​Democratic Coalition to Fight Corrupt Political Machine

Seven New York City Council candidates announced the formation of the Democratic Coalition for Council District 20. In an unprecedented move, all independent Democratic Party candidates for District 20 came together to support a Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) strategy aimed at bucking the status quo election system dominated by the Democratic Organization of Queens County, the political machine run by Party insiders, lobbyists, and real estate interests.

“In a democracy, the people choose!” stated Neng Wang, former Director of the Queens Nan Shan Senior Center at the Chinese-American Planning Council and candidate for City Council in District 20.

“I stand united with the people against the power of a corrupt political machine and the special interests they represent. For far too long, Queens elected officials have done the bidding of the real estate developers and banks who bankroll them, no matter the cost to our families and small businesses. The only way to stop the massive construction of luxury buildings displacing residents and mom-and-pop stores in our neighborhoods is to break the machine’s stranglehold on power,” said John Choe, the executive director of the Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce and candidate for City Council in District 20. “I fought hard to stop the Special Flushing Waterfront District, which was quietly backed by most local elected officials. If you don’t want more of the same, vote for our Democratic Coalition candidates.”

Executive members of the Democratic Coalition include: Hailing Chen, John Choe, Ming-Kang Low, Anthony Miranda (Chair), Neng Wang, Dao Yin, Ellen Young (Co-Chair).

“Our coalition is about empowering the voter, strengthening our diverse community and exposing the biased and abusive practices by the Queens Democratic Machine. We are asking the community to vote for our coalition members in rank choice voting,” stated Anthony Miranda, Chair of the Democratic Coalition for Council District 20.

“Our Coalition stands strongly against a political establishment antithetical to true democracy,” stated Dao Yin, Candidate for City Council in District 20. “The establishment has failed us in everything from public safety, health, education to jobs, affordable housing, and homelessness. We need a community-minded person who can represent District 20 -- not a Party hack.”

These City Council candidates for District 20 are uniting to fight the unfair engagement by the political establishment – the Democratic Organization of Queens County (DOQC).

"The DOQC breaches the concept of the Ranked Voting System by endorsing their choice of candidate, leaving all other candidates in a less competitive situation. I believe this kind of political favoritism contradicts the purpose of the new voting system and is not fair to other candidates and dishonors the people's will. Therefore, I am in solidarity with the Democratic Coalition, which represents all the people of Council District 20," stated Terence Park, Advisor to the Democratic Coalition for Council District 20.

Registered Democrats can vote for up to five candidates this June 22 in a new Rank Choice Voting (RCV) system. The Coalition urges Democrats to vote based on the policies and experience of each candidate -- not on the endorsement by a corrupt political machine.

“In a democracy, the party does not decide -- the voters decide,” stated Hailing Chen, candidate for City Council in District 20. “I joined this Coalition because I have seen the machine politicians who represent our district leave working families behind. We need change.”