INWOOD — Public Advocate Letitia James is throwing her support behind Marisol Alcantara, state Sen. Adriano Espaillat’s handpicked successor for his seat in District 31 — which stretches along the West Side of Manhattan from Chelsea up to Washington Heights and Inwood to parts of The Bronx.
James, the first black woman elected to citywide office, is the latest to endorsement for Alcantara, who last week picked up the support of former Bronx Borough President Fernando Ferrer.
"When it comes to expanding affordable housing and supporting our working families, Marisol Alcantara has the vision for the job,” James said in a statement to DNAinfo New York Thursday. "Frankly, it's appalling that there are no Latinas in the State Senate. Marisol will remedy this imbalance, while fighting hard for economic empowerment for working New Yorkers."
Alcantara is running against Micah Lasher, Attorney General Eric Schneiderman's Chief of Staff, former Councilman Robert Jackson, and community activist, Luis Tejada.
Lasher announced this week that he had received the support of the Citizen's Union, and a coalition of small business owners in Northern Manhattan, which include the NY Dental Association and Radhames Rodriguez of the "Asociacion de Bodegueros de Estados Unidos."
Jackson got support from former Mayor David Dinkins, Sen. Bill Perkins, Rep. Charles Rangel, Assemblyman Keith Wright, Assemblyman Denny Farrell, Councilman Inez Dickens and 14 unions, including the United Federation of Teachers (UFT).
Tejada, however, said in Spanish that he’s counting on the community support, and breaking down the “corrupt” political machine that continues to “damage our communities.
The primaries for the State Senate District 31 is Tuesday, Sept. 13.
