Health care union backs Gibson for Bx. beep

The 1199SEIU union of health care workers is endorsing Councilwoman Vanessa Gibson for Bronx borough president.

“Vanessa’s leadership has kept working people in their homes and young people in school and jobs. She’s stepped up to bring food, PPE and other resources to the Bronx during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Gabby Seay, political director of the 200,000-member union, said in a

Thursday statement. “As borough president, she’ll keep addressing inequities and making the Bronx a better place to live and work for our health care heroes and every working family.”

The term-limited Gibson, a Democrat, promised to tackle health challenges in accepting the endorsement.

“I’ll make sure we build back stronger and healthier than before,” she stated. “We will respect the work of our essential health care heroes and she-roes by providing improved working conditions and access to PPE.

“We will work to address food insecurity with access to health bucks, farmers markets, urban agriculture and working with our stakeholders to achieve universal healthy food,” Gibson added.

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. leaves office at the end of the year due to term limits — he said he’s quitting politics as the borough’s political scene undergoes a seismic shift. Other candidates in the June 22 Democratic primary for Bronx beep include Councilman Fernando Cabrera and Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez.