ETHEL CHEN
DEMOCRAT
Chen is seeking to continue her years of distinguished work in community and public
service as the next City Council representative for District 20. Chen, a devoted
Democratic district leader-at-large since 1993, has worked as a supervising librarian for
over 30 years. She has received numerous awards and citations for her tireless efforts,
including the creation of programs for job training, women’s issues, senior citizens,
and racial harmony, leading voter registration drives, and providing information outreach
for new immigrants and citizens.
Chen has extensive involvement and experience with local civic groups, and is the
president of the American Chinese Women’s Association, founder and past president of
the Asian American Democratic Association of Queens, and is a board member of the Queens
Women’s Political Caucus. She was also a community board member for nine years. She
is currently serving on advisory boards for the Queens District Attorney’s office and
Con Edison.
Chen received her LLB in law from the National Taiwan University and an MLS from the
University of Pittsburgh. She is the mother of three grown sons.
ISSUES
Cleaning up Downtown Flushing: The high commercial pedestrian density in downtown
Flushing has yielded an unacceptable level of garbage. Through the council’s
budgetary powers, I will work to increase funding for sanitation in the area. I will also
work to encourage anti-pollution measures and take steps necessary to clean up the area.
More Education Money: The lack of adequate funding for education is a citywide
problem. It is most acute in our area because of the additional funding needed to educate
new immigrants. As a member of the council, I will fight for education funding, especially
money targeted to help our enormous immigrant population.
Help for Seniors: Seniors are faced with an ever-increasing cost of living. I
will fight to keep those costs down by advocating a freeze in rents, increased funding to
support programs for seniors, increased eligibility for senior programs and
inter-generational programs that bring seniors out from behind locked doors. Also, we must
remain vigilant and stand ready to prevent any increase in crime – a problem which
affects our seniors directly and indirectly, by creating a climate of fear that keeps our
seniors from leaving their homes and participating in activities in the community.
RICHARD JANNACCIO
DEMOCRAT
Jannaccio was born in Flushing, graduated from St. Michael School. A life-long
Democrat, he earned a B.A. at Hunter College, is a state-certified high-school biology
teacher, and has an M.A. from University of Wisconsin. He has been employed as a research
scientist, editor and publisher. For the past four years, Jannaccio has been president of
West Flushing Civic Association, and has earned a reputation fighting for Flushing.
Battling City Hall and greedy developers, Jannaccio successfully led neighbors to
ban a supermarket on Sanford Avenue. On Elder Avenue, Jannaccio organized neighbors to
halt construction of a Mobil MiniMart until toxic spills were cleaned up. Jannaccio has
led efforts to clean up downtown Flushing and reclaim sidewalks confiscated by food
markets, resulting in more than a dozen fines and one license surrender. He has organized
residents and merchants to convert two-way streets into one-way, easing traffic gridlock.
Jannaccio has lobbied for homeowners, coop dwellers and tenants. He has fought for open
and honest government, exposing Community Board 7’s violation of Open Meetings laws.
Jannaccio went to City Hall to support term limits. Jannaccio recently received the most
votes from the Democratic Club of Flushing, easily defeating all his opponents.
ISSUES
Main Street: My top priority is to help the people reclaim Main Street and
their neighborhoods. Downtown Flushing is filthy, smelly, and overcrowded. Signs should
identify merchandise and list prices in English. Sidewalks are for walking, neighborhoods
for living. Houses and apartments should be used only for residential purposes — not
for prostitution, drug deals, sweatshops and 24-hour gambling. New legislation and strict
enforcement of existing laws are the answers.
Traffic: Second, our streets were never designed to handle today’s traffic.
Trucks should be banned from residential streets. Narrow streets should become one-way. I
have successfully recommended traffic improvements in Flushing. Bus service must also
improve to encourage greater use.
Third, we must protect the environment to protect public health. Deeply concerned about
epidemics of asthma, allergies, and cancer, I have protested increased air traffic,
demanded clean-air buses, and opposed garbage transfer stations in Flushing. I am
committed to reducing air pollution, water pollution and food contamination to protect our
health.
JOHN LIU
DEMOCRAT
Liu grew up in Flushing. Beginning with kindergarten at PS 20, he attended our
local schools and then went on to graduate from the Bronx High School of Science and
SUNY-Binghamton.
Liu and his wife Jenny are homeowners in Flushing, living just blocks from where
he grew up. Their newborn son, Joseph, will grow up in the same neighborhood, and attend
the same schools that he did.
Liu has worked tirelessly for our community. As president of the North Flushing Civic
Association, vice president of the Queens Civic Congress and community board member, Liu
has fought to preserve residential neighborhoods and worked on a wide range of quality of
life concerns.
As a manager at the world’s leading accounting and financial services firm, Liu
has gained expertise in a wide range of fiscal matters.
Liu offers deep roots in our community, civic achievements, and fiscal expertise.
ISSUES
Improving our local schools – I’m a proud product of New York City public
schools, having attended them from kindergarten on through high school. As the father of a
young child who will attend the same schools, I have a tremendous personal stake in the
success of our public schools. I will fight for higher educational standards and smaller
class size.
Keeping our neighborhood safe – Over the years, I’ve worked closely
with our police precinct to help combat home burglaries and car theft. I know that the key
to keeping our neighborhood safe can be summed up in just five words: More Cops On The
Street. In the city council, I will fight for more police resources so that our streets
and buildings are safe for our families and ourselves.
Expanding programs for seniors – Seniors are the fastest growing population
in Queens and deserve to have more resources and programs. Seniors have given much to the
community and I feel its time to give something back. You can count on me to fight to
ensure that our seniors receive adequate healthcare, meals, activities and other crucial
services.
TERENCE PARK
DEMOCRAT
Park has been a public advocate for the betterment of the Flushing community since
1980. He worked hard to earn a Master of Arts in Public Policy Analysis and Public
Administration (SUNY–Binghamton) with the determination to serve his community.
Park’s strong involvement in governmental pursuits makes him the ideal
candidate for city council. His position at the mayor’s office and the New York City
Housing Authority has provided him with practical expertise that distinguishes him from
candidates who have limited themselves to a civic role.
His work has always focused on bringing about actual reforms through sensible public
policymaking. For example, Park’s experience with the mayor’s office in working
to clean up Times Square gives him the upper hand in dealing with Flushing’s dirty
streets. And his work at the New York Hospital of Queens has empowered him with a
comprehensive understanding of the community’s healthcare needs.
He is currently a member of Community Board 7, the New York Hospital of Queens
Community Advisory Council, and is the president of Citizens for a Better Flushing.
Park grew up in the Flushing area and is well versed in the needs of the community. He
is dedicated to improving the lives of the residents in District 20.
ISSUES
Affordable Housing: Flushing is stuck between a rock and a hard place when it comes
to housing. Rent is increasing at an alarming rate with a shortage in available housing.
But we must also recognize Flushing’s problem with overcrowding. This presents a
unique situation in which additional housing must be developed with careful consideration.
With my experience at the New York City Housing Authority, I plan to establish an
ethnically balanced housing commission that works in conjunction with Community Board 7. I
will pay careful attention to the effects of new housing complexes on traffic and
pedestrian patterns.
Clean Streets: Empirically, the establishment of new laws for cleaner streets
has proved largely ineffective. I, therefore, plan to enforce existing laws by imposing
compliance via summonses. However, due to budget cuts restricting the range of inspectors,
I realize the limitations of such measures. Thus, I also offer a novel solution by
focusing on ethnic business and consumer organizations to reach mutual agreements that
benefit both parties.
Public Safety: The safety of Flushing has become a rising concern. By working
with the NYPD, a Citizens Patrol Unit can be formed to ensure safer streets. A division of
law enforcement will work specifically to ensure pedestrian safety and combat violence on
the streets.
PAUL GRAZIANO
GREEN PARTY
Paul Graziano, the son of two CUNY professors, is 30 years old, and attended the Bronx
High School of Science. After college at the University of Massachusetts - Amherst,
Graziano came home to find changes. Downtown was becoming increasingly crowded and dirty;
the Whitestone Expressway had tons of traffic; beautiful homes throughout Flushing were
being torn down for shabby speculative development; and the general quality-of-life of our
neighborhoods was clearly being affected.
Graziano has spent the last seven years organizing residents throughout Flushing
and Queens to stop the destructive speculative development occurring in their
neighborhoods, and to create novel approaches using training from his Masters of Science
in Urban Affairs and Planning degree from Hunter College in protecting neighborhoods from
overdevelopment.
Other movements Graziano has been involved in include: identification of and funding
for cleaning up recognized toxic sites in downtown Flushing; restoration of arts education
in the New York City public schools; development of educational components to acclimate
and educate newer immigrants to the neighborhoods; protecting Fort Totten from development
for use as a public park and historic district; and preserving the last mansion from the
1840’s in Flushing for use as a community center and museum.
ISSUES
Land-use: Issues Graziano has taken a leadership role in are: The Greater Flushing
Rezoning Proposal, which will rezone 150 blocks of Flushing to make sure that new
development is consistent with existing buildings; the Kissena Watershed Restoration,
which will rehabilitate and restore over two miles of the stream; and removing the RKO
Keith’s Theater in downtown Flushing from the hands of its criminally negligent owner
while restoring the building to its original grandeur for public use.
Education: Our school district, combined with the generally well-kept housing
stock in many of our neighborhoods, is what attracts people to settle down in northeast
Queens in the first place. I would place increased emphasis on arts education, as it
has generally been gutted throughout the public school system over the past 20 years.
Senior Issues: Flushing, as many communities in Queens are, has long been
considered a NORC – a Naturally Occurring Retirement Community. I want to make
sure that those services for seniors that have been cut - like the X51 express bus from
downtown Flushing to midtown Manhattan - are restored.
EVERGREEN CHOU
GREEN PARTY
Chou is a 40-year-old Chinese-American, who emigrated to the U.S. from Taiwan when
I was 9.
Chou grew up in the Bronx; graduated from the Bronx High School of Science,
attended City College in Harlem, and received my Bachelor of Science from SUNY Downstate
Medical Center. He and his wife Day Starr then made Flushing our home, living there with
their 11-year-old nephew, Little Horse. Chou is grateful for the experience of living in
various communities - Italian, Caribbean, Russian and now Flushing.
Chou has worked as a Sonogram Technician at Lutheran Medical Center for almost 12 years
and is a proud delegate of the union Local 1199 SEIU. Chou has served two terms as
the Treasurer of the New York State Greens, and was the first Green candidate to announce
a run for City Council.
He is co-founder of the Flushing Greens, a member of the West Queens Civic, Queens
Network for Peace and Justice, and the Chairperson of the Parent’s Committee of
Flushing Boy Scout Troop 253.
Chou’s policies will be guided by the Green Ten Key Values of Ecological and
Environmental Wisdom, Social and Economic Justice, Democracy, Decentralization, Community
Economics, Feminism, Respect for Diversity, Personal and Global Responsibility and Future
Focus.
ISSUES
Education: Smaller teacher to student ratio, more teachers’ aides. Equitable
pay comparable to the surrounding counties and states. Build more schools, use
trailer additions until then. Stagger hours at existing schools to reduce overcrowding.
Parents provided in advance with quarterly lesson plan and projected homework. Internships
and life credits beginning in ninth grade. Broaden bilingual programs to include
English-speaking children. High-school recruitment programs for careers in teaching,
nursing and areas where the city has shortages.
Environment: Stop air and noise pollution in Flushing. Strict enforcement of
industrial pollution and toxic sites in Flushing; Solve the garbage problem in downtown
Flushing working with storeowners, and those in charge of private and public sanitation.
Strict clean-up enforcement of industrial pollution and toxic sites. A portion of fines
levied can be put into a fund to subsidize the clean up of sites where previous owners
cannot be found.
Housing: Eliminate the Ersatdz Law so that NYC housing decisions are made in NYC
and not in Albany. Zoning laws that retain the character of the neighborhood and protect
landmark areas. Eliminate vacancy increases. End privatizing of both public housing and
Mitchell-Lama rental housing. Require landlords to open their books when requesting
increases based on lack of profits.
| Council District 20 |
"The map is part of Searchlight on Campaign 2001
(http://www.gothamgazette.com/searchlight2001/),
an online guide to the political races in what many are calling New York City’s most
significant campaign season in modern history, with a separate page for each race. If you
don’t know who represents you — or who wants to — simply type your name and
address, and you will be taken to the appropriate page."
These are the neighborhoods covered by City Council District 20, a district which will
have new leadership after 16 years under Democrat Julia Harrison (inset).
Map courtesy of NYPIRG/CMAP |
Council District 20:
Facing A Historic Choice |
By ANGELA MONTEFINISE
The race for the District 20 City Council seat could be historic. With three Asian
candidates participating in the race for the Democratic primary - John Liu, Ethel Chen and
Terence Park - there’s a chance that an Asian will be the Democratic nominee and on
the way to being the first Asian on the council.
However Richard Jannaccio, the fourth Democratic candidate in the primary, fought hard
to be on the ballot, has been active in the neighborhood for years, and could reap the
benefits of the Asian vote being split three ways . . . adding to the suspense of an
already fascinating primary race.
The Tribune, which has been interviewing all Queens City Council primary
candidates in group interviews, scheduled the four Democratic candidates from District 20,
although only Terence Park and John Liu chose to attend.
Questions in the interview were designed to test the three candidates’ beliefs and
positions, and challenged them to think on their feet. Several short-answer questions were
asked, including where the candidates stand on the Government Access and Accountability
pledge by Bryan Pu-Folkes and his immigrant coalition, NICE. The pledge asks candidates to
hold at least two town hall meetings each year, send performance evaluations to
constituents, and send out annual reports to constituents once in office.
