Public Advocate Jumaane Williams endorsed Maya Wiley for mayor Wednesday — adding to her list of support from left-wing politicians in her bid to lead City Hall.
“We must unite to elect and rank Maya Wiley to be the second Black and first woman mayor of the City of New York,” Williams said Wednesday at the African Burial Ground National Monument in Lower Manhattan.
“I don’t think there’s much to say after Jumaane Williams speaks because he speaks the truth,” Wiley said, vowing to deliver on the progressive wishlist of free health care for illegal immigrants and lower rent.
“Theres only one accounting that’s going to happen after this election and that’s accountability to the people of New York,” Wiley said.
The Williams endorsement will provide a boost to Wiley with progressive and non-white voters, said Arthur Schwartz, NYPAN’s political director.
“Jumaane’s endorsement reflects how the progressive community is coalescing around Maya,” said Schwartz, who is running to replace term-limited Speaker Corey Johnson in the City Council.
“Jumaane helps Maya with the white and black progressive vote. He’s probably the most popular politician in the city.”
Wiley, an attorney and former top aide to Mayor Bill de Blasio, has struggled in most polls of the mayoral race. But her campaign has gained new momentum, thanks to a string of high-profile endorsements from liberal and lefty politicians and groups, including US Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), the Working Families Party, state Sen. Julia Salazar (D-Brooklyn) and US Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.).
Wiley, who supports taking $1 billion out of the NYPD’s budget, has recently come under fire for releasing an anti-police department advertisements, for her “word salad” “trauma-informed care” plan and the “hypocrisy” of living in a neighborhood with a private security patrol while supporting taking funds from the police department.
On Monday, Wiley said the NYPD’s clearing out of drug-filled Washington Square Park was an example of the city’s police force “wasting” money.
Additional reporting by Len La Rocca