Syracuse, NY -  Today, candidate for New York State Assembly Maurice Brown released the following statement in response to reporting that DoorDash has launched an independent spending effort in support of Assemblymember Bill Magnarelli:

“Elections should belong to the people who live here.

Our campaign has been powered by volunteers, neighbors, working people, and hundreds of small dollar donors who believe Central New York deserves bold leadership focused on affordability, housing, transportation, and building a government that works for everyday people.

That is why I am disappointed to see us welcome a billion dollar corporation attempting to influence this race through an outside Super PAC.

Let me be clear: this is not about whether independent expenditures are legal. They are. We can debate whether they should be at some other point. This is about values and priorities. When corporations with enormous resources enter local races, voters should ask themselves a simple question: whose interests are they trying to advance?

DoorDash has every right to advocate for policies that benefit its business model. I have every right to say that I believe elected officials should answer first and foremost to the people who live in our communities, not to the priorities of multinational corporations with track records opposing worker protections.

Central New Yorkers are struggling with housing costs, utility bills, healthcare expenses, and the rising cost of everyday life. I do not believe Doordash, a billion dollar corporation, has a better understanding of what our communities need than the people who wake up here every day, raise families here, and work here.

This campaign has never been about who can spend the most money. It has been about whether government should work for working people.

I trust the voters of Syracuse, Geddes, and Van Buren to make this decision for themselves. We will continue doing what got us here: knocking doors, listening, organizing, and earning support one conversation at a time.”

The Democratic Primary will be held in June, early voting begins June 13th, election day is June 23rd. More information is available at www.electmauricebrown.com.