ponzi schemes for non-transparent, non-democratic endorsement processes,” tweeted District 26 candidate Julie Won. “For the benefit of all candidates to learn RCV please release vote totals for each district.”
The group did not respond to the Eagle’s requests for comment.
The 11 Queens endorsements span 10 districts. All but one are Democrats.
Adriana Aviles, president of the Douglaston Community Education Council and former NYPD officer, received the nod in Northeast Queens District 19, where the Democratic primary features several political veterans.
Sandra Ung, who currently serves as special assistant to U.S. Rep. Grace Meng, was endorsed in Flushing’s District 20. Ung has worked in numerous city agencies and serves on the Board of Managers at the Flushing YMCA.
In the crowded race for Astoria’s District 22, the group endorsed public defender Tiffany Cabán in the Democratic primary and Felicia Kalan in the Republican field.
Women and minority owned business-focused entrepreneur Deepti Sharma earned the endorsement in Central Queens’ District 24 endorsement.
Dutch Kills resident and former Bronx prosecutor Julia Forman earned the 21 in ‘21 endorsement in Western Queens’ District 26.
Nantasha Williams, the executive director of the New York State Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus, got the nod in Southeast Queens’ District 27. Williams came in second in the Democratic primary for state Assembly in District 33 in 2016.
In Southeast Queens’ District 28, the group endorsed incumbent Adrienne Adams, one of only three Queens councilmembers seeking a new term. Ten others are term-limited, while Councilmember Barry Grodenchik has chosen not to run for a new term.
Lynn Schulman was endorsed for District 29 in central Queens, where there are two other women vying for the seat in the seven-candidate race.
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey spokesperson Selvena Brooks-Powers was endorsed in District 31 which covers much of Southeast Queens and the Eastern portion of the Rockaways.
Public school teacher Felicia Singh received the endorsement in District 32, which includes Ozone Park and the Eastern portion of the Rockaways.
“2021 is going to be monumental in several ways,” Singh told the Eagle. “We have more women running than we ever have had historically and we can change the entire dynamic of City Council.”
The group did not endorse candidates in four Council districts, though three have at least two women running for office. Those districts are District 25, which includes Jackson Heights, and District 23, which includes Northeast Queens neighborhoods like Oakland Gardens.
District 21, which covers Corona and Elmhurst, is represented by Francisco Moya.
District 30, which covers Middle Village and Ridgewood and is represented by Robert Holden. There are no women yet running in the Democratic or Republican primaries there.
Holden and Moya are not term-limited and are running again in 2021.
