UFT Delegate Assembly (7/8/25)

DA votes to endorse Zohran Mamdani for mayor in the general election

President’s Report

A lot going on with the federal government the last couple days. If people don’t understand public education is under attack, I don’t know what I can do to make you understand that. There is a national voucher law. They are prioritizing privatizing public education.

Remember what you have been elected here to do. You’ve been elected to do what’s best for the United Federation of Teachers. We are the largest local union on the planet. We have the most diverse group of people with the most diverse political opinions, agendas, and everything that comes with that. We try to be respectful towards all that but we must leave outside agendas outside the room. Need to look out for the best interests of our union.

Media was here this morning. Earlier today we made our announcement that we are starting the AI Institute of Education and will be housed in NYC here at the UFT. We’ve had conversations with different companies. AI is something we need to take control of before someone weaponizes it against us. Every time there’s a new reform or technology, there’s more paperwork and less support from people who don’t know how to do the work we do every day.

Over the next few years, we are hoping to train 40,000 teachers. We want AI to work for us. This tool can be very helpful to us if we learn how to use it in a way that helps us help children. We’ve been clear with the companies we’ve spoken to. Not here to help companies push products. We are agnostic. It’s about the interaction between school staff and students. We want guardrails for our privacy. The federal government should’ve done that but they have not.

Primary elections: We invested a lot on City Council. 905 of candidates have won. 41 out of 44. 51 total members on City Council. 41 members that we endorsed have prevailed in the elections. We focused on this because we do not know who the mayor is going to be. A strategic decision.

Mark Levine won City Comptroller. Jumaane Williams won Public Advocate. We endorsed both.

Endorsement process - Spending a day in the classroom, mayoral forum at the Spring Conference. Asked members for views by sending out survey. People asked to see results. When you get less than 2.300 people responding, you don’t want to share results. 600+ retirees voted. Cuomo was #1. Stringer was #2, further down. Not close. On in-service side, Mamdani was #1. Stringer was #2, further down. Not close. 

The membership made their priorities clear. Tier 6, affordability, dealing with the federal government, running the city correctly. Affordability, the federal government, running the city correctly were the top 3. Fourth priority was education. What does that say to us? Affordability and living in this city is the real crisis we are having. At a crisis point because of Tier 6. There’s not a single city agency that can fill open positions. Only one thing in common with all city agencies. Tier 6. Statewide is the same problem.

2,300 is a very low number for the survey. We didn’t release results to protect our union. Some people want to use that in a different way.

I said on NY1 today. I spoke about the AI Institute. They asked about our endorsement. I told them it’s up to the Delegate Assembly. There will either be an endorsement or no endorsement today.

Four nominees. Eric Adams, Andrew Cuomo, Curtis Sliwa, and Zohran Mamdani (big cheers for Mamdani audible on the call). 

What does an endorsement mean from the UFT? We are never telling anyone who to vote for. That’s not what our endorsement is. Our endorsement means we are recommending a candidate who will help us most, what is in our union’s best interest. Who will help our profession, who will help you take care of your family. The job of the union is the union. 

We have all these different personal values and belief systems. I embrace that, makes us more fun. Our duty is to prioritize our members, our professions, and our livelihoods. We must choose a candidate who will fight for our students and our schools every day.

Since the primary victory, there are things I will update you on. The Big Beautiful Bill is an existential threat to public education. If we can’t get together on that one, we got problems. The U.S. now has a national voucher bill. That means people can donate money to private institutions and get it back as a tax credit. They’re basically saying you don’t have to send your child to public schools anymore and we can privatize America. They’ve cut Medicaid horrendously. They’ve cut out SNAP. They’re cutting out the social safety net that millions of families in this city, state, and country rely on. They did that and redistributed that money to the wealthiest people in the country. That’s the priority of this union now moving forward. They’re here. The bombs are landing. They’re going after all sorts of other things at the same time. The State will likely have to come back into session. Medicaid cuts lead to education cuts. We gotta work real hard, real fast before the midterm elections to get people to understand what’s going on. Giving people a tax break across all economic zones would’ve been fine, but they’re only giving it to the wealthiest.

Our endorsement process will end today either way. We will never have a perfect candidate. I will tell you that after the primary I spoke to Mr. Mamdani. Told him our concerns about antisemitism and the state of Israel. Asked him where he’s at. That’s my job. There are all sorts of political beliefs and systems in this union. I will always confront an elected official over issues that impact this union. It’s about our union as a whole. Mamdani said I hear you loud and clear. I’m going to work to clarify my positions publicly over the next few weeks. To his credit, he did that. It’s not to the satisfaction of some people in our union but that’s the work. That’s what you’re supposed to do.

So, we now have Mr. Adams, Mr. Cuomo, and the other guy (Sliwa) who wants the school year to end on July 31st.

Very powerful, affluent people in this city are crazed. Doing everything in their power to create a path for anyone but Mr. Mamdani. Yesterday was an embarrassment where you had one calling the other to drop out and one saying you’re an arrogant SOB (referring to Adams and Cuomo). All that tells me is that both of those candidates are going to be completely beholden to those rich and powerful people who want nothing to do with the working class and lower class. 

Whenever possible, it’s always in our best interest to do an endorsement. It was tough for me not to do an endorsement in the primary. Always better to be at the table to move your agenda. Our agenda is very simple. 

Top priorities that we need to get done:

- Protect all members healthcare

- Fixing Tier 6

- Passing RESPECT check bill for paras

- Revamping mayoral control to give more say to educators and parents. We don’t need anymore evidence why we need mayoral control. Bloomberg, de Blasio, Adams. Enough already. We need to change it. We need a balance.

