After pledging to “stop the gentrification” Mark-Viverito rezoned her district making it unaffordable for many lifelong residents, Williams took real estate money in Lt Governor’s race after pledging not to
At the first televised debate Nomiki Konst took a clear stand that real estate developers’ contributions to our elected officials have directly contributed to making New York City more unaffordable. Nomiki took on former New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito for rezoning of her East Harlem district after taking hundreds of thousands of dollars in contributions from real estate developers and signing a letter welcoming Amazon to New York City. “This is exactly why we need a watchdog in the Public Advocate’s office, not another politician that does one thing and says another when it’s convenient and popular.”
“After Speaker Mark-Viverito rezoned her own district, residents who had spent their entire lives in East Harlem were no longer able to afford to live there,” said candidate Nomiki Konst. “New Yorkers cannot trust the same people to solve the problem who caused it. I have never taken contributions from real estate developers and will fight every day to make New York more affordable.”
“Speaker Mark-Viverito refused to answer whether she would give back her contributions from real estate developers that prevent her from being a productive Public Advocate,” Nomiki said. “She has proven that she will side with real estate developers over her constituents.”
Konst also called out Councilman Williams for accepting money from the Ratner family during his bid for Lt Governor last year — despite his pledge not to accept real estate money — which he has yet to return.
New Yorkers will go to the polls to choose the next Public Advocate on Tuesday, Feb. 26th. The election is non-partisan. Konst, a former investigative reporter, national surrogate for Sen. Bernie Sanders and Democratic socialist, is on the ballot under the Pay Folks More party line.
