Mamdani deserves fair representation

To the Editor,

I am responding to the Aug. 8 edition of the Riverdale Press and Alisa Eilenberg’s disagreement with my appraisal of the Ben Franklin Club’s stance on the mayoral election.

She applauds “the club’s courage and integrity” for not supporting an “inexperienced candidate.” But those qualities were not concerns when they endorsed Eric Dinowitz’s initial run for City Council, ignoring candidates with years of government experience.

Zohran Mamdani, a New York assemblyman who won his first election by defeating a four-term incumbent, is not a political legacy candidate.

I don’t pretend to speak for the Jewish community, but undoubtedly supporters of Mamdani, including Bernie Sanders and Brad Lander, would take offense when positions resembling those held by Stephen Miller and Laura Loomer are purported to represent their views.

Assemblyman Mamdani is being opposed by a group of wealthy developers and landlords trying to elect Andrew Cuomo, according to the New York Times on Sept. 8. Mamdani is standing up for working people. Instead of encouraging the spread of half-truths and opinions disguised as gospel, perhaps Ms. Eilenberg should focus on the current dangers and future risks they pose for “our city,” rather than on an imaginary bogeyman.

Finally, I agree with Eilenberg that no candidate is perfect, nor is any political figure. After all, Benjamin Franklin was a slaveholder.

BARBARA SEWELL