NYC mayoral contender challenges New York Times for defining candidacy by marijuana use

A candidate for New York City mayor lashed out at The New York Times on Wednesday for defining her candidacy by her use of cannabis.

Dianne Morales was described in an interactive profile of candidates looking to succeed Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) as a former nonprofit executive “seeking to become the city’s first Afro-Latina mayor.”

“She supports defunding the police and a guaranteed minimum income,” the profile read. “When asked at a recent forum if she smokes marijuana, Ms. Morales said she prefers edibles.”

The line appeared to be in reference to a response she gave about cannabis at a forum hosted by The Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club.

Morales explained on Twitter that she was worried that her response would be used to reduce her candidacy to “drug use,” adding that “it seems that my initial instinct was correct.”

“Today, @NYTimes, chose to make that the focus of one of the three sentences they wrote about my candidacy. The only time they have written anything about me beyond naming me,” she wrote.

…as unnecessary, citing the current trends and the responses of the other candidates. As the weeks passed, I began to think perhaps they were right. Yet, it seems that my initial instinct was correct – and perhaps I am old enough now to know better.

— Dianne Morales for NYC Mayor (@Dianne4NYC) December 3, 2020

Today, @NYTimes, chose to make that the focus of one of the three sentences they wrote about my candidacy. The only time they have written anything about me beyond naming me. pic.twitter.com/IA9DjJFecC

— Dianne Morales for NYC Mayor (@Dianne4NYC) December 3, 2020

Morales said the short profile represented “a new low,” that was “steeped in the very deeply rooted systemic racism and injustice my campaign is committed to eradicating.”

“Despite the work I have done to be ‘legitimized’ in this country, two white women who happen to write for a ‘newspaper of record’ can take it upon themselves to attempt to summarily dismiss me,” she added.

…even as the campaign gains momentum and increasing grassroots support.

Today’s act represents a new low, though perhaps not a surprising one. One that is steeped in the very deeply rooted systemic racism and injustice my campaign is committed to eradicating…

— Dianne Morales for NYC Mayor (@Dianne4NYC) December 3, 2020

Yet, despite the work I have done to be “legitimized” in this country, two white women who happen to write for a “newspaper of record” can take it upon themselves to attempt to summarily dismiss me.

— Dianne Morales for NYC Mayor (@Dianne4NYC) December 3, 2020

Morales said that she would not be dismissed or reduced “to a soundbite,” adding that thousands of New Yorkers have supported her campaign.

“We have the people. We have the power. And we are done with your state of normal,” she said.

We will not be silenced. We will not be lulled into a false sense of complacency. We demand change. We want it now.

You might have big money, you might have big media, and you might have machine politics.

— Dianne Morales for NYC Mayor (@Dianne4NYC) December 3, 2020

We have the people.

We have the power.

And we are done with your state of normal.

— Dianne Morales for NYC Mayor (@Dianne4NYC) December 3, 2020

The Hill has reached out to the Times for comment.