After the polls closed at 9 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 2, and before Norwood News went to press with its Nov. 4th edition, the New York City Board of Elections (BOE) released the unofficial results of the various races.

 

 

The unofficial results of the various citywide, judicial and Bronx specific races are attached, as well as the results of the five State constitutional amendment proposals.

 

 

In the citywide races, Brooklyn Borough President and Democratic nominee for mayor, Eric Adams, was led in the mayoral race with 75 percent of the vote.

 

It's official — our five-borough, knock-every-door, reach-every-voter campaign was successful: We have won the race for Mayor of New York City!

This is my dream come true, and I couldn’t be more proud to represent the City that we all love as your Mayor-elect 🗽🍎

— Eric Adams (@ericadamsfornyc) November 3, 2021

Adams was followed by Republican candidate, Curtis Sliwa with18 percent.

 

Tonight is not the end of a campaign

Political campaigns end, but political movements don’t

We started a political movement—a movement focused on people & not politicians

I put animals, homeless & mentally-ill people first

This is not the end—it’s just the beginning.

— Curtis Sliwa (@CurtisSliwa) November 3, 2021

 

 

 

Both Adams and Sliwa, released tweets with their respective reactions to the unofficial results, after the polls closed.

 

“This is my dream come true,” said Adams, the projected winner of the race, and called on New Yorkers to unite. Meanwhile, Sliwa said, “Tonight is not the end of a campaign. Political campaigns end, but political movements don’t.”

 

Incumbent public advocate and Democrat, Jumaane Williams, was leading in the public advocate race with 76 percent of the vote, after poll closure. He was followed by Republican candidate, Dr. Devi Elizabeth Nampiaparampil, with 15 percent.

 

In a statement released on Nov. 3, he said thanked New Yorkers for re-electing him, once again. “I especially want to thank all of you who supported our campaign with your time, donations, and words of encouragement over the past two years, as well as the countless organizations, unions, elected officials and community groups who endorsed our campaign,” he said.

 

 

“It’s truly unbelievable, and I am so grateful to have had your votes this election and over the years.” Williams said New York City was at a watershed moment in its history and had an opportunity, through tireless activism, to stand up to those in power and demand accountability, equality, and justice for all. “Serving as an activist, elected official means being unafraid to use what power you have to do the most you can for the most people, and serving as public advocate, means being the people’s voice, fighting to deliver transformational change, to get results,” he said.

 

 

He said the next four years in the city are going to be crucial, and will be defined by the ability, willingness, and courage of people to push forward, rather than fall back into old patterns, the way things were before the pandemic.

 

 

“We’re entering a new era for New York, with a new administration coming in, and new challenges compounding the existing ones,” he said. “I believe that this moment calls for a progressive leader with management, vision, understanding, collaboration, and courage to lead through these crises.”

 

In the City Comptroller’s race, Democratic City Councilman Lander led with 78 percent of the vote, followed by Republican candidate, Daby Benjamine Carreras with 15 percent. In an earlier tweet released on Election Day, he wrote, “Pretty emotional to cast my ballot today. So grateful to do it with Meg & Marek (Rosa sent her absentee ballot in yesterday).”

 

Pretty emotional to cast my ballot today. So grateful to do it with Meg & Marek (Rosa sent her absentee ballot in yesterday).

And so deeply grateful to all of you for your support. You can be sure I'll work as hard as I can every single to live up to it. pic.twitter.com/ikeWkky9l4

— Brad Lander (@bradlander) November 2, 2021

 

He added, “And so deeply grateful to all of you for your support. You can be sure I’ll work as hard as I can every single [day] to live up to it.”

 

 

In the Bronx borough president’s race, District 16 City Council Member and Democratic nominee, Vanessa Gibson, led with 84 percent of the vote, followed by Republican candidate Janelle King with 9 percent, and Conservative Party candidate and NYPD veteran, Sammy Ravelo, with 6 percent.

 

Gibson released a brief statement on Oct. 3, saying, “From our unions, community leaders and activists, to our volunteers and supporters across the Bronx and New York City, your support throughout my whole campaign has been nothing less than inspiring. I can’t wait to get to work on behalf of all Bronxites.”

 

She continued, “And friend, our vision is clear. We are fighting to ensure every New Yorker makes a decent living, keep families safe and healthy, support our students, uplift small businesses and create access to affordable housing. We will not let up until we do just that. I am honored to be your Bronx Borough President and I’m excited to get to work for you and your family. Thanks to you, The Bronx!”

 

In the District 11 City Council race, incumbent Democratic councilman, Eric Dinowitz, led with 85 percent of the vote, followed by Republican / Conservative Party candidate, Kevin Pazmino with 10 percent.

 

Congratulations colleagues @Vanessalgibson and @nantasha2021! The future of NYC is in good hands! pic.twitter.com/xAnC5bUaP8

— Oswald Feliz (@OswaldFeliz) November 3, 2021

 

 

District 15 incumbent Democratic councilman, Oswald Feliz, led with 84 precent of the vote in the District 15 race, followed by Republican and Conservative Party candidate, Ariel Rivera Diaz, with 12 percent.