- Fully implementing the Class Size Law

- Fully funding pre-K and 3K programs

- Defending workers’ rights

- Protecting NYC from federal cuts and immigration enforcement overreach

- Making our city more affordable

We need to look at our priorities, look at the candidates, and decide if there is one candidate who will fight most for our priorities.

Members have great concerns over different candidates for different reasons. A lot of people are worried about antisemitism but we also have to be worried about Islamophobia, as well. The president of the U.S. is already talking about one of the candidates in a way reminiscent of Islamophobia.

Make your decision not based upon other political beliefs but on what you’ve been elected to do, which is to move the agenda of this union. To get better benefits. To get what is important to us. That is our job. And now we will start our debate.

Question Period/Resolution for this month

Victoria Lee, UFT Treasurer: Resolution to endorse Zohran Mamdani for mayor in the 2025 general election. This was already passed by AdCom.

Point of information (question not heard)

MM: Adcom passed it this morning. We brought it to the DA today which we are allowed to do.

Point of information - People attending virtually do not have a copy of the reso.

MM: That’s why we had it read out loud. We didn’t put anything out because people would try to interlope in our business. Not open to outside interlopers. This is our union, not theirs. It takes a lot of work to vet these candidates.

Marsha, Retiree Teacher Chapter: I watched the Mamdani healthcare video. At no point did Mamdani mention retirees.

MM: I spoke to him about that.

Mike Sill, UFT Assistant Secretary: I stand before you to support the endorsement of Zohran Mamdani.

Ryan Bruckenthal: Also supports Zohran Mamdani. As a Jewish member of this union, 

Name not heard: Amendment to resolution. Be it resolved that UFT educates members on Zohran Mamdani and continue to mobilize and fight for Mamdani’s platform, win or lose. Fight for all points on his platform, such as freezing rent, $30 minimum wage, and raising taxes on wealthiest New Yorkers.

Amendment now on floor for debate.

Leroy Barr, UFT Secretary: I rise reluctantly to speak against the amendment. I agree with many things in his platform but may not agree with everything. I do not want to lose the momentum of the moment. We would love to have a 90-100% vote. When you add all these different policies to this basic resolution, it can cause confusion. If we vote to endorse him, we will have the opportunity to sit and talk with him. I want to stick to the very basic endorsement before you and not add everything but the kitchen sink. Asking you to vote strictly for the endorsement, not the amendment.

Vote to support amendment: Yes: 280, No: 587 (online). Yes: 52, No: 127 (in-room). 68% voted amendment down. Amendment does not pass.

Now back to the original resolution.

Matthew Brown: The timing is too rushed. Timing does not allow me to engage my members to see where they’re at. I don’t understand why this resolution is so rushed. Not against Mamdani but against the timing.

Janella Hinds, UFT VP of HS: Standing in strong support of resolution to support Zohran Mamdani.

Michael Shulman, RTC: I rise to support this resolution. One of my main concerns is the issue of creeping fascism in this country under Donald Trump. We need to address the issue of who is best prepared to safeguard NYC residents. Don’t want to miss the boat. Also, the question of protecting our immigrant students and communities is a major question for our union.

Adell Goldberg: I stand against this resolution. It seems to me that while a lot of Mamdani’s programs are beneficial, his plans for funding them don’t seem realistic. The people who have the money who he wants to charge, also have the ability to change their residency and move out of NY. That can land on us.

Kelly Ann: Also worried about how rushed this is. How am I supposed to hold a meeting with my members? We are rushing to do this work when we haven’t been able to talk to our members to advocate for them. We need to hold those meetings in September. 

Yadi Michelle: I don’t think we should endorse any capitalist politician regardless of political party. Republicans are the party of NCLB. Democrats are the party of RTT. Both political parties are guilty. We need to protect immigrants under attack and retirees being threatened with Medicare Advantage.

Mark K: I taught Zohran Mamdani in 10th Grade Global History and 12th Grade AP World History. I enthusiastically support this resolution but would like to add a one-sentence amendment. 

MM: You can’t. You spoke in favor of resolution. If you’re going to make an amendment, you have to add the amendment first.

Rich Mantell, Middle Schools VP: I’m going to speak against this. I heard everything you said, Michael. All the great things he’ll do for us. But, this candidate has world and political views that are divisive. Members have contacted me with their concerns. I’m pro-union. Been in since 1989. But I cannot in good conscience support this amendment.

CL Edward R. Murrow: I rise in support of this endorsement. We’re a union of members fighting for members. Who better to make sure we have a voice than Zohran Mamdani? I am Jewish. This should not be about my religion, race, or creed. This is about the benefit of all members and the union itself. We need to protect and preserve healthcare for all members. Need to be able to afford to live in NYC. 

Andrea Polite, CL: Rise to call the question. 

Vote: Yes: 671, No: 197 (online) Yes: 121, No: 64 (in person) 75%. Question has been called.

Leah Lin: Point of personal privilege. I want to know why District Rep Ashley Rzonca was removed from her position.

MM: That’s not a point of personal privilege. Thanks for wasting our time.

Today’s Resolution

Resolution to endorse Zohran Mamdani

Yes: 575, No: 381 (online). In-person votes inaudible. 63%. Passed.

MM: We have a responsibility and obligation. This endorsement is here because it’s in the best interest of the union. This is very difficult for a lot of people, which is fine. But, as Mantell said, we are obligated to follow the decision. The attacks are going to be immense. We need to do everything in our power to help him. The last two mayors we did not endorse in the primary, just the general. The job of the union is to go to the mayor with the same approach. This is our union, our schools. We work with the community. Need to work in the interest of making our schools and communities better. There’s a lot on the line right now. We have massive enemies on the outside. We always have a target on our back. If this man (Mamdani) becomes mayor, we will have a bigger target on our back. It’s about moving the agenda of our union. That is my ask of all of you. Happy summer.