Officials address concerns

City Comptroller William Thompson joined Councilmember Joseph Addabbo and Assemblymember Audrey Pheffer in addressing the questions and concerns of residents of south Queens during a town hall meeting.
All three elected officials will be term limited out of office at the end of 2009, and all have their sights set on other positions. Thompson is considered a leading candidate for the 2009 mayoral election; Addabbo is running against Serphin Maltese for his senate seat and Pheffer has thrown her hat into the Queens Borough President race.
The Department of Buildings, flooding, dirty supermarkets, raccoon infestations and water bills were some of the issues fielded by the officials during the July 14 meeting at the Woodhaven Volunteer Ambulance Hall.
“New York City has gone through some difficult and tough times,” Thompson said. He added, “If it weren’t for Albany we would have been in tougher times.”
For most issues, Thompson said he is either already investigating concerns or will be examining the matters. After the meeting, members of his staff collected the names and phone numbers of those who raised questions during the forum.
Both Pheffer and Addabbo praised Thompson for his work as comptroller.
“The comptroller has his pulse and finger on these issues,” Pheffer said.
Addabbo added that Thompson is “a gentleman that has served this city admirably in tough fiscal times.”