Why some NYC unions are choosing Dan Goldman for NY-10

[00:00:00]Thank you guys for coming.

[00:00:02]>> Big names in labor coming out for an incumbent congressman behind in the polls.

[00:00:07]>> We now are up to 20 labor union endorsements.

[00:00:11]>> Dan Goldman, who represents the 10th congressional district, rallied with members from the UFT, the Municipal Workers Union District Council 37, and the Carpenters on Friday, trying to help what many believe is now an underdog candidacy.

[00:00:25]>> Honestly, I don't know how Brad Lander walks upright because that man has no spine.

[00:00:30]>> On full display was some of labor's disdain for Goldman's opponent, Brad Lander.

[00:00:35]>> When he was running for controller, he came to us, we backed him. Loves the unions, loves the unions, and then when it comes to, you know, working-class wages, all of a sudden now we make too much money. Come on.

[00:00:45]>> There are several key issues, they say.

[00:00:48]>> Their experience many of these unions have over his career in politics is that he flip-flops, and he can't be trusted.

[00:00:55]And they know they can trust me.

[00:00:57]>> One, Lander has criticized an affordable housing tax incentive that the Carpenters say raised their wages.

[00:01:03]>> They created a whole new bureaucracy in order for the governor to satisfy the building trades, and now no housing is getting built.

[00:01:11]>> In a statement to NY1, a Lander spokesperson explained it this way: "Brad has criticized the 485-x program because it's just not working to build affordable housing or to protect workers, and everyone knows it. It's strange for elected officials or labor union officials to be defending a program in which 99% of the developments have taken advantage of a loophole that requires zero affordable housing or good jobs." The statement goes on to tout Lander's own labor endorsements, like from the Building Service Workers.

[00:01:43]Goldman has secured other labor endorsements in some cases, sources say, because Lander issued a critical audit of a healthcare fund run by unions in his final days as controller, deeming it insolvent.

[00:01:56]>> Yeah, thank you. I feel good today.

[00:01:58]>> Lander is expected to have busy final weeks on the campaign trail. Next week he will rally with the mayor, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, and other progressive candidates backed by Mondaire Jones like Claire Valdez and Darlisa Aviles Chevalier at King's Theatre in Brooklyn. Courtney Gross, New York 1.

[00:02:15]>> Let's go, Max.