NOW-NYC Endorses Ben Kallos for City Council District 5

New York, N.Y. - The National Organization for Women of New York City (NOW-NYC) endorsed Ben Kallos for City Council in Manhattan's District 5 today, citing his strong record on gender equality, women's health and commitment to keeping a culture of sexual harassment out of New York politics. NOW-NYC is a leading advocacy group for women and girls. 

NOW-NYC's endorsement followed the breaking news that Assembly member Micah Kellner, Kallos' opponent for City Council in Manhattan's District 5, allegedly sexually harassed two young staffers during his time in the Assembly.

"NOW-NYC is proud to endorse Ben Kallos for City Council. Kallos has a strong platform for women - from funding sexual health programs to establishing health coordinators in schools to protect young girls - Kallos makes the women and girls of this city a priority" said Sonia Ossorio, President of NOW-NYC. "Now-NYC is committed to fighting our culture of sexual harassment and promoting gender equality in politics by championing feminist candidates like Ben Kallos." 

Kallos accepted the endorsement at a press conference outside of Assembly member Kellner's office today.

"i am deeply gratified to accept the endorsement of NOW-NYC, an organization that does amazing work for women's rights. I do not accept that we have to live with a culture of sexual harassment in politics. We are sick of powerful people taking advantage of their positions to prey on others," Kallos said. "The allegtations we're hearing, of Assembly member Kellner's repeated sexual harassment over the years, and the continuing efforts to conceal it, are deeply concerning. We need policies that take such allegations extremely seriously so that no one has to be afraid of working in government."

Kallos has been the Executive Director of a leading good government group, entrepreneur, attorney, and the former Chief of Staff for Assembly Member Jonathan Bing. As an employee-side lawyer, Kallos advocated on behalf of employee rights. Learn more about his run for City Council District 5 at www.kallosforcouncil.com 

The National Organization for Women is the nation's largest organization working to advance women's rights and improve women's lives. The New York City Chapter of NOW, founded in 1966, is the largest chapter in the country with 5,000 members locally and 35,000 statewide. NOW-NYC works to promote women's reproductive rights, secure women's economic empowerment, and end violence and discrimination against women.