Cynthia Nixon, who is running to become New York Governor, in Sunnyside after receiving Council Member Van Bramer’s endorsement. (Photo: Nathaly Pesantez)
June 28, 2018 By Nathaly Pesantez
Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer has endorsed Cynthia Nixon in her bid to be the next governor of New York–the first council member to do so from the borough.
The two made a joint announcement this morning at Bliss Plaza, under the 7 line’s 46th St station.
Van Bramer said the time is right to “wholeheartedly and unequivocally” support Nixon, the former actress who announced her run for New York governor in March.
“We have the opportunity to elect a strong, powerful, passionate, and qualified woman to be the next governor of the state of New York,” he said. “We have the opportunity to elect someone that we can all be proud of now. That’s why I’m taking a stand—we can’t support the wait any longer.”
The Council Member noted his admiration for Nixon’s work in education advocacy, the arts, and in denouncing the state of the subway system and holding Governor Cuomo accountable as some of his reasons for supporting her.
Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer announcing his endorsement for Cynthia Nixon for New York governor. (Photo: Nathaly Pesantez)
He added that he first considered endorsing Nixon at the state Democratic convention last month.
The news of the Council Member’s intention to support Nixon came late last night, one day after Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez stunned the Democratic establishment by beating Rep. Joe Crowley in the 14th District primary.
Van Bramer, who endorsed Crowley in that race, admitted that his support for Nixon was partly inspired by Ocasio-Cortez’s win.
“Two days ago, we saw an epic, transformational moment in the political history of Queens, the city, and maybe even the country with the election of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez,” he said.
He added that voters on Tuesday spoke to a desire for “strong, bold” Democrats free from the grasp of machine politics, and said Nixon had the foresight to endorse Ocasio-Cortez.
“Alexandria’s epic and monumental victory is certainly one that all Democrats who are in office, or want to be in office, should respond to,” he said. “…When someone else is able to show you a direction that maybe you thought wasn’t possible, if you want all of those voices to be empowered, then you should follow and react to that in a way that further empowers that movement.”
Nixon said Van Bramer’s endorsement demonstrates how to oppose and defeat “a machine.”
“This campaign is a movement,” she said. “This is a campaign about people coming together across New York State. We are talking to New Yorkers…about the issues they care most about.”
She spoke to some of the issues she’s hoping to address as governor in her progressive campaign, including instituting a single-payer healthcare plan, fixing the subway, and passing legislation to protect undocumented New Yorkers and women’s reproductive health.
“We can show the country, particularly at this dire moment in our history, that New York has a better way to lead this country and to protect all of our people here at a time when New Yorkers of all stripes are so under attack from the federal government,” she said.
Van Bramer is the second City Council Member to publicly endorse Cynthia Nixon in her primary campaign, with the first being Council Member Carlos Menchaca.
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[…] endorsement marks the third from a City Council Member, with Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer in Queens announcing his support for her last week. Council Member Carlos Menchaca, who represents Red Hook and Sunset Park, was the first City […]
i like rerun frm whats happening, I endorse him! hey hey hey! liberals last hope
There’s Jimmy, doing what he does best, blowing with the wind:(
Democrats are a ship without a sail, now riding on the Ocasio socialist wave. I was hoping for some decent democrats to vote for instead of the Republicans in 2018/2020 but they have nothing. I hear em talking about Bernie Sanders and Eliz Warren in 2020, the party is a freakin joke now.
This woman can be beaten if people know her true record. She was raised in a wealthy area, is not “one of the people” and was stingy about sharing tips when she worked in a bar. The hipsters will not be getting “free stuff”. She is a Democrat Socialist – not a Democrat although these days there is not much difference. She is another one who wants to abolish ICE which is up there with abolishing the police.
wrong woman! Nixon is nuts anyway.
Thinking of the Ocasio woman.
Is she as stingy as a NYC Developer known to short change small contractors and even known to tell these contractors, “take what I gave you or sue me”?
I love “Sex In The City”. She’s definitely qualified for office.
This is ridiculous. Cynthia Nixon is not qualified to be governor of this or any state. I’m gobsmacked that JVB threw his support behind her. She has done good advocacy work for education and the arts, BUT her celebrity status when she began that work is what got people’s attention. This is a cringe worthy candidate, with nothing with no real experience at running anything. I despise DJT, but he at least has his business experience.
Ugh JVB….this does not give me much confidence in you.
