A Democratic Primary
For Northeastern Queens |
By ANGELA MONTEFINISE and
TAMARA HARTMAN
They were cordial, they were animated, they were passionate and a fun time was had by
all when the Democrats competing for their party’s nomination on the City
Council’s District 19 slot sat down with the Queens Tribune last week.
With about 60 Queens council candidates running in primaries this September, the
Tribune has set a policy of "group screening interviews" for the primaries,
bringing all the candidates together by district and letting the Trib’s editorial
board ask the questions.
The names on the primary ballot for what is now Councilman Mike Abel’s seat will
be Tony Avella, Arthur Cheliotes, John Frank, Jerry Iannece and Joyce Shepard. What
follows is a brief look into the views and beliefs of the candidates who spoke up at the
Tribune’s screening. Each concludes with the candidate’s quick reaction to some
basic questions, including where they stand on the government accountability pledge being
circulated by immigrant advocate Bryan Pu-Folkes and a coalition of over 20 immigrant
groups. The pledge calls on candidates to – once in office – hold town hall
meetings, reach out for constituent concerns through a mailer, and publish reports on what
they have accomplished and where they are going.
Once a Democratic candidate is selected in the primary, that person will run against
Republican Dennis Saffran in the general election for the council seat.
TONY AVELLA
Avella brought his years of community work with him to the Trib office, including
countless Trib stories on graffiti cleanup efforts and anti-hate poster campaigns.
But when it came down to why he wanted to be councilman, his answer was simple.
"I like helping people, that’s why I want the job."
As for his years of work and friendship with the late Senator Leonard Stavisky,
Assemblyman Brian McLaughlin, and most recently, Senator Toby Stavisky, Avella said that
he does have the Queens Democratic Party endorsement, but, "If the situation occurs
where I think I have to take a particular course of action and I think that that course is
right and others of my friends may not be on that side I will still go and do what I think
is right."
As for how city funds should be divided up by the council, Avella said he believes
every district should carry its share of the city’s burdens and admitted that
currently the fortunate District 19 "probably does not" carry enough.
On the tough issue of illegal conversions and what he would do if he were councilman,
Avella said, "You handle the situation on a complaint-by-complaint basis. What
I’d like to see is the buildings department go after the real obnoxious cases first
… [where] we’re telling them what the real obnoxious cases are."
He said he’d make a good councilman because of his dedication. "I get phone
calls at all times of the day … my wife gets upset sometimes … but I’m
willing to take those phone calls and I’m willing to listen and I want to help and I
think I could do a good job in the City Council."
Government Access Pledge: Knows it, agrees in concept.
Three key issues in the district: education, police, zoning.
Increase taxes if expressly for education: yes.
Do you approve of having the police in the schools: yes.
ARTHUR CHELIOTES
Cheliotes told the Tribune that he "works for the people." A union leader and
Greek American, he expects the union and Greek votes to bolster his campaign and his
promise is that he can "translate legislation into city services."
When cornered on the Taylor Law – which forbids the unions of certain city
workers, such as police and fire, from striking – he supported its repeal in favor of
"binding arbitration" in many cases. Police officers and firemen should settle
their labor differences through binding arbitration, he maintained, and sanitation workers
and teachers should be allowed to strike.
He thought the City Council’s attempt to overturn term limits was
"horrendous," but maintained that you must look at more than one issue when
thinking about supporting someone for higher office.
As for whether or not a councilman has to be full time, Cheliotes said, "I will
serve as president of the union, but be a full time councilman. I think I can serve both
effectively."
Government Access Pledge: Doesn’t know it.
Elected Officials Currently Doing a Good Job: Claire Shulman, Catherine Nolan, Walter
McCaffrey.
Three key issues in the district: education, over-development, Fort Totten.
Increase taxes if expressly for education: yes.
Do you approve of having the police in the schools: yes.
JOHN FRANK
Frank seemed determined to prove that although he may look young, politics and the way
that elected officials should work is nothing new to him. He is a former campaign worker
in Congressman Gary Ackerman’s office and currently treasurer for Assemblywoman Ann
Margaret Carrozza.
He "stayed on message" (delivered his slogan and his campaign objectives) and
founded "YESZ," which is his acronym for "Youth, Education, Security and
Zoning."