 

Former District 15 City Council Democratic primary challenger, Bronx Community District 7’s district manager, Ischia Bravo, tweeted a photo of herself, together with Feliz at a polling center on Election Day, writing, “Guess who joined me to vote today? My new neighbor, former opponent and now my Council member @OswaldFeliz #vote It’s about the district now #community”

Guess who joined me to vote today?! my new neighbor, former opponent and now my Council member @OswaldFeliz #vote it’s about the district now #community pic.twitter.com/voG7dVHlRt

— Ischia Bravo (@Bronxbravo) November 2, 2021

 

In the District 14 City Council race, candidate, Pierina Sanchez, the Democratic nominee, led with 91 percent of the vote, followed by Shemeen Chappell with 8 percent. Reacting to the results, Sanchez said, “I am so honored and humbled by the support this community has shown our campaign, and I cannot wait to work with my neighbors as the next City Council Member for District 14.”

 

She continued, “We built a movement to fight for every person in this district. Together, we will increase and expand affordable housing, increase homeownership, create good jobs, guarantee strong public schools, champion immigrant and racial justice, and secure investments into our community. I was born and raised in the Bronx, and nothing makes me prouder than representing this community. Tonight is a lifelong dream come true.”

 

 

In the special election race for Bronx Assembly District 86, Yudelka Tapia, the sole candidate in the race, won 99.7 percent of the vote, based on the unofficial election night results.

 

 

In other North Bronx races, incumbent Democratic District 12 councilman, Kevin Riley, won 99 percent of the vote as the sole candidate in the District 12 race. In District 13, Democratic nominee, Marjorie Velázquez led with 57 percent of the vote to Republican, Aleksander Mici’s 41 percent.

 

Velazquez released a statement on Nov. 3, writing, “This win is a tremendous honor, and I’m so thrilled to serve the Bronx in the City Council. I was born and raised in this borough, and have dedicated my life to working to empower our community.”

 

She added, “From serving on Community Board 10, to organizing mutual aid efforts during the pandemic, I have seen the passion and dedication of our neighbors firsthand, and I’m excited to work together to deliver for our working families.”

 

She went on to thank her family and all who supported her. “Now, it’s time to get to work,” she said.

 

 

Norwood News visited P.S. 46 polling site, located at 2760 Briggs Avenue, and P.S. 8, located at 3010 Briggs Avenue, both in Bedford Park, Monroe College polling site, located at 2501 Jerome Avenue in Fordham Manor and P.S. 85 polling site, located at 2400 Marion Avenue in Fordham Heights to talk to voters. None reported any voting machine issues at any of these centers.

 

 

We spoke with T’Shawn Shannon who voted at Monroe College, located in City Council District 14, and who spoke about her views on the candidates in the race. “I appreciated that some of them came to my door, actually, and talked to me about the various issues in the neighborhood,” she said.

 

“It seemed that they were very responsive and willing to listen to me and, hopefully, they go about with the information that I gave to them dealing with the issues that I addressed.” On the merits or otherwise of ranked choice voting, Shannon said, “I think whatever gets people out to vote is beneficial to everyone.”

 

 

 

Kiana Correro, who voted at P.S. 8 in District 11, said the main reason she came out to vote was to vote Mayor Bill de Blasio out of office because she said the mask mandates and vaccine mandates have created a mess.

 

“You have police officers getting fired, teachers getting fired,” she said. “You claim you want to save lives, but you’re actually destroying lives by firing people for not having medical freedom, basically.

 

 

Correro continued, “So, that’s something I really don’t like. I think we should just get back to normal living to be very honest. Like, it just seems very over tyrannical and that’s the main reason I came out here to vote today.”

 

 

Voters also cast their ballot on Election Day on five constitutional amendment proposals.

 

Proposal 1 related to amending the apportionment and redistricting process, and after the polls closed on Election Night, and the unofficial results were issued, 67 percent of voters had voted in its favor.

Proposal 2 related to an amendment to the right to clean air, clean water and a healthful environment, and 87 percent of voters voted in its favor.

 

Proposal 3 related to an amendment to eliminating an advance voter registration requirement, and 65 percent of voters voted in its favor.

 

Proposal 4 related to an amendment to authorizing no-excuse absentee ballot voting, and 64 percent of voters voted in its favor.

 

Proposal 5 related to an amendment to increase the jurisdiction of the New York City Court, and 82 percent of voters voted in its favor.

 

George Deinabo, 51, cast his vote at Glad Tidings Assembly of God polling site at 2 Van Cortlandt Park in Bedford Park, located in District 11. “I found the process [of voting] to be very easy,” he told the Norwood News. “I didn’t have any issues with the machines. He added, “As far as the propositions, I understood them fairly clearly and voted on each one.”

 

We also visited P.S. 056 Norwood Heights polling center, located at 341 E 207th Street in Norwood, located in District 11. Again, there were no problems reported in terms of voting machines at the center. Richard Chaple, 46, a customer service representative, who voted for Adams for mayor, was asked which issue was to the forefront of his mind on entering the polling station.

 

 

He told Norwood News he wants to feel safe in the city. “I’m from New York, and I moved to Miami for 15 years, and came back, and since De Blasio came to the city, it’s kind of scary,” he said. Chaple added, “I want the city to be running better; it’s kind of chaotic now.”