BY THE VILLAGE SUN | With Kamala Harris set to give her speech tonight in Chicago officially accepting her nomination as the Democratic Party’s candidate for president, some local New York City politicians were also getting the spotlight.
This evening, two convention delegates from Downtown Manhattan, Councilmember Carlina Rivera and Assemblymember Grace Lee, have been trending on, of all places, Fox News in the photo for the conservative Web site’s lead story: “DNC is buzzing about blockbuster appearance on final night — but it’s not Harris.”
The snarky article throws shade on Harris by reporting that a special surprise guest may perform on the affair’s final night — possibly Beyoncé or Taylor Swift — and that Harris, judging by the excitement level for the act or acts, will…well, be playing second fiddle.
I’m honored to represent our great city and state at the #DNC2024 with NY proudly supporting the @KamalaHarris + @Tim_Walz ticket! We must continue to build on the success of a historic Biden presidency and fight for a safer and more prosperous future for all Americans. pic.twitter.com/E1VRwDzlDp
— Carlina Rivera (@CarlinaRivera) August 21, 2024
But Rivera’s remarks were upbeat and positive in an interview with Spectrum News from the convention floor last night.
“The energy is so, so high,” the East Village politician told Spectrum. “And of course that platform that messaging that we have to continue to ensure we deliver to get people out to vote. … Our reproductive freedom is under attack… . We have one in three women of reproductive age across the country living under an abortion ban. We have a housing platform that is ambitious and necessary. We have to reduce barriers at the local level to build more housing. And of course we need tax credits for working families to support children and people that are living through this affordability crisis.”
Check out @CarlinaRivera and me on @ny1 Inside City Hall talking about the excitement of this year’s DNC Convention! pic.twitter.com/KZjANV9M2m
— Grace Lee 李榮恩 (@graceleefornyc) August 22, 2024
In a tweet of her own, Lee, who represents Lower Manhattan, said she was immensely proud that two New York-area Asian congressmembers, Grace Meng of Queens and Andy Kim of New Jersey, had addressed the DNC Wednesday night.
“Beyond thrilled and incredibly proud to see both @Grace4NY and @AndyKimNJ on the main stage at the DNC Convention tonight! What a moment for the AAPI community,” she said, “and I couldn’t be more excited to cheer them on!”
State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal, another delegate, was also interviewed on the convention floor.
Back in the Big Apple, local Democratic political clubs and politicians, including Assemblymember Harvey Epstein, are holding a DNC watch party tonight at Mary O’s, at 32 Avenue A. Harris is expected to start speaking at 9:30 or 10 p.m.
Sometime around 8:15, the article with Rivera and Lee’s photo was bumped out of the top spot on foxnews.com by one about former presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren speaking at the convention and getting emotional after receiving a standing ovation.
In the end, Fox’s report did not pan out: Beyoncé did not perform.
Carlina represents the corporate developers and not her constituents. Don’t believe a word she says no matter how progressive it sounds. She will always put those which fund her campaigns above her district and she has a long record to prove who she works for, it is not the East Village.
Happy to see the convention went really well but Carlina has done a terrible job improving the quality of life in the neighborhood. Completely inept and we deserve better representation. She does not care at all. Pretty obvious to anyone paying attention.