By Jill Colvin, New York Observer
Local 372, the union representing more than 25,000 parent coordinators, crossing guards and other school aides has endorsed Cathy Guerriero for public advocate.
âCathyâs interview was outstanding. I mean, you very rarely get a standing ovation on any screening. So that was the response of the members,â the unionâs president, Santos Crespo Jr. told Politicker, this afternoon.
He noted that Ms. Guerriero seemed to have an especially strong familiarity with the members represented by the union, and pointed to her background as an educator and her stance against mayoral control of city schools.
âWe need a public advocate whoâs going to take on the mayor, no matter who the mayor is,â he added.
While Ms. Guerriero, once considered a long-shot, has been racking up various endorsements, the decision is a bit of a snub for Brooklyn City Councilwoman Letitia James, who has long been an advocate for school workers and has been targeting many of the minority black and Latino women that the union represents.
A spokesman for Ms. James noted, however, that she has the support of a long list of major unions, including the larger DC-37 municipal workersâ union, as well as SEIU 32BJ, TWU Local 100 and CWA 1180. The two are also up against State Senator Daniel Squadron, Girls Who Code founder Reshma Saujani and civilian police official Sidique Wai.
