On Sunday, Jan. 17, Congressmen Adriano Espaillat and Ritchie Torres who, individually, represent parts of Manhattan and the Bronx and together represent 100 percent of City Council District 14, announced their joint endorsement of Pierina Sanchez in the 14th City Council District primary due to take place in June.

A press release from the Sanchez campaign read that the endorsements were “reflections of the grassroots momentum and community support born-and-raised Bronxite, Pierina, has harnessed in her people-powered movement in the Bronx.” It also made reference to both congressmen being well known and highly respected throughout the borough.

Sanchez’s campaign said that she has reached thousands of voters in the District by holding over 50 local events spanning voter registration, census outreach, community service, and salsa lessons in the parks. The campaign added that Sanchez received the maximum amount of matched public funding from the New York City Campaign Finance Board in January, noting that in the first four weeks of her campaign, she received 1,230 contributions – making her the first in District 14 to wrap fundraising for the primary election.

Reacting to the endorsement news, Sanchez said, “I am so  grateful to receive the endorsements of two progressive champions for the Bronx, Rep. Adriano Espaillat and Rep. Ritchie Torres.” She added, “These two members of Congress know all about trailblazing: Rep. Espaillat is the only Dominican American to ever be elected to Congress and the only formerly undocumented immigrant to ever serve in Congress. Rep. Torres made history this  year as the first Afro-Latino, out-LGBTQ member of Congress.”

Sanchez said her grassroots campaign was about fighting for, and with, people who have been excluded from the political system for way too long, and drew similarities with the work of Espaillat and Torres in that vein. “Since entering Congress in 2017, Rep. Espaillat has been a champion for immigrant rights, and issues that impact poor and working New Yorkers.”

She added, “Rep. Torres has a track record holding government officials accountable to those who have long gone ignored and underserved, and delivering for our community here. The progressive movement is gaining momentum every day in the Bronx, and with Rep. Espaillat and Rep. Torres in our people-powered coalition, we are going to win this seat, and ensure the people of District 14 get the opportunities they deserve.”

Included in the press release was a statement from Torres who wrote that Sanchez was a fighter for the Bronx, and that he was proud to endorse her. “The Bronx needs City Council members who our neighbors know and trust to fight for them,” he wrote. “Having worked with Pierina over the last decade, I know that Pierina is that person here in District 14.”

Torres said grassroots momentum in the [14th District] race was with Sanchez, and that that energy was a reflection of the community’s faith in her. “Pierina is a born and raised Bronxite, and from City Hall to the Obama’s White House, she has already accomplished so much to make our community proud.” He added, “When I am in Washington D.C. fighting for the progressive policies our neighbors desperately need, I will breathe easy knowing that Pierina is holding down the Bronx.” He added that Sanchez loves her community, and is ready to represent it.

Meanwhile, Espaillat said that in fighting for working families in Washington [D.C.], elected officials needed City Council members who will be their partners on the ground in the Bronx, championing the same fights. “I am excited to endorse Pierina Sanchez because I know she is going to bring about real change for the Bronx,” he said.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately devastated our communities here in the Bronx, and now more than ever, we need progressive elected officials who are ready to hit the ground running.” He said Sanchez knows the challenges neighbors are up against, but has laid out bold solutions. “From environmental justice to housing, from education to community safety, I know that Pierina will be the best partner in bringing real investment to our communities. The Bronx backs Pierina, and so do I,” he said.

Norwood News previously profiled Sanchez’s candidacy. Other candidates in the 14th District Council race include Adolfo Abreu, Fernando A. Aquino, Haile M Rivera, Socrates S Solano and Yudelka Tapia.

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Welcome to the Norwood News, a bi-weekly community newspaper that primarily serves the northwest Bronx communities of Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights. Through our Breaking Bronx blog, we focus on news and information for those neighborhoods, but aim to cover as much Bronx-related news as possible. Founded in 1988 by Mosholu Preservation Corporation, a not-for-profit affiliate of Montefiore Medical Center, the Norwood News began as a monthly and grew to a bi-weekly in 1994. In September 2003 the paper expanded to cover University Heights and now covers all the neighborhoods of Community District 7. The Norwood News exists to foster communication among citizens and organizations and to be a tool for neighborhood development efforts. The Norwood News runs the Bronx Youth Journalism Heard, a journalism training program for Bronx high school students. As you navigate this website, please let us know if you discover any glitches or if you have any suggestions. We’d love to hear from you. You can send e-mails to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org or call us anytime (718) 324-4998.