Press Releases

The International Union of Elevator Constructors Local One representing 3,000 members endorsed New York City Council Member Ben Kallos for Manhattan Borough President. With today’s announcement, Kallos has been endorsed by 73 district councils and local unions for Manhattan Borough President.

“We are all in for Council Member Ben Kallos for Manhattan Borough President and will be taking to the streets to elect a champion for labor. Kallos understands the importance of training and experience when it comes to elevator work throughout our city,” said Lenny Legotte, President-Business Manager of International Union of Elevator Constructors Local One.

Touts Record of Accomplishments for the District: Parks, Subway, Ferry, School Seats

New York, NY – Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney announced her endorsement of Council Member Ben Kallos for Manhattan Borough President citing their frequent collaboration and record of accomplishment together as Co-Chairs of the East River Esplanade Taskforce, securing pre-kindergarten seats, and keeping the Second Avenue Subway on track.

“It’s about getting things done, and I’ve been proud to work with Council Member Ben Kallos to deliver for the East Side, which is why I am endorsing him to bring the same results to the entire borough as the next Manhattan Borough President,” said Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney.

New York, NY – The New York City and Vicinity District Council of Carpenters and Joiners of America and its nine local unions endorsed New York City Council Member Ben Kallos for Manhattan Borough President. With today’s announcement, Kallos has been endorsed by 72 district councils and local unions for Manhattan Borough President.

“When the Carpenters stood up to irresponsible developers who would put workers in dangerous situations just to make a buck, Council Member Ben Kallos was there and he will continue to stand with us to protect workers and residents alike as the next Manhattan Borough President,” said Joseph A. Geiger, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the New York City and Vicinity District Council of Carpenters.

“When the city uses tax dollars to subsidize development, those dollars should be creating good paying jobs with training necessary for safer construction. Council Member Ben Kallos has worked alongside the Carpenters for prevailing wages and training on dozens and dozens of city projects. We need Ben Kallos as our next Manhattan Borough President to fight for good paying jobs and training on every tax payer subsidized project,” said Michael Cavanaugh, Vice President of the New York City and Vicinity District Council of Carpenters.

“Our Carpenters build everything that makes our city so great from our high rises to our docks, from the cabinets to the floor, and even keep our industry working,” said Council Member Ben Kallos. “We have worked together over the years to protect workers throughout our city and it would be my honor to continue representing them and working families throughout our city as the next Manhattan Borough President.”

The New York City District Council of Carpenters and Joiners of America is a representative body comprised of nine individual Locals and over 20,000 union members. The District Council functions as the voice for thousands of New York City’s most dedicated and skilled Carpenters, Millwrights, Dockbuilders, Timbermen, Cabinetmakers, Floorcoverers and Industrial Workers. Above all else, the District Council is dedicated to guarantee that every worker in our represented trades has rights in the workplace, a fair wage, a healthy family and hope for the future. The construction industry is prone to exploitative and dangerous conditions in the workplace; our efforts are to eliminate those tendencies through strong advocacy and direct action. The United Brotherhood of Carpenters is one of North America’s largest building-trades unions, with nearly a half-million members in the construction and wood-products industries.

New York City locals:

1. Local 20 – Carpenters – Staten Island
2. Local 45 – Carpenters – Queens
3. Local 157 – Carpenters – Manhattan
4. Local 212 – High Rise Concrete
5. Local 740 – Millwrights & Machinery Erectors
6. Local 926 – Carpenters – Brooklyn
7. Local 1556 – Dockbuilders & Timbermen
8. Local 2287 – Resilient Floor Coverers
9. Local 2790 – Industrial & Shop Workers

Ben Kallos, is a Democrat and Co-Chair of the Progressive Caucus who has distinguished in his unwavering support for working families who have organized into labor unions. As a legislator, Kallos authored the law to count every injury and life lost on a construction site with steep fines for disreputable contractors that would hide injuries on the job (Local Law 78 of 2017). He was also a co-prime sponsor of laws to require site safety supervisors and safety training on construction sites. Kallos has also carried legislation to require prevailing wage, training, and apprenticeship on city-subsidized construction projects as well as to offer private sector workers to an auto-IRA retirement savings plan.

Kallos’ campaign previously announced the endorsement of 62 unions representing nurses, engineers, laborers, communication workers, and many more. Following the endorsement from New York City Carpenters, Kallos has now been endorsed by 72 New York State district councils and local unions 45 of whom represent workers in New York City.

“I am proud to have the support of our nurses, construction workers, civil servants, telecommunications and utility workers, who do the work that makes our city great,” concluded Council Member Ben Kallos. “We must support our working families in government, healthcare, at public utilities, and in the private sector, for a better borough.”

New York, NY – The New York State Iron Workers District Council and the Bricklayers Local 1 endorse New York City Council Member Ben Kallos for Manhattan Borough President. With today’s announcement, Kallos has been endorsed by 32 New York City district councils and local unions for Manhattan Borough President.