In a separate interview, the Trib sat down with Paul Graziano and Evergreen Chou, the
two candidates in a primary for District 20’s Green Party slot. Following the
historic theme of the District 20 race, the Green Party primary is the first of its kind
in City Council history.
District 20 will have its first new council member since 1985, when Democrat Julia
Harrison won the seat. District 20 includes northern Flushing and small parts of Fresh
Meadows.
The winners of the Democratic and Green primaries will face Republican Ryan Walsh and
Independent Martha Flores-Vazquez in the general election.
JOHN LIU
Liu was born in Flushing and has lived there all his life. He is raising his own
children there. "I love this neighborhood. I have a tremendous personal stake in
making sure Flushing gets its fair share, and I definitely will do the best I can to help
the area," he said.
Liu doesn’t believe that more money or police should be allocated to other council
districts that might be poorer or have higher crime than Flushing. "We shouldn’t
be penalized for being a safe neighborhood." He added, "I want to represent
District 20 . . . I’m going to go to the city council and scream as hard as I can for
my area and for the 109 Precinct."
Liu also believes Flushing is a good investment for the city. He said, "Forget
about [philosophical debates about] what the city should do and what is right, just look
at it from a common sense perspective. If the city invests in Flushing, they will get
money back."
Liu is being supported by the Democratic Party, and does not believe that they are
unfair about who they choose to support. In fact, he doesn’t believe major abuses of
power exist at all in government, except for rare cases.
Liu also doesn’t believe that race will be a factor in the District 20 primary.
A Chinese-American, he doesn’t speak Chinese and thinks of himself as an American.
When asked why non-Asians get bad service in some Asian restaurants in Flushing, he
said, "Hey, I get bad service there, too. It has nothing to do with racism. When you
go out for a three dollar lunch, you’re going to deal with underpaid, overworked
employees no matter what race they are, and they’re not going to be friendly."
He added, "I can bring all people in Flushing together. The issues are the same for
everyone, whether they’re Jewish, Asian, African-American, or Hispanic. That’s
what people need to understand."
Top three issues in district: good schools, safe neighborhoods, unifying the
area
Would you increase taxes to help schools?: "No, we don’t need any new
taxes. We have to stop the waste."
Are term limits good?: "Conceptually, I don’t like them, but you
can’t go against the will of the people."
Would you vote for someone who repealed the commuter tax?: "It depends on
what else they’ve done."
Government Accountability and Access Pledge: Knows it, signed it.
TERENCE PARK
Mild-mannered and traditional, Park has quietly worked with neighborhood organizations
in Flushing for the past 20 years, dealing with quality-of-life issues and priding himself
on integrity.
 Democrats Terence Park and
John Liu (left, l. to r.) are both trying to become the Council’s first Asian member,
while Evergreen Chou and Paul Graziano (below, l. to r.) are participating in the
Council’s first Green Party primary.
Tribune Photo by Dee Richard
Tribune Photo by Ira Cohen
|
The Korean-American believes that Flushing should get more of its "fair
share" in terms of resources, but also said, "As a council member, you need to
think of the welfare of the entire city."
Park believes that we may have to raise taxes if the money will go straight to schools
or police. "I don’t want to increase taxes, but without a choice, I would, to
better the district." He doesn’t believe schools are a major problem in the
district, but he is still "not satisfied."
Park approves of term limits in order to counter-act government abuses, saying,
"Term limits will open the door for many able, young people who know they have to do
what’s right to stay in office."
He wants to clean up downtown Flushing and to bring the community together. He said,
"When I walk through Flushing, I could be on a street in Korea. The merchants
don’t know it bothers people. I would talk to them and help them understand."
Top three issues in district: cleaning downtown Flushing, public safety,
affordable senior housing
Would you increase taxes to help schools?: "If it’s the only
choice."
Are term limits good?: Yes
Would you vote for someone who repealed the commuter tax?: No
Government Accountability and Access Pledge: Knows it, signed it.
THE GREEN PRIMARY
There are under 100 registered Green Party voters in District 20, and they will all be
the targets of Green Party council candidates Evergreen Chou and Paul Graziano for a Green
Party primary . . . the first such primary in the history of the City Council.
The Green Party stands for human rights and equality, and has recently picked up steam
with the high-profile presidential candidacy of Ralph Nader.
EVERGREEN CHOU
A strong advocate of "social justice," Chinese-American Evergreen Chou
strongly believes that corruption in current government has to be stopped. When asked
about candidates using public funds to run for office, he said, "These are crimes
against the people . . . technically, they’re not against the law. We need to create
an ethics board in the council . . . or make the current ethics board stronger in order to
stop these practices."
Chou, who used to be a Democrat, believes that the Green Party offers a better way to
look at politics and at the world. "It’s a new paradigm, a new way of looking at
something," he said.
Chou believes Flushing has not gotten its fair share of city funds and services because
of a "severe undercount" in the Census.
When asked if city money should always be given out based on need, Chou said, "The
theory is good. If other people need it, they should get it. But we aren’t getting
our share yet."
On illegal housing, Chou said, "We need to issue landlords fines and build more
public housing . . . We need to give them time before they leave."
Chou said that being Asian could help him or hurt him in the next election, but said
that his experience is more important. "I’ve lived in ethnically different areas
of the City . . . I now live in downtown Flushing so I live the downtown problem . . .
I’m an 1199 delegate so I understand the unions. I care about Flushing and about the
people."
Top three issues in district: affordable housing, jobs, education
Would you increase taxes to help schools?: yes
Are term limits good?: yes
Would you vote for someone who repealed the commuter tax?: No
Government Accountability and Access Pledge: Knows it, signed it.
PAUL GRAZIANO
A 30-year-old urban planner and community activist, Paul Graziano has been in the
Flushing community his whole life, "fighting for issues that are important to the
residents."
Graziano disagreed with the current council in its attempt to repeal the term limits
referendum, saying, "These people are desperate to keep their jobs." On the
topic of candidates using public funds to run for office, Graziano said, "We should
make using public funds a criminal offense."
Flushing is not getting its fair share of services, according to Graziano, and said,
"Resources should be given according to need. But getting for my district is my first
priority."
In terms of possible racism in Asian restaurants against members of other communities,
Graziano advocates "sting operations" to stop it. Graziano said, "If we get
a complaint that someone is treated badly so that they’re not welcome in an
establishment, we should have Consumer Affairs go to the place and see for themselves the
problem."
Graziano comes from the "suburban" part of Flushing, but said, "I am
three blocks from downtown Flushing, and I certainly understand the problems there."
Top three issues in district: land use, education, cleaning up downtown Flushing
Would you increase taxes to help schools?: yes
Are term limits good?: yes
Would you vote for someone who repealed the commuter tax?: No
Government Accountability and Access Pledge: Knows it, signed it.
District 21
AIDA GONZALEZ-JARRIN
Gonzalez-Jarrin has been a resident of Queens since 1961. She graduated Summa Cum Laude
from Queens College in 1981 and earned a M.A. in Political Science and Government in 1985.
She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
She has worked in state and city government for 20 years. She was a court translator
for the NYS judicial system, assigned to Family Court. There, Gonzalez-Jarrin acquired
insightful knowledge about problems regarding families in crisis. She also was a writer
for various publications and a columnist for El Diario covering legal protections
for victims of domestic violence, child support, social issues, the arts and politics.
In 1984, she was elected president of the Queens Council on the Arts and, in that
capacity, organized the 1985 Queens Jewish Israeli Festival, in conjunction with the
Queens Jewish Community Council. This event was a determining factor in
Gonzalez-Jarrin’s professional career. In 1985, she was appointed director of
Cultural Affairs of Queens. For 15 years, Gonzalez-Jarrin was one of Borough President
Claire Shulman’s top aides. At Borough Hall, she developed valuable knowledge and
expertise about all aspects of local government, including the budget process, and became
a tough negotiator on behalf of Queens cultural organizations and their needs.
ISSUES
Education: Public schools; underpaid teachers; school overcrowding; insufficient
books and computers; school safety and parental involvement. CUNY is under-funded.
My plan: Fight for more funds for competitive salaries for qualified
teachers, enhance school resources, complete BOE’s current Five Year Plan for school
construction and repairs, seek new sites and build additional schools. Work with school
authorities, parents, teachers and the community to bring about improvements and raise
academic performance. Implement safety programs. Provide ESL programs for immigrant
parents and translation services to improve communication. Adequate funding for CUNY.
Quality of life: The neighborhood is defaced with graffiti; street vendors are
causing unsanitary conditions; there are serious traffic congestion problems and lack of
parking. My plan: Fund a program for neighborhood beautification and graffiti cleanup,
working with the community and the private sector. Organize the vendors and enforce
necessary laws. Work on plans to improve traffic patterns.
Housing: The need to provide safe and affordable housing. My plan: The new City
Council should set up a task force of experts from the public and private sectors to look
at the problem citywide and provide a pragmatic plan of action.
LUIS ROSERO
Rosero was born and raised in Corona, Queens. Rosero began his public service career in
1994, as director of the Queens Congressional Office for Congresswoman Velazquez. While
working for Congress, Rosero fought to increase funding in order to improve education,
healthcare, veteran, and senior citizen services. Rosero worked alongside Queens District
Attorney Richard Brown to develop anti-money laundering legislation, which President
Clinton signed into law in 1998. In 1999, Rosero was appointed by President Clinton to the
White House Administration. Following this prestigious appointment, Rosero was asked to
work for U.S. Labor Secretary Alexis Herman. Rosero worked on issues concerning worker
safety, increasing the minimum wage, fair labor practices, pension and retirement
coverage, and promoting equal pay for women. Rosero’s commitment to helping working
families is unmistakable. Rosero went on to work for the Democratic National Committee
(DNC). During the last presidential election, Luis was asked by Vice President Al Gore and
Senator Joe Lieberman to work on their campaign.
Rosero’s decision to run for the 21st Council District in Queens is based on his
experience, deep commitment to public service and dedication to making our communities a
better place for our families to live.
ISSUES
Quality of Life: I understand the need to maintain a good quality of life for all
residents. This means continuing to work with the NYPD to reduce crime, while ensuring
Police and community residents understand and respect one another. I will enforce existing
laws and introduce new legislation to eliminate illegal street vendors, public
intoxication, illegal home conversions, excessive noise from homes and businesses, drugs,
prostitution, gangs, illegal dumping, and graffiti. I understand the need to make a
living, but it must be done according to our laws and regulations.
Quality Education: Smaller classroom sizes and higher standards for students and
teachers, increase funding for preschool and after school programs, more funding to build
new schools and modernize existing schools. Build accountability in the Board of
Education, ensure more dollars reach students. Will fund arts and physical education
programs for all grades, improve school safety programs to protect and provide a safe
learning environment for students and teachers.
Economic Development: Provide good jobs for families. I will work to provide
opportunities to attract and keep businesses in the district. Increase access to capital
for small business owners and provide assistance in areas such as taxes, city regulations,
and contract opportunities.
HIRAM MONSERRATE
Monserrate is a graduate of Jamaica High School and Queensborough College. He earned a
Bachelor’s Degree with Honors from Queens College where he is currently working
towards a Master’s Degree in Urban Studies.
Serving as a Marine during the Persian Gulf Crisis, he earned the National Defense
Ribbon and the Good Conduct Medal. Upon returning home, Hiram became a member of the
Building Service Union Local 32BJ.
In 1988, Monserrate began a career as a police officer assigned to Bayside’s 111th
Precinct. He was a founder of the Latino Officers Association. Hiram has been successful
protecting the freedom of speech rights of NYPD members and City employees in a legal
precedent-setting case which went before the United States Supreme Court.
He was the first police officer elected to serve on the Board of Directors of the New
York Civil Liberties Union.
Monserrate has been named Commissioner of Quisqueya Little League; a community based
sports league that serves over 400 children from the 21st District.
On September 12, 2000, Monserrate was successful in his first bid for office and became
the Democratic District Leader for the 34th Assembly District Part B, becoming the first
Latino elected to District leader in a contested race in Queens. He is also the founder
and an executive member of Democrats for Progress Democratic Club.
ISSUES
Education: I am an advocate for budget allocations that will provide more funding
for school construction, for improving pay and working conditions for teachers, and for
establishing smaller class sizes.
Housing: I would propose changing the housing laws so that rent guidelines are
established for a longer period of time. Apartments, not tenants, should be stabilized so
that a vacated apartment remains rent-stabilized or controlled. I also propose the
building of more needed affordable housing.
Healthcare: I would fight to keep public hospitals from being privatized. I am
also a firm supporter of universal healthcare for all.
ANGEL L. DEL VILLAR
Del Villar, attorney and counselor at law, is a product of the Queens County public
school system. He earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Queens College and a
Juris Doctorate from the CUNY Law School at Queens College.
Del Villar heads a community-based law firm serving the Corona, Queens neighborhood.
The firm is geared toward educating the community and providing affordable legal
representation.
Before pursuing a legal career in public interest law, Del Villar was a professional
prizefighter. A Golden Glove Champion in the heavyweight division, Del Villar remained
undefeated in the professional ranks. Del Villar has also co-starred in a foreign film
production released throughout Europe, was recently featured in PBS’ The
Dominican-American Spirit, and is active in public television productions.
Del Villar is co-founder and president of the Dominican-Hispanic Congress for Community
Empowerment, former chief counsel of the Long Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
to Children, a member of the American Bar Association, the Dominican Bar Association, and
an Advisory Board member of the New York Urban League Queens Branch and La Gran Alianza De
Queens.
Del Villar is married with two children. His daughter attends Manhattan Borough
Community College and his son is a junior at the University of Pennsylvania.
ISSUES
None submitted
| Council District 21 |
"The map is part of Searchlight on Campaign 2001
(http://www.gothamgazette.com/searchlight2001/), an online guide to the political races in
what many are calling New York City’s most significant campaign season in modern
history, with a separate page for each race. If you don’t know who represents you
— or who wants to — simply type your name and address, and you will be taken to
the appropriate page."
