April 22, 2009

Dear Mayoral Candidate,

At this critical moment, New York City needs great leaders.

We are faced with a national and global economic crisis that began right here on Wall Street. A
health care crisis that threatens to bankrupt local governments even as 14,000 Americans lose
their coverage every day. A housing crisis caused by the greed of corporate developers and
landlords. An energy crisis that could affect our entire planet. And an education crisis that
threatens our nation’s competitive edge and our children’s futures.

There is a more fundamental crisis that runs beneath all of these challenges: A crisis of
accountability. Too many of the troubles we now face stem from decisions made behind closed
doors, regulations removed when no one was looking, or reckless actions taken while authorities
turned a blind eye.

Our city is strongest when our elected leaders are accessible and accountable to its citizens,
explaining their decisions and answering tough questions. That standard of openness must start
long before Election Day.

For this reason, the Amsterdam News, El Diario-La Prensa and the Working Families Party
cordially request the honor of your presence at a New York City Mayoral Candidates’ Debate
sometime in the next month.

This forum will focus on the issues that matter most to New York’s working families: restoring
our economy, creating jobs, securing health care for every New Yorker, reforming rent and
housing policies, providing opportunities for immigrants and new citizens, making New York a
world leader on sustainable energy policy, and achieving excellence in every New York City
school.

Your participation in this debate will be a strong testament to your commitment to accountable
government and the concerns of New York’s working families. This debate will play an
important role in the Working Families Party’s endorsement decisions and will offer you an
opportunity to hear from and speak to the readerships of the Amsterdam News and El Diario-La
Prensa.

We respectfully request your response to this invitation within the next week. If you have any
questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Sincerely,

Elinor Tatum Alberto Vourvoulias-Bush Dan Cantor

Editor-in-Chief and Publisher Executive Editor Executive Director
Amsterdam News El Diario-La Prensa Working Families Party