The city’s powerful teachers union is endorsing Council member Keith Powers in the race for Manhattan borough president — even though it endorsed his opponent for the seat the last time around.
The United Federation of Teachers, which boasts nearly 200,000 members, threw its weight behind State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal’s unsuccessful bid for borough president in the 2021 race.
“For years, Council member Powers has been a champion for our public schools and a relentless advocate for the needs of our educators,” Michael Mulgrew, the union’s president, said in a statement. “As borough president, he’ll make government work for students and fight to ensure that our schools have the resources they need to thrive.”
Powers hailed the endorsement, saying that as B.P. he would work to shrink class sizes and secure higher pay for teachers.
“I’m extremely proud to be endorsed by UFT, which advocates for nearly 200,000 members across New York City,” Powers said. “I’ll never stop fighting for our students and families.”
Mark Levine, the current borough president, is running for city comptroller.
Powers has previously collected the endorsements of the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council, service workers union 32BJ and DC 37, the city’s largest municipal public employee union. Hoylman-Sigal has nabbed the endorsement of healthcare workers union 1199.
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