He tackled his interview questions with careful concern and thought, often pausing for
a few minutes before he began his answer … which takes courage in a rapid-fire
interview.
He "didn’t like at all" the City Council’s attempt to overturn
their own term limits, but would have to "look at other issues" as well before
deciding that he would support one of those councilpeople for higher office. And when it
came to the disparity between District 19 and other, less fortunate districts in the city,
he maintained "my role is to bring as much into my district as possible."
As the interview closed, he pledged, "I am dedicated to being the most accessible
council member in the City Council if not on the face of the earth."
Government Access Pledge: Not familiar with it, likes the concept.
Elected Officials Currently Doing a Good Job: Claire Shulman, Frank Padavan, Rudy
Giuliani.
Increase taxes if expressly for education: no.
Do you approve of having the police in the schools: yes.
JERRY IANNECE
Iannece brought the confidence and oratory skills of an attorney into the room with a
strong message that as a civic leader from Bayside, he knows the district, he knows how to
effect change, and he has proven he can be effective.
As for the current City Council, he said it needs monitoring, but as for the new class
of councilmembers, "I think right now … with the term limits coming in where
people will feel their feet being put to the fire … I don’t think it will be
needed as much."
On the issue of illegal conversions, "I’m the big advocate on this one. I
think we should hunt them out and really stop them as much as possible … That’s
not an acceptable solution to a housing problem." What do we do? "We create
housing for them." Where? "The fact that we are incapable of creating housing
should not permit us to do something that destroys communities."
And when it comes to the homeless and bearing he burdens of city life, "I think
the communities who have the homeless people should bear the brunt and take those
communities in."
His pitch for his candidacy concluded, "I think we all come to the table with
something. The question is who’s going to come with most. I think if you look at my
background, you look at my experiences, you look at what I’m about, I think without
question on paper I’m the most qualified."
Government Access Pledge: Knows it, doesn’t support it.
Elected Officials Currently Doing a Good Job: Claire Shulman, Frank Padavan, Ann
Margaret Carrozza, Peter Vallone, Gary Ackerman.
Three key issues in the district: education, police, zoning.
Increase taxes if expressly for education: no.
Do you approve of having the police in the schools: yes.
JOYCE SHEPARD
Shepard came to the Tribune meeting with a clear vision of what she needs to do to win.
"I’m going to show the other side of me that is the compassionate, quiet,
intelligent, feisty, chutzpah, Jewish woman and 58 percent of my district are Jewish women
who vote."
She went on to offer strong opinions on most issues and to bend on issues where she was
less experienced. When it came to illegal conversions, she acknowledged the problem, then
discussed legislative solutions that might make some apartments legal. However, in the
face of the dangers of "grandfathering" basement apartments, she acknowledged
that problem, too, and recommended more study on the issue.
She was strong on the 19th District carrying its share of the burdens of the
city – that it was the right thing to do and the right way to be – but favored
homes or appropriate shelters for the homeless rather than "institutions or
facilities" which would be out of character.
And she concluded by explaining that she’s in the race because "my husband
told me to get a job. The phone bills have been three and four hundred dollars a month and
when term limits came up he said, ‘you know, you’re a schmuck. You’ve been
doing this from the house, why don’t you do it with a staff?’ So I decided that
I’m really going to do it because I know that I’m effective in what I do."
Government Access Pledge: Knows it, signed it.
Elected Officials Currently Doing a Good Job: "That’s hard … John Sabini
and Frank Padavan. That’s all I can think of."
Three key issues in the district: open government, Fort Totten, zoning.
Increase taxes if expressly for education: yes.
Do you approve of having the police in the schools: no.
Gresser Calls For Schools To Serve
As Community Centers |
By NICK ABADJIAN
Borough
Presidential Candidate Carol Gresser announced at a press conference this week her plans,
if elected, to turn schools into community centers during the after hours with services
for youths and adults.
Borough
President candidate Carol Gresser wants to use school for more than classes.
|
“Many
of our school buildings are not utilized after three o’clock and we need to change
that,” said Gresser at the Tuesday, Aug. 6 press conference in front of P.S. 199 in
Sunnyside.
Gresser
said she is calling for after school programs that would provide students with tutoring,
dance classes, and sports.
The
schools would also be used as meeting places for adults for group meetings or to take
classes for English as a second language or computer classes. The proposal would be put
into operation by a public or private partnership or through community organizations.
