Council Member Costa Constantinides endorsed Tiffany Cabán for District 22 Monday (Council Member Costa Constantinides via Twitter)
March 22, 2021 By Allie Griffin
Council Member Costa Constantinides is backing Tiffany Cabán to replace him in the City Council when he leaves office at the end of the year.
Constantinides announced his endorsement of the progressive public defender at a press briefing outside the entrance to the Rikers Island bridge in Astoria Monday.
“I’m proud to endorse @tiffany_caban as my 1st choice for District 22,” he said on Twitter. “Her experience as a public defender inspired her to fight to ensure that equity/environmental justice are within the grasp of all NYers. She will be a fierce advocate for all our communities in western Queens.”
Constantinides, a longtime environmental activist, also cited Cabán’s support of the Green New Deal, which aims to make New York City carbon-neutral by 2030.
He also endorsed Evie Hantzopoulos as his second-choice endorsement to coincide with the city’s new ranked choice voting option that allows voters to number candidates from one to five in order of preference on the ballot.
“Next, @evie4us is my 2nd choice on the ballot,” Constantinides said. “She would bring experience and energy to the Council.”
The council member had previously endorsed his former Chief of Staff Nick Roloson for the District 22 seat, but Roloson dropped out of the race a month after Cabán announced her campaign and endorsed her instead.
Constantinides, who is term-limited, must vacate the seat at the end of the year. Sources close to the councilmember said in January that he might leave office before his term is up.
Cabán is one of five Democrats running for the District 22 seat to represent Astoria, Rikers Island and parts of Jackson Heights, Woodside and East Elmhurst. The other Democrats vying for the seat are Hantzopoulos, Leonardo Bullaro, Catherina Gioino and Nicholas Velkov.
Edwin DeJesus will be in the general election as an independent, while Felicia Kalan will be running as a Republican.
7 Comments
Evie Hantzopoulos is the best choice to serve as city council member for district 22. This is not the right position for Caban and our district needs someone who will be invested in its long-term success, not someone who is using it as a stepping stone in their political trajectory. Caban for DA, not city council. It’s too “in the weeds” for her goals.
Evie lives in the community and has for more than 20 years, she serves on the Community Board – so she understands the power of that unit and its limitations – she has children is the public schools and has been involved for years. She has been a force in helping neighbors during the pandemic – from NYCHA residents losing cooking gas to others needing help with managing childcare, work, school, rent, food. Elected officials go to her when they need guidance and community input. She is the clear and best choice. I urge everyone to rank her #1 on June 22nd!
Want to see crime rise to new heights in Astoria, vote for Tiffany Caban…
We are not sheep to follow who they endorse right and left. I will vote for the toughest on crimes / criminals. No more bs so I don’t care who backs who, who sits on whose lap.
Moderator refuses to post my comments about Clueless Costa-he must be your uncle or cousin.
why backing someone to do the job you dint do all this candidate what they want is the position after that they forget the constituents that vote for then please something new
The only two candidates it makes sense to vote for are Caban or Bullaro. All of the candidates except for Bullaro have very similar (in hantzopoulos’ case, identical) positions but without the citywide credibility or institutional backing to get stuff done in Council. If you consider yourself a progressive, Caban is the one who can get things done. If you identify more as a “regular candidate”, and found yourself aligned with Costa, Bullaro is really the only one who is carrying that torch.
Wben he was elected he was a conservative Democrat – hmmm I wonder changed? He along with Gianaris have abandoned Astoria.