Trump had no qualifications at all, and he’s president. If we can elect TV celebrities for president, it can certainly work for governor.
Look how well Trump is as president.
He’s an embarrassment.
Stop the madness!
She has zero qualifications to be governor.
Dear Frank…THANK YOU..IT’S NO LONGER OURS
PLEASE STOP YELLING.
JVB and all major Dems from Schumer to DiBlasio supported Crowley, now JVB leaning toward Cynthia Nixon — Cynthia was at Ocasio’s victory party at the Bronx Poolhall. JVB and DiBlasio is what’s wrong with this city. They lean towards the left when convenient and play us as fools, because that’s the way the wind is blowing these days, but what we as constituents want is honesty in our politicians and we are tired of these phoney two faced politicians and JVB is the biggest phoney I have ever seen. Ocasio won the election because Crowley stinks, and the demographics are changing from the Bronx to Woodside to Corona, latinos are a driving force, tolerant but conservative with traditonal values, and they won’t lean that far left in support Cynthia Nixon or JVB. They are for family values, jobs, decent housing, safe streets and neighborhoods. They work hard, go to church want good schools for their kids. JVB wants to be seen and posing for his next photo-op. JVB your days are numbered. Your a phoney politician, you did not run against Crowley because you were afraid and thought you could slip in to Crowley’s congressional seat once Crowley ran for Schumer’s spot when Chuck Schumer retires – JVB your plans are fizzling — but Ocasio threw a monkey wrench in yiur plans. Catherine Nolan is next to be booted out of office. Just remember this folks — JVB has done nothing for this community and don’t vote for him when he attempts his run for Queens Borough President.
JVB and all major Dems from Schumer to DiBlasio supported Crowley, now JVB leaning toward Cynthia Nixon — Cynthia was at Ocasio’s victory party at the Bronx Poolhall. JVB and DiBlasio is what’s wrong with this city. They lean towards the left when convenient and play us as fools, because that’s the way the wind is blowing these days, but what we as constituents want is honesty in our politicians and we are tired of these phoney two faced politicians and JVB is the biggest phoney I have ever seen. Ocasio won the election because Crowley stinks, and the demographics are changing from the Bronx to Woodside to Corona, latinos are a driving force, tolerant but conservative with traditonal values, and they won’t lean that far left in support Cynthia Nixon or JVB. They are for family values, jobs, decent housing, safe streets and neighborhoods. They work hard, go to church want good schools for their kids. JVB wants to be seen and posing for his next photo-op. JVB your days are numbered. Your a phoney politician, you did not run against Crowley because you were afraid and thought you could slip in to Crowley’s congressional seat once Crowley ran for Schumer’s spot when Chuck Schumer retires – JVB your plans are fizzling — but Ocasio threw a monkey wrench in yiur plans. Catherine Nolan is next to be booted out of office. Just remember this folks — JVB has done nothing for this community and don’t vote for him when he attempts his run for Queens Borough President.
Grew up in sunnyside/woodside in the 40’s-50’s-60’s. Sounds like my old neighborhood is now in a different country. You guys would have loved those years. Too bad…was the real America that Trump is trying to bring back. Truly the good ole days. Sad.
Thanks for the update
Trump is trying to bring back the time before the American Revolution when the King of England ruled. This time however, it will be King Donald, and instead of the Princess of Wales, Ivanka will be the Princess of New York.
Be you are correct…we need to cohesively get along with civil debate..After all,I enjoy the back and forth NAME calling,but these Idiot Politians,LEFT AND RIGHT WINGERS are playing us all for fools..ALL MEDIA ABC AND FOX ENJOY THIS CRAP,and im a Republican who is actually siding with Dems…wow…EDUCATE ARE POPULATION OF N.Y…PLEASE..NO CIVIL DISCOURSE AT ALL..I RATHER BE BACK IN FEDERAL PRISON..REALLY
Our not are..again Phone Spelling
Used to be a person did the spells. Now it’s wizards
To Tommy O…its THE phone spelling not me..STOP THE BABY CRAP WITH SO CALLED MISSPELLING OF MY 2 WORDS..MY GOD MAN..
Sex and the City Part III: Jimmy and Cynthia take a long ride on the subway to nowhere.
JVB is obsessed with celebrity, he is a self serving narcissist – move to hollywood, get out of Queens.
Self-serving celebrity narcissists belong in the white house, not in Queens.
