Candidate for Mayor of New York City

Wednesday, June 9, 2021

Moderator:
Shelly Banjo
NY Bureau Chief, Bloomberg

Andrew Yang is an entrepreneur, author, philanthropist, non-profit leader, and former 2020 presidential candidate. Andrew has lived in New York City since 1996, when he moved into his first apartment in Morningside Heights at 21.

Andrew came of age, fell in love, and became a father in New York City. Evelyn, Andrew's wife, was born and raised in Queens. Their first date was to Amy's Bread on 9 th Avenue. His boys were both born at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital on 59th St. and are in school in Manhattan, though it's been Zoom lately.

After being a corporate lawyer for five short months, joining a few start-ups, and even launching his own company, Andrew eventually became CEO of an education company that became #1 in the country. He then started a national entrepreneurship non-profit near Herald Square, Venture for America, which worked to empower thousands of young entrepreneurs to bring the dynamism from New York City to communities across the country.

Andrew was named a Presidential Ambassador of Entrepreneurship by the White House under the Obama administration and a Champion of Change for his work with Venture for America. Initially dubbed a "longer than long shot" candidate by the New York Times in 2018, Andrew became a top-tier contender for the presidency, raising nearly $40 million in grassroots funding. With a vision to rewrite the rules of the United States economy through a "Freedom Dividend" of $1,000 a month for every American adult, Andrew became one of the most exciting stories in the 2020 race.

Andrew's nationwide support, known as the "Yang Gang," propelled him to seven Democratic primary debates, outlasting six senators, four governors, three members of congress, two mayors, and one secretary.

Seeing New York City the way it is now, when many question whether it will ever be the same, is Andrew's most motivating calling so far. The thought that he might be able to contribute to the city's revival is both an incredible responsibility and opportunity. It's one reason why Humanity Forward, a non-profit organization Andrew founded after exiting the Presidential race, has provided over a million dollars in basic income grants to New Yorkers struggling due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Andrew is running for Mayor of New York City, his home, because he sees a crisis and believes he can help. Our city needs bold leadership with big ideas, focused on eliminating poverty, fact-based governance to solve our most pressing issues and recover from this global pandemic, and excited to make NYC a place where anyone would want to live and visit.

New York City gave Andrew his life, friends, career, and family. It would be his privilege to serve the city in its time of need. He will do all he can to make New York a place where families flourish in every corner, and move New York City forward.