“When a developer took government subsidies only to go "open shop" leaving iron workers out, Council Member Ben Kallos joined us in fighting for good paying jobs and safe construction. When the developer threatened Kallos politically, we had his back, and he wrote a piece for local media calling on the developer to protect workers and residents with proper training. When the developer threatened to sue Kallos, then sent a cease and desist, he went even further by citing OSHA violations and recounting the lives lost on prior construction by the builder, demanding training and protections for workers,” said James Mahoney President of the New York State Iron Workers District Council. “The Iron Workers District Council and its [local] unions endorse Council Member Ben Kallos for Manhattan Borough President because we need more elected officials who will stand up to anyone when it comes to doing what's right for our brothers and sisters in labor.”

“We endorse Ben Kallos for Manhattan Borough President because he knows how important the skilled craftworkers in the masonry trades are to building and maintaining our city. We know Kallos appreciates the depth and rigor of our members' training and skills because he saw it first hand at our training center.  He was even willing to pick up a trowel and lay some brick and put on a harness and get up on a suspended scaffold,” said Jerry Sullivan, President of International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 1, NY. “As a Council Member Kallos pushed for more worker training along with better wages and benefits on city subsidized jobs and we know he will continue to do so as the next Manhattan Borough President.”

“Iron workers and Bricklayers together have built our city from the most iconic landmarks to the housing and offices in which we live in work,” said Council Member Ben Kallos. “I have joined with the Iron Workers and Bricklayers in standing up for construction safety through training and better wages. It would be my honor to continue representing them and working families throughout our city.”

“Ben Kallos legislates with a rare combination of focus and creativity,” said First Public Advocate Mark Green. “All the way back in 2009 when he was working with me to develop ‘Change for New York: 100 Ideas for a Better City,’ I was confident that Ben Kallos had a unique progressive vision. In his time in the Council I have been blown away by his ability to get big wins for New Yorkers while standing up to powerful forces, and I know he’s ready to take the role Manhattan Borough President by storm.”

Serving as Director of Policy for Green’s 2009 campaign for Public Advocate, Kallos worked with Green on his "Change for New York: 100 Ideas for a Better City." Since being elected to the City Council in 2013, Kallos has championed many of Green’s progressive policies and has won hard-fought gains, including expanding the public campaign finance system Green originally wrote for a full public match to get big money out, providing affordable housing through an online portal, fighting homelessness by founding a taskforce and building supportive housing, and adding more than 1,400 new public school seats.

Green and Kallos have recently teamed up to support progressive candidates for office, including Jumaane Williams for Public Advocate and most recently Elizabeth Warren for President. Kallos was the first Manhattan politician to endorse Warren, after Green initially introduced them.

“There are no easy public policy issues, but Ben has taken on some of the hardest,” said Former Public Advocate Mark Green. “Ben has taken on ‘unsolvable’ problems that have plagued New York for years—from scaffolding to tenant blacklists—and found creative ways to finally make the progress New Yorkers are looking for. I am proud to see what he’s done, and excited to see him bring his energy to the borough of Manhattan.”

The New York State Laborers’ Political Action Committee comprised of 24 local unions and 5 district councils endorsed New York City Council Member Ben Kallos for Manhattan Borough President. Early in his career, Kallos represented the LiUNA! affiliates including the Mason Tenders District Council as a union-side labor lawyer.

New York, NY – Today, Ben Kallos received the endorsement of the New York City Coalition of the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) made up of six local unions representing 18,000 members, for a total of thirteen labor organization endorsements as he runs to be the next Manhattan Borough President succeeding Gale Brewer who is term-limited.

“During his time in the City Council no one has worked harder than Ben Kallos to protect the safety of tens of thousands of men and women in the construction industry. He understands that in order to ensure their safety and the safety of the millions of New Yorkers, commuters, and tourists who pass by construction sites each day, it is critically important that all workers be properly trained. He knows and continuously advocates that the integrity and rigor of our procedures for licensing these workers must be maintained and, when necessary, strengthened,” said Edwin Christian, President of the 18,000 member coalition. “Ben Kallos understands the significance of those credentials. Our members believe Ben Kallos has the proper credentials to be Manhattan’s next Borough President.”

New York City Coalition of Operating Engineers consists of the following six IUOE locals:

1. Local 14 - Edwin L. Christian, President
2. Local 15 - Thomas A. Callahan, Treasurer
3. Local 30 - William Lynn, Recording Corresponding Secretary
4. Local 94 - Kuba Brown, Vice President
5. Local 211 – Nelson J. Más, Trustee
6. Local 891 - Robert Troeller, Trustee

First Labor Endorsements for Any Candidate in 2021 Go to Ben Kallos

New York, NY – Today, Ben Kallos was the first candidate to receive any labor endorsements in a race for 2021, receiving seven endorsement from major labor organization as he runs to be the next Manhattan Borough President succeeding Gale Brewer who is term-limited.

“I am proud to have the support of our nurses, construction workers, civil servants, telecommunications and utility workers, who do the work that makes our city great,” said Council Member Ben Kallos. “We must support our working families in government, healthcare, at public utilities, and in the private sector, for a better borough.”

