By Dee Richard
The borough’s politicians have been keeping busy lately, with the City Council considering a bill on damage to city property and Council speaker Gifford Miller’s and U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton’s Sunnyside visit to promote the benefits of mammograms, as well as Councilman Eric Gioia’s 30th birthday bash.
Councilman Tony Avella said he has proposed a bill in the City Council called “You Break It, You Fix It,” emulating the signs in expensive gift shops that say “You Broke It, You Bought It,” in regard to damage to city property.
Tony claims the city could reap in a lot of money if this is put into practice. When asked how he would know just who damaged the city property so they could know who to bill, he said any observer could report it and collect a small reward for being a good citizen.
Tony also said Councilman David Weprin and the Finance Committee are considering it. What do you think? Is it a viable option?
I recently attended the Urban League Gala. David Dinkins, F. Lee Baily, Pamela Weaver, the great great granddaughter of Fredrick Douglas and Elinor Tatum, the publisher of the Amsterdam News, were guests at the New York City Sheraton Towers.
Gioia had a 30th birthday party at the Italian Charities Building on Queens Boulevard. About 200 guests helped celebrate the occasion.
Clinton came to the Sunnyside Arch earlier this month to promote mammograms to prevent breast cancer. She and Miller, Gioia and Assemblywoman Cathy Nolan advised women of all ages to have it done. They could arrange for a free mammogram by calling 1-800-ACS-2345, and it was then suggested that all mothers get it done for Mother’s Day.
State Sen. Serf Maltese had a GOP event at Roma View at Howard Beach. Gov. George Pataki was a no show, as he was tied up in Albany with the budget battles.
Lt. Gov. Mary Donahue was there as well as a room packed to overflowing with loyal supporters. This year’s female honorees were Katherine James, Elizabeth Keilner and Alma Whitaker. The male honorees were Dennis Gallagher, and James Oddo.
Last Monday evening the Korean-American Empowerment Association held a gala at Seoul Plaza to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the end of the Korean War.
Two days later, the Queens Theatre in the Park held its annual fund-raiser and Broadway performance of “Dames at Sea.” The entertainers were terrific, but the play itself was rather dated, as it took place in the 1930s.
It was a much nicer, sweeter time in our history but a terrifically enjoyable evening, none the less. The supporters of the arts were out in full force: the Mattones, the Ciampias, Silvercup Studios, Con Ed, Time Warner and several of the banks.
Thursday was a doubleheader. Tom Manton’s Spring Cocktail Party was held at Antun’s. Many of the faithful were missing; they were still trying to iron out the wrinkles in the budget in Albany.
The other half of the evening was the Queens Bar Association Dinner at Terrace on the Park. For the second time in its history the group elected a woman as president. Her name is Linda Fedrizzi. The only other woman to be elected was Muriel Wanderman in 1987.
The guest speaker for the evening was Henry Miller, past president of the New York State Bar Association. Among the honored guests were Robert Naham, Steven Fisher, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown, Marguerite Grays, Valarie Braithwat Nelson, Timothy Dufficy, Peter Kelly, Jeremy Weinstein, Nicholas Tsoucales, Seymour Boyers, Darrell Gavrin, Diccia Pineda-Kirwan, a literal who’s who in the Queens Judiciary.
Forgot to mention August Agate, Susan Borko, Gloria D’Amico, Helen Cooper Gregory, Joseph Dorsa, Ann Dufficy, Kay and William Glover, Morty Povman, Patricia Satterfield, Bernice Siegel, Barry Tivin and Sam Samuels, a small sampling of a rather prestigious gathering. Judges and lawyers do not seem to be in short supply in Queens.
If you would care to share, call me at 718-767-6484 or fax me at 718-746-0066.
Till next week,
Dee.