Map courtesy of NYPIRG/CMAP |
District
22
JOHN CIAFONE
DEMOCRAT
Ciafone, age 30, is a lifelong resident of Astoria, Queens. He is an attorney and
has practiced law for over six years.
He is a product of public schools in District 30. Ciafone received a J.B. Munn
Scholarship and AFL-CIO scholarship to New York University. He next attended St.
John’s University School of Law where he was the recipient of the Judge Mary Egan
Scholarship.
Ciafone immediately passed the Bar examination in New York, New Jersey and Washington,
D.C.
In May, 1996, he was elected to Community School Board 30. In September 2000, Ciafone
ran, and was elected, Judicial Delegate for the 11th Judicial District in Queens which
nominates state judges.
Perhaps his greatest accomplishment is that he is the only citywide elected official
with a perfect attendance record after four years of service on Community School Board 30.
Ciafone is also the vice president of the Federation of Italian-American Organizations of
Queens and is of counsel to the Italian-American Regular Democratic Club. Ciafone is also
a member of the Holy Name Society and the Knights of Columbus. He is the first vice
president of the Aldo’s Independent Democratic Organization.
ISSUES
Affordable Housing: The first most important issue facing Council District 22 in
Queens is the need of affordable housing. My predecessor has long supported the interests
of the Real Estate Board. As a councilman, I would sponsor legislation requesting tax levy
funds to be earmarked for the building of affordable housing. There is no reason why
people should have to devote two- thirds of their monthly income for housing. We need to
also provide more senior housing.
New Schools: The second most important issue is the need to invest in our
children’s future. We need to allocate more funding for the construction of new
schools to deal with overcrowding. We need to make sure that New York City students are
not cut short of funding compared to the rest of the students outside the city.
Power Plants: The third most important issue is the proliferation of power
plants in our community which contributes to poor air quality and an increase in asthma,
as well as the scheme by the MTA to extend the N train to LaGuardia Airport while
destroying square blocks of residential communities, commercial strips and the largest
industrial park. I have fought against both for the betterment of my community.
PETER VALLONE, Jr.
DEMOCRAT
Vallone, Jr. is the managing partner of the law-firm of Vallone & Vallone, Llp,
which is celebrating the 70th anniversary of its founding by the late Judge Charles J.
Vallone – a noted jurist and community and civil rights leader. He is also a
volunteer attorney for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn.
Vallone, Jr. attended Public School 122 and Immaculate Conception Grammar School and
Mater Christi High School in Astoria (now St. John’s Prep). Like his grandfather and
his father, Speaker Peter F. Vallone, before him, Vallone, Jr. attended both Fordham
College and Fordham Law School. He graduated from college Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta
Kappa.
Vallone, Jr. began his career as an assistant district attorney with the Manhattan
District Attorney’s office. Vallone, Jr. is a member of the Board of Trustees of the
Variety Boys and Girls Club of Queens, Inc., St. John’s Prep High School. He is the
legal counsel for the Astoria Civic Association and the United Community Civic Association
and is in "Who’s Who Among Top Executives". He is also Pro Bono counsel to
"C.H.O.K.E" - the largest community group fighting against the proliferation of
power plants.
ISSUES
Power Plants: The fight to preserve our environment is my primary motivation for
entering into public service. On behalf of Coalition Helping Organize a Kleaner
Environment (C.H.O.K.E.), I speak at public gatherings concerning the proliferation of
power plants. As councilman, my highest priority will be continuing this fight for the
survival of our community.
Education: I have been actively involved with groups helping children
(especially at-risk children) for over twenty years. I have the hands on experience
necessary to improve our school system. More importantly, I have two daughters in the
Public School System. There is no concern like the concern of a parent.
Crime: Our community still suffers from a level of crime which is too high. I
was a prosecutor with the Manhattan District Attorney’s office for over six years,
compiling a trial record of 40 top count convictions against one acquittal, and
prosecuting thousands of criminals. I have personal experience prosecuting the same
criminals over and over again for the same crimes. As councilman, I will fight to ensure
that these criminals are kept off our streets for as long as possible
MIKE ZAPITI
DEMOCRAT
Zapiti immigrated to the United States at the end of 1946.
After years of hard work, dedication and understanding, he became a successful
businessman with a reputation of being an activist and a fighter for the community where
he’s worked and lived for over 37 years.
In 1966, he was instrumental in convincing the Department of Motor Vehicles to give the
written exams for licensing in several languages such as Italian, Greek, etc. in order to
help the new immigrants get their driving privileges as soon as possible.
This offered opportunities to our new immigrants to make a decent living in this
country.
He is the only immigrant running for this district.
ISSUES
Education: I am a strong supporter of improving the quality of education and am
concerned about the safety of children in our schools.
Seniors: I feel that the senior citizens need a voice in politics. They need
someone who cares about their safety and quality of life.
Drugs: The problem of drugs should be addressed.
Small Business: I am a man who understands the problems facing small businesses
and is willing to help them.
| Council District 22 |
"The map is part of Searchlight on Campaign 2001
(http://www.gothamgazette.com/searchlight2001/), an online guide to the political races in
what many are calling New York City’s most significant campaign season in modern
history, with a separate page for each race. If you don’t know who represents you
— or who wants to — simply type your name and address, and you will be taken to
the appropriate page."
Map courtesy of NYPIRG/CMAP |
District 23
DAVID WEPRIN
Weprin was born in Queens and has lived in the Holliswood-Jamaica Estates area for his
entire life. He is a graduate of Jamaica High School, the State University of New York at
Albany and Hofstra University School of Law.
Weprin practiced law from 1980-1983 when he was appointed by Governor Mario Cuomo to
serve as Deputy Superintendent of Banks for NYS and Secretary to the NY Banking Board from
1983-1987.
Weprin worked on Wall Street from 1987 to 2000 in Public Finance. He currently
practices law again as he campaigns for New York City Council.
He serves as a Democratic district leader and executive member of the Saul Weprin
Democratic Club named after his late father, Assembly Speaker Saul Weprin.
Weprin is a member of the Board of Directors of many organizations including the Queens
Jewish Community Council, The Brandeis Association, Greater Jamaica Development
Corporation, American Jewish Congress, the NYS Government Finance Officers Assoc,
Metropolitan Coordinating Council on Jewish Poverty, Eastern Queens Dem Club, National
Committee for the Furtherance of Jewish Education, National Conference for Community and
Justice, Respect for Law Alliance Inc., Citizens Budget Commission, and Northeast Queens
Jewish Community Council.
JAIRAM D. THAKRAL
Occupation: Chief Financial Officer, State University of New York at
Stony Brook, Long Island State Veterans Home
Occupational Background: Accounting and financial management positions
with the American Embassy in New Delhi, India and Kabul, Afghanistan. Controller, Coney
Island Hospital, Chief Financial Officer, Woodhull and Kings County Hospitals.
Educational Background: M.B.A. Executive Management, St. John’s
University, New York. B.A. Accounting, University of Delhi, India.
Organizational Affiliations: Executive member of various educational,
community and cultural organizations.
New York City is the "Capital of the World" and is the host city for millions
of immigrants. Thakral believes he is one fortunate immigrant who landed in New York City
30 years ago. Since then, he has worked tirelessly to achieve the American dream of
self-sufficiency and success for me and my family. He cherishes educational values, family
values, communal harmony and principles of democracy with diversity. It is a matter of
honor for him to enter into public life and serve the people of the county of Queens and
District 23.
| Council District 23 |
"The map is part of Searchlight on Campaign 2001
(http://www.gothamgazette.com/searchlight2001/), an online guide to the political races in
what many are calling New York City’s most significant campaign season in modern
history, with a separate page for each race. If you don’t know who represents you
— or who wants to — simply type your name and address, and you will be taken to
the appropriate page."
Map courtesy of NYPIRG/CMAP |
District 24
JIM GENNARO
Gennaro attended SUNY Stony Brook and received his bachelor’s degree in geology
and environmental sciences in 1979 and his master’s degree in Policy Analysis and
Public Management in 1982.
Gennaro began working in the Koch Administration in 1983, and held various management
positions in the Office of Management and Budget and the New York City Elections Project.
Gennaro went to work for City Council Speaker Peter Vallone in 1990 as Deputy Director of
the City Council Office of Policy and Research. In 1992, Gennaro became the Council’s
Senior Environmental Policy Advisor, and has served in that capacity ever since.
In 1996, Gennaro began a second career as an Adjunct Professor of Political Science and
Environmental Public Policy at Queens College. He is a member of the CUNY teacher’s
union – the Professional Staff Congress.
In May 2000, Gennaro was elected President of the Saul Weprin Democratic Club. Gennaro
is also president the Jamaica Estates Civic Association and a member of Queens Community
Board 8.
DAVID REICH
Reich was born on Manhattan’s Lower East Side on March 30, 1965. He graduated cum
laude with a B.A. in Accounting from Queens College in 1987 and received his J.D. from
the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in January of 1991. Reich has been working for the
New York State Senate since 1993, first as Counsel to State Senator Emanuel R. Gold in
Forest Hills, Queens and currently as chief of staff and counsel to State Senator Seymour
P. Lachman in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn.
Reich sits on the Board of Directors of the Kew Gardens Hills Homeowners’ Civic
Association and the John F. Kennedy Regular Democratic Club of Queens County. Reich is a
Vice President of the Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills.
Reich has been living in Kew Gardens Hills since 1974 when his family moved from
Manhattan.
BARRY GRODENCHIK
Grodenchik, a Democratic District Leader, 27th AD, Part A has served as Chief
Administrative Officer and senior policy advisor for Queens Borough President Claire
Shulman since 1991. Previously, he served as Queens Regional Representative for Governor
Mario Cuomo and as a Legislative Aide to Assemblywoman Nettie Mayersohn.
A resident of Queens for his entire life, Grodenchik was raised in Pomonok Houses in
Flushing and attended local public schools P.S. 201, I.S. 237 and Jamaica H.S. He received
a Bachelors of Arts in Economics and History from Binghamton University in 1981.
He is a member of the Flushing Heights Civic Association and the Torah Center of
Hillcrest. He is a founder of Flushing A Better Community and was an active member of the
Electchester and Kew Gardens Hills Athletic Associations. Barry is also Executive Member
of the Stevenson Regular Democratic Club.
| Council District 24 |
"The map is part of Searchlight on Campaign 2001
(http://www.gothamgazette.com/searchlight2001/), an online guide to the political races in
what many are calling New York City’s most significant campaign season in modern
history, with a separate page for each race. If you don’t know who represents you
— or who wants to — simply type your name and address, and you will be taken to
the appropriate page."
Map courtesy of NYPIRG/CMAP |
| A Polite Political Battle By TAMARA HARTMAN
As the three candidates for this council district sat down together at the Queens
Tribune, they threw around phases about each other like "gentlemen,"
"nice people" and "qualified." The big difference between them was
clearly the kinds of experience they bring to their race.
The 24th District has had Morton Povman for its councilman since 1971. The district
includes parts of south Flushing, Briarwood, Jamaica Hills, Hillcrest and Jamaica Estates.
The winner of this Sept. 11 primary will face Green Party Candidate Lori Zett in the
general election.
Questions in the Tribune group interview were designed to test the three
candidates’ beliefs and positions, and challenged them to think on their feet.
Several short-answer questions were asked, including where the candidates stand on the
Government Access and Accountability pledge by Bryan Pu-Folkes and his immigrant
coalition, NICE. The pledge asks candidates to hold at least two town hall meetings each
year, send performance evaluations to constituents, and send out annual reports to
constituents once in office.
JIM GENNARO
Jim Gennaro has been a staff member at council since 1990 and emphasized his inside
knowledge of how the council runs and how it should run.
"I’m the only one who has city council experience. I’ve been there 11
years as a senior policy advisor. I’m the only one who’s president of a local
civic association and I think that’s great preparation for being a city councilman.
And I also bring special expertise to the job in that I am a teacher . . . I think we need
more teachers at City Hall, and more union members and I am a union member." Gennaro
is an adjunct professor at Queens College for night classes.
As for Speaker Peter Vallone’s use of council funds for tote bags and flags with
his name on them, "The Speaker certainly has to set the standard, and to the extent
that the speaker is setting a standard that people could call into question, I think it
hurts him and it hurts public perception."
He voted to work in the council for a "living wage bill and take care of working
families" and as for a specialized elementary school on the campus of Queens College,
he said "I support the school but with mitigation measures [to direct traffic]."
He also took a strong stance against any elected official who supported the city
council attempt to overthrow the term limit referendums or eliminating the commuter tax.
Immigrant Groups’ Government Access Pledge: signed on
Key Issues In The District: Education, Public Safety, Seniors
BARRY GRODENCHIK
"This is my community. I believe . . . with all due respect to the other two
gentlemen in the race . . . I know the district better than anybody," Barry
Grodenchik said plainly. He has "experience working for the borough president,
working for Nettie Mayherson and Governor Cuomo. [I] grew up and spent my entire life in
the district, I know the district pretty much like the back on my hand. I know its
streets, its byways, its people and I’ve lived with them." Now he wants to
represent them in the City Council.
He pledged his support to local education, adding "I’m going to be in all the
schools. I’m going to establish a relationship with every single public school in the
district and monitor them." He also supports the new, specialized school on the
Queens College campus, adding that he doesn’t believe the traffic impact will be as
great as some neighbors fear.
As for the conflicts of spending and use of personnel that elected officials face in an
election year, he said "Sometimes political needs and governmental needs coincide and
I think people find that distasteful" but he refrained from strongly condemning or
supporting recent spending by Speaker Peter Vallone, noting that his current job at
Borough Hall has kept his attention elsewhere. |
In
Their Own Words: JIM
GENNARO
Gennaro attended SUNY Stony Brook and received his bachelor’s degree in geology
and environmental sciences in 1979 and his master’s degree in Policy Analysis and
Public Management in 1982.
