For Immediate Release: August 30, 2013 Contact: Nathan Smith | 718-612-4453 | njsmith74@gmail.

com

Korean Americans for Political Advancement (KAPA) Endorses Austin Shafran for City Council

Queens, NY Today, Korean Americans for Political Advancement (KAPA) endorsed Austin Shafran for New York City Council. Directly following the endorsement, Shafran and KAPA President Bright Limm went on a tour of the Flushing Senior Center. This endorsement brings even more momentum to the Shafran campaign, on the heels of endorsements by beloved former Congressman Gary Ackerman and almost all of the citys progressive labor unions. In a city where injustices are committed every day against Korean Americans and other racial and ethnic minorities, immigrants, low-wage workers, small business owners, the disabled, seniors, and the poor, we must ensure that our decision-makers have vision and backbone, said Bright Limm, KAPAs President. We are confident that Austin Shafran will fight to make the City a better place for all. I am deeply honored to have the support of KAPA and look forward to working with them to bring social, economic and civil justice to all New Yorkers, said Austin Shafran, Candidate for City Council (CD-19). To restore our citys legacy as the progressive capital of the world and beacon of hope for all New Yorkers, I will partner with KAPA to expand immigrants rights,

deliver greater educational equality in our schools, and help create good-paying jobs for working families. These are the core values that I will fight for every day with KAPA to address our citys biggest challenges, improve the lives of all Asian Americans, and ensure that equal opportunity is the birthright of all New Yorkers. Founded in 2006, Korean Americans for Political Advancement (KAPA) aims to build support within the Korean American community both for the advancement of progressive policies particularly on matters of civil & political rights, immigrants rights, and economic justice and for political candidates who share KAPAs policy goals. Austin has also been endorsed by Congressman Gary Ackerman, the United Federation of Teachers, the Working Families Party, 1199SEIU, 32BJ, the Hotel Trades Council, the New York City Central Labor Council and Teamsters Joint Council 16. A lifelong Bayside resident, throughout his career in public service over the past decade, Shafran has worked in the city, state, and federal levels of government, helping enact policies and legislation to improve the lives of seniors, children, women, working families and businesses. He began his time in public service serving as Congressman Ackermans Community Liaison working hard to help hundreds of local families get access to health, housing, financial, and transportation services. Shafran most recently served in Governor Cuomos Administration as Vice President of Public Affairs for the states economic development agency, where he played a significant role in executing the Governors aggressive job growth and small business development agenda. In this capacity, Shafran helped to foster the growth of tens of thousands of new jobs and local businesses, while helping reduce the tax burden on middle-class families to its lowest rate in almost 60 years through fair share tax reform. A former semi-professional baseball player, Shafran has volunteered to coach little league and mentor young players in local youth sports organizations in our community. For more information about the campaign and to get involved, please visit www.austin4council.com. ###