By Tien-Shun Lee
Councilwoman Melinda Katz (D-Forest Hills) briefed a group of 36 teenage Jewish immigrants from the former Soviet Union last Thursday in the Bukharian Teen Lounge at the Central Queens YM/YWHA in Forest Hills on what to say to legislators during an upcoming trip to Washington, D.C.
Seven Bukharian Forest Hills High School students will be among approximately 350 Jewish students nationwide who will be attending the National Jewish Youth Leadership Conference from March 2 to March 5. During the conference, known as “Panim el Panim,” or “Face to Face,” teens will have an opportunity to talk directly with congressional members and other legislators.
Katz was specially invited by members of the Jewish Child Care Association, which funds the teen lounge at 108-13 67th Rd., to talk to the group of Forest Hills High School and Halsey Junior High School students in order to expose them to politics and prepare them to meet with legislators.
“I want you to go down to Washington and talk to the congressmen that are not from the city of New York and ask them, ‘How are you making sure that New York City is getting the help it needs?’ ” Katz said. “Please don’t think that it doesn’t make a difference. … You represent many groups — students from Forest Hills High School, teenagers in the U.S., your nationality, a girl or a boy.”
Most of the teenagers who are part of the Bukharian Teen Lounge, a program which organizes social and community service events for members, immigrated to the United States from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan or Kazakhstan when they were younger.
Katz began her 45-minute talk by telling the teens about her personal background. She then gave a quick overview of the federal, state and city governments, explained lobbying and ended with a question-and-answer session.
During the question period, the teens asked Katz about her motivation for becoming a politician, her opinion on a possible war with Iraq and what would replace the World Trade Center Towers.
“I never dreamed in a million years that I would become a politician,” said Katz, who started her career as a mergers and acquisitions lawyer, before being elected to the New York State Assembly. “I took a 60 percent pay cut, and now I’m in a career where I can help people and make a difference. It was the best decision I ever made in my entire life.”
Katz said she personally supported a war with Iraq if Saddam Hussein did not do what he was supposed to do.
“I think we’ve just given this man so many chances to get rid of his weapons, and the evidence is he’s not doing what he’s supposed to do,” Katz said. “I think we need to protect ourselves. … We should nip it in the bud.”
By a show of hands, 23 of the teens agreed with Katz that the nation should go into Iraq if Saddam Hussein does not “do what he’s supposed to do.”
In response to the question about the Twin Towers, Katz, who is on the City Council’s housing and buildings committee, said the site would be used for a mix of business space, office space and cultural institutions. One of the designs calls for constructing a building that is taller than the former World Trade Center, Katz said.
Karina Polonskya, the coordinator of the teen lounge, said she was happy that Katz explained to the teens that their role in politics is very important.
“She gave very good reasons why it’s important to see congressmen and explain their feelings and thoughts,” she said.
A teen lounge assistant, Svetlana Uvaydova, 17, said she thought it was a great idea for Katz to come to talk to a small part of her community.
“After this, I would consider becoming a politician,” Uvaydova said.
Reach reporter Tien-Shun Lee by e-mail at Timesledger@aol.com, or call 1-718-229-0300, Ext. 155.
