Williams defeats Blake, Mark-Viverito for Public Advocate
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BRONX TIMES R 8 EPORTER, MARCH 1-7, 2019 BTR
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Zeta Bronx 1 Zeta Inwood 1
BY ALEX MITCHELL
There might have been
some cheering in Brooklyn
after Councilman Jumaane
Williams was confi rmed as
the winner of the city’s special
public advocate election; but
that celebration didn’t fully
make it up to the Bronx as
Assemblyman Michael Blake
found a consolation victory in
winning his own borough on
Tuesday, February 26.
Actually, in a race comprised
of 17 candidates, without
the identifi cation of any
political parties we are used
to seeing, only two had Bronx
credentials; Blake and ex-
Council Speaker Mellissa
Mark-Viverito, whose previous
district covered both the
south Bronx and some of east
Harlem.
Williams’ commanding
133,809 estimated citywide
vote total drew 9,659 of those
from the Bronx, second to only
Blake, whom recorded an estimated
10,467 Bronx ballots.
Mark-Viverito fi nished
fourth in the borough with an
estimated 7,204 votes.
She came in behind fellow
upper Manhattan councilman
Ydanis Rodriguez, whom tallied
an estimated Bronx 8,068
votes, although, she had better
numbers than both Blake and
Rodriguez citywide. Of the 17
esteemed candidates, Mark-
Viverito fi nished third overall
with an estimated 44,158 votes
just behind Queens Councilman
Eric Ulrich whom totaled
77,026 estimated ballots cast.
Blake fi nished fourth in the
race with an estimated 33,198.
Given that Mark-Viverito
ran on the ‘Fix the MTA’
party line, it’s fairly obvious
what her priorities for the city
were.
For over a decade, she had
also advocated for the legalization
of marijuana, using its
tax revenue for MTA repairs.
Blake on the other hand focused
more towards housing
improvements, especially regarding
the NYC Housing Authority
and senior living.
He also supported the Amazon
deal, publicly stating
that the Long Island City deal
should have been reshaped
rather than scrapped.
“We still had over 30 thousand
New Yorkers support us
and ran an exceptional race,”
Blake said after learning of
the disappointing news during
his watch party at hip-hop
bar and restaurant Beatstro.
One of those supporters
was Alfredo Angueira, Beatstro’s
owner.
He braved the brutal winds
of Election Day to campaign at
nine different, outdoor locations
for Blake.
A large part of Blake’s digital
campaign strategy relied
on social media promotions
from ‘Bronx celebrities’ like
Angueria or Amaurys Grullon,
owner of Bronx Native
clothing.
“We learned a lot about the
city during this campaign,
but the city also learned a lot
about the Bronx,” Blake said
in confi dence. “This is just the
begining for us,” he added, referring
both to himself and his
borough.
Blake continued on to express
his hopes that Williams
will focus and advocate for investments
in Bronx schools,
NYCHA repairs and up keep,
as well as work to continue job
creation.
As far as a political future
for the assemblyman, it’s all
up in the air currently.
“I hope my future involves
more than three hours of sleep
a night,” the runner up joked.
Although, the Brooklynite
victor can’t exactly sit back
and enjoy his special election
win just yet.
Come June, Williams may
have to go through another
primary if he’s challenged by
a fellow Democrat, and then
compete in the general election
in November.
Despite the loss, Councilman Rafael Salamanca, Jr. congratulates Assemblyman
Michael Blake on a well-run campaign for Public Advocate.
Photo by Dennis Cohen
Melissa Mark-Viverito during her
concession speech on election
night. Photo by Curtis Heath
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