Personality
Nydia’s godchildren
The retiring rep has established a family tree.
Rep. Nydia Velázquez has cultivated a circle of mentees. Many of them attended Antonio Reynoso’s launch event. Reynoso campaign
There once was a time when Rep. Nydia Velázquez was a political outsider in Brooklyn, a rare voice opposing the county organizations headed by Democratic bosses Clarence Norman Jr., Vito Lopez and Frank Seddio.
But in recent years, she’s built up a whole community of like-minded progressive Democratic politicians through a combination of recruiting, endorsing, advising and cajoling. They look up to her with reverence, and now all of North Brooklyn considers her political family.
And they’re proud of it. “Everyone’s a lion. There’s no sheep in this group. That’s important to us,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso.
Velàzquez endorsed him to be her successor, but that only happened after the “godchildren” got together to talk, as City & State reported in an extended interview with Reynoso. The whole family hasn’t endorsed him yet in his primary race against Assembly Member Claire Valdez and City Council Member Julie Won, but many of them have, and more could in the coming weeks.
City & State talked to Reynoso, Velázquez and other members of the North Brooklyn crew to understand the relationships.
LA FAMILIA
Antonio Reynoso
Brooklyn borough president
What Nydia said: “In 2013, when Vito Lopez decided to run for the City Council, I just couldn’t believe it. And I said we need to stop this… I saw this young man. I asked myself ‘does he have what it takes to go after Vito Lopez?’ And he did.’”
Lincoln Restler
New York City Council member
What Antonio said: “I want to say I’m the first first, but Lincoln Restler’s like my annoying brother. We’re twins, we don’t know which one popped out first.”
Jen Gutiérrez
New York City Council member
She was Reynoso’s chief of staff and Velázquez’s campaign manager.
Sandy Nurse
New York City Council member
What Antonio said: “We met her through the work that she was doing related to COVID. She was helping giving out food, doing mutual aid in Bushwick.”
Alexa Avilés
New York City Council member
She’s a fellow Puerto Rican elected official who got early support from Velázquez for the open City Council seat when Velázquez lived in Red Hook.
Julia Salazar
State senator
What Nydia said: “Even in the moment where Julia was being attacked personally (in the 2018 campaign), we stood with her, Antonio and I. And while some people told me ‘get out, don’t do it,’ I said no, this is bullshit… I told her how to campaign! She was kind of timid. And I told her you need to be more aggressive. Use your arms… Let them feel you.”
LAS PRIMAS
Tiffany Cabán
New York City Council member
What Nydia said: ”We have a great relationship. We meet, we discuss issues, we call each other. … (She) proved herself when she ran (for Queens district attorney) and no one gave her a chance.”
Kristen Gonzalez
State senator
What Nydia said: “We meet. We discuss issues and strategies.”
Emily Gallagher
Assembly member
What Nydia said: “I was the first one to endorse her when she ran for district leader. And Lincoln Restler and Antonio, the three of us were all out for her.”
Maritza Davila
Assembly member
What Antonio said: “A sister more than she is a godchild. And it’s not an age thing. Maritza, after everything that was happening, came to us. And she wanted to work with us. She didn't ask to be a part of the crew or anything. We worked together for a couple of years, and she just naturally became a part of the family.”
Crystal Hudson
New York City Council member
What Antonio said: “Nydia loves Crystal … She could be like a second cousin. Hakeem (Jeffries) would claim her.”
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Congress member
What Nydia said: “She has a lot of respect for me. I have a lot of respect for her. But not only respect. It’s love between the two of us.”
DEARLY DEPARTED (FROM OFFICE)
Carlina Rivera
Former New York City Council member
What Nydia told The New York Times in 2022: “I will help bring everything that I got to help her throughout the district.”
Carlos Menchaca
Former New York City Council member
What Antonio said: “She supported Carlos Menchaca against Sarah Gonzalez, a Puerto Rican woman, and that was a huge thing for Nydia.”
Diana Reyna
Former New York City Council member
What Antonio said: “More like a sister than a godchild. A complicated sibling relationship. But the enemy of the enemy is my friend. They joined in the fight against Vito Lopez.”