Another labor union endorses Mamdani; meetings set with political, business leaders

Another labor union has endorsed Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani — District Council 37, which represents nearly 250,000 municipal workers and retirees — as he prepares to take meetings with skeptical business leaders and centrist Democrats.

The endorsement, made Tuesday morning in lower Manhattan at the union’s headquarters, represents growing momentum for Mamdani, whose victory on June 24 over favorite Andrew M. Cuomo stunned the political establishment.

At a rally to announce the endorsement, the union's executive director, Henry A. Garrido, ticked off several of the signature campaign pledges by Mamdani, a democratic socialist. 

"There are people that are saying that radical ideas are being presented by Zohran. It is not a radical idea to think about a city with free buses. It is not a radical idea to think about a rent freeze," Garrido said, adding: "It is not a radical idea to think about universal child care, right?" 

Union endorsements have been piling up for Mamdani, including by those who had endorsed Cuomo in the primary, such as the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council and 32BJ. He's also been endorsed by the United Federation of Teachers and Local 802 — American Federation of Musicians. 

DC 37, which represents crossing guards, IT techs, parks workers, lifeguards and more, had endorsed Mamdani — but lower down in the ranked primary slate — picking its first choice as Adrienne Adams, the city council speaker.

Tuesday and later in the week, Mamdani is set to meet with a leading business group, the Partnership for New York City, with hundreds of member companies, among others.

Asked Tuesday by a reporter how he'd handle questions by those with whom he might have unbridgeable politics differences, Mamdani said he'd address such discussions "with honesty and the directness that there is room for disagreement in our politics without becoming disagreeable."

Mamdani is set to go to Washington, D.C., this week to meet with fellow Democrats, including those who have not endorsed him.

Meanwhile, the incumbent, Mayor Eric Adams, was yet again denied public matching funds by the city's Campaign Finance Board, due to allegations of fundraising malfeasance.

Adams is set to get the endorsement of a newly formed coalition called the NYC Uniformed Forces Coalition 2025, which includes most of the city police, jail and sanitation unions, The New York Post reported.

Also Tuesday, the Board of Elections reported more definitive election results showing an updated margin of victory for Mamdani of 12.8 percentage points, up from 12 as tallied at the beginning of the month.

By Matthew Chayes

matthew.chayes@newsday.comchayesmatthew

Matthew Chayes, a Newsday reporter since 2007, covers New York City.