PS 199
in Sunnyside already has an after school program with 250 kids run by Sunnyside Community
Services (SCS).
“It
enables kids to have a place to stay after school,” said David Whyne, associate
executive director of SCS. Whyne explained that kids are in a chaperoned environment while
many parents are working.
The
after school program has kids from the school, K through fourth grade, who receive help in
homework, have gym classes, and music class. The program is funded by TASC (The After
School Corporation), a not-for-profit that helps secure funding for these programs.
SCS
also has en evening program at the school geared for teens, who can partake in programs
like hip hop dance classes, SAT prep classes, or even receive tutoring. The city’s Department of Youth and Community
Development fund this program.
“It
makes it easier to use the school,” said Whyne. Twenty-seven years ago, SCS started
as a senior center, but expanded their services and used the school for the youths.
Forest Hills Senior To Run
As Conservative:
Chwat Off The Dem Ticket |
By
RICHARD SCHACK
In the
early 90’s, loyal Democrat Norbert Chwat went door-to-door gathering signatures
petitioning for Melinda Katz’s run for State Assembly. But now, nearly a decade
later, Chwat has been knocked off the ballot for the Democratic City Council nomination.
Following
the news that he was off the Democatic ballot, Chwat’s wife Estelle, 77, a longtime
civic activist with the Forest Hills Action League, became infuriated and suffered what
doctors at Parkway Hospital described as a “mini-stroke.”
Chwat
was in the hospital for a couple of days, but is now taking aspirin and doing “much
better,” she said. “I’m taking it easy for now.”
But,
although her health is back, her anger still resides.
“I
never expected this,” said the 76-year-old Chwat, a registered Democrat for 40 years.
“I was so loyal for so many years, and that’s how they pay me back.”
When he
said “they,” Chwat was referring to the Queens County Democratic Party, which
successfully challenged Chwat’s bid to run for City Council on the Democratic line on
July 29. He was vying for the 29th Council District representing his home neighborhood of
Forest Hills, along with Rego Park and parts of Middle Village.
Chwat
needed 900 signatures of registered Democrats in his district to get on the ballot, and
presented a petition with 928 to the Board of Elections.
However,
the County’s Democratic Party, which chose former Assembly-member Melinda Katz as its
pick for the seat, challenged the validity of his signatures.
Chwat
had only two or three minutes to defend the signatures and his candidacy. After the short
challenge, 400 signatures were dismissed, along with Chwat’s hopes to get on the
ballot as a Democrat for the seat currently held by Karen Koslowitz. The petitions of Lynn
Schulman, another Katz opponent, were not challenged.
“There’s
no democracy in this county,” Estelle Chwat said, “and everyone better wake up
and realize that. There was nothing wrong with those signatures.”
Naomi
Bernstein, a spokesperson for the city’s Board of Elections, said although she does
not have information readily available as to why Chwat’s signatures were dismissed,
there is a reason.
Bernstein
said it was most likely because “either the signatures were signed by people who
aren’t registered voters, were located in the wrong district or the addresses of
those who signed were found to be incorrect.”
Although
Chwat won’t be able to run in September, he’ll still be running in November on
the Conservative Party line where he will be unopposed in the primary.
A Mistake In Advertising:
Ciafone Admits
'Endorsements' Were Wrong |
By NICK ABADJIAN
Endorsed
or not endorsed?
That’s
the question being asked of John Ciafone, the City Council candidate for the 21st Council
District following a published advertisement in a local weekly newspaper, which he
admitted claimed false endorsements.
An ad
running in the June 27 issue of the Queens Gazette boasted a string of endorsements
that included Mayoral Candidates Fernando Ferrer and Mark Green, former Board of Education
President and City Comptroller Candidate William Thompson, and former Executive Director
of the New York Civil Liberties Union and Public Advocate Candidate Norman Siegal.
However,
after talking with Ciafone, the Tribune found that none of these men had endorsed
him.
“It
was an error,” said Ciafone. “It should have read supported [instead of
endorsed].”
Ciafone,
an attorney and board member of School District 24, is vying for City Councilmember Peter
Vallone’s seat, which covers Astoria.
