Editorial
Liu, Monserrate, Gennaro
Are Primary Choices

Next Tuesday is Primary Day in Queens and throughout the city. Here in our borough, there will be primary elections in six City Council districts, an unusually light volume of activity compared to other primary days in the past.

In all of these contests, Democrats will be trying to win their party’s nomination for the November elections. Only those voters registered as Democrats will be eligible to vote.

We urge those who turn out for these contests to vote for the following candidates that the Gazette, after careful consideration, is endorsing for their party’s nomination: Councilmember John Liu in the Flushing 20th District; Councilmember Hiram Monserrate in the 21st District covering Corona and East Elmhurst, and Councilmember James Gennaro, who represents the 24th District, covering Fresh Meadows and Jamaica Estates.

Examining the records of these lawmakers in their first two years in office, the Gazette found that each of the three has been actively involved in enacting laws and in other issues at City Hall as well as in the problems and issues arising in their respective home districts.

Liu, chairman of the Transportation Committee, has fought determinedly to make the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) prove the necessity for a fare increase. When he failed to deter that agency from imposing the increase, Liu then pursued the issue in the courts.

At home in Flushing, Liu marshalled local business property owners and businessmen to join in the effort to create a Business Improvement District (BID). He succeeded recently when Mayor Michael Bloomberg signed the BID legislation into law.

Liu has also championed several transportation initiatives which have made it possible for local residents to travel about the area more easily.

Monserrate has also been alert to his constituents’ needs. One recent example was his leadership in a class action suit against several electric power companies which he charged with responsibility for the August 14 blackout. The suit also holds the utilities responsible for damages suffered by almost 100 plaintiffs for lost business and food spoilage.

Monserrate has also aggressively sought more police coverage to fight crime in his district and has taken the lead in getting a law changed which was responsible for many small storekeepers being slapped with huge fines for the awnings at their places of business.

Gennaro as chairman of the Environmental Protection Committee has fought a running battle to keep the city’s sources of water in Westchester County free from contamination. Locally, he has waged a campaign against anti-Semitic hatemongers in various parts of his district.

For these reasons, the Gazette strongly endorses Liu, Monserrate and Gennaro in Tuesday’s primary elections.

The Gazette also urges registered Democratic voters to visit the polls, open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. and vote if there is a ballot contest in their district.