Category Archives: 2019 Public Advocate’s Race

Photo Highlights of The Decade



As the decade rolls to an end we’ve compiled a brief photographic retrospective with a few of our favorite photos of the 2010s.

Political foes Mayor Bill de Blasio and Governor Andrew Cuomo shake hands, seemingly at the urging of RWDSU’s Stuart Appelbaum, as they march in the 2016 Labor Day Parade. 9/10/16

Our decade highlight gallery is available here.

Our focus is on New York politics, both city and state, but the gallery includes other shots of New York.  Among the campaigns we’ve covered are the 2013 and 2017 mayoral races, the 2014 and 2018 gubernatorial races, congressional primaries in 2014, 2016 and 2018, the 2016 New Hampshire Republican presidential primary and the 2019 public advocate special election.  NYTrue.com began in late 2012, with mostly video and little photography in 2012 and 2013, so this is a somewhat truncated decade retrospective that covers 2014-2019.

Special Bonus – Unabridged Gallery:

For those of you who really love New York politics we have an expanded decade retrospective gallery with lots of great shots that didn’t make it into the decade highlight gallery.  Take a look, and a walk down memory lane, here.

We’ve included a few 2013 iPhone shots in a brief addendum at the end of the expanded gallery.

Our 2019 year in photos is available here.

All of our photo galleries are available here.

Photo Gallery: Bronx Dems For Williams



Public Advocate Jumaane Williams’ apparent glide path to his June primary and November general election was smoothed with an endorsement from the Bronx Democratic Party and several prominent elected Bronx Democrats.  With the petitioning period ended, Williams will not face any well-known primary opponents.

Electeds joining Williams included Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., Assembly Member and Bronx Democratic Chairman Marcos Crespo, Assembly Members Latoya Joyner, Jeff Dinowitz, Victor Pichardo and Nathalia Fernandez and Council Members Andrew Cohen and Ritchie Torres.  Assembly Member Michael Blake, who ran against Williams in the February special election, did not attend the rally but appeared immediately afterward and expressed his support for Williams.  That special election put Williams into office through the end of 2019 and the November general election will fill the remaining three years of former public advocate and current NYS Attorney General Tish James’ unexpired term.

Photo Gallery:

Our full photo gallery is available here.

Public Advocate Special Election Photo Retrospective



An election with 17 candidates, after 31 aspirants expressed interest and campaigned, and a comparatively short three months of campaigning.  Triggered by Tish James’s November election as New York State attorney general and resulting resignation as public advocate, the public advocate special election was, for New York, a unique electoral experience.  Held with an unprecedented number of candidates and the absence of established party designations or nominations it was New York City’s first citywide special election.  Candidate forums were the predominant public campaign activity, with several dozen held around the city by a wide range of civic and political groups.  Our gallery has moments from the start to finish – take a look.

Photo Gallery:

Our full public advocate special election photo retrospective gallery is available here.

Additional Galleries:

We have a gallery of group portraits from many of the candidate forums here.

We have a gallery with photos of candidates with family members here.

Photo Gallery: Ulrich Election Night



It was upbeat disappointment at the election night party of public advocate candidate Eric Ulrich as one of the very few Republican elected officials in New York City placed second in a field of 17 candidates.  With such a large field, including seven present or former members of the NYC Council and NYS Assembly, Ulrich had a rare realistic opportunity for a Republican victory in a citywide election.

Attendees were clearly disappointed at Ulrich’s loss but there was also widespread satisfaction at his besting 15 candidates, including many elected Democrats.

Council Members Steven Matteo, Joe Borelli and Bob Holden were the only elected officials joining Ulrich.  Party leaders attending included New York State Republican Chairman Ed Cox and the five Republican county chairs from New York City, Brendan Lantry of Staten Island, Joann Ariola of Queens, Ted Ghorra of Brooklyn, Mike Rendino of the Bronx and Andrea Catsimatidis.  NYS Conservative Party Chairman Jerry Kassar also attended.

Photo Gallery:

Our full photo gallery is available here.

Photo Gallery: Dueling Pressers



An election-eve report that public advocate candidate Jumaane Williams was arrested in 2009 during a domestic dispute with his then-girlfriend prompted a pair of dueling election-eve press conferences outside Brooklyn Borough Hall.  Rival candidates Melissa Mark-Viverito and Nomiki Konst appeared first, expressing concerns over Williams’ reported arrest and actions and calling on him to disclose more information.  Shortly after they concluded a group of Williams supporters appeared, arguing that a written statement issued by Williams was sufficient.  That group included Jumaane Williams’ mother Pat Williams and senior advisor to the Williams campaign L. Joy Williams (no relation to the candidate).

Photo Gallery:

Our full photo gallery is available here.

Photo Gallery: Ulrich In Boro Park & Crown Heights



Public advocate candidate Eric Ulrich’s electoral strategy included seeking a substantial amount of support from the orthodox communities of Borough  Park and Crown Heights.  Ulrich devoted many hours of campaigning to those neighborhoods.  In this set of visits Ulrich joined former Assembly member Dov Hikind for a walking tour in Borough Park.  They worked the crowd on a busy 13th Avenue, with some store visits and a pizzeria-based livestream.  Ulrich then headed to Crown Heights for an endorsement livestream with Rabbi Chanina Sperlin and Rabbi Nochum Gross.

Photo Gallery:

Our full photo gallery is available here.

Photo Gallery: Canvassing With Espinal



Public advocate candidate Rafael Espinal’s closing campaign days included lots of canvassing, looking to get voters out for him with an in-person visit from volunteers.  Espinal, who’s run for office four times previously, went canvassing himself.  We joined him for a headquarters pep talk to his volunteers and some canvassing in Fort Greene.

Photo Gallery:

Our full photo gallery is available here.

Photo Gallery: NAN Candidate Forum



The National Action Network hosted a public advocate candidate forum, drawing 12 candidates to its House of Justice in Harlem.  The Rev. Al Sharpton made opening remarks and introduced the candidates but did not moderate or attend the forum.  Candidates participating included Ydanis Rodriguez, Ben Yee, Jumaane Williams, Manny Alicandro, David Eisenbach, Tony Herbert, Nomiki Konst, Dawn Smalls, Ron Kim, Danny O’Donnell, Melissa Mark-Viverito and Michael Blake.

Photo Gallery:

Our full photo gallery is available here.