​UDO proudly announces the candidates we are endorsing for the Democratic Primary being held on June 23, 2020!

We thank our honorees, Virginia Lee, Michael Tsai, and Rep. Nydia Velázquez for their hard work for our community.

Jumaane is a qualified candidate who gets things done. We look forward to working with him in the future!

Happy Lunar New Year, from our family to yours.

Our petitioning kickoff and intern orientation enjoyed a huge turnout, and we got to hear from several of our endorsed candidates. Thanks for coming on out!

I applaud the Mayor and Chancellor for trying to desegregate our Specialized High Schools. We all want more minorities and young women to be admitted to these Specialized High Schools. But the standardized test has withstood time as the one equal measure for admittance.

In the past the City has maintained the standardized test when other ethnic and racial groups dominated the student bodies of these high schools. It appears discriminatory and unfair to abolish the test now that Asian-American students fill the hallways of the Specialized High Schools.

The best way to be inclusive is to even the playing field for all students. Desegregated schools means providing a quality education and strengthening testing and studies in the lower grades for all students in every borough! The City must make test prep classes affordable and open for everyone to participate. The City should reduce class size, make test prep available and affordable, and make stronger efforts to encourage and welcome parental involvement in all elementary and middle schools. The City should also establish equivalent high schools of excellence in every community district.

​The Specialized High Schools are jewels in our City’s educational system. The Mayor and Chancellor should spend the necessary time and resources fixing the long suffering problem of providing an equal quality and assessable education for all the 1.1 million students rather than taking the much easier way out and scrapping the standardized test. We encourage a citywide conversation with various neighborhood town halls before any final decisions are made.

The UDO is proud to endorse a diverse, progressive slate of candidates for office this election cycle. Take a look at our full list and information on our endorsed candidates.

New York lost an iconic leader and statesman. Denny was a treasure to the Asian American community.  As the former chair of the Assembly Ways and Means Committee, Denny always looked out for immigrants, seniors, hard working families and ensure legislative efforts are aimed to lift up these communities. 

“I am deeply saddened to learn the passing of my friend, Denny Farrell. He was always kind and listened intently when I called to address concerns or made a request.  Like the times Dr. Herbert Kee and I urged Denny, when he was Manhattan County Chair, to support nominating the first Asian American female and male judicial candidates to be in the Civil and Supreme Courts. I thought it was long overdue in the district Civil Courts and county-wide Supreme Court to have Asian American judges, and Denny didn’t hesitate to do all he can to make this happen for the community.  It was under Denny’s leadership that the number of Asian Americans to the NYS and Democratic National Conventions was expanded and our presence was duly recognized by other states,” said UDO President Emeritus Virginia Kee.

Mrs. Kee continued, “Denny also supported the creation of Part D in the 65th Assembly District so the Chinatown community could have representation in the Manhattan County Democratic Party. I am grateful for all he did to improve the lives of Asian Americans and all New Yorkers. His legacy will continue in the work of UDO.”

“Without Denny Farrell’s support to include representation in Chinatown, there wouldn’t be the UDO club and I certainly would not be a District Leader.  Denny was a wonderful mentor to me and Dan Chu when we were first elected to be District Leaders. And, Denny supported every one of my reelection.  I will always treasure his counsel and guidance and he will be sorely missed," said Democratic District Leader Jenny Low.

UDO President Chung Seto worked extensively with Denny Farrell when he was Chair if the NYS Democratic Committee and she was the Executive Director.  

“I am heartbroken about Denny’s passing. He was an icon in the state. And it didn’t matter if you are a Democrat, Republican or Independent, everyone liked and respected Denny for his enormous heart and uncanny ability to make you feel at ease.  In the four years that we were political partners in the State Democratic Committee, we raised needed funds to elect record number of Democrats up and down the ballot," said UDO President Chung Seto.

Seto continued, “Denny was a mentor and dear friend. He always had a funny story to tell or if you had time he would recite political war stories and share history lessons. Denny knew what it meant to be a good public servant. In our time of ego driven politics, the world needs more statesman like Denny Farrell. His advice and lessons will stay with me forever.  I will miss him dearly.”

District Leader Justin Yu noted, “Denny Farrell was a trailblazer and loyal friend to the Asian American community.  He authored many Assembly bills that helped small businesses grow and thrive.  I’m also grateful for Denny’s support of Part D in the 65th Assembly District and I’m very proud to be part of the UDO family that’s expanding the Democratic base in Chinatown.  Denny Farrell would be proud too.”