I grew up in a union household in a small town in Massachusetts. My mother was my lunch lady, worked at a homeless shelter, and we cleaned houses together on the weekends so that my family had money to buy groceries. My father drove a Pepsi truck and worked a second job to make ends meet. He was also a Teamster and we had benefits because of his union. My mother still feeds and clothes the homeless to this day.
This working class background taught me a strong work ethic from a young age. We were among the lucky few to obtain public housing, which afforded my sister and me opportunities we would otherwise have been denied. Like so many New Yorkers struggling to make ends meet, I have at times lived paycheck to paycheck. Like so many others, I have seen the rent on my three hundred square foot studio apartment in Chelsea unsustainably balloon. Since moving to New York at the age of 18, I have supported myself financially and continue to do so to this day.
I have had many jobs during my time in New York – the Retail Wholesale Department Store Union, Sirius Satellite Radio, the Democratic National Committee, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, GFI Development Company, and numerous campaigns for progressive Democratic candidates – all of which I am proud and openly address in person and on my website. The common thread in all my jobs has been passion for my community. I currently work part time at a company named the Sydell group where I do LGBT marketing for hotels on the West Coast.
In 2005, I joined Community Board 4 and in 2011 was honored to be elected Chair. I developed a reputation for standing up for the community, even in the face of powerful special interests. I publicly and forcefully opposed the Rudin redevelopment plan at the St. Vincent’s site. I strongly opposed the Chelsea Market expansion just last year and voted against it on Community Board 4. I publicly opposed the NYU land grab in Greenwich Village and am supportive of the community lawsuit against this destructive plan. I oppose residential towers in the Hudson River Park at Pier 40 and opposed allowing a sanitation facility on the Gansevoort peninsula.
The community leaders that I have worked with for over a decade in our neighborhoods know me as a fighter for progressive causes and values – whether it be working to secure more truly affordable housing, fighting for high quality public education or vocally opposing reckless over-development. That is why I am honored to have the support of Congressman Jerry Nadler, Assembly Member Linda B. Rosenthal, Assembly Member Richard Gottfried, former State Senator Tom Duane, and State Senator Brad Hoylman as well as the Working Families Party, the United Federation of Teachers, 1199SEIU Healthcare Workers, SEIU32BJ, the Teamsters and so many other unions that represent working people.
Unfortunately, too much of this race has not been about the issues. Last week, the New York Post ran an offensive story copying some of the desperate allegations made by one of my opponents in the race. It suggested a link between me and the private contribution decisions made by individuals affiliated with my prior employer to anti-choice and anti-LGBT candidates whom I have never met. The truth is I am an openly gay man that has spent the past decade fighting for marriage equality in our state and across the nation. I am 100% pro-choice and am appalled by the right wing attacks against women’s reproductive rights. In May, I publicly disclosed that I am HIV-positive to bring about awareness. Given my well-documented record of work advancing progressive issues, it is patently absurd to insinuate otherwise. John Surico of the Village Voice called the Post piece “a replacement of logic that detracts the voter from the reality of the situation, stretching facts and leaving truths few and far between.”
Since the beginning of this campaign, I have spoken openly about my employment. My tenure with GFI and association with the Ace hotel and NoMad hotel was one marked by community collaboration and growth. Built on a stretch of Broadway, between Herald Square and Madison Square Park, previously known as counterfeit alley, the Ace was the first significant new business in the corridor. As the person tasked with community relations, I ensured that it maintained positive relations with tenants across the street, worked with the local Business Improvement District on sanitation and safety issues, and worked with city agencies to receive more attention to this underserved area. Let me be clear about this: I was never involved with anything related to mortgages, lending, property management or derivatives. I have no background or expertise in any of those areas and any claim otherwise is an outright fabrication. I was never involved with evicting tenants. I am not ashamed of my work at GFI; my work there benefited the community.
For the past 15 months, I have run a campaign rooted in the many important issues that face our community, my concrete track record of results, and my vision for making sure that our neighborhoods stay vibrant and livable. I want to run a race on issues, not smears, and challenge my opponents to do the same. If we make the next two months about the problems and solutions that face our community, then everyone wins. This race shouldn’t be about attacking other candidates. It should be about bringing real progressive change to New York City.
We have a real opportunity this election season. 2013 is going to be the largest sea change in municipal government since 2001. I want to be part of that change. I want to fight for our shared progressive values. I want to make this election a conversation about issues that matter to the residents of the West Side. I look forward to meeting you outside of subway stops, on our streets and in our parks and starting the dialogue.
Corey Johnson is Chairperson of Manhattan Community Board 4 (Chelsea and Hell’s Kitchen) and is a Democratic and Working Families Party candidate for New York City Council in the Third Council District.
