Queens Activists Rally Behind John Choe for City Council

Queens United Independent Progressives (QUIP) and the New York Progressive Action Network (NYPAN) both endorsed community leader John Choe to represent District 20 in the New York City Council. Choe is running in the upcoming Democratic Party Primary Election on June 22, 2021.

Choe, former Chief of Staff to John Liu and founder of the Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce, would be the first Korean American elected to the City Council. During more than two decades of public service and community organizing, Choe has led efforts to enact landmark legislation, including the City’s first language access bill; secured $1.5 million to support small businesses; fought against gentrification and luxury development, such as the Special Flushing Waterfront District; and advocated for transportation improvements to reduce congestion and improve street safety in District 20.

“I am proud to receive QUIP’s endorsement. The hundreds of activists in QUIP represent a generation of Queens residents tired of the status quo politics that has failed our communities, especially during a pandemic that has taken the lives of 27,000 NYC residents and resulted in mass joblessness, bankruptcy, eviction and hunger,” Choe said. “With QUIP’s help, I will restore power to everyday New Yorkers, restructure our government, and address the immediate needs of District 20 residents: increasing housing, creating jobs and reviving our small business community. There’s too much at stake to do anything less.”

QUIP was founded in mid-2018 by volunteers and staff from Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s successful primary election victory over 10-term incumbent Congressman Joe Crowley, who at the time was leader of the Queens County Democratic Party and the fourth-highest ranking member of the United States House of Representatives.

In addition to John Choe in District 20, QUIP also endorsed Aleda Gagarin in District 29 and Juan Ardila in District 30.

“We are proud to endorse these three progressive fighters, who have been our partners in organizing,” said Shawna Morlock, Co-Chair of QUIP. “They have all shown up for their communities by organizing for affordable housing; reliable mass transit and safe bike lanes; care for children and our elders, a Green New York, and so much more.”

None of the candidates QUIP endorsed accept donations from real estate developers, police unions or senior executives of fossil fuel firms, she added.

Choe was also endorsed by the New York Progressive Action Network (NYPAN), a statewide organization founded in 2016 with activists from the Bernie Sanders campaign. NYPAN chapters and affiliates include unions, the Jim Owles Democratic Club, the 504 Democrats, and Life of Hope. In 2018, NYPAN joined with the Working Families Party to successfully elect progressive Democrats running against the Independent Democratic Conference (IDC), which had allied with Republicans to stop reforms in the State Senate. Six out of eight IDC Senators lost their seats.