Queens Gazette

Interesting Changes Ahead For 2010 Council





 

 

Reports out of City Hall say City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, looking ahead to a vastly changed City Council following the November elections, may have a tough time retaining her powerful post.

If that’s so, it could also mean the Queens delegation, which benefitted from the tight alliance Democratic Leader Joseph Crowley had with Quinn, could suffer.

Actually, assuming the borough’s Democratic council candidates take all their races, which they are heavily favored to win, the incoming delegation may not enjoy the degree of success they had when the 2010 council meets and committee chairmen are selected.

In the past two city councils, Queens councilmembers held about 10 chairmanships, several of which were among the most powerful and lucrative, since each one awards the recipient with additional financial remuneration.

The list included: David Weprin (Finance), Melinda Katz (Land Use), Peter Vallone Jr. (Public Safety), John Liu (Transportation), James Gennaro (Environmental Protection), Leroy Comrie (Rules), Eric Gioia (Investigations), Helen Sears (Ethics), Joseph Addabbo Jr. (Parks), and James Sanders (Economic Development). Tony Avella headed a Zoning subcommittee and Comrie had a second important post as Majority Whip.

Serpe said the CFB requires a city council candidate must raise at least $5,000 from New York City residents and receive donations of $10 or more from at least 75 donors from within the council district, which includes Astoria and Long Island City mainly in order to receive the 6.1 matching funds.

Serpe said the CFB requires a city council candidate must raise at least $5,000 from New York City residents and receive donations of $10 or more from at least 75 donors from within the council district, which includes Astoria and Long Island City mainly in order to receive the 6.1 matching funds.

That’s quite an impressive lineup!

But the 2009 election season wreaked havoc on that lineup. Even if things remained the same with the same power structure at the top—with Quinn the speaker and Crowley in a strong supportive role—Queens doesn’t figure to have the same powerful roll.

Veteran lawmakers such as Weprin, Katz, Liu, Gioia and Avella opted to leave the council and seek higher office. Addabbo is now a state senator and Sears was defeated in her primary election.

Among those remaining are: Vallone, Gennaro, Comrie and Sanders, and all are eligible to continue in their present jobs or to be considered for any of the vacated committees.

Probably joining them in the returning roster will be incumbents Julissa Ferreras, Elizabeth Crowley and Thomas White; and newcomers (if they win election), Kevin Kim and Yen Chou, and returning former Councilmember Karen Koslowitz.

The problem with this latter group is that, with the exception of Koslowitz and White, who served previously in the council, they have little or no prior experience and would be at some disadvantage compared to others from other boroughs who have some seniority in the council.

All things considered, it should be an interesting year, especially for Vallone, Gennaro, Comrie and Sanders who figure in the overall picture as returning elder statesmen and could find themselves right in the center of the action seeking major roles.

MOVE UP CREDIT CARD/REFORMS, SAYS MALONEY: Noting that credit card rates are zooming upward in anticipation of credit card reforms set to take effect next February and August, Congressmember Carolyn Maloney (D- Queens/Manhattan) is seeking to have the new laws take effect by Dec. 1, about 2 1/2 months from now.

Some credit card reforms that Maloney and Congressmember Barney Frank (D- Mass.) authored have already taken effect, but Maloney points out that “Pew Charitable Trust” reports that interest rates have spiked by an average of 20 percent on credit cards representing more than 91 percent of the $64 billion in outstanding credit card balances. It’s clear that credit card companies are taking advantage of this period between the signing of my bill and the current effective date.

“The breadth and depth of the rate hikes happening now point to the need for faster consumer protection. Americans need relief now!”

WANTS TAX CREDIT FOR HOMEBUYERS EXTENDED: Noting that economists believe the original $8,000 tax credit for first-time homebuyers “has been critical to stabilizing the housing market”, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D- N.Y.) has filed legislation to extend the tax credit for six months when it expires in late November.

Gillibrand points out that “more than 8,000 New Yorkers have taken advantage of the credit”, saving homebuyers nearly $4 million. And she also points out that “up to 40 percent of homebuyers this year will qualify for the tax credit”.

Gillibrand says, “These tax credits were the right step to help bring our housing market back from the brink, but now is not the time to let up. As we continue our economic recovery, this legislation will extend the tax credit to give our housing market more time to fully stabilize, help rebuild our economy for the long term, and help more first-time buyers afford a home.”

Since the start of 2009, Gillibrand said, the tax credit has led to over 150,000 new and existing home sales, according to home builders. And one high-ranking economist “expects the credit to draw nearly 400,000 buyers into the market by the end of the year”.

GREEN PARTY IN ASTORIA MAKES HISTORY: Lynn Serpe, who is the Green Party candidate opposing Councilmember Peter Vallone Jr., the Democratic incumbent in Astoria’s 22nd council district, announced recently that “for the first time in history …the Green Party candidate… is eligible for matching funds” from the city’s Campaign Finance Board.

Serpe, a community organizer from Long Island City and an energy efficiency expert, said, “Nearly 400 donors contributed to help us meet our goal,” and as a result her campaign will be receiving over $85,000 in matching funds on Oct. 1. “For working people to put even $10 behind a local candidate is a huge vote of confidence and an investment in grassroots democracy,” Serpe stated.

Serpe said the CFB requires a city council candidate must raise at least $5,000 from New York City residents and receive donations of $10 or more from at least 75 donors from within the council district, which includes Astoria and Long Island City mainly in order to receive the 6.1 matching funds.

Serpe said the almost $100,000 in her campaign fund “will allow us to continue reaching out to the voters in the district, letting them know they finally have a real choice in November”.

Also in the race against Vallone, who’s running for a third term, is Jerry Kann, the Populist Party candidate. The 48-year-old proofreader from Astoria, in his fourth try to win the council seat, is running on a platform calling for a tenant majority on the Rent Guidelines Board, repeal of the recent city sales tax increase, restoration of the eight year term limits law, and a one percent income tax increase for those earning over half-a-million-dollars a year.

The Gazette is sponsoring a debate between Vallone, Serpe and Kann on Monday, Oct. 19 at Riccardo’s by the Bridge 21-01 24th Avenue, Astoria, NY 11102; Gazette 718-361-6161.

ADDABBO BILLS/SIGNED INTO LAW: Two election law bills sponsored by state Senator Joseph Addabbo Jr. (D- Howard Beach/Ozone Park) have been signed into law by Gov. David Paterson. Both seek to improve the voting process for voters,” he said.

The first provides that all ballots printed for use on new voting machines may be printed and arranged so that they may be scanned and counted by the machine.

The second Addabbo measure provides that the state Board of Elections must consider the ability of new voting systems to handle multiple official ballots when determining the minimum number of voting machines that there must be in each polling place.

Addabbo said existing laws “do not include the ability of new voting machines to read and tabulate the multiple official ballots that may be in use in a single polling station”.

CARROZZA’S VETS DAY GIFT PRIZES: Assemblymember Ann Margaret Carrozza (D- Bayside) is joining with the American Legion Jewish War Veterans, and Veterans of Foreign Wars to collect and distribute gifts to men and women service veterans at the VA New York Harbor Healthcare System, St. Alban’s Community Living Center and the NYS Veterans Home at St. Albans.

Gifts, such as new and/or used pajamas, robes, slippers, socks, sweaters, toiletries, puzzles and playing cards should be dropped off no later than Monday, Nov. 9 at Carrozza’s district office at 213-33 39th Ave. (Suite 238) or to Dr. Robert Mittman’s office at 38-21 Bell Blvd., Bayside.

For further information or to participate in the collection drive, call the assemblymember’s office at 718-357-3588.

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