Kallos a union-side labor lawyer who once represented the Mason Tenders District Council announced his candidacy for Manhattan Borough President with the support of the following brothers and sisters in organized labor with tens of thousands of members throughout the city and the borough of Manhattan (alphabetical order):

1. Communications Workers of America Local 1101
2. Heat and Frost Insulators Local 12
3. New York Professional Nurses Union
4. Organization of Staff Analysts (OSA)
5. Steamfitters Local 638
6. Sheet Metal Workers Local 28
7. Utility Workers Union of America Local 1-2

Council Member Kallos Known for Winning Anti-Corruption Reforms Has Taken On City Hall and Real Estate to Win School Seats, Parks Investment, Transportation Improvements, and to Stop Supertalls in Residential Neighborhoods

New York, NY - New York City Council Progressive Caucus Co-Chair Ben Kallos is the first to announce that he is running to succeed term-limited Gale Brewer as Manhattan’s next Borough President.

The “reform democrat” is running on a platform of accomplishments and anti-corruption measures he won to help communities stand up to real estate as they fight for affordable housing, something that sets him apart as a candidate for Manhattan Borough President. Council Member Ben Kallos has been recognized by City and State who ranked him as one of the best city council members and as a workhorse who has passed more than 40 laws. Kallos won over a thousand pre-kindergarten seats for his district, secured $200 million for parks, and authored anti-corruption measures including a ban on lulus and outside income, all while refusing money from real estate that allowed him to bring the first of its kind grass-roots community rezoning to stop overdevelopment of supertall towers for billionaires to preserve and build affordable housing for everyday New Yorkers.

At the time of an announcement, Kallos unveiled seven endorsements from organized labor unions: Communications Workers of America Local 1101, Heat and Frost Insulators Local 12, New York Professional Nurses Union, Organization of Staff Analysts (OSA), Steamfitters Local 638, Sheet Metal Workers Local 28, and Utility Workers Union of America Local 1-2.

Ben Kallos, Democratic nominee from Council District 5 said, "The proposed rules reforms include ideas proposed by the government transparency community – and will go a long way towards a 'City Council 2.0' with increased transparency, openness, and accountability that will greatly empower our city's residents.”

City Council candidate Ben Kallos today released a policy book containing goals and areas of policy support in advance of the City Council Primary in Manhattan's District 5 (the Upper East Side and Roosevelt Island). The book contains a vision for a more accountable and equitable local government, as well as steps he would take in the City Council to work towards such results for District 5 and citywide. 

In a statement today, Ben Kallos, Candidate for City Council in Manhattan's District 5, said, "I'm disappointed by Micah Kellner's behavior."

Council candidate Ben Kallos joined the Transit Justice Rally for better public transportation outside of MTA headquarters

City Council candidate Ben Kallos held an Upper East Side screening of Gasland II to spread awareness against fracking

New York, N.Y. – Council Candidate Ben Kallos is offering free voter file access starting today to all 2013 City candidates in the hopes of electing a better City Council. Free voter file accounts will allow Democratic and Republican Party Primary candidates to verify petition signatures so that they can get the 450, 2,000 and 3,750 signatures from registered voters in their party to get on the ballot for City Council, Borough President and Citywide office, respectively.  These petitions must be filed with the Board of Elections between Monday, July 8 and Thursday, July 11.

Today marks a crucial step forward for justice: the sentencing of Pedro Espada, corrupt former state senate majority leader, to five years in prison. Pedro Espada stole from his own nonprofit hundreds of thousands of dollars meant to serve the poor in the Bronx, and then had the audacity to run for reelection.

New York, N.Y. – Yesterday, Council Candidate Ben Kallos joined seniors, NYCHA residents and members of AFSCME Local 371, offering testimony to rethink cuts to senior services for NYCHA before the City Council Committee on Public Housing. Kallos, whose district encompasses the Upper East Side and Roosevelt Island where Stanley Isaacs and Holmes Towers have a NYCHA Senior Center, urged the City Council to help NYCHA keep senior centers well staffed and well funded as the agency faces a $205 million shortfall as the result of federal sequestration. 

Were the United States Government to begin developing all new code using a free and open source license, it would mean hundreds of billions of dollars in cost-savings for the public. The IT sector would flourish with thousands of new jobs and the improvements created by efficiency of software sharing between agencies would improve government, bringing it into the Internet age the right way.

"Fares keep going up, while service keeps going down, and that doesn't make any sense," said Ben Kallos, City Council Candidate for the Upper East Side. "We've collected over a thousand signatures on the Upper East Side as part of the Bring Back Our Booths campaign that we launched earlier this year when riders grew concerned about inaccessibility and safety after agents and booths were removed from subway stations at 77th and 86th Streets.  We’re thrilled to work with Transit Forward and TWU Local 100 to take this campaign for a better commute Citywide."

Kallos to support slate of young democrats for county committee to achieve policy platform