In public service, transparency, accountability, and fair representation are not privileges — they are the foundation of democracy. As a candidate for New York City Public Advocate, I stand for these values and expect the same from our institutions and the press.
Yet time and time again, I’ve seen what happens when someone like me — a Conservative, a veteran, and a lifelong public servant — steps into the political arena. The system either tries to silence you or ignore you, and truthfully, there’s little difference between the two.
Over the weekend, I accepted NY1’s invitation to the Public Advocate Debate. I commend NY1 for taking this initiative independently, without relying on Campaign Finance Board regulations. That kind of leadership takes courage.
But as of now, incumbent Jumaane Williams has declined to participate. Sadly, it’s become common for those in power to take taxpayer money while refusing to debate the very people they’re supposed to serve.
Meanwhile, campaign donations paint the illusion of victory while silencing voices that don’t fit the narrative. I’ve served this nation, this state, and this city my entire life, yet I’m treated as “unqualified” simply because I don’t have million-dollar donations.
Let’s be clear — money does not define qualification; integrity and service do. But in today’s political climate, where one ideology dominates the city, money and media control far too much of the conversation.
Recently, Gothamist reporter Brigid Bergin, who calls herself “fiercely committed to telling stories that help people engage and support democracy,” published a misleading statement about this debate:
“Neither candidate has received public matching funds and neither was immediately available for comment.”
That statement is false. I was never contacted for comment, despite my repeated outreach to the Gothamist requesting fair coverage.
Read the article here.
What’s more revealing is the context behind it. Ms. Bergin’s earlier reporting in 2017 included some of the first national coverage of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democratic Socialist. Now we see a familiar pattern — Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani (a Democratic Socialist of America member and current mayoral frontrunner), and Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez are all part of the same political network.
It’s no coincidence that candidates like myself — those who stand outside the political machine — face silence instead of fair coverage. The media’s selective attention is not accidental; it’s structural.
Take News12’s coverage of the protest against the Eastchester lithium battery plant — a rally I personally organized. The story aired, but my name and leadership role were never mentioned.
See the News12 coverage.
Still, my foundation remains strong — built from years of service, advocacy, and community work. I’ve earned recognition through local, national and international media, and even when doors close, I keep building platforms for those who’ve been shut out.
See my press record.
I don’t expect change overnight, but I will never stop fighting for it. I fight for every New Yorker who feels unseen — the mother struggling to feed her children, the father grieving a senseless loss, the worker pulling double shifts and still falling short.
This issue with the Gothamist is more than a media oversight; it’s a small piece of a much larger problem — a system that protects the powerful and silences the rest.
If this message never reaches the mainstream, so be it. But it will reach the people someday and some way— because the truth has a way of finding its voice.
And as I’ve said before and I will say it again, a democracy without debate is no democracy at all.
Gonzalo Duran
Candidate
NYC Public Advocate