James seeks to move from City Council to public advocate’s office
The public advocate’s office operates on a budget of $2.2 million a year, a paltry sum by city government standards. But Councilwoman Letitia “Tish” James said she isn’t daunted by that fact.
James, one of five candidates running in the Sept. 10 Democratic Primary for public advocate, said her decade-long tenure on the City Council puts her in a unique position to get more funding and resources for the office. “I am in a position to lobby for additional funding for that office. I know the council members. I have worked side by side with them. I have built personal relationships with them,” she told the Brooklyn Daily Eagle in an interview on Wednesday.
James is running against Cathy Guerriero, a college professor; state Sen. Daniel Squadron (D-Brooklyn Heights), former deputy public advocate Reshma Saujani, and Sidque Wai, an official at the Police Department in charge of outreach to minority communities.