Manhattan Borough President (BP) Mark Levine has pulled forward as a candidate on this yr’s Metropolis Comptroller race.
Levine is up towards a slew of different candidates, together with Brooklyn Councilmember Justin Brannan, governmental liaison Ismael Malave-Perez, and Brooklyn State Sen. Kevin Parker, as they attempt to substitute present Comptroller Brad Lander. Queens Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar was operating however dropped out of the race on Jan. 27.
Levine was endorsed by former Congressmember Charles B. Rangel and former Assemblymember Inez E. Dickens, in addition to Congressmembers Adriano Espaillat and Ritchie Torres, Bronx BP Vanessa Gibson, Brooklyn BP Antonio Reynoso, and Queens BP Donovan Richards.
“Mark has all the time proven up for Harlem and for communities throughout this metropolis that too typically get left behind,” stated Rangel in an announcement. “He’s acquired the center of a public servant and the know-how to maintain our metropolis on strong monetary floor. I belief Mark to guard taxpayer {dollars}, put money into working households, and make sure the metropolis authorities delivers for all New Yorkers, not simply the privileged few.”
Levine’s marketing campaign has acquired a whopping $2,716,159 in matching funds (greater than $2.7 million) and $1,006,721 (greater than $1 million) in personal funds, in accordance with the New York Metropolis Marketing campaign Finance Board (NYCCFB).
“It’s an unbelievable honor to have the help of Rep. Rangel and Meeting- and Councilmember Dickens — true giants of public service,” stated Levine in an announcement. “Their management helped form New York for the higher and their legacies in Harlem and past proceed to encourage. With their backing, we’re much more energized to construct a marketing campaign rooted in fairness, transparency, and financial justice for all 5 boroughs.”
Brannan, who’s at present Metropolis Council’s finance committee chair, is an in depth second within the comptroller race. By way of fundraising, he’s raised $585,987 in personal donations and $289,598 in public matching funds.
In comptroller debates, Levine and Brannan have mentioned the town price range, contracts, selling governmental transparency in a time of “financial uncertainty,” rents, and pension funds. For essentially the most half, they agreed that the town’s pension methods and hospitals need to be safeguarded from threats below the Trump administration; the general public and comptroller ought to have extra say within the budgeting course of; and price range cuts to arts, parks, and Metropolis College of New York (CUNY) must be averted in any respect prices. Each candidates expressed issues about Mayor Eric Adams’ dealing with of the price range.
In regard to reasonably priced housing, Levine’s plan requires utilizing the municipal pension fund system to assist finance constructing reasonably priced housing, as much as 75,000 models, over the following decade. Brannan’s plan invests pension funds into the creation of reasonably priced housing, particularly for metropolis staff.
Malave-Perez, one in all two candidates of coloration within the race, has additionally made a splash. He was endorsed by former Assemblymember Adam Clayton Powell IV and has large help from Latino and religion communities within the Bronx, with endorsements from Sen. Rev. Ruben Diaz Sr. and Councilmember Rev. Fernando Cabrera. He’s raised $86,966 in personal funds to date.