You’re obsessed with a city councilman, who’s more pathetic?
Stop using my screen name you weasel.
FDR ,JFK & MLK are now turning over in their graves.
The great democratic party of the past is now over.
JVB is now showing his true colors.
Socialism is now here.
Very scary.
Crowley (no bargain) was thrown out with an 11% turnout.
It is now up to all of us to vote and put an end to this madness.
If we don’t, we are all to blame.
I always knew his true colors.
Martin Luther King was basically a democratic socialist. https://bigthink.com/scotty-hendricks/why-was-martin-luther-king-jr-a-socialist
Unbelievable! Just what we need, another celebrity with no political experience. What is JVB thinking?
With this endorsement Jimmy is a joke, he should have run himself.
I was previously a JVB supporter, but this is the last straw. Most qualified? She’s not even the most qualified among Sex in the City cast members.
Trump had 0 qualifications, now he’s president. He opened the floodgates for any washed up celebrity to hold political office in the country.
He opened the floodgates to run, not support. Any idiot celebrity can run, it doesn’t mean they should be taken seriously.
What does that have to do with any rational person currently in office endorsing said unqualified jackass?
I hope that he makes a real point and gives back all of the money that he has taken from real estate developers… He might have to sell his house
Or more fairly distribute the 90 trash cans which I’m sure surround his house. He’ll never stop taking money from real estate developers; he’ll never support true rent stabilization nor the elimination of preferential rents just like our Senator Michael Gianaris.
It will be tough to get rid of Cuomo as he was doing a good job, now the lunatic progressives want to bring down New York and turn it into a Venezuela.
Lol. you are obsessed with Venezuela. The parallels between a US state and a South American are few. Take a deep breath ?
With the Dems cannibalizing each other maybe the Republicans can take over Albany.
Birds of a feather flock together
These Frigging Idiot Politicians think they Own us..To He’ll with Jimmy and This Nixon idiot….YOU DEMS GOT TO BE ABSOLUTE IDIOTS..Go Donald..My God, complete idiots..NIXON,SHE’S A NUT..
Eloquent as usual. We’ll said, George. To he’ll with bankrupt hucksters and con artists. No one te’lls us what to do! We THINK for ourselves on the TRUMP TROLLEY.
That’s right: let’s put someone who could not run an ice cream stand in the governor’s office!
“Dire moment in our history” – does he mean when he was elected?
The communists are all coming out now.
I’m voting for Kim Cattrall
I’ll vote for her only if she mends her ways and honors the uniform: https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-mark-lenard-kim-cattrall-leonard-nimoy-star-trek-vi-the-undiscovered-31041053.html
Jimmy – a man of “convictions”.
And PHOTO OPS!!!
I appreciate Councilmember Van Bramer’s honesty. He was moved by the shift in local and state politics represented in Alexandria Ocasio’s primary win and decided it was time to leave behind the machine politics that for too long has clouded civic life in Queens. I expect Councilmember Van Bramer is the first of many local electeds to embrace the Ocasio transformation.
his pockets are well lined have been for years he is no angel that is for sure.
He didn’t have Crowley’s support for Speaker twice and now saw the shifting tides. Also don’t underestimate loyalty to another LGBTQ politician. He endorsed Quinn out of loyalty rather than believe.
Will be interesting how Costa vs JVB vs Wild Card will play out. Will the machine hit back?
Nixon is no AOC, nor does she have any relevant experience or education (like AOCs economic/political degree from BU). Nixon waited until the day before the primary to endorse AOC, so that’s pretty last-minute “foresight” (or maybe she saw a poll that Crowley didn’t). Can’t believe JVB thinks she’s really qualified for this job. Political theatre indeed.
You don’t need any relevant experience or education to hold office in the US…do you know who our president is?!
LOL! Jimmy must be desperate. He must be afraid that a black Hispanic lesbian will run against him. That intersectionality stuff must be starting to hurt. I can’t stand Andrew Cuomo but the Nixon woman is an ignoramus. Identity politics is going to destroy the Democrat party. Maybe Jimmy wants to start an acting career as a walk-on in a Nixon movie.
Yup. Exactly. Cuomo is a stupid thug. Nixon is an ignorant commie. Stupid thug wins.
EXACTLY! Andrew will get revenge on Jimmy – and on DeBlasio.
Heck ya. Andrew will probably figure out a way to make a bunch of delays in our smoothly running subway just to mess with JVB. 4D chess