NY City Council Races
- New York City 09/11/2013 by Linda Perry Barr (WBAI News)


Many Democratic Council members familiar to WBAI won their districts. They worked for the Community Safety Act to reign in abuse in the NYPD's policy of Stop and Frisk and to put an end to racial profiling and discriminatory surveillance of Muslims and other minority groups. These winners are advocates for unions, for paid sick leave and a fair living wage. Their aim is to strengthen and unify their communities with better schools, jobs and healthcare. Often they served as counterpoint to the Mayor who threatened to cut vital programs in the yearly budget dance.



Here are some of the Democratic nominees:

Brooklyn 

Jumaane Williams and Brad Lander co-sponsors of the Community Safety Act, won handily. So did Steve Levin and Mathieu Eugene, the first Haitian Councilman. Inez Barron replaces her term-limited husband, Charles Barron.

Queens
Incumbent Julissa Ferrera is a winner. So are Marc Weprin, Rory Lancman, Daniel Dromm and James Van Bramer as well as Ruben Wills and Donovan Richards - Council members often seen at rallies and demos around town along with their constituents.

Bronx
The same is true for Andy King, Fernando Cabrera, Ritchie Torres, Joel R. Rivera and Maria del Carmen Arroyo. They are joined by State Assemblywoman Vanessa Gibson who has a strong track record supporting health research and other areas of concern to New Yorkers.

Manhattan

Rosie Mendez is extremely popular. She has 81 percent of the vote on the Lower East Side. Other winners are Margarette Chin, Daniel Garodnick, Helen Rosenthal. Mark Levine, Melissa Mark-Viverito. With strong showings in Harlem and Inwood, Inez Dickens and Ydanis Rodriguez are the uncontested Democratic candidates.

Staten Island
Incumbent Debbie Rose was also uncontested. She is a strong education and public health advocate, the first black to represent Staten Island. Other Democratic winners are John Mancuso and Chris Walsh.