Ellie
Jurad, the campaign manager for Fernando Ferrer, said the campaign had initial
conversations with Ciafone in the beginning of the campaign but had never endorsed him. In
fact, Ferrer has not endorsed any city council candidates in Queens just yet. “I
guess we’re going to have a conversation with him to clear this up,” said Jurad.
Danica
Gallagher, a spokesperson for Bill Thompson, said, “No we had not endorsed him.”
Thompson, until this point, has not endorsed anybody. After the ad ran with
Thompson’s endorsement appearing in it, Thompson’s campaign reportedly called
Ciafone’s campaign and made them aware that they had not endorsed him.
Norman
Siegal’s campaign stated that they endorsed three candidates and he was not one of
them, according to spokesman Marina Sheriff.
A
Ciafone ad also ran quotes plucked from daily newspapers. The New York Times said,
“Ciafone has the right stuff to serve the people,” Newsday reads,
“Ciafone is the Best Public Servant,” and the New York Post reads,
“Ciafone has the conviction to do the right thing.” There is also a quote by New
York Daily News columnist Lenore Skenazy, “Ciafone is No. 1.”
The
Ciafone quote in Newsday could not be found in the database over at the library at Newsday.
“I don’t see the line anywhere in Newsday,” said Nancy Altman, from
the library department. Altman said that the quote could be missing from the database
because databases aren’t perfect.
But it
was the same scenario at the New York Times. There were no hits for the Times
quote at its archives department. “There are flukes,” said an employee at
archives, who explained that some published articles don’t get into the database, but
it’s “pretty rare.”
In
terms of the Daily News, the Tribune was not able to get in touch with
columnist Lenore Skenazy. Yet the Tribune did acquire the article she wrote
praising Ciafone. It was a timely piece, which described Ciafone’s heroic battle as
vice president of School Board District 24 to get the clocks in the schools synchronized.
Ciafone
explained that some of the quotes could come from letters to the editors. In terms of the
endorsements, Ciafone explained, “All of this was a quasi-endorsement.”
Ciafone
said he was upset with Ferrer because both campaigns agreed to work together and print
joint petitions and literature. Ferrer went to the Aldos Democratic Club, which Ciafone is
a part of, and said he wanted to support Ciafone. “I’m sure once he found out
that he wasn’t being endorsed by Aldos, I guess he pulled out.”
About
Green, Ciafone said, “It was my understanding we had his support.”
Back in
June, Thompson’s staff campaigned alongside Ciafone’s staff at a booth for a
street festival on Steinway. Ciafone said Thompson’s staff agreed to work together.
Siegal’s campaign also wanted to work with Ciafone’s campaign, according to
Ciafone.
“I’m
responsible for the [ad],” said Ciafone, who admitted it was foolish. “I’m
not going to pass the buck on this. This is what I have learned. When you get an
endorsement you should do it in writing.”
One
question Ciafone had was why was this information is coming to light only now and pointed
the finger to his adversary Peter Vallone, Jr. “This was done as an inquiry by Peter
Vallone’s campaign who filed a complaint [with the Campaign Finance Board]. Their
agenda is to prevent me from receiving matching funds.”
According
to Ciafone, Vallone’s campaign recently filed the complaint with board about his ad.
The complaint might endanger Ciafone’s eligibility to receive 4-to-1 matching funds
from the city, and compete against Vallone.
Ciafone
said that Vallone made a similar claim for an endorsement. Ciafone said Vallone stated in
a Queens Gazette article that he was endorsed by the Liberal party, when in fact
Ciafone received the endorsement.
A poster for Council candidate
John Ciafone, who called a controversial ad in the Queens Gazette “an
error.”
Candidates Nights
The
following is a list of upcoming candidates nights in Queens:
•
On Aug. 22 at 7 p.m. a candidates’ forum will be held at the Queens Women’s
Center 401 Murray Avenue – Fort Totten, Bayside. For more information, call 352-7225.
•
The Bay Terrace Community Alliance will conduct a meet the candidates night on Aug. 28 at
7 p.m. in the Barnes & Noble located in the Bay Terrace Shopping Center, 23-80 Bell
Blvd. in Bayside. Candidates for the office of mayor, public advocate, comptroller and the
City Council for the 19th District have been invited.
•
The Friends Of Micheal Kearney have planned a meet the candidates night at Sidetracks
Restaurant 45-08 Queens Blvd., Sunnyside on Aug, 14. from 6:30-8:30. |
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