Gennaro began working in the Koch Administration in 1983, and held various management
positions in the Office of Management and Budget and the New York City Elections Project.
Gennaro went to work for City Council Speaker Peter Vallone in 1990 as Deputy Director of
the City Council Office of Policy and Research. In 1992, Gennaro became the Council’s
Senior Environmental Policy Advisor, and has served in that capacity ever since.
In 1996, Gennaro began a second career as an Adjunct Professor of Political Science and
Environmental Public Policy at Queens College. He teaches five courses per year and is a
proud member of the CUNY teacher’s union – the Professional Staff Congress.
In May 2000, Gennaro was elected President of the Saul Weprin Democratic Club. Gennaro
is also president the Jamaica Estates Civic Association and a member of Queens Community
Board 8. Gennaro is also active in Immaculate Conception Church and St. John’s Bread
and Life, a soup kitchen and social services provider.
Gennaro, 43, and his wife, Joanne, live in Jamaica Estates with their two children,
Richard and Christina.
DAVID REICH
Reich was born on Manhattan’s Lower East Side on March 30, 1965. He graduated cum
laude with a B.A. in Accounting from Queens College in 1987 and received his J.D. from
the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in January of 1991. Reich worked as a Tax Consultant
at Deloitte & Touche and worked in private practice as an attorney for two years after
being admitted to the New York State Bar in July of 1991. Reich has been working for the
New York State Senate since 1993, first as Counsel to State Senator Emanuel R. Gold in
Forest Hills, Queens and currently as chief of staff & counsel to State Senator
Seymour P. Lachman in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn.
Reich sits on the Board of Directors of the Kew Gardens Hills Homeowners’ Civic
Association and the John F. Kennedy Regular Democratic Club of Queens County. Reich is a
Vice President of the Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills.
Reich has been living in Kew Gardens Hills since 1974 when his family moved from
Manhattan. Reich and his wife Toby, a Speech & Language Pathologist, are the proud
parents of three children, Jonathan, who is 10 years old, Jennifer, who is 6 and Allison,
who is 3.
BARRY GRODENCHIK
Grodenchik, a Democratic District Leader, 27th AD, Part A has served as Chief
Administrative Officer and senior policy advisor for Queens Borough President Claire
Shulman since 1991. Previously, he served as Queens Regional Representative for Governor
Mario Cuomo and as a Legislative Aide to Assemblywoman Nettie Mayersohn.
A resident of Queens for his entire life, Grodenchik was raised in Pomonok Houses in
Flushing and attended local public schools P.S. 201, I.S. 237 and Jamaica H.S. He received
a Bachelors of Arts in Economics and History from Binghamton University in 1981.
With a record of community service that spans of two decades, he is a member of the
Flushing Heights Civic Association and the Torah Center of Hillcrest. He is a founder of
Flushing A Better Community and was an active member of the Electchester and Kew Gardens
Hills Athletic Associations. Barry is also Executive Member of the Stevenson Regular
Democratic Club.
Grodenchik resides in Hillcrest with his wife Debra, an Associate Professor of
Mathematics in the Department of Reading and Basic Education at Nassau Community College
and their five-year-old son David.
|
| As for budget
allocations, he vowed "I’m going to fight for every dollar I can for the
district." Immigrant Groups’
Government Access Pledge: read it, not signed
Key Issues In The District: Public Safety,
Education, Seniors
DAVID REICH
David Reich described his campaign as a "grassroots
campaign, I don’t have staff, I have volunteers, I do a lot of it myself . . .
I’m trained in the law, I’ve written laws, that’s part of the job of a
Councilman. I’m independent, not beholden to special interest, no political interest
and I’ve working in the private sector so I have varied background."
 David Reich, Barry Grodenchik
and Jim Gennaro (l. to r.) prepare for a
friendly fight in the District 24 Democratic primary.
Tribune Photo by Dee Richard
|
He stood firmly against the plan for a specialized
elementary school to be built at Queens College, implying it was the wrong use for the
"last developable track of land on the Queens College campus."
As for City budget funds, he said that as a councilman he
would "Try and get funding for the needier districts through non-government
sources" because he believes the City’s dollars should be "split
evenly" by the council district.
And with great respect for his opponents he clearly laid
out why he believes he is the best man for the 24th District. "What differentiates me
from the two gentlemen here is that I’m trained in the law, I’ve written law.
But if you have a problem with your foot you don’t go to an eye doctor you want
somebody who can analyze the law you also want somebody who is independent. I am strictly
independent. I don’t have the endorsements of anybody."
Immigrant Groups’ Government Access Pledge:
doesn’t know it
Key Issues In The District: Education,
Crime, Buildings Department problems |
District
29
The following statements were submitted by City Council candidates
running in the Democratic Primary on Sept. 11.
MELINDA KATZ
DEMOCRAT
Melinda Katz is the Director of Community Boards for the Borough
President of Queens. Her father, the late Maestro David Katz, founded the Queens Symphony
Orchestra in 1953. Her mother, the late Jeanne Dale Katz, founded the Queens Council on
the Arts.
Elected to the New York State Assembly in 1994, Melinda Katz was a
member of the Health, Judiciary, Children & Families and Environmental Conservation
Committees.
Ms. Katz has authored 16 bills that are now laws including significant
health care initiatives
Melinda Katz is a product of New York City’s public schools. She
graduated Suma cum laude from the University of Massachusetts, and was named a
Commonwealth Scholar, and went on to earn a law degree from the St. John’s University
School of Law. During law school, she interned for the Legal Aid Society. She then
interned with the U.S. Attorney’s Organized Crime and for U.S. District Court judge
Michael Mukasey. After graduation, Melinda was recruited by Weil, Gotshal & Manges,
the second largest law firm in the State of New.
In 1995, Melinda Katz was named by the New York Daily News as one
of the one hundred up-and-coming young leaders for the 21st century.
ISSUES
Education: Providing a sound education to all children is one of the
most important issues facing the 29th Council District. Every child deserves a chance to
reach his or her potential. I know that the environment in which a child learns is almost
as important as what is being taught, so I would make every effort to build additional
schools to reduce class size. I believe funding for school construction and repair to
provide a seat should be encouraged from all levels of government – federal, state
and local. I know that teachers in the City need to be paid a competitive wage.
Protecting Our Seniors: There are a myriad of issues affecting our
seniors, which need to be addressed, including providing low cost prescription medication,
providing rent protections and providing for their safety on the streets.
Housing/Tenants Rights: In the City Council I will also work to
establish rules which require the mayor to submit rent Guidelines Board nominees to the
City Council. I will also support repeal of the Urstadt Law, which prevents the City from
having "home rule" over rent and eviction protections. One of my main priorities
in the City Council will also be the creation of affordable, middle-income housing.
LYNN SCHULMAN
DEMOCRAT
Lynn Schulman, is Queens born and raised, and has lived in Forest
Hills for over 16 years. She attended public schools, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree
from New York University and a Juris Doctor degree from Brooklyn Law School.
Lynn’s public service career began in 1979, when she joined the
staff of the Speaker Pro Tempore of the New York State Assembly, William F. Passannante.
There she worked on issues affecting tenants, seniors and Mom and Pop stores. Lynn also
resolved constituent problems.
Lynn then became chief of staff to City Council Member Carol Greitzer,
where she worked on transportation, consumer, human rights, and tenants issues. Lynn also
worked with the district’s community boards and district residents to investigate and
resolve neighborhood concerns.
Lynn joined the executive branch of City government in 1986, and served
through three City administrations. She began as a Deputy Assistant Commissioner for the
New York City Department of Employment, and went on to become an Associate Executive
Director with the Emergency Medical Service.
Lynn is a Vice-Chair of Community Board 6 and is the Recording Secretary
for the 112th Precinct Community Council. She is also a graduate of the NYPD Citizen
Police Academy.
ISSUES
Affordable Housing: There is only a 2.3% vacancy rate for residential
housing in Queens. I propose: A housing trust fund that would receive revenue from
property taxes on large corporate properties, which will revert from a public entity to
private property once its sale is complete. Provide City tax breaks and incentives to
build affordable housing. Overhaul the Buildings Department to ensure that regulations do
not impede construction of new housing units.
Education: Our schools are overcrowded. The other problem areas are
class size, student and teacher safety, deteriorating school facilities, and retention of
teachers. I propose: To work cooperatively to identify new locations to build schools and
search for creative alternatives to quickly alleviate current conditions. Provide more
resources for teacher training. Improve safety in schools by toughening procedures to
handle unruly students.
Public Safety and Zoning: I will examine the Police
Department’s deployment formula to make sure that the district is getting its fair
share. I will also work with the DOT Commissioner and the Mayor to develop a long- range
approach for Queens Boulevard. I will review all zoning designations in order to ensure
that the community is able to grow, yet retain the character of our wonderful
neighborhoods.
Council District 29 |
"The map is part of Searchlight on Campaign 2001 (http://www.gothamgazette.com/searchlight2001/),
an online guide to the political races in what many are calling New York City’s most
significant campaign season in modern history, with a separate page for each race. If you
don’t know who represents you — or who wants to — simply type your name and
address, and you will be taken to the appropriate page."
|
Council District 29:
Confidence In Central Queens |
By ANGELA MONTEFINISE
As soon as the two Democratic candidates for District
29’s City Council seat walked through the Tribune’s editorial office door
for their group interview, it was obvious that they were comfortable with each other and
with the issues. Both were calm, collected, classy, and confident, showing off a knowledge
of the district and an appreciation of each other’s positions.
This District 29 group interview was for the Democratic
primary candidates who will face each other on the ballot Sept. 11: Melinda Katz and Lynn
Schulman. The District, currently represented in the city council by Karen Koslowitz,
represents the neighborhoods of Rego Park, Forest Hills and Kew Gardens. Koslowitz has
held the city council position since 1991.
Once the primary decision is made, the winning Democrat
will face Indepdent Joseph Tiraco and Republican Rene Lobo in the general election in
November.
As for these Democratic candidates, there were certainly
clear differences, including style and approach. Katz was more aggressive, Schulman was
more careful. Schulman was for political change, Katz was for slight improvements in the
current system. Both candidates presented their arguments clearly, stood up to interviewer
and shook hands afterwards . . . and they did it all with a smile.
Questions in the interview tested both candidates’
beliefs and positions, and challenged them to think quick. Several short-answer questions
were asked, including where the candidates stand on the Government Access and
Accountability pledge by Bryan Pu-Folkes and his immigrant coalition, New Immigrants’
Community Empowerment (NICE). The pledge asks candidates to hold at least two town hall
meetings each year, send performance evaluations to constituents, and send out annual
reports to constituents once in office.
MELINDA KATZ
Strong and resilient, Katz is a government pro who knows
what she wants and makes sure she gets it.
She served in the State Assembly for five years and has
been in Borough President Claire Shulman’s office as head of community boards for the
past three years. She believes her experience in providing services to constituents is
key, and she hopes it helps her get elected.
"I would hope that the constituent services I provided
while in the Assembly . . . were good. Now that I won’t be going back and forth from
the Assembly, they will be even better."
While Katz believes that allocating funds, police, and
teachers to districts based on need is important, she also thinks bringing money and
services back to her district is her primary function.
"We were doing so well in crime for a while so we lost
cops . . . When our crime level goes up, we’ll get more cops. That doesn’t make
much sense to me. . . It doesn’t matter what the median income is, there are still
going to be needy people."
To help fix education, Katz said, "The first thing we
need to do in the educational system is start spending money per student . . . I would put
the Board of Education under mayoral control, but still keep the minority vote with Queens
Borough President. . . I just think it’s the right thing to do. . . I think you need
someone to answer to."
In terms of the right thing to do, Katz acknowledged that
there is a problem with incumbents using public funds to run for public office. She
believes a time limit on when candidates can send mailings will help the problem.
She also thinks that the current council members who voted
to repeal two public referendums for term limits made a mistake.
"The problem was not overturning the referendum, but
trying to do it on their way out. . . It should have been when they could have had
reelection afterwards." She added, "No matter what I do, I should have to
withstand an election."
When asked if she would go against a public referendum, she
said, "I doubt it." But as for those who lead the city council in an attempt to
overthrow the term limits referendum, she said she would look at a politician’s
entire record before deciding whether to vote for them.
On the tough subject of illegal conversions, Katz said she
would "send inspectors and get rid of them." She stated the importance of
building and finding more affordable housing across all five boroughs because "this
is not a neighborhood problem." She advocates selling the World Trade Center to
obtain funds for this, and said, "I would begin refurbishing . . . existing
structures."
Katz called Claire Shulman an "unbelievable teacher
and mentor," and she hopes to continue Claire Shulman’s tradition of excellence
in public service.
Government availability and accessibility Campaign:
supports it, will sign it.
Are Part-time councilmembers acceptable?: "I
taught when I was in the Assembly and I enjoyed it. I’d like to teach again."
Will the new council be better than the old council?:
"I think it will be different. I think it will be fresh, I think it will be new, and
I think it will be a much more open process . . . Quite honestly, on a balancing act, I
think it probably will be better."
Three key issues in the district: education,
affordable housing, constituent services
Should police be in schools?: yes
Would you support raising taxes with the funds earmarked
for schools?: no
LYNN SCHULMAN
Schulman takes pride in being an independent candidate who
thinks for herself and would do for her constituents.
"I don’t have anybody to answer to other than the
constituents of this district," she said. "I’m not part of the party
machine, I’m not part of the status quo." In fact, she strongly dislikes the
current structure of organized political parties, saying, "I think they need to be
opened up, I think that they’re unfair and they don’t give access to
everyone." Her opponent received the support of the Democratic organization, but
Schulman confidently said, "I will probably be outspent, but that doesn’t mean
I’m going to be out-done."
