Three top contenders in New York City’s mayoral campaign ensured their presence to a large gathering of conventioneers to the 15th annual National Action Network meeting at the Sheraton Hotel.
Council Speaker Christine Quinn, William “Bill” Thompson, former NYC comptroller and current comptroller John Liu made their bid to woo supporters of Al Sharpton and his organization. But it was Liu who seemed to receive the lion-share of applause before and after the one-minute presentation the founder suggested.
Unlike the tepid responses after presentations from Quinn and Thompson, the national gathering loudly endorsed a message from the only Asian candidate in the race for mayor of New York.
Liu offered an overview of issues he planned to focus if elected to the top city position.
Immigration and gun control seemed important to his agenda. However, he seemed to emphasize a diverse program that might enhance a more promising future for the city.
Quinn’s message seemed to curry favor with the crowd. With only seconds to state her case, she lauded the organization and its executives by naming a few she said were worthy of praise.
Although busy moderating the distinguished plenary session, Sharpton acknowledged the shrewd maneuver calling it strategic but joked that it might not impact his national audience.
Thompson sought a safe path, choosing to neither curry favor nor commit to any particular issue. For that he was warmly received with a lukewarm response.
The first Asian candidate to seek the position announced his candidacy on St. Patrick’s Day on the steps of City Hall and marked the day by visiting all five boroughs. He is the only candidate to denounce NYPD’s Stop & Frisk policy.
He has also written a letter to Mayor Michael Bloomberg urging him to settle the case against the men — popularly known as Central Park Five – who were boys when they were convicted of being rapists.
“This troubling case has spanned the administrations of three of your predecessors. In the last year of your third term as Mayor, I urge you to exercise your executive authority to assist in closing this terrible chapter in our City’s history, so that New Yorkers can finally put an end to the painful ‘Central Park Five’ saga,” Liu wrote.
