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Biggest NYC union backs Bloomberg foe

By The Associated Press
SARA KUGLER
Associated Press Writer

August 13 , 2009

NEW YORK (AP) - Mayor Michael Bloomberg suffered a political setback Thursday when the city's largest municipal union did not endorse his bid for a third term, instead backing the Democratic front-runner.

District Council 37 endorsed City Comptroller William Thompson Jr., a reversal from 2005 when the union supported Bloomberg over the Democrat in the race. Bloomberg was then a Republican but is now an independent.

The union's executive director, Lillian Roberts, sharply criticized Bloomberg at a news conference, saying the mayor had changed in the four years since DC37 backed him.

She portrayed the billionaire incumbent as out of touch with the middle class, and described his recession-era fiscal policies, which have included layoffs among DC37 workers, as "heartless" and "wrong."

Roberts described Thompson as "a champion of the millions of hardworking New Yorkers we serve."

Bloomberg told reporters at a campaign event that he has had to make tough and unpopular decisions as the city endures difficult economic times.

"I just will not make irresponsible promises to win an endorsement," he said.

The endorsement gives Thompson much-needed help in his bid to unseat Bloomberg, who has already spent more than $36 million of his own money on the campaign.

The union has 125,000 members and 50,000 retirees across many city departments. They maintain bridges, roads and subways and work in health care, schools and libraries. The diverse force provides Thompson with campaign troops on the ground.

As an independent, Bloomberg does not face a primary.