Schulman has worked as chief of staff to one-time City
Council member Carol Grietzer, and has been vice-chair of Community Board 6 for over two
years. She is also the recording secretary of the 112th Precinct Council, and thinks these
experiences make her more than qualified. "I worked in the City Council, I have a
decade of experience in city government, and I’ve done constituent services."
She spoke strongly against the current city council members
who voted to repeal the term limits referendum, even though she voted against term limits
twice. "I thought it was horrible. I think it put the city council in a horrible
light." She added that the public should, "vote them out," when they run
for other offices.
Although, in theory, she disagrees with term limits, she
believes a change is needed in the council. She said, "I think with anyone who has
any kind of job . . . may it be City Council or private sector or whatever . . . after a
few years you get kind of stale . . . it’s possible that this council will be
better."
She believes that while funds should be allocated to
districts based on need, the "formula" for deciding which districts are needy
should be changed.
On illegal conversions, Schulman said the Buildings
Department should clear people out of apartments that are fire hazards while the city
builds affordable housing. For those that are not fire hazards, Schulman suggests that the
city allow residents adequate time to move out, as long as the illegal conversions
don’t "change the complexion of the neighborhood." She also advocated
lowering housing costs to increase Queens’ two percent vacancy rate.
Although Schulman is not related to the Queens Borough
President, she did acknowledge that the name Schulman, although spelt differently than
Claire’s, "helps me a lot."
Government availability and accessibility Campaign:
supports it, signed it
Are part-time councilmembers acceptable?: no
Will the new council be better than the old council?:
"I think change can be a very good thing."
Three key issues in the district: education,
affordable housing, zoning
Should police be in schools?: "I think we need
security in schools and I think the security guards we have now are inept . . . you have a
lot of people hired who have records . . . I think with the proper training they
should."
Would you support raising taxes with the funds earmarked
for schools?: "I think there are other ways to get money for schools."
District
30
The three following candidates are running in
the Democratic Primary for District 30’s City Council seat. The district covers parts
of Woodhaven, a neighborhood in southern Queens and other areas in western Queens.
The primary Council district in that area is
32. Stay tuned for the Democratic primary candidates from that district.
ROBERT CERMELLI
Robert Cermelli has served in four Mayoral
agencies. He is a graduate of the School of Engineering of CCNY, Cermelli and serves as
Associate Project Manager, Structures Division, NYCDDC with experience in capital
planning, infrastructure and budgeting.
Cermelli is retiring from his present
position to devote full time to the work of being a Councilman.
He is a member and former president of
Community School Board 24, a member of Community Board 5 and served in the US Naval
Airforce.
Cermelli has been a member of St.
Margaret’s Home School Association Executive Board, Middle Village Home Owner’s
Association, Civil Service Technical Guild, Local 375; DC 37, AFSCME, AFL-CIO.
Cermelli a homeowner in Middle Village since
1974 is married to a public school teacher and the father of three.
ISSUES
Education: Since the time that I was
elected to the Community School Board, our District’s student population has risen
from 24,000 to over 38,000 students. This has created additional needs. I will continue to
work toward the building of new schools and improving and maintaining our existing school
facilities. It is my belief that children should be able to walk to their neighborhood
school therefore greatly reducing the need for busing. I would also continue to strive to
provide individual attention to students in need. I will continue to support pre-K
programs as a way to provide an early start in education.
Quality of life for senior citizens:
There are laws pending that will require background checks of all nursing home employers
and employees. It is necessary to change the culture of some nursing homes from emphasis
on money to the respect of our most fragile members of our society.
Community Protection! Our district has
particular police problems due to its unique geography (cemeteries, parks, rail lines).
The 911 response time is too long. I will demand police resources that will properly
accommodate all of the neighborhoods in our district. I will encourage a more educated
police force by offering incentive pay for acquired college education.
ELIZABETH
CROWLEY
DEMOCRAT
Elizabeth Crowley comes from a family that
has long been involved in community service.
Her father Walter served on the City
Council in the early 1980’s. He was also a member of
St. Adalbert’s Parish Council, a Democratic district leader, and member of the board
of higher education. Her mother, Mary, served on School Board #24 and today, her mother
runs a day care center in Queens.
Her sister, Mary is a member of School Board
#24. Her cousin, Joseph is a member of the House of Representatives and a former member of
the NYS Assembly.
Since 1998, Elizabeth has been a member of
District Council 9, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades. Much of the
interior design work Elizabeth has done can be seen in many of the great landmarks of New
York City including Radio City Music Hall, Empire Theatre at Times Square and St.
Patrick’s Cathedral.
Elizabeth attended St. Adalbert’s School
and graduated from St. Agnes High School. She graduated from the Fashion Institute of
Technology Magna Cum Laude.
Elizabeth is the mother of two children,
Dennis, 4, and Owen, 3. Her husband, Dennis O’Hara is a New York City Police Officer.
ISSUES
Education: We must reduce
class size by enforcing laws which require pre-K through Grade 3 classes to have a maximum
of 20 children, building new schools and renovating those that are currently in need of
repair. If we do not properly plan for our children’s education, we can not properly
plan for the future.
Police: The 104th Precinct
has yet to receive the full mandate under the Safe Streets, Safe City legislation. Often
times cars which should be on patrol are idle because there are not enough officers. As a
result, response time in the 104th Pct. has increased. I would propose a satellite station
within the 104th Pct to increase response time and lobby for our fair share of police
officers.
Protection of Seniors: The
very first thing I will do as Councilmember will be to hire a staff member whose sole
responsibility will be to deal with a myriad of issues which affect seniors from social
security to elder care to senior center issues. It is our responsibility and my priority
to see that seniors who have given their lives to their communities can afford some
comfort and dignity.
LINDA
SANSIVIERI
Linda has been involved in the community for
the past 25 years. She was an original member of the first 33rd and 37th Assembly District
Democratic Club. Linda and her brother-in-law, Frank Sansivieri, along with other
Ridgewood leaders, were instrumental in forming this club. She has since then become a
community activist in the Middle Village, Glendale and Ridgewood community.
Linda worked for the former Assemblyman
Frederick Schmidt in the local New York State Assembly district office. She worked with
the constituents addressing and resolving issues and concerns of the community.
Since 1989, Linda has been an elected
community school board member of District 24 and has been a successful leader in the fight
against overcrowding of schools. She has been a leader in the fight to raise math and
reading scores through implementation of traditional back-to-basics programs. She has been
a staunch supporter of the Reaching Out Program which teaches the values of respect and
love for all people. Linda has always worked to ensure that all youngsters in the district
receive a quality education.
For the past eight years, Linda has been a
teacher in a local community day care center located in Middle Village.
ISSUES
Overcrowding and Deterioration of Schools:
This has been an ongoing issue in our district. As a City Council woman, I will implement
proposals for alleviating overcrowding schools by finding space to built new schools or
making additions to existing buildings. More importantly, buildings need to be maintained.
Police and Teachers Leaving For Suburbs:
Many of our New York City teachers and police officers are leaving for the suburbs for
higher salaries. We are losing hard working, qualified employees because they are not
receiving equitable pay. As a City Council woman, I will advocate the necessity to retain
our veteran employees and attract newly qualified people by giving them competitive
salaries. If we do not resolve this issue, the quality of life in New York City will
decline significantly.
Crime: Laws that govern our quality of
life issues such as illegal dumping, car theft, noise and graffiti vandalism should be
enforced more aggressively. Community service should be mandatory for all acts of
vandalism. As a City Council woman, I would advocate for increasing police presence in
high crime areas and would promote improving police and community relations in the
neighborhoods.
Council District 30 |
"The map is part of Searchlight on Campaign 2001 (http://www.gothamgazette.com/searchlight2001/),
an online guide to the political races in what many are calling New York City’s most
significant campaign season in modern history, with a separate page for each race. If you
don’t know who represents you — or who wants to — simply type your name and
address, and you will be taken to the appropriate page.
|
Council District 30:
Democrats Set Sights On The Republican's Seat |
By NICK ABADJIAN
Three Democrats are vying for their party slot on the
ballot to take their chance at turning what was the Republican council seat of Thomas
Ognibene into a Democrat’s 30th Council District seat.
Though the district has a two to one ratio of Democrats to
Republicans, it has a conservative voting record, twice voting for the Republican Mayor
Rudy Giuliani. In the Sept. 11 primary are two board members of School Board 30 —
Robert Cermeli and Linda Sansivieri – along with Elizabeth Crowley, the 23-year-old
cousin of Congressman Joseph Crowley.
City Council District 30 includes the neighborhoods of
Middle Village, Glendale, Ridgewood, and parts of Elmhurst, Rego Park, Kew Gardens,
Richmond Hill and Woodhaven.
The median income is about $42,000. The winner of the
September Democratic primary will face Green candidate Sharain Pereira and Republican
contender Dennis Gallagher — chief of staff to Ognibene – on the November
ballot.
The three Democratic candidates had a sit down with the Queens
Tribune, as the newspaper’s editorial board used rapid-fire questions, trivia,
and issues to get a better sense of the candidates and where they stand.
The conversation was lively and loud with passion.
Among the issues discussed was School Board 30’s
failure to elect a superintendent.
Joseph Quinn was voted out by the board as the
superintendent, but has remained as acting superintendent for more than a year.
The problem, the candidates who are Board members
explained, stemmed from an impasse between the school board and Board of Education
Chancellor Howard Levy.
Levy claims there were improper procedures on the school
board’s part for requesting a new superintendent.
All three candidates agreed that the Board of Education has
become too politicized and the member appointed by the Borough President should be
independent of the person who appointed them.
All of the candidates were also against the repeal of the
commuter tax, which took away over $400 million in funding from the city.
They were in consensus that the three most important topics
for their district are education, policing, and seniors.
LINDA SANSIVIERI
Linda Sansivieri has a 25-year record of serving the
community and was an original member of the first 33rd and 37th Assembly Democratic Club.
She worked for former Assemblyman Frederick Schmidt and
helped constituents address community concerns. Sansivieri has been a school board member
since 1989 and is a Middle Village resident.
"I know the issues and concerns of the district.
People know me," she said, but added that she thinks the race is on an "equal
footing for everyone."
Although Sansivieri doesn’t always agree with the
Board of Education, she doesn’t think it should be "blown up," as some
opponents have suggested. She wants to see a plan in place to have a less politicized
central board.
About the strife between the school board and the
chancellor over a superintendent, she said, "We’re fighting it. Levy’s
wrong. He’s stalling it."
In reference to her board, she said, "I think the
school board is doing an excellent job."
When it comes down to illegal conversions . . . three
families occupying one-family homes . . . Sansivieri wants to see the residents fined.
And she was opposed to City Council Speaker Vallone using
his name on tote bags and flags distributed to New Yorkers at the city’s expense.
"It’s wrong," said Sansivieri. "There has to be a definite
reform."
Asked about whether or not gay partners should have equal
rights and marriages, Sansivieri had no answer.
Who she’s backing for citywide offices: Mayoral
candidate Peter Vallone, City Comptroller candidate Herb Berman, Public Advocate Stephen
DiBrienza and Borough President candidate Carol Gresser
ROBERT CERMELI
Cermeli has 33 years of city service under his belt and is
currently an associate project manager for the Structures Division of the City’s
Department of Design and Construction. He also served in the US Naval Air Force during
Vietnam.
Cermeli has been a member of School Board 30 for 10 years
and once served as its president. In education, his focus is placed on the building of new
schools, while maintaining current facilities. He is credited with pushing for two new
schools. He also supports pre-K programs as a head start in education.
"The community fought me against a Grand Avenue
school," said Cermeli.
When asked if people benefited from the Queens County
Democratic Organization, he responded, "It’s too powerful. This is not a level
playing field. People are not predominant."
In regards to the school board superintendent issue,
Cermeli said that part of the board was biased. "I am happy with Superintendent
Quinn," said Cermeli, and admitted that the school board could do a better job.
Yet when it came down to the Board of Education and whether
or not Levy cared about children’s education, Cermeli said, "Yes, he has their
interest at heart." But his suggestion for the central board was, "Move it to
borough boards. It could have rivalry."
Cermeli is an advocate of distributing capital according to
the needs of each district. About gay partners having equal rights as married couples,
Cermeli said he had to think about it.
And to solve the problem about illegal conversions Cermeli
said, "There has to be compassion. Get them out and put them in housing."
Who he is supporting for citywide office: Public
Advocate candidate Stephen DiBrienza, Mayoral candidate Peter Vallone, Borough President
candidate Carol Gresser
ELIZABETH CROWLEY
Though some might think Elizabeth Crowley is young to be in
this race, she embraces her youth as a plus for her campaign.
Crowley comes from a political family and besides her
cousin the congressman, both her parents served as council members for the 26th Council
District . . . what is now Councilman Walter McCaffrey’s seat.
Crowley knows her politics and could answer questions, but
there were times she was jumping up and down clamoring out of turn with her enthusiasm.
She is a member of the District Council 9, International
Union of Painters and Allied Trades and a restorer of New York landmarks such as Radio
City Hall and the St. Patrick’s Cathedral. As a substitute teacher, Crowley said she
has worked in most of the schools in her district.
"My number one priority is to get more teachers and
better pay," said Crowley.
About her loyalty to the Democratic county
organization’s candidate choices, Crowley said, "I believe they’ve picked
the best candidates."
When asked about Vallone and his spending of public funds
on tote bags and flags labeled with his title and name, she said, "I think he should
be billed and his campaign should pay for it." She added that suggestion that the
environmentally-friendly tote bags would be nicer with "NY" on it.
Crowley said that School Board 30 was embarrassing, and
favors keeping the current Board of Education with reform rather than turning to a new
system.
