By Alexander Dworkowitz
The four candidates for City Councilwoman Julia Harrison’s (D-Flushing) seat took part in a raucous debate that focused on their integrity at the Macedonia African Methodist Episcopal Church Tuesday evening.
Democrat John Liu, the Green Party’s Paul Graziano, the Independent Party’s Martha Flores-Vazquez, and Republican Ryan Walsh fielded questions on a variety of issues in front of a crowd of about 40.
But the thrust of much of the debate was not the problems facing Flushing but the character of the candidates.
“I did not go out to sell myself,” said Vazquez. “I am the puppet of the community, not the elected officials.”
Graziano praised Vazquez as “honest” but blasted Liu and Walsh.
“Two of the four people today have had serious ethics problems,” he said.
In the case of Liu, Graziano referred to the accusation by one of his former Democratic opponents that he did not recuse himself as a member of Community Board 7 during a vote in 2000 on a Flushing project funded by one of the contributors to his campaign.
Turning to Walsh, Graziano referred to a court case in which he personally challenged the authenticity of Walsh’s signatures on his petitions to run for the Harrison seat.
But Liu and Walsh fired back.
“It’s been a tough campaign. I’ve had so much slung at me,” said Liu. “It’s ridiculous. I’ve never talked to you about the illegal actions Paul has taken.”
Graziano burst out laughing as Liu leveled the charge against him.
Liu continued. “The fact that I’m not going bashing other candidates is reason to vote for me,” he said.
Walsh also made little of Graziano’s allegations.
“We won in the Supreme Court,” he said, referring to Graziano’s suit against him. “We won in the Appellate Division. It was my first case. I won.”
The debate was Walsh’s first. When asked why he had not attended any previous debates, he said “this was my first forum because the last forums were for the Democratic primary.”
Graziano jumped up and said, “That’s an absolute lie!” A member of the audience then explained that he had personally invited Walsh to a debate earlier in the year.
Ethel Chen, who lost to Liu by just 200 votes in the Sept. 25 Democratic primary, was also in attendance. Chen, who made the ethics charges against Liu, at one point stood up and shouted at him as he answered a question, asking him about a contribution he received.
Members of the audience were as passionate as the candidates.
When asked about what appealed to them most about Flushing, both Liu and Graziano said they liked the community’s diversity.
“I don’t see any diversity,” shouted Barbara Rogers, the tenant leader of North Gate Towers in Flushing. “I resent the fact that you can’t buy a loaf of bread [in downtown Flushing].”
Others in the audience expressed similar sentiments, angry that there are no major bookstores in downtown Flushing, which is dominated by Asian stores and restaurants.
While the candidates responded to many questions, overdevelopment in Flushing was a constant theme. They discussed the shrinking diversity of Flushing businesses, illegal conversions of single-family homes and the proliferation of religious buildings. All the candidates agreed that the look of downtown Flushing would have to change.
“I’ve been working to rezone 150 blocks in Flushing so no one single-family home can be torn down and turned into apartments,” said Graziano.
Liu talked about the piles of garbage downtown.
“The worst thing about Flushing is the downtown situation,” he said. “There’s a huge stink!”
Walsh said there was a simple solution.
“We need enforcement of the laws,” he said.
Vazquez decried the growth of prostitution in the area, saying she has worked to shut down brothels.
As a result of her work against prostitution, Vazquez said, “my life is in danger.”
The debate was held by the Flushing Forum for the Development of Political Leaders, the president of which is John Byas.
Reach Reporter Alexander Dworkowitz by e-mail at Timesledger@aol.com or call 229-0300 Ext. 141.
