Local 237 Backs Vance In Manhattan DA Race

TEAMSTERS ON HIS TEAM: Teamsters Local 237 President Gregory Floyd gives union's endorsement for Manhattan District Attorney to Cyrus R. Vance Jr., saying he understands the concerns of the law-enforcement members he represents.

Teamsters Local 237 June 2 endorsed Cyrus A. Vance Jr. in the Manhattan District Attorney's race, with President Gregory Floyd praising him as someone who will "look out for working families to make sure that they are safe and justice is being served."

"Our members often come into contact with the criminal justice system, as agents in schools, prisons, hospitals and public housing," Mr. Floyd said outside Local 237's office on West 14th St. "It's important to us that crime levels stay low and that our communities are safe. We believe that Cy knows how to be smart, not just tough, on crime."

Vance: Responsive to Workers

After accepting the endorsement, Mr. Vance stated, "I want to make sure that our office responds to labor union concerns on a whole range of issues, whether it's fair wage labor laws, making sure that workplace safety is enforced, making sure that the District Attorney really is responsive on a real-time basis to the concerns of working men and women."

"Local 237 is the backbone of city workers, and I want to make sure that we are there for them, and that they know they have someone to talk to in the District Attorney's office if issues arise concerning them," he added.

Mr. Floyd said that Mr. Vance "knows what our members do, he knows the hard time they have with the criminal justice system as opposed to getting respect as peace officers . . . sometimes our peace officers are not treated as law enforcement, and Cy Vance completely understands that."

Mr. Vance, a former Assistant District Attorney in the 1980s under current Manhattan DA Robert M. Morgenthau, is believed to have the blessing of his ex-boss against Leslie Crocker Snyder and Richard Aborn.

Ms. Crocker Snyder has strong support from uniformed unions who have praised her toughness when she was a State Supreme Court Justice, and Mr. Aborn has the backing of numerous elected officials.