Dear Friends,
Thank you for your ongoing service to our communities and your role in the Samuel J. Democratic Club, a real force for good that has helped shape progressive politics on not just a borough-wide but a city-wide level.
Many of you have known me throughout my career in public service. As you will recall, I served as a member of the Board of Education, including as president during a time period whenwe made real progress towards improving the quality of education offered in our city. I also served two terms as the New York City Comptroller. And when no one else was willing to takeon a billionaire mayor powerful enough to overturn term limits, I stepped up, and proudly represented the Democratic Party in the face of daunting odds and enormous hurdles.
Like so many of you, this city has made me who I am. I was born and raised in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn and served as the Deputy Borough President. During my tenure at Borough Hall, one of my proudest accomplishments included bringing black and Jewish communities together following the Crown Heights Riots. Playing an important role in defusing tensions and building bridges inspired me to continue serving our city.
Today, I am running for mayor because we need leadership that addresses every corner of community in the City, not just Downtown Manhattan.
I understand that improving our schools is key to winning the future. I have stood up to the Bloomberg Administration’s failed policy of teaching to the test and relying on school closings as an educational priority. Under my administration, we will focus on student preparedness and comprehensive education that goes beyond high-stakes testing. And instead of closing our schools, I will fix them.
Just like we shouldn’t be teaching to the test in education, I believe we shouldn't police based on quotas and arrest counts. Instead, I want to reform stop and frisk and measure progress by how many crimes, not kids, we stop. As Mayor, I will hire more cops, expand community policing, and keep our city safe while respecting the civil liberties of New Yorkers from every community.
I will use my experience, including my tenure as a successful New York City Comptroller, to make sure our budget doesn’t nickel and dime the middle-class and squeeze New Yorkers out of the city they love.
I will continue to work with all of our leaders, from our district leaders all the way to Albany, to make sure that New York City is a place where everyone is welcome, everyone has a chance, and everyone can succeed.
Most importantly, I will listen to you and work to advance our shared progressive ideals.
I’m grateful for the opportunity to work with members of the Samuel J. Tilden Democratic Club and I would honored to receive your support for my campaign for mayor.
Yours truly,
William C. Thompson, Jr.