ATU Local 726-Staten Island, NY, and ATU NY State Legislative Conference Board Endorse Andrew Cuomo for NYC Mayor
NYC Transit Workers Back Cuomo’s Vision for Affordable, Sustainable Mass Transit, Oppose Mamdani’s “Free Bus” Plan That Bankrupted Kansas City
“Cuomo has always recognized the unique challenges facing our borough’s transit system and is one of the rare elected officials to actually deliver for Staten Island riders and workers alike. Staten Island bus operators know that Andrew Cuomo has our back, and we’re proud to stand with him in this election.” --Daniel Cassella, President of ATU Local 726
Staten Island, NY - At an event today on Staten Island, Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 726-Staten Island, NY, and the ATU New York State Legislative Conference Board formally endorsed Andrew Cuomo for Mayor of New York City.
With over 20,000 members in the metropolitan area and thousands of bus operators and transit professionals across the five boroughs, this endorsement signals growing labor momentum behind Cuomo’s campaign, joining the Teamsters Joint Council 16 and IBEW Local 3. Staten Island’s Transit Workers Stand with Cuomo Daniel Cassella, President of ATU Local 726 and chair of the ATU New York State Legislative Conference Board, which represents Staten Island bus operators, emphasized Cuomo’s deep understanding of the borough, “Andrew Cuomo understands Staten Island better than all the other candidates combined. He built a dedicated HOV lane connecting the Staten Island Expressway to the Hugh Carey Tunnel, saving Staten Islanders 20 minutes a day, each way, every day,” he said. “Cuomo has always recognized the unique challenges facing our borough’s transit system and is one of the rare elected officials to actually deliver for Staten Island riders and workers alike. Staten Island bus operators know that Andrew Cuomo has our back, and we’re proud to stand with him in this election.”
Cuomo welcomed the endorsement, underscoring his longstanding alliance with labor and transit workers: “I am deeply honored to receive the support of ATU Local 726 and the ATU New York State Legislative Conference Board. Transit workers are the backbone of this city: they keep New York moving. I’ve always believed you don’t expand transit by gimmicks or costly experiments; you expand it by investing in infrastructure, protecting union jobs, and building systems that last. With this support, we will deliver a transit future that is reliable, safe, and built by working people together.”
Supporting Cuomo’s Vision for Mass Transit, and Opposing Failed “Free Bus” Experiments
The men and women of the ATU, who lived through the flallout of failed fare-free experiments, are standing firmly behind Cuomo’s plan to strengthen transit through real investment, not gimmicks. Zohran Mamdani has proposed a “free bus” proposal modeled after Kansas City’s short-lived experiment. That plan collapsed under financial strain, forcing the agency to propose cutting nearly half its routes, and slashing service hours. Despite a temporary bailout, fares were reinstated, service deteriorated, and safety concerns grew.
In sharp contrast, Cuomo proposes expanding Fair Fares so that New Yorkers with incomes up to 150% of the federal poverty line (about $48,225 for a family of four) would receive full fare coverage on buses and subways. Today, those riders only get half off. Cuomo’s plan would directly benefit roughly 3.4 million subway riders and 1.3 million bus riders — making transit more affordable for those who need it most, without bankrupting the system or jeopardizing jobs.
ATU members who endured Kansas City’s failed experiment are united in their opposition to repeating the same mistake in New York. Cuomo’s approach respects workers, protects service, and expands affordability in a way that lasts. Proven Record of Labor and Infrastructure Leadership As Governor, Cuomo built a track record unmatched in the race: Raised New York’s minimum wage to $15/hour — the highest in the nation. Enacted one of the nation’s most expansive paid family leave laws. Protected public sector unions after the Janusdecision. Strengthened prevailing wage laws to guarantee fair pay on state-funded projects. Oversaw historic infrastructure projects — the Second Avenue Subway, Moynihan Train Hall, LaGuardia and JFK airport overhauls, and the Mario Cuomo Bridge — all built with union labor.
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