Chin Launches Re-Election

On Sunday, City Council Member Margaret Chin officially kicked off her campaign for re-election for the 1st council district, which covers parts of Lower Manhattan including Chinatown, the Financial District, Tribeca, Little Italy and the Lower East Side. She was joined at the kick-off rally, held on the Independence Plaza North steps in TriBeCa, by supporters including New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, and various community leaders.

"Margaret Chin is an outstanding council member and a longtime advocate for our Lower Manhattan community. She has a clear and undeniable record of achieving results for her constituents and improving the lives of countless Lower Manhattan residents," Silver said. "Council Member Chin is a dedicated and passionate public servant who has the right priorities for our community and the skills, focus and determination to get things done."

"Margaret Chin's energy, passion and commitment to serve her community and the city is unquestionable," said Rep. Velazquez. "In these tough economic times, we need a Council Member who will continue to stand up for small businesses, working families, affordable housing, and access to better education and childcare for our children. Margaret is a progressive Democrat who has demonstrated great leadership during her community's most challenging times."

New York City Council Member Rosie Mendez, who has also pledged her support to Council Member Chin's re-election campaign, said in a statement, "In her first term, Margaret accomplished a number of landmark achievements for her constituents - fighting every day on quality of life issues, holding oversight hearings on critical topics as Chair of the Lower Manhattan Redevelopment Committee and fighting to save our essential and enriching day care centers and afterschool programs."

Also in attendance at the press conference were Community Board 3 Chair Gigi Li and Smith Houses Tennant Leader Aixa Torres, both of whom praised the work of Council Member Chin's first term in office and pledged their support to her re-election bid.

"I am humbled by the outpouring of support from the leaders we know and trust and my loyal supporters who have stood by me from Day One. For the last thirty years, I have been an outspoken advocate for Lower Manhattan and I have been proud to take our district to new heights with the input, help and support of our residents," said Council Member Chin. "My commitment to our neighborhoods has never been stronger and I am eager to continue moving Lower Manhattan forward in the years ahead."