When she becomes a city council member, Crowley pledged to
hold a town hall meeting every month with appropriate interpreters for those in her
district who do not speak English.
As for illegal conversion of housing, she said, "The
last council didn’t put enough money into affordable housing. A lot of them are
families. It’s a fire hazard. When it’s unsafe, you have to fine them."
She believes in equal rights for everyone, including gay
partners in a civil union.
Candidates she is supporting for citywide office: City
Comptroller candidate Bill Thompson, Mayoral candidate Alan Hevesi, Public Advocate
candidate Scott Stringer
Council District 32:
Democrats Rev Up To Take Back Republican Seat |
By ANGELA MONTEFINISE
The job of the new District 32 city council member will not
be an easy one. Serving the interests of the people of the Rockaways and the mainland of
Queens is a difficult task, and there is the matter of restoring the people’s faith
in government after as their current council member Al Stabile faces allegations that he
misused little league funds.
There are four Democrats ready to face those challenges and
anxious to take back the council seat from the Republican party. Joe Addabbo, Jr., Chris
Jorge, John Seminerio and Lew Simon will face off in the primary on Sept. 11 for a seat
that has been held by Republican Al Stabile since 1993.
District 32 includes Howard Beach, parts of Ozone Park,
Hammels, Broad Channel, Rockaway Park, Belle Harbor, Breezy Point, Neponsit, and small
parts of Woodhaven.
The winner of the District 32 primary will face Republican
Joann Ariola, Independent John Baxter, and Green Robert Curran in the general election.
All four were invited to the Tribune offices for a
group interview before the primary, but a last-minute scheduling conference kept Seminerio
out of the group. The three who attended were strong, independent and ready for the
electoral battle that will come to a climax in the next few weeks.
Questions in the interview tested the candidates’
beliefs and positions, and challenged them to think quick. Several short-answer questions
were asked, including where the candidates stand on the Government Access and
Accountability pledge by Bryan Pu-Folkes and his immigrant coalition, New Immigrant
Community Empowerment (NICE). The pledge asks candidates to hold at least two town hall
meetings each year, send performance evaluations to constituents, and send out annual
reports to constituents once in office.
JOE ADDABBO, Jr.
Addabbo, Jr. has worked in District 32 for the past ten
years, learning the government process and meeting constituents. "I’ve built my
community experience over accessibility . . . and being accountable for what I do in the
community," he explained. He has lived in the Rockaways for the past five years, and
said, "They call me Joe."
Addabbo, Jr. understands the problem of people who live in
the Rockaways, and said Stabile was not easily accessible to them. "My sympathies go
out to the residents of Rockaway, who even before the scandal, had a problem getting in
touch with their councilman." He added that the mainland also had trouble,
"There are residents coming to me now for help . . . because they’ve called the
councilman’s office and haven’t gotten either a return call or just haven’t
gotten any satisfaction."
Addabbo, Jr. likes organized political parties, "Only
where they involve the public. Where it becomes a patronage avenue for jobs and so forth,
then it obviously gets clouded and blurred." He said he would help all people,
regardless of party, and that he votes for people "based on the person."
The current council’s attempt to repeal term limits
was "wrong" according to Addabbo, Jr. "The timing of it was totally wrong.
If they wanted to repeal it, they should have fought for the repeal way before six months
before the election."
He said that if elected, he will fight to bring money back
to his district above all other priorities. "All politics are local," he said.
"You supply your district first because that’s what the next councilman over
will doing."
On the topic of illegal conversions, he commented, "I
will write legislation to give the Department of Buildings inspectors more enforcement
powers to get out there, close down the illegal conversions . . . then, obviously, find
appropriate housing for them because there are many places in the city that are
underutilized." He is also in favor of building affordable housing or fair market
housing in District 32.
Addabbo, Jr. is currently a lawyer by trade and he said
that he will give up his law practice if he wins the election, making him a full-time
councilmember.
Government Access and Availability Campaign: Knows
it, signed it
Three key issues in the district: education,
transportation, public safety
Is gambling in the Rockaways acceptable?: no
Should police be in schools?: "No. I think our
police officers should be on the street. Police-trained security should be in
schools."
Would you support increasing taxes if the money went to
schools?: no
Will the AirTrain help the community?: "It will
not help the entire community."
CHRIS JORGE
Priding herself on being an "ethnically diverse
candidate" and not representing "politics as usual," Jorge told the Tribune
that she tries to listen to the opinions of everyone in her district.
She said she could bring the district together because,
"I have the ability, the interpersonal skills, the communication skills to work with
the people, and I think that’s the beginning." She added, "Unifying this
district is about having people recognize that the issues involve all of us."
She believes that District 32 has not gotten its fair
share, and thinks that the need in her district is greater than estimated. "I think
the city needs to know that District 32 in the gateway into New York City and into this
country with JFK Airport . . . and we pay a price that other residents of the city
don’t know about. We live it day and night . . . between the noise, the air pollution
. . . that’s our backyard."
In terms of schools, she doesn’t believe in programs
that lower academic standards. "If you’re going to dumb down the educational
system, you’re going to have students coming out of there that have less ability to
function in the workplace and have less quality of intelligence."
She thinks the Board of Education is too political, and
that Harold Levy has been a mediocre chancellor. "I think it was an interesting idea
to try a business man," she said. "But I think it should be an educator."
She is not in favor of raising taxes if the money goes specifically to schools.
Jorge is against building affordable housing in District 32
and said, "We have to revisit the zoning issue and first and foremost, safety comes
in." She added, however, "If in fact . . . resources are being drained and
tapped, you have to address it . . . You can’t pull the rug out from under a
family."
She said that in terms of housing and schools, the district
needs to take a different approach. "We react as opposed to act," she said.
The current council’s attempt to repeal term limits
was a negative action, according to Jorge, but she said that she still might vote for them
in the future. "It depends on their record," she said. "You have to look at
a record as a whole."
She also disagreed with the Assembly’s repeal of the
commuter tax, and said, "They will have to answer to that." The worst thing a
public official could do, according to Jorge, is, "Being caught with your hand in the
cookie jar if in fact you have misappropriated funds."
Jorge’s experience, she said, will be key in the
primary election and in her administration. "I have experience working in city
government, working with contracts, working with budgets. I have experience setting up
programs where programs never existed . . . I was able to create jobs."
Jorge’s father is Puerto Rican, her mother is Italian,
her husband is Jewish, and she has Irish and African-American relatives. She said,
"We are one family, and that’s what this city is, and I am acutely aware of the
prejudices."
Government Access and Availability Campaign: Knows
it, signed it
Three key issues in the district: education,
transportation, illegal conversions
Is gambling in the Rockaways acceptable?: no
Should police be in schools?: yes
Would you support increasing taxes if the money went to
schools?: "No. We have a lot of money in the system. We have to look at where
it’s going."
Will the AirTrain help the community?: "It
provides some jobs, but certainly not in the far end of the district."
LEW SIMON
Simon has been a community activist in District 32 for the
past 25 years and, in his words, is "a man who cares."
He said that he’s been doing Stabile’s job for
the past seven years . . . listening to the complaints of constituents and fighting for
their needs when the actual councilmember was not available. "After [Stabile] won
re-election, he forgot about the Rockaways." He added, "I would help all of my
constituents, no matter where they live or what party they are part of."
He said he could unite the district by doing what he has
been doing for the past seven years in the community. "Attending meetings,
representing my district from one end of the peninsula straight through to the mainland
and responding to people’s needs . . . You’re there for the people all the
time."
Simon said his priority is not allocating city funding to
districts that are considered "needy," but helping his own district, which has
plenty of needs itself. He said, "We got to make sure to secure money, and bring back
the bacon to our district . . . We need it, too."
He also does not want affordable housing built in District
32, although he does want to stop illegal conversions. He wants to assign a buildings
inspector to each community board and "close [illegal conversions] down." As for
the families, he said, "Take them out by Red Cross and take them wherever
they’ve got to go . . . Not in my district." He added about affordable housing,
"That’s not my concern. My concern is to protect these families."
As for the current council that tried to repeal term
limits, Simon said, "That was a slap in the face of the people. We voted for term
limits. Should they be elected [for future offices]? That’s up to the voters."
He also thinks that politicians who use public funds to run
for office are "terrible." He said, "The rule should be that after a
certain cut-off date . . . you can’t use your good office anymore for mailings . . .
It’s not right."
Simon does not think he will be "corrupted" by
the power of New York politics, saying, "I’m going to have my independence and
fight for what I believe in."
On social issues, Simon said, "I would not deny anyone
any basic rights they are entitled to." He believes in full-time council members and
said, "I will return all my calls . . . I will respond and I will always be there.
I’m proud of that."
Government Access and Availability Campaign: Knows
it, signed it
Three key issues in the district: education,
transportation, youth
Is gambling in the Rockaways acceptable?: "It
didn’t benefit Atlantic City. It’s a slum area. And I would not want this in the
Rockaways."
Should police be in schools?: yes
Would you support increasing taxes if the money went to
schools?: no
Will the AirTrain help the community?: "Absolutely
not. I fought against the light rail. I support the old Rockaway Beach line, the
reactivation of it."
Primary 2001:
Court Decisions Shape Next Week's Ballot |
By ANGELA MONTEFINISE
One candidate is back on the ballot and two
are now off after going through a month of court deliberations to fight for their right to
run in the Sept. 11 Democratic primary.
Louisa Chan, a Democratic candidate for City Council District 25,
fought all the way to the State Supreme court to get her name back on the primary ballot
after a Board of Elections decision ruled she had an insufficient number of signatures.
Chan has been a member of School Board 24 since 1993, and is currently
the Board’s secretary. She is a registered nurse who inspects hospitals and health
care facilities for the New York State Department of Health. If elected, she told the
Campaign Finance Board’s Voting Guide, she wants to put more money into classrooms,
reduce pollution, increase the number of police officers on the street, and fight
discrimination of any kind. Her Democratic opponents are Jimmy Van Bramer, Helen Sears,
Rudy Greco, and Magdalena Schultheis.
However, the battles for the ballot of Geraldine Morgan and Earl
Simons, two Democratic candidates for City Council District 27, did not end on a positive
note.
Although they both survived the Board of Elections process, the court
system threw them off after ruling they did not have valid signatures. There are now only
six Democratic candidates in District 27, including Helen Cooper-Gregory, Leroy Comrie,
Erica Ford, Larry Smith, Saundra Pope, and Stephen Jackson. There were originally nine
candidates. Cynthia Jenkins’ petition was ruled invalid by the Board of Elections.
In all other Queens City Council races, the Board of Elections’
original decisions on which candidates remained on the ballot stood.
For voters who are confused by the complicated process of staying on the ballot, a full
list of candidates is available at the Board of Elections’ website, located at
http://vote.nyc.ny.us. Once on the site, click on the link that says
"candidates," then click on the graphic that represents candidates in the
primary election. A PDF file will then download onto your computer with the most updated
candidate list.
Hard Ball Begins In Council Races |
By ANGELA MONTEFINISE
With the Sept. 11 Democratic primary looming on the horizon, the race
for the Queens City Council has shown its first signs of getting down and dirty to get out
the vote.
In Council District 26, which includes Long Island City, Sunnyside,
Woodside, and Maspeth, friction has erupted and focused on candidates Matt Farrell, Joe
Conley and Eric Gioia. A flyer, circulated in Maspeth just before an Aug. 30 debate has
now reached other areas of the District and claims that Farrell was arrested in Hempstead
in 1998 for "larceny and resisting arrest." Although the flyer does not say who
paid for it, it does suggest voters should consider the arrest at the ballot box and then
keep Gioia in mind for City Council.
The Nassau County Clerk’s office confirmed that Farrell had a
brush with the law and that he was charged with petty larceny and resisting arrest. In the
end, those charges were dropped, however, and he pled guilty to disorderly conduct.
Farrell explained, "I was 17 years old. I was on my way home from
a party, I had been drinking, and I thought I’d sleep it off in somebody’s car.
I slept for a while, I woke up, and I started walking home again. I saw some police
officers and, being 17 and scared because I had been drinking, I ran . . . Of course, they
caught me. At the time, it was early, really early, and they thought I did damage to the
car. That was the larceny charge. But when the judge reviewed it, he saw there was no
damage, and I was given a $50 fine for disorderly conduct."
He added, "If someone decided to use this to further their
campaign, so be it. I don’t negatively campaign. I will continue to stick to the
issues. I was a stupid 17-year-old kid. I made an error of judgment."
Gioia called the flyer "reprehensible" and told the Tribune
that he had nothing to do with it. He would not name who he believes to be responsible
because "I’m not going to give a desperate candidate free press."
However, Conley charged that Gioia has publicly blamed him for the
flyer and he responded, "It’s absurd . . .It’s the lowest form of
politicking. It’s mudslinging, and it’s the reason why people hate politicians.
It’s completely unfair to Matt."
Conley is offering a $5,000 reward to find out who sent the flyer
because he said, "Someone owes Matt Farrell an apology, and it’s not me."
In District 19, the race for Flushing’s council seat, incumbent
Julia Harrison has stepped into the election politics by sending out a mailing criticizing
Democratic candidate John Liu. Harrison told the Tribune that the letter was,
"One hell of a strong non-endorsement," adding, "I paid for the piece with
my own money. I paid for the paper, the printing, the postage — everything." The
flyer accused Liu of getting on the local community board through questionable means, and
said that 70 percent of his campaign money did not come from Flushing. The letter also
calls Liu inexperienced, and urges voters to vote Democratic, but for one of the only
"legitimate" Democratic candidates, naming Ethel Chen, Terrence Park, Richard
Jannaccio.
