New York City Correction Officers' Union Endorses Bloomberg for Mayor October 19, 2001 Norman Seabrook, President of the 11,500-member New York City Correction Officers’ Benevolent Association, announced Friday that his union “is proud to endorse Michael Bloomberg for Mayor of New York City.” The correction officers’ leader said his union is supporting Michael Bloomberg “for many reasons. One is that it’s going to take a man with know-how to rebuild this city in light of the tragedy that has struck America, a man who has already proven to thousands of people he already employs that he can keep this city moving forward. “On Sept. 11, the people of this city came together regardless of race, creed, color, or religion and supported each other. Now it’s time to continue the support we showed for each other and show our support for Michael Bloomberg,” Mr. Seabrook said. “Michael Bloomberg will enhance this city as never before. He will invest in economic development throughout the five boroughs of New York, reorganize education so that it works for every student and give every student the opportunity to move on to higher education. “He will invest in our city’s youth by developing after-school and pre-school programs and other education programs that will improve our children’s quality of life. He will support and increase health care for our senior citizens and, most importantly, bring labor to the table at City Hall to discuss the issues that will ultimately impact every union member in this city. And he will give us the chance to be there before policy and procedure are merely shoved down our throats. “We need Michael Bloomberg to lead a changed city in a changed nation. He has proven his worth as a job creator during times as difficult as those we face right now. He can and will do even more as Mayor. “Mike will continue to reduce crime without making the victims of crime the victims of government. He will enhance health care so that a mother doesn’t have to spend hours at a South Bronx clinic because her child is suffering from lead poisoning or asthma. He will direct housing officials to immediately begin refurbishing the hallways of the city’s housing projects to change them from looking like caves to looking like hallways the residents can be proud of. He will begin a program for police stations similar to the field trips on which teachers take students to the local firehouses and teach them that the firefighter is their friend and that a firehouse is a safe place to go when something happens. He will do the same with police stations so that the children do not grow up thinking a police station is an alien spaceship and that only bad people go there. He will merge community policing with community people, churches, synagogues and mosques and other houses of worship. “Mike doesn’t owe anybody anything. He’ll be able to cut through bureaucratic red tape and get the job done. “That’s why it’s so important that you join with us, the 11,500 members of the New York City Correction Officers’ Benevolent Association, our family members and friends in supporting Michael Bloomberg for Mayor. Your party affiliation is not important. What’s important is that it’s time to elect Michael Bloomberg Mayor of New York City.” While endorsing Mr. Bloomberg, Mr. Seabrook also denounced the tactics used against Candidate Fernando Ferrer during the just completed Democratic primary. “We have seen the way the last run-off was conducted We have seen the way that Mike has presented his ideas to New Yorkers. Mike is a person we can be proud of. He’s running an honorable campaign, unlike the way Freddie Ferrer was portrayed in the run-off election, which was despicable, disgraceful and uncalled for,” Mr. Seabrook said. “The voters supporting Freddie Ferrer must never forget what was done and how it was done. No apology or claim of ignorance can ever undo what was done. The voters of New York city must send a clear message that such conduct is unacceptable.”

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