By Dee Richard
The sands of time in the political hourglass are rapidly shifting toward empty. There are only four-plus weeks left to Primary Day, which is Sept. 14. All the political types and their minions are scurrying around trying to squeeze four months of work into the four weeks left.
Everyone connected with politics seems to like living in the fast lane and committing to more work in less time than it seems humanly possible to accomplish, but somehow or other it seems to get done. Such is living-on-the-edge-of-the-world politics. They all seem to be crisis-oriented and what is more they seem to enjoy it that way.
Last Monday morning, state Sen. Frank Padavan received the endorsement of the city Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association. The endorsement was presented by PBA President Pat Lynch. Lynch, by the way, is not only from Queens but Bayside.
The senator has also been endorsed so far by the AFL-CIO, Teamsters, PAF, CSEA, AFSME and District Council 37. The senator said his campaign is running beautifully and is happy with the enthusiasm of his many volunteers who are busy distributing literature, placing lawn signs and manning the phones.
As the senator has no primary, he has additional time to accomplish his goals. Good luck, senator.
If you are a political junkie, campaigns with all their many facets are a fascinating spectator sport to watch. It is probably too late for OTB to take bets, but then maybe the racino will let you place your bets next year, if it is up and running.
Dr. James Milano had a fund-raiser in La Parma in East Williston, L.I., last Monday night. It was a nice restaurant with a good turnout. There was lots of good Italian food, good friends and a feeling of relaxed camaraderie. Milano, a Republican, is running for the 5th Congressional District seat, currently held by incumbent U.S. Rep. Gary Ackerman a position he had held for approximately 30 years, more or less.
The Queensites who were present were Janet Malone, Tony Ramos, Vito Palmieri, Phil Orenstein, Anthony Carolla and Vinny Tabone and his wife as well as several others.
Milano has an exceptionally nice family that was present and he received additional support from his numerous St. Francis Hospital colleagues. Good luck, Milano.
Also running for the seat is Nassau County attorney Liz Berney, a Republican. The district covers parts of Queens as well as Nassau.
On Aug. 18, Queens Theatre in the Park had its first committee meeting for the planning of the 2010 legislative review at the theater. It invited me to accept an invitation to join the committee as it has done many years past. I accepted with alacrity, as it is my favorite, fun political thing to do. Who could forget the naked Queens Calendar Girls and their outrageous hats? Of course, they really weren’t naked, but wearing flesh-colored body suits. It took a tremendous amount of courage to go out on the stage and strut your stuff where to all intents and purposes you seemed to be nude wearing nothing but a flowered hat. Most of the ladies, God bless them, didn’t exactly look like J.Lo.
The committee, as usual, had many of the volunteers that seem to serve so well not only on this committee, but others as well. The first meeting was rather small and was comprised of Jeff Rosenstock, Bertine Lafayette, Estelle Cooper, Debbie Markell, Linda Da Sabato and Georgiana Reese-Benatti plus three other ladies I didn’t know. The performance will be Nov. 20, so mark you calendar. This legislative review sounds like it’s going to be more fun than ever.
On Saturday night, the South Ozone Park Knights of Columbus had its annual luau. Some of the attendees were Joe and Linda Kasper, Michael and Eva Kasper, Bill Jonhert, Ray Hummel, John Spavins, Jerry Bush, Mitch Schwadron and Asher E. Taub, a candidate for the 6th Congressional District seat. I also met an old friend from the past — in fact, from my Tribune southeast Queens days, attorney Helen Cooper Gregory, who was accompanied by a friend of hers, Tony Gellineau, president of the South Ozone Park SOPCAW.
That’s it for this week.
I look forward to hearing from you with information on people, parties and politics or gossip.
I like receiving your voice mail at 718-767-6484, faxes at 718-746-0066 and e-mails at deerrichard@aol.com.
Till next week, Dee.