Evan Stavisky, a spokesperson for John Liu’s campaign, did not
believe that the negative piece will affect Liu’s chances of winning. He said,
"John Liu has the support of every elected official who represents that district. We
are confident that this support, as well as John’s outstanding record in the
community will lead John to victory on primary day."
On Tuesday, Sept. 11,
polling places will be open in Queens from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. This Primary election will
determine who represents the Democratic and Republican parties (and in two cases, the
Green party) on the Nov. 6 general election ballot.
To find out your polling place, call 1-866-VOTE-NYC or e-mail your full
address to vote@boe.nyc.ny.us.
To check if you are registered, log on to www.registeredvoternot.com.
Borough President
Marshall, Helen D
Leffler, Sheldon D
Gresser, Carol DDistrict 19
Mike Abel, incumbent
Avella, Tony D
Cheliotes, Arthur D
Frank, John D D
Iannece, Jerry M D
Shepard, Joyce P D
District 20
Julia Harrison, incumbent |
Democrats
Chen, Ethel T D
Jannaccio, Richard D
Liu, John C D
Park, Terence Y DGreens
Chou, Evergreen G
Graziano, Paul D G
District 21
Helen Marshall, incumbent
Del Villar, Angel D
Gonzalez-Jarrin, Aida D
Monserrate, Hiram D
Rosero, Luis D
District 22
Peter Vallone, incumbent
Ciafone, John J D
Vallone, Jr., Peter D
Zapiti, Mike D
District 23
Sheldon Leffler, incumbent
Thakral, Jairam D D
Weprin, David I D
District 24
Morton Povman, incumbent
Gennaro, James F D
Grodenchik, Barry D
Reich, David D
District 25
John Sabini, incumbent
Chan, Louisa D
Greco, Jr., Rudolph D
Schultheis, Magdalena D
Sears, Helen D
Van Bramer, James D
District 26
Walter McCaffrey, incumbent
Conley, Jr., Joseph D
Farrell, Matthew J D
Gioia, Eric N D
Kearney, Michael D
O’Malley, Patrick D
District 27
Archie Spigner, incumbent
Comrie, Leroy D
Cooper-Gregory, Helen D
Ford, Erica D
Jackson, Stephan D
Pope, Saundra D
Smith, Larry D
District 28
Tom White, incumbent
Andrews Jr, Anthony D
Bilal, Aziz D
Jennings Jr., Allan D
Marchant, Garth I D
Rupnarain, Trevor K D
District 29
Karen Koslowitz, incumbent
Katz, Melinda D
Schulman, Lynn D
District 30
Tom Ognibene, incumbent
Cermeli, Robert D
Crowley, Elizabeth D
Sansivieri, Linda D
District 31
Juanita Watkins, incumbent
Blake, James D
Clarke, Amanda D
Fullard, Henrietta D
Hooks, Jr., David D
Jefferson, Charlotte D
Lewis, Edward D
Sanders, James D
District 32
Al Stabile, incumbent
Addabbo, Joseph D
Jorge, Chris D
Seminerio, John D
Simon, Lew M D
Political Party Legend:
D = Democrat G = Green |
MAYOR Democrats
Green, Mark D
Vallone, Peter D
Ferrer, Fernando D
Hevesi, Alan D
Spitz, George D
Republicans
Bloomberg, Michael R
Badillo, Herman R
Greens
Willebrand, Julia G
Brodeur, Christopher G
Comptroller
Thompson, William D
Berman, Herbert D
Public Advocate
Colon, Willie D
Freed, Kathryn D
Gotbaum, Betsy D
Flaxman, Sheila D
DiBrienza, Stephen D
Stringer, Scott D
Siegel, Norman D |
The latest Board of Elections information shows these candidates
representing parties without a primary. They will have a chance to run against Primary Day
winners on Nov. 6.
District 19
Cheliotes, Arthur WOR
Iannece, Jerry M LIB
Saffran, Dennis J R/IND/CON |
District 20
Liu, John C LIB/WOR
Walsh, Ryan J R/CON
Flores-Vazquez, Martha IND |
District 21
Monserrate, Hiram LIB/G/WOR |
District 22
Ciafone, John J LIB
Vallone, Jr., Peter F CON
Vassos, Sandra R
Kann, Gerald F G
Mascitti, Michael IND |
District 23
Weprin, David I WOR/LIB
Sica, Philip T R/RTL/CON/IND |
District 24
Grodenchik, Barry WOR
Zett, Lori M G |
District 25
Schultheis, Magdalena IND
Sears, Helen LIB
Van Bramer, James G WOR
Goft, Barton G |
District 26
Gioia, Eric N WOR
Eagan, Ann G |
District 27
Morgan, Ishmael J R
Jenkins, Cynthia IND |
District 28
Andrews Jr, Anthony LIB
Jenkins, Patrick B WOR |
District 29
Katz, Melinda R WOR/LIB
Lobo, Rene R
Evans, Jeanette G
Tiraco, Joseph E I
Chwat, Norbert CON |
District 30
Crowley, Elizabeth WOR
Gallagher, Dennis R/CON/RTL
Pereira, Sharain G |
District 31
Lewis, Edward J LIB
Sanders, James J WOR
Brown, Everly D R
Peña, Francisco G
O’Neal, Rosalind IND |
District 32
Ariola, JoAnn R/CON
Curran, Robert G
Baxter, John I |
|
Political Party
Legend: R = Republican
LIB = Liberal CON = Conservative
RTL = Right To Life IND = Independent
G = Green |
By ANGELA MONTEFINISE
With every single Queens Council office up
for grabs in this year’s general election, the New York City Board of Elections wants
to keep all residents informed of important registration and voting dates, as well as
other key pieces of election information.
To accomplish that goal, The Board of
Elections has set up an automated telephone information service at 1-866-VOTE-NYC to
answer voter’s questions 24 hours a day. Voters can obtain a variety of information
regarding the election on the system, including dates of elections and deadlines for
registering.
The deadline to register to vote in the
general election, which will be held on Nov. 6, is Oct. 12. The Board’s general
office, located at 32 Broadway in Manhattan, will be open until midnight on that day
accepting registration cards. If voters do not receive confirmation in the mail by Oct. 26
that they are registered for the general election, they should call the Board’s
information line.
If voters move to a different address
within the City, they must re-register to vote with their new addresses. If voters move
after the cut-off date to register, they should go to their new polling location, and vote
on an affidavit ballot.
For those residents who need absentee
ballots, they must fill out absentee ballot applications, which can be ordered over the
phone through the information line, or picked up at borough offices.
The last day to hand in the application to
a borough office is Nov. 5. Voters who want to mail their applications in must postmark
them no later than Oct. 30.
The Queens Board of Elections borough
office is located at 42-16 West St. in Long Island City. The phone number is 392-8989.
Additional information can be found at the
central Board of Elections’ website, located at http://vote.nyc.ny.us.
A capture of the New York City Board of Elections
website. For more information on New York City election, log on to www.vote.nyc.ny.us .
The BEEP E-Debate:
Queens Borough President
On The Borough's Questions |
The following are excerpts
from an internet debate co-sponsored by SavvyVoter.org, e the People and the Queens
Tribune.
Queens voters posed questions to all four
Queens Borough President candidates: Carol Gresser (D), Al Stabile (R), Sheldon Leffler
(D) and Helen Marshall (D). The Tribune opted to print this week only the answers
from the Democratic candidates who will be on the ballot in the Sept. 11 Primary Election.
For the full transcripts, including
Stabile’s answers, visit http://www.savvyvoter.org/queen7.
Question 1: Quality of Life and 911
Calls
Tiffany Elliott, Queens: I am very
active in my community and have almost daily run-ins (as do my neighbors) with quality of
life problems - such as young people drinking, drugging, graffiti and fighting, etc., near
my home. It has been brought to the attention of my local precinct monthly through
meetings and daily through 911 calls. The main problem being that our 911 calls are not
only [not] being answered, they are also being ignored. I feel these problems should be
addressed since they could potentially be our future criminals and drug dealers. My
question is, if you are voted in, what would you do to address quality of life crimes and
protect our communities?
Carol Gresser: I think a big problem
is that many of our children don’t have access to positive after school activities
that provide a creative environment for them to learn and grow. Instead they leave school
and go out to the streets where they often get involved in negative activities. I propose
that we turn schools into community centers in all neighborhoods so that our children can
experience a positive environment after school.
But we also need more cops on the streets
protecting our residents and neighborhoods. Queens is shortchanged on many City services
including cops, and as borough president I will fight to ensure we have adequate police
presence on our streets. We also need more enforcement.
As borough president I would also establish
an internal contact (liaison) to the borough president’s office with borough and
precinct commanders, to identify and address community concerns.
Sheldon Leffler: As the chair of the
City Council Public Safety Committee, police protection and the quality-of-life on the
streets of Queens will continue to be major priorities. There are a number of important
areas on which I will focus, but I will continue to support the concept that our streets
should be safe and protected by a force that is accountable to the people. As Queens
borough president I will push for the following:
• Queens has 25 percent of the crime
but only 19 percent of the police. As a sponsor of Safe Streets Safe City, I worked to put
1,600 officers on the streets of Queens and will continue to fight for more.
• Assigning more police officers at the precinct level, for better community
policing.
• Increasing the diversity of the NYPD in order to reflect the diversity of our
communities.
• Federal legislation to curb illegal gun trafficking.
• The VIN-Etching Program, as a deterrent against car theft.
• New York State legislation classifying the third conviction of a Class
"A" misdemeanor within a five-year period as a felony.
• New York State legislation that would make gang sexual assault a specific crime.
Helen Marshall: As Queens Borough
President, I would seek a review of police efforts aimed at curbing reported criminal
activities.
And my office and I would dedicate
considerable time, weekly and monthly, to meeting with residents at the community board
level as well as at the neighborhood level to hear first hand about the responsiveness and
effectiveness of local policing.
As borough president, I can use my
experiences as a former member of the State Assembly, representing Queens and a Queens
member of the New York City Council to leverage the resources to put more cops on the
street, invest in the most modern crime fighting techniques and recruit and train the best
and brightest men and women the City has to offer.
In my two decades of public service, I have
found government works best when the people participate. To that end, as borough
president, I would seek to create an on-going dialogue between the commanders, precinct
captains and other top-level police officials and the various communities in the borough.
As a big City, New York has gained momentum
over the last eight years on cracking down on the kinds of behavior and activities that
can have long-term impact on where businesses decide to operate and grow, families raise
their children, and men and women work.
But not every community, as your question
reflects, has experienced the gains we’ve made in making New York a safe and secure
City. As borough president, I pledge to work with the City and State to keep crime down
and improve the quality of life for every New Yorker.
Question 2: Internet Access in Public
Libraries
Harriet Benjamin, Queens: What is
your position on restricting internet access through the use of filtering in public
schools and libraries?
Gresser: I don’t think that our
children should have access to pornography, violent content, or information on making
explosive devises.
That information is widely available on the
internet, and therefore we must restrict the access to this information in public places,
especially schools and libraries.
Leffler: I sponsored a resolution
introduced in the City Council requesting that a hearing be held on internet access to
pornography at NYC Libraries by young children. The Committee on Youth Services held such
a hearing and a number of suggestions have been made on how best to implement a system
that would prevent youth access to pornography in NYC libraries and schools.
I am supportive of any plan that would be
workable and suggest that the libraries and schools be allowed to experiment with
different approaches that the City can later review to see which ones worked best.
Marshall: As borough president, I
would encourage the Board of Education to adopt policies that would restrict a
child’s access to certain websites. Those same policies should also extend to public
libraries.
As a parent with grand children and a
schoolteacher by trade, I believe our children are our most precious commodities. They are
also the most vulnerable members of our society.
The internet has become a tool for buying
and selling products as well as an avenue for socializing and developing relationships.
When used responsibly, our lives are more efficient and effective. And our experience on
the web should lead us to an enhanced awareness of our society’s future.
At the same time we hear and read daily
reports of adults who prey upon the young through use of the internet. It’s wrong and
should not go unchecked.
Question 3: Term Limits
Mike Schenkler, Queens: What is your
position on term limits and the City Council’s attempt to overturn the people’s
referendum establishing them?
Gresser: I was originally opposed to
term limits. But after having seen the great crop of candidates this year, I am inclined
to think the electorate was absolutely right. They voted twice to establish term limits,
and any City Council member’s attempt to overturn the will of the people was a direct
slap in the face of the electorate.
Leffler: Unlike one of my opponents,
I opposed the City Council bill to overturn term limits. The people of this City had
supported term limits in a citywide referendum – not once, but twice. Such clarity
should not be ignored, especially since it is rational. I think the public twice felt this
body could do the City’s business better and voted for a change.
The principle basis of our government is
that sovereignty lies within the people themselves. Normally, the elected representatives
are the embodiment of this sovereignty. However, a citywide referendum is clearly a
greater indicator of the people’s will than a majority vote of this body. To seek to
overturn the people’s will – stated by them twice and by a substantial majority
– undermines our role as the people’s representative and casts a cloud of
suspicion over our ability to act adequately in the people’s interest.
Even more disturbing was that the bill only
applied to City Council members and not all the other City representatives who have had
their terms limited by the people of this City. This gave the appearance that the bill was
merely self-serving. As a result, I felt there was a conflict of interest in Council
members voting on the bill. Often officials would recuse themselves in comparable
circumstances.
The people were aware of all the arguments
against term limits when they voted for them – twice. There were many arguments made
against term limits. Those arguments failed in getting the people’s support and
Council members should not have sought to force upon the people what they did not want.
Marshall: The people have spoken on
the matter of term-limits. The Mayor, the City Comptroller, the Public Advocate, members
of the New York City Council as well as the Borough Presidents are limited in the amount
of consecutive time each can serve in office. That’s behind us.
As borough president, I will use my two
decades of experience at the City and State level to develop new approaches to improving
public education, sustain our focus on keeping crime low, spur economic development
opportunities, and much more. And I’ll do this within the time period people elect me
to serve.
