Transport Workers Union Local 100 Endorses Kallos in District Five

 

New York, N.Y. – The 38,000-member Transport Workers Union Local 100 announced today its endorsement of City Council Candidate Ben Kallos in Manhattan’s District 5, spanning the Upper East Side and Roosevelt Island. The endorsement establishes Kallos as the transportation candidate on the East Side, after already receiving the backing of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1179, and showcases the campaign’s strong progressive support.

 

“We look forward to partnering with TWU Local 100 in championing smart transportation policy that will benefit all New Yorkers, and continuing our push to return station agents to subway stops to improve commuter safety,” said Kallos.

 

“TWU Local 100 is proud to announce our support for candidates who are the strongest Public Transportation and Labor candidates in their respective races. Ben Kallos has demonstrated great knowledge and commitment to working with our union to improve public transit in New York. Affordable, reliable, and safe Public Transportation is a basic right of all New Yorkers, and we look forward to working with Ben to promote public transit investments on the City level. TWU Local 100 will do everything we can to get him elected,” said TWU President John Samuelsen in its endorsement.

 

Kallos initiated the Bring Back Our Booths petitioning and advocacy campaign after residents on Upper East Side expressed that their commutes had become nightmarish since the removal of station agents at the 86^th and 77^th St. stops, some of the most crowded subway stations in the City. The Bring Back Our Booths campaign has garnered over 1,000 signatures from residents eager for a smoother commute, as well as national news attention from CBS and NBC. It will go Citywide in a day of activism on June 6, in partnership with TWU Local 100 and advocacy group Transit Forward.

 

“TWU Local 100 is a leader among progressive unions, backing strong candidates Citywide without kowtowing to the political establishment,” said Kallos.

 

Kallos has a strong record on smart transportation policy. As Chief of Staff to Assembly Member Jonathan Bing, he worked on drafting the Second Avenue Subway Construction Economic Development Grant Program and working with the MTA and Second Avenue Business Association to launch the Shop Second Avenue campaign to keep small businesses thriving along the Second Avenue subway line.

 

“Our campaign prioritizes transportation issues, because we know that smart transportation policies affect New Yorkers’ lives multiple times every day. Our Bring Back Our Booths initiative has received invaluable support from the community,” said Campaign Volunteer and Transportation Coordinator Anthony Scattaglia.

 

Kallos is the Executive Director of a leading good government group, entrepreneur, attorney, and the former Chief of Staff for Assembly Member Jonathan Bing.  Learn more about his run for City Council District 5 at http://KallosForCouncil.com.

 

###