Dear Lucas,
I want to let you know that I have decided to be a candidate for Comptroller of the City of New York next year.
With a continuing deficit, challenges to our pension system, and a changing landscape at City Hall, New Yorkers need an independent voice they can trust in the Comptroller's office. We will have to be completely focused on finding creative and responsible ways to deliver the most productive municipal government possible - without distractions.
I believe I have the experience to do the job.
- As a lawyer, I practiced securities litigation, where I learned what it means to be a fiduciary, and how to do internal investigations of large corporations.
- In the City Council, I've chaired the Consumer Affairs Committee, passed legislation to protect working people and to save taxpayers money, and have been a clear and consistent voice for responsible budgeting as a six-year-member of the Council's budget negotiating team.
- As a community leader, I've led the fight for affordable housing for 25,000 of my neighbors at Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village and have been a spearhead for the multi-billion dollar tenant-backed bid to protect our homes.
- As a passionate advocate for the rights of all New Yorkers, I helped litigate the case to win fair funding for New York City schools and wrote landmark legislation to give the Civilian Complaint Review Board prosecutorial power against police abuse, which the City has just agreed to implement.
- And as an independent reformer, I've worked to make the Council budget process more transparent and accountable.
Over the coming year, I will be laying out my vision to strengthen the way the City protects the retirement security of its workforce, and to make government work better - both internally and with its outside vendors - with a focus on results. We need new ideas in this city, so don't hesitate to share yours with me at my website here .
I'm ready to take the next step in serving the City I love. I will be in touch with you in the coming days to personally ask for your support.
Sincerely,
Dan Garodnick
p.s. Please watch a special video message about my announcement here .