The following statement can be attributed to Hector Figueroa, President of 32BJ SEIU, the largest property service union in the country.

“32BJ is proud to join the diverse base of local elected officials, other labor unions  and community groups throughout Queens in our endorsement of Melinda Katz in her campaign for District Attorney. Not only does Borough President Katz deeply understand the kinds of economic and safety risks workers in Queens face every day, she has made workers’ rights a key part of her campaign and created a detailed agenda to get justice for these workers as District Attorney. Her plan to protect Queens residents from wage theft, unsafe workplaces, and hostile work environments will make New York a better, safer place for working families.

Throughout her extensive career in public service, Melinda Katz has always stood up to protect the rights and safety of the most vulnerable in our community. She has proven her  commitment to protecting immigrant communities from the Trump administration. As D.A. she will create an Immigrant Justice Unit that will educate immigrants about their rights, protect them from ICE and make Queens safer for all communities. She has also made plans to create a criminal justice system that works for everyone, pledging to end the cash bail, end prosecution of low-level marijuana arrests, and prioritize alternatives-to-incarceration programs that focus on rehabilitation instead of punishment. Overall, New York needs the new community-centered approach to justice that Katz has proposed, in order to change the longstanding practices that have led to our current era of mass incarceration. We are confident that Katz will be a true advocate for working families as DA. She has the  enthusiastic support of 32BJ.

Katz expressed her enthusiasm about the endorsement saying: “32BJ has done a fantastic job standing up for workers across the country. Their fights to raise the minimum wage, protect immigrants from ICE, and win better working conditions have made a difference in the lives of thousands of people. The Queens District Attorney should be an ally to working people in these fights, and I’m proud to have 32BJ’s support.”

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With more than 175,000 members, including 85,000 in New York, 32BJ is the largest property service workers’ union in the country.