There's one thing you're sure to find at New York City's big ethnic parades — politicians. And in the midst of a mayor's race, the Ecuadorian Day Parade brought the big ones to Jackson Heights.
Mayor Bill de Blasio joined Comptroller Scott Stringer, Public Advocate Letitia James, Queens Borough President Melinda Katz and other elected leaders at a pre-parade breakfast at Jax Inn Diner to meet with representatives of the local Ecuadorian community.
Outside, thousands of onlookers lined Northern Boulevard from 69th to 86th Street. There are about 200,000 Ecuadorian-Americans living locally, according to the city.
Mayor de Blasio's challenger in the upcoming election, presumptive-Republican nominee Nicole Malliotakis, chatted with parade-goers near the start of the procession. She left before the Mayor started marching, making her way to Manhattan for the Pakistan Day Parade.