NYCHA Tenant Leaders Dispute Andrew Cuomo's Mayoral Endorsements: A THE CITY Investigation – A new report reveals discrepancies in a list of NYCHA tenant association presidents allegedly endorsing Andrew Cuomo's mayoral bid. Multiple tenant leaders deny giving their support, raising questions about the campaign's claims. Read the full investigation from THE CITY
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Bronx NYCHA President Jeannette Salcedo Denies Andrew Cuomo Endorsement: Confusion Surrounds Mayoral Race List
Bronx NYCHA Resident Association President Jeannette Salcedo surprised by Andrew Cuomo's mayoral endorsement claim. Salcedo, president of Castle Hill Houses, denies endorsing the former governor, questioning the appearance of her name on his Instagram and campaign list alongside 26 other NYCHA tenant leaders. The incident raises questions about the accuracy of Cuomo's reported endorsements in the NYC mayoral race
NYCHA President Denies Cuomo Endorsement: "How did that happen?" asks Jeannette Salcedo, whose name appeared on Andrew Cuomo's mayoral endorsement list despite her claims of no such support. Salcedo, along with other NYCHA tenant association presidents, questions the accuracy of the campaign's released list. The mystery deepens as several individuals deny endorsing the former governor, raising concerns about the endorsement process
Despite claiming no endorsement, NYCHA Castle Hill Houses president Jeannette Salcedo's name appeared on a May list released by Andrew Cuomo's mayoral campaign alongside 26 other NYCHA tenant association presidents, all purportedly endorsing him
NYCHA Tenant Association Presidents Deny Andrew Cuomo Endorsements: Five NYCHA tenant association presidents listed on former Governor Andrew Cuomo's mayoral endorsement list deny supporting his candidacy, stating they remain undecided. Their claims contradict the campaign's May announcement, raising questions about the list's accuracy
Two additional NYCHA tenant association presidents stated their names were included on Andrew Cuomo's mayoral endorsement list without their consent, although they declined to disclose their endorsement status
Andrew Cuomo's mayoral campaign faced scrutiny after a list of 27 NYCHA tenant association presidents endorsing him was revealed to contain several inaccuracies. While six presidents confirmed their support, one expressed surprise at the list's public release. Five others denied endorsing Cuomo, and two more questioned the unauthorized use of their names
Cuomo campaign spokesperson Esther Jensen responded to claims of unauthorized endorsements, stating the list of NYCHA tenant association presidents supporting the former governor had been publicly available for over a month. The campaign questioned the validity of the allegations
NYCHA Tenant Leaders Report Intimidation and Unwanted Attention During Cuomo's Mayoral Campaign. Concerns arose after a list of purported endorsements surfaced, with several tenant association presidents denying their support for the former governor. The City investigated, uncovering reports of intimidation and unwanted media attention impacting their endorsement decisions
With over half a million New Yorkers residing in NYCHA developments, securing tenant leader endorsements is crucial for any mayoral candidate. Former Governor Andrew Cuomo, a former HUD Secretary under President Clinton, highlights his housing experience as a key qualification, claiming significant support from NYCHA tenant association presidents. However, several tenant leaders dispute this claim, raising questions about the validity of endorsements attributed to them by the Cuomo campaign
Andrew Cuomo's mayoral campaign faces setbacks, including penalties for allegedly illegal campaign coordination and a housing plan criticized for AI-generated errors. The campaign is appealing the loss of matching funds
NYCHA President Jeannette Salcedo clarifies that she did not endorse Andrew Cuomo for NYC mayor, despite her name appearing on his campaign's endorsement list. Salcedo stated that while contacted by the Cuomo campaign, she declined to endorse due to unanswered questions and requested further information before making a decision. This revelation follows similar statements from other NYCHA tenant association presidents whose names also appeared on the list without their consent
Following a publicized endorsement on Andrew Cuomo's mayoral campaign Instagram, NYCHA resident association president Jeannette Salcedo clarified she did not endorse him and is reconsidering her support. Her statement follows reports of several NYCHA tenant association presidents whose names appeared on Cuomo's endorsement list without their consent
“When you speak to someone in a leadership role, it’s important to get their words correct. You don’t just take their words and run with it,” she said. “At this point now, that threw me to the left. I don’t want any parts of you.”
NYCHA leaders like Salcedo said they are eager to know what the mayoral candidates plan to improve the aging and cash-strapped public housing stock, which faces devastating possible budget cuts from the federal government. Cuomo, the race’s frontrunner, proposed upgrading NYCHA through a five-year investment of $2.5 billion, converting more sites to private management and developing new apartments on open space on campuses, among other ideas.
Two tenant association presidents told THE CITY they found out their names appeared on the list only after someone from City Hall reached out and asked about it. A City Hall spokesperson clarified that in both cases, a community affairs staffer who had longstanding relationships with the tenant association presidents communicated informally in the context of regular business.
One of those presidents, who asked to be kept anonymous to protect her residents from any blowback, said she had a call with the Cuomo campaign but never confirmed her support. She called the whole situation “dirty politics” and said the campaign “blew the trust.”
“I haven’t really made up my mind, and I don’t know who I’m voting for yet because it’s not even early voting,” she said, adding that she’d have to “face the music” the next time she saw Mayor Eric Adams. Adams has announced he will be running for reelection as an independent in November.
Lehra Brooks, Throggs Neck Houses Tenant Association president, confirmed her support for Cuomo, but said she was blindsided when she saw her name and title publicly on the list. She said she found out when she got a call from Adams’ office, which sent her a copy.
“I didn’t know they were putting us out as tenant association presidents. I was speaking for me, personally,” Brooks said. “I think that this is some funky politics.”
Still, she backs Cuomo, pointing to his leadership during the pandemic.
“He did an excellent job, and I said yes, I would support. When I look at the state of how we are right now, he’d be good,” she said.
Rashida Reid, president of the South Beach Houses Resident Association in Staten Island, learned her name was on the list when THE CITY contacted her about it. She said she spoke to someone from the Cuomo campaign and didn’t tell them whether or not she’d support him.
“I have not made up my mind,” Reid said. “I need to see what [the candidates] stand for.”
Kimberly Comes, president of the Redfern Houses Resident Council in Far Rockaway, was one of the people who accurately appeared on the list in support of Cuomo.
“He came to visit our community, and he spoke with some of the residents,” she said. “I haven’t given any cash or anything like that, but we feel he would be a great mayor.”
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Samantha Maldonado is a senior reporter for THE CITY, where she covers climate, resiliency, housing and development.
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