By Alex Davidson
Two men are gearing up to challenge incumbent City Councilman Joe Addabbo (D-Howard Beach) in the upcoming election to take place Nov. 4.
Michael Mossa, 36, is hoping to run on both the Conservative and Republican lines, while Richard Iritano, 42, is seeking only the Republican nomination. Each is intent on unseating Addabbo, a one-term Democrat first elected in 2002, and collecting signatures for the July 10 deadline to be put on the ballot.
Mossa, a registered Conservative who lives in Howard Beach, said he is running to better organize the city's finances and better represent constituents' interests in the 32nd City Council District, which includes the communities of Howard Beach, Ozone Park, South Ozone Park, Woodhaven and the Rockaway Peninsula.
He criticized the City Council's decision to increase property tax rates by 18.5 percent that was used reduce the city's $3.8 billion budget gap.
“Addabbo's vote for the property tax increase is nothing short of a slap in the face,” Mossa said. “New York City is run like an irresponsible individual who just ran up credit cards.”
Mossa, who previously ran against then U.S. Rep. Charles Schumer (D-Forest Hills) in 1996, said the high percentage of homeowners in the 32nd CD has been adversely affected by the property tax hike. He said the past few months of budget decisions to increase city revenues have placed the burden to stem the city's $3.8 billion budget gap on the backs of middle-class taxpayers.
“You are no longer going to have a backbone of middle-class people in Queens,” Mossa said. “Those people will begin to move elsewhere.”
Mossa is an attorney in private practice in Ozone Park and has received the endorsement from the borough's Republican Party and state Sen. Serphin Maltese.
He said he plans to attend Community Board 10 meetings in the upcoming months in addition to walking around the different communities in the council district to speak with individual residents and business owners about their concerns.
“It is not a crime to own property and New York better get that message,” he said. “But I am the underdog in this race.”
Iritano, a lifelong Republican who worked to help elect Mayor Michael Bloomberg, said he is running to develop a more united following for the Republican Party in Queens and energize the party's base. He said he wants to better enforce New York City's laws to decrease the number of illegal conversions in Queens and improve the conditions of streets throughout the council district.
“The Republican leadership in Queens has been a debacle – we need to introduce new people to restore integrity and accountability,” he said. “I really feel that the quality-of-life issues have not been addressed.”
Originally from Kew Gardens, Iritano said he now lives in Ozone Park and has been able to discuss quality-of-life problems with area residents firsthand. He said he has been attending community board meetings, community police council meetings and meetings of the 23rd Assembly District Regular Republican Club.
Iritano, who plans to accept matching funds from the city, now does research and human resources work for the law firm of Bianchi, Marcon and Cowhey in Garden City, L.I. but previously served as the director of human resources for American Airlines and Air Canada.
He said he has already collected 600 of the 900 signatures necessary to get his name on the ballot on the Republican line. There are plans, however, to get at least 1,500 just in case some signatures are dismissed, he said.
Iritano said he plans to reduce tensions between Howard Beach and Ozone Park residents.
“You have to diffuse tension because if not, everyone is working against each other,” he said.
Reach reporter Alex Davidson by e-mail at TimesLedger@aol.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 156