Question 4:
Queens Animal Shelter
Livi French, Manhattan: Our
City’s dysfunctional animal control and shelter system (the CACC) is mandated to have
a full-service animal shelter up and running in the borough of Queens by next year. The
management of the CACC is just about ready to sign a contract for an inaccessible, totally
inappropriate space way out by JFK Airport. Given the size and population of Queens, there
is a critical need for a more centrally located animal shelter. As Queens borough
president, how will you address this problem?
Gresser: Since I will not take
office until January 2002, I will not be able to cancel a contract signed in the fall of
2001.
Leffler: As Queens Borough President
I will work hard to make sure that all city services are accessible to all residents.
Although opening an animal shelter out by JFK makes good sense, the point that there
should be a centrally located animal shelter is a fair concern. Queens is the largest
borough in size and has over 2 million residents (as of the last census). As a result, all
services need to spread out evenly throughout the borough so that residents can have easy
access from all parts of the borough – be it Far Rockaway or Little Neck.
When I become borough president, I will
look at the placement of a full-service animal control and shelter. I will consider what
can be done to place another shelter in another area of Queens to meet a further need.
Marshall: As Queens Borough
President, I would review the contract in question. I would request supporting information
as to how a decision was made to execute this contract and what if any was the input from
residents and community leaders like you.
My goal would be to work with the
administration in City Hall to enact the most common sense approach to this complex
problem.
Question 5: NYS Pavilion at Flushing
Meadows Park
Debbie, Queens: A gift to the City
from New York State back in 1966, this $12 million dollar pavilion has been vacant since
1974. No money has ever been spent by the Queens Borough President’s Office or
Park’s Dept. to fix it up and make it useful. It can be seen in many photos, movies
and commercials. Do we continue to let it rot, and perhaps it will fall down, or can we
make it into something the community needs and can utilize? It is an eyesore to say the
least and there simply is no more excuses to hear from the political arena—the finger
pointing needs to stop here. Funds need to be spent on rehabiliation of the structure
quickly as we don’t want it razed either! What are your feelings?
Gresser: I would like to hear from
the community about their desires for this space. When I take office as borough president,
I plan to begin my dialogue with each community in the borough by means of continuous town
hall meetings.
Leffler: Here, here. We do not want
to see the Pavilion torn down. Our present Queens borough president has worked out in
planning for capital projects throughout the borough of Queens. A number of these projects
have been directed for the Flushing Meadows Corona Park: construction of the Flushing Bay
Promenade, Pitch’n Putt Golf Course, a new swimming pool, and restoration of the
Ederle Amphi-theatre.
The Pavilion should clearly be put on the
agenda for the restoration of the Flushing Meadows Corona Park. As borough president the
work of Claire Shulman to rehabilitate Flushing Meadows will continue. I will work to see
to it that all the amenities of the park – the Pavilion included – are
rehabilitated and that all the construction plans are completed.
Marshall: As borough president, I
would solicit input from representatives of the commercial real estate sector, and I would
direct the community boards to compile the recommendations that the public has made to
date.
As borough president, I would convene an ad
hoc panel of community representatives, community board members, city and state
representatives, the parks department and the real estate industry to report on the
various future uses for the Pavilion.
The best recommendations would be pursued
for financing and development.
The BEEP E-Debate:
BEEP Candidates Answer To The People |
The following are excerpts
from an internet debate co-sponsored by SavvyVoter.org, e the People and the Queens
Tribune.
Queens voters posed questions to all four
Queens Borough President candidates: Carol Gresser (D), Al Stabile (R), Sheldon Leffler
(D) and Helen Marshall (D). The Tribune opted to print this week only the answers
from the Democratic candidates who will be on the ballot in the Sept. 11 Primary Election.
For the full transcripts, including
Stabile’s answers, visit http://www.savvyvoter.org/queens.
Question 1: Quality of Life and 911
Calls
Tiffany Elliott, Queens: I am very
active in my community and have almost daily run-ins (as do my neighbors) with quality of
life problems - such as young people drinking, drugging, graffiti and fighting, etc., near
my home. It has been brought to the attention of my local precinct monthly through
meetings and daily through 911 calls. The main problem being that our 911 calls are not
only [not] being answered, they are also being ignored. I feel these problems should be
addressed since they could potentially be our future criminals and drug dealers. My
question is, if you are voted in, what would you do to address quality of life crimes and
protect our communities?
Carol Gresser: I think a big problem
is that many of our children don’t have access to positive after school activities
that provide a creative environment for them to learn and grow. Instead they leave school
and go out to the streets where they often get involved in negative activities. I propose
that we turn schools into community centers in all neighborhoods so that our children can
experience a positive environment after school.
But we also need more cops on the streets
protecting our residents and neighborhoods. Queens is shortchanged on many City services
including cops, and as borough president I will fight to ensure we have adequate police
presence on our streets. We also need more enforcement.
As borough president I would also establish
an internal contact (liaison) to the borough president’s office with borough and
precinct commanders, to identify and address community concerns.
Sheldon Leffler: As the chair of the
City Council Public Safety Committee, police protection and the quality-of-life on the
streets of Queens will continue to be major priorities. There are a number of important
areas on which I will focus, but I will continue to support the concept that our streets
should be safe and protected by a force that is accountable to the people. As Queens
borough president I will push for the following:
• Queens has 25 percent of the crime
but only 19 percent of the police. As a sponsor of Safe Streets Safe City, I worked to put
1,600 officers on the streets of Queens and will continue to fight for more.
• Assigning more police officers at the precinct level, for better community
policing.
• Increasing the diversity of the NYPD in order to reflect the diversity of our
communities.
• Federal legislation to curb illegal gun trafficking.
• The VIN-Etching Program, as a deterrent against car theft.
• New York State legislation classifying the third conviction of a Class
"A" misdemeanor within a five-year period as a felony.
• New York State legislation that would make gang sexual assault a specific crime.
Helen Marshall: As Queens Borough
President, I would seek a review of police efforts aimed at curbing reported criminal
activities.
And my office and I would dedicate
considerable time, weekly and monthly, to meeting with residents at the community board
level as well as at the neighborhood level to hear first hand about the responsiveness and
effectiveness of local policing.
As borough president, I can use my
experiences as a former member of the State Assembly, representing Queens and a Queens
member of the New York City Council to leverage the resources to put more cops on the
street, invest in the most modern crime fighting techniques and recruit and train the best
and brightest men and women the City has to offer.
In my two decades of public service, I have
found government works best when the people participate. To that end, as borough
president, I would seek to create an on-going dialogue between the commanders, precinct
captains and other top-level police officials and the various communities in the borough.
As a big City, New York has gained momentum
over the last eight years on cracking down on the kinds of behavior and activities that
can have long-term impact on where businesses decide to operate and grow, families raise
their children, and men and women work.
But not every community, as your question
reflects, has experienced the gains we’ve made in making New York a safe and secure
City. As borough president, I pledge to work with the City and State to keep crime down
and improve the quality of life for every New Yorker.
Question 2: Internet Access in Public
Libraries
Harriet Benjamin, Queens: What is
your position on restricting internet access through the use of filtering in public
schools and libraries?
Gresser: I don’t think that our
children should have access to pornography, violent content, or information on making
explosive devises.
That information is widely available on the
internet, and therefore we must restrict the access to this information in public places,
especially schools and libraries.
Leffler: I sponsored a resolution
introduced in the City Council requesting that a hearing be held on internet access to
pornography at NYC Libraries by young children. The Committee on Youth Services held such
a hearing and a number of suggestions have been made on how best to implement a system
that would prevent youth access to pornography in NYC libraries and schools.
I am supportive of any plan that would be
workable and suggest that the libraries and schools be allowed to experiment with
different approaches that the City can later review to see which ones worked best.
Marshall: As borough president, I
would encourage the Board of Education to adopt policies that would restrict a
child’s access to certain websites. Those same policies should also extend to public
libraries.
As a parent with grand children and a
schoolteacher by trade, I believe our children are our most precious commodities. They are
also the most vulnerable members of our society.
The internet has become a tool for buying
and selling products as well as an avenue for socializing and developing relationships.
When used responsibly, our lives are more efficient and effective. And our experience on
the web should lead us to an enhanced awareness of our society’s future.
At the same time we hear and read daily
reports of adults who prey upon the young through use of the internet. It’s wrong and
should not go unchecked.
Question 3: Term Limits
Mike Schenkler, Queens: What is your
position on term limits and the City Council’s attempt to overturn the people’s
referendum establishing them?
Gresser: I was originally opposed to
term limits. But after having seen the great crop of candidates this year, I am inclined
to think the electorate was absolutely right. They voted twice to establish term limits,
and any City Council member’s attempt to overturn the will of the people was a direct
slap in the face of the electorate.
Leffler: Unlike one of my opponents,
I opposed the City Council bill to overturn term limits. The people of this City had
supported term limits in a citywide referendum – not once, but twice. Such clarity
should not be ignored, especially since it is rational. I think the public twice felt this
body could do the City’s business better and voted for a change.
The principle basis of our government is
that sovereignty lies within the people themselves. Normally, the elected representatives
are the embodiment of this sovereignty. However, a citywide referendum is clearly a
greater indicator of the people’s will than a majority vote of this body. To seek to
overturn the people’s will – stated by them twice and by a substantial majority
– undermines our role as the people’s representative and casts a cloud of
suspicion over our ability to act adequately in the people’s interest.
Even more disturbing was that the bill only
applied to City Council members and not all the other City representatives who have had
their terms limited by the people of this City. This gave the appearance that the bill was
merely self-serving. As a result, I felt there was a conflict of interest in Council
members voting on the bill. Often officials would recuse themselves in comparable
circumstances.
The people were aware of all the arguments
against term limits when they voted for them – twice. There were many arguments made
against term limits. Those arguments failed in getting the people’s support and
Council members should not have sought to force upon the people what they did not want.
Marshall: The people have spoken on
the matter of term-limits. The Mayor, the City Comptroller, the Public Advocate, members
of the New York City Council as well as the Borough Presidents are limited in the amount
of consecutive time each can serve in office. That’s behind us.
As borough president, I will use my two
decades of experience at the City and State level to develop new approaches to improving
public education, sustain our focus on keeping crime low, spur economic development
opportunities, and much more. And I’ll do this within the time period people elect me
to serve.
Question 4:
Queens Animal Shelter
Livi French, Manhattan: Our
City’s dysfunctional animal control and shelter system (the CACC) is mandated to have
a full-service animal shelter up and running in the borough of Queens by next year. The
management of the CACC is just about ready to sign a contract for an inaccessible, totally
inappropriate space way out by JFK Airport. Given the size and population of Queens, there
is a critical need for a more centrally located animal shelter. As Queens borough
president, how will you address this problem?
Gresser: Since I will not take
office until January 2002, I will not be able to cancel a contract signed in the fall of
2001.
Leffler: As Queens Borough President
I will work hard to make sure that all city services are accessible to all residents.
Although opening an animal shelter out by JFK makes good sense, the point that there
should be a centrally located animal shelter is a fair concern. Queens is the largest
borough in size and has over 2 million residents (as of the last census). As a result, all
services need to spread out evenly throughout the borough so that residents can have easy
access from all parts of the borough – be it Far Rockaway or Little Neck.
When I become borough president, I will
look at the placement of a full-service animal control and shelter. I will consider what
can be done to place another shelter in another area of Queens to meet a further need.
Marshall: As Queens Borough
President, I would review the contract in question. I would request supporting information
as to how a decision was made to execute this contract and what if any was the input from
residents and community leaders like you.
My goal would be to work with the
administration in City Hall to enact the most common sense approach to this complex
problem.
Question 5: NYS Pavilion at Flushing
Meadows Park
Debbie, Queens: A gift to the City
from New York State back in 1966, this $12 million dollar pavilion has been vacant since
1974. No money has ever been spent by the Queens Borough President’s Office or
Park’s Dept. to fix it up and make it useful. It can be seen in many photos, movies
and commercials. Do we continue to let it rot, and perhaps it will fall down, or can we
make it into something the community needs and can utilize? It is an eyesore to say the
least and there simply is no more excuses to hear from the political arena—the finger
pointing needs to stop here. Funds need to be spent on rehabiliation of the structure
quickly as we don’t want it razed either! What are your feelings?
Gresser: I would like to hear from
the community about their desires for this space. When I take office as borough president,
I plan to begin my dialogue with each community in the borough by means of continuous town
hall meetings.
Leffler: Here, here. We do not want
to see the Pavilion torn down. Our present Queens borough president has worked out in
planning for capital projects throughout the borough of Queens. A number of these projects
have been directed for the Flushing Meadows Corona Park: construction of the Flushing Bay
Promenade, Pitch’n Putt Golf Course, a new swimming pool, and restoration of the
Ederle Amphi-theatre.
The Pavilion should clearly be put on the
agenda for the restoration of the Flushing Meadows Corona Park. As borough president the
work of Claire Shulman to rehabilitate Flushing Meadows will continue. I will work to see
to it that all the amenities of the park – the Pavilion included – are
rehabilitated and that all the construction plans are completed.
Marshall: As borough president, I
would solicit input from representatives of the commercial real estate sector, and I would
direct the community boards to compile the recommendations that the public has made to
date.
As borough president, I would convene an ad
hoc panel of community representatives, community board members, city and state
representatives, the parks department and the real estate industry to report on the
various future uses for the Pavilion.
The best recommendations would be pursued
for financing and development.
| Meet The
Candidates Ahavath Sholom
A candidates night will be held on Sept. 10 at 7:30 p.m. in the
auditorium of the Ahavath Sholom, 75-02 113 St. in Forest Hills.
Refreshments will be served. For more information, call 263-1949. |
