For immediate release: October 5, 2018

Notice of Press Conference

Where: Potts Deli & Grille, 41 S Rossler Ave, Cheektowaga, NY 14206
When: Friday, October 5, 7:00 PM
Who: Howie Hawkins for Governor; Jill Stein former Green Party Presidential candidate; Mark Dunlea, Green candidate for State Comptroller

Hawkins to Hold News Conference in Cheektowaga at 7:00 PM prior to event with Jill Stein, former Green Party Presidential candidate

Green Party Gubernatorial candidate Howie Hawkins is visiting Buffalo with 2016 Green Presidential candidate Dr. Jill Stein and State Comptroller candidate Mark Dunlea.

Hawkins will hold a news conference at 7:00 PM to discuss his campaign, including his recent endorsement by the Buffalo Teachers Federation. Hawkins will also discuss his call for four regional debates and the decision by the Working Families Parties to nominate Andrew Cuomo for the third time.

Following the press conference, there will be a 7:30 PM campaign gathering at Potts Deli and Grille at 41 S. Rossler Ave., Cheektowaga NY.

Also speaking at the campaign event will be local Green Party candidates including Wade VanValkenburgh (Mayor of Lockport) and Danilo Lawvere State Assembly District 146 candidate. Carol Sandy Przybylak will announce her candidacy for Cheektowaga Town Council in 2019.

In discussing the teachers’ endorsement, Kevin Gibson said, "Most unions remained silent on the governor's race. BTF refused to be neutral. Instead, we chose a different path than what many establishment bosses recommended to their members. We chose to stand with who is right on our issues and that is Hawkins/Lee on the Green Ticket. For me, the decision to support Howie Hawkins and Jia Lee was an easy one. They have met with educators and recognize that Common Core Standards have diminished New York's standing from top five in the nation to #23. Cuomo supported the adoption of Common Core Standards,” he stated.

The veteran teacher added that “Hawkins Lee call for a huge $4 billion investment in public education. Cuomo's tax cap law ensures deeper cuts to schools. Buffalo is owed close to $1 billion in denied funding. Cuomo supports expansion of charter schools to appease the billionaire donors. Charter schools starve Buffalo public schools of needed funding to support private charters that do not perform any better than public schools. Hawkins/Lee know that charters are a scheme to raid the public treasury for profit while often discriminating against the most needy children. I urge all public teachers to support Hawkins/Lee and the Green line and reject Cuomo.”