By Cynthia Koons
Ellen Kang, a Community Board 2 member for two years prior to not being reappointed in March 2004, said she was denied her request to be reappointed again this year. “I worked through the language barrier, I worked so hard,” said Kang, a Korean community activist. “In Queens it's a community of diversity. In my community board the Asian community is over 18 percent and growing.”She said in her first attempt to be reappointed to the board in March 2004, Borough President Helen Marshall sent a letter to her saying she was denied a spot on the board at the request of a City Council member.A spokesman for that councilman, Eric Gioia (D-Sunnyside), said Kang did not reapply through his office this year. He did not comment on her not being reappointed last year. Dan Andrews, a spokesman for the borough president, confirmed she was not reappointed but said he did not know why.Kang said that at this point she is not even concerned with being on the board anymore. She just wants to ensure that her fellow Koreans are represented.”Who's going to handle the Asian American voice?” she asked.The board currently has one Korean man, according to district manager Dolores Rizzotto. A spokesman for Gioia's office said the board also has new Bangladeshi and Filipino representatives.But other CB 2 members agree that Kang should have been reappointed.”She's a dynamo,” said Carol Terrano, a six-year veteran of the board. “We have people on the board who sometimes don't show up for meetings, who I don't think attend as many committee meetings as they should, but for whatever reason they are always reappointed. Ellen comes to almost every meeting.”Terrano said Kang worked to build bridges with Korean pastors in the Woodside area to help residents obtain city services. “She's very interested and concerned in the Korean (community),” board member Judy Markova said. “She's completely bilingual. It's a mystery why she wouldn't be included.”Reach reporter Cynthia Koons by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 141.
