BREAKING: Building Trades Council + the Carpenters' Union Endorse Diana Florence for Manhattan DA

BCTC + Carpenters' joins labor groundswell for Florence, bringing total to 8 unions

NEW YORK, NY (08/17/2020) (readMedia)-- Today, the Building and Construction Trades Council and The District Council of Carpenters endorsed Diana Florence for Manhattan District Attorney, joining the drumbeat of momentum for her campaign. Two weeks ago, Florence announced her candidacy with six construction and building unions, including the New York State Ironworkers, Bricklayers Local 1, Terrazzo Workers Local 7, Heat & Frost Insulators Local 12, Ironworkers Local 361, Northeast District Council of Plasterers' & Cement Masons' Local 262 and 780. Florence has made real estate development fraud a cornerstone of her campaign, vowing to root out corruption in the industry.

The Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York is made up of fifteen unions, representing over 100,000 working men and women in New York City. The New York City District Council of Carpenters represents nine locals and over 20,000 members. Both unions advocate for immigrant rights and working families.

"We're proud to endorse Diana Florence in her bid to become Manhattan's next District Attorney. Diana has been a force for good in the New York construction industry and her commitment to the working men and women of this city is second-to-none. Diana has spent her career rooting out bad-actors in the construction industry and ensuring that the safety and livelihoods of workers is always paramount. We look forward to supporting Diana in her campaign for Manhattan District Attorney and to continuing our partnership with her in the fight for the working people of New York," said Gary LaBarbera, President of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York.

Florence was the head of the first of its kind Construction Fraud Task Force. She won landmark convictions against developers and corrupt corporations for cheating workers and taxpayers. In an historic case against Harco Construction, she ultimately secured justice for the family of a 22 year-old construction worker, Carlos Moncayo, who was buried alive at work. Diana has made prosecuting wage theft a centerpiece of her career, and securing $6 million in stolen wages and back-pay from AGL Industries.

"Diana Florence is a public servant and labor advocate who consistently puts the lives of working men and women of this city first, not the needs of powerful interests. That is why the District Council of Carpenters is proudly endorsing Diana for Manhattan District Attorney," stated Joseph A. Geiger, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the New York City and Vicinity District Council of Carpenters. "She has made fighting for the rights of the working class a cornerstone of her 25-year career in the District Attorney's Office, scoring significant victories at the helm of the Construction Fraud Task Force. At a time where wage theft and tax fraud run rampant, the Carpenters Union needs someone with a proven track record who can help us protect exploited workers and hold thieving contractors responsible, and Diana is that person. We look forward to working with Diana even more in the years to come."

"Working people and immigrant New Yorkers literally built this city," said Diana Florence. "That's why I'm so proud to have the support of 8 major labor unions, leaders like the Building Trades Council and Carpenters' Union, as we take on corrupt real estate developers and corporations that put profits ahead of people."

About Diana Florence

Diana Florence began her career as a prosecutor 25 years ago in the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, focusing on domestic violence cases, then complex frauds and corruption in the Special Prosecutions Bureau and Labor Racketeering Unit, and later becoming the head of the first of its kind Construction Fraud Task Force. She won landmark convictions against companies and individuals for defrauding 9/11 charities, corruption, domestic violence, wage theft, and deadly work conditions. She has taught trial advocacy for over two decades to lawyers in the DA's Office and has lectured investigators and lawyers from around the world on topics ranging from inter-agency cooperation to prosecuting fraud, racketeering and workplace homicide.

As an ADA, Diana held powerful interests accountable by prosecuting developers and corrupt corporations for cheating workers and taxpayers. In an historic case against Harco Construction, she ultimately secured justice for the family of a 22 year-old construction worker, Carlos Moncayo, who was buried alive at work. Using the existing criminal law, Diana charged the corporations and site supervisors, who had been repeatedly warned of hazardous conditions, with manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide for Moncayo's death. As a result, she drafted legislation (A10728) named after Carlos Moncayo, known as "Carlos' Law" that would establish higher fines for corporations for endangering workers' lives.

Diana has made prosecuting wage theft a centerpiece of her career, notably working alongside IronWorkers Local 361 to secure $6 million in stolen wages and back-pay from AGL Industries. Diana subsequently wrote a bill (A06795) with Assemblymember Catalina Cruz (D-Queens) to reclassify wage theft as the more serious crime of larceny. Other jurisdictions- like the Pittsburgh City Council and Philadelphia DA Larry Krasner- subsequently created similar prosecution models for wage theft.

Born in Manhattan, Diana is a long-time resident of Kips Bay where she lives with her husband and two children. Diana graduated with Phi Beta Kappa honors from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, receiving a BA in Art History with a concentration in Spanish as well as her law degree.

Visit www.DianaforDA.com for more information.