Hopefuls For Citywide Office Make Intros
Though citywide elections are more than 18 months away, the Forest Hills Community and Civic Association (FHCCA) heard from two potential candidates for mayor and public advocate, respectively, during the organization’s meeting last Tuesday night, Mar. 12, at American Legion Continental Post 1424.
Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, who is reportedly considering a mayoral run in 2013, and City Council Member Letitia James of Brooklyn, a potential candidate for public advocate next year, were on hand to introduce themselves to Forest Hills residents and discuss their backgrounds.
Rep. Gary Ackerman, who represented part of Forest Hills before reapportionment took the neighborhood out of his district, also came to last Tuesday’s session to inform res- idents of his intention to run for the newly-proposed Sixth Congressional District seat that includes Forest Hills and other neighborhoods in central Queens. But just two nights later, Ackerman-who has served in Congress for over 30 years-announced that he would not seek re-election.
Starting a conversation
Stringer stated that the city is currently facing one of the main problems that it confronted during the fiscal crisis of the 1970s: a shrinking middle class facing a higher standard of living with a government that is catering “to the insiders.”
“The price for everything is going through the roof. The middle class is struggling to make it,” he said. “When New York City stops being for the middle class, it stops being New York City.”
The Manhattan borough president told residents that “step one is to have a conversation on tax relief,” adding that he has proposed a plan to give a tax cut to those making less than $300,000 annually, which will be paid for with a proposed tax increase from 3.78 percent to 4.22 percent for those making over $1 million a year.
State lawmakers, however, must approve such a plan for New York City before it can be enacted; Stringer said that the time has come “to organize in Albany” and convince the state legislature to support his plan.
Stringer also told residents that he would push for a “five-borough transportation plan” to not only meet the public transit needs of New Yorkers but also ensure that the costs of the MTA capital plan-which he said is “bleeding red”-will not be passed down to riders in the form of fare hikes and service reductions.
Affordable housing should also be expanded across the city, according to Stringer. He suggested that the city create a program to enable non-profit groups and other organizations to rehabilitate dilapidated structures and build new housing for low-income residents.
Even though the next mayoral election may seem like a long time away, Stringer stressed that “we have to start thinking about politics in the post-Bloomberg era.”
“If we do not create an opportunity for people to succeed in this city,” he added, “then the city will not be able to grow.”
Asked about the disbursement of discretionary funds to local community groups, the Manhattan borough president stated that he would support a more transparent, “merit-based system” comprised of experts and agency members to provide funding to organizations deserving of it.
“The money should not go to a slush fund but to groups everyone can respect,” he said.
Regarding pension reform, Stringer said that he was troubled that the next mayor would be responsible to negotiate “200 labor contracts within the first 100 days” with unions representing city workers. He criticized the mayor for not starting the negotiations now, but remained optimistic that deals could be reached that would allow “give and take” between the unions and the city government.
One resident critiqued Stringer for his recent statements against the NYPD’s “stop, search and frisk” policy, which the Manhattan borough president said “targeted” minority groups and did not work toward reducing crime. He told residents that of the 684,000 people stopped by police last year under the policy, 99.9 percent were found to be unarmed, 95 percent were not arrested and 85 percent were either African-American or Hispanic.
“In a city like ours, we have to always look at the civil rights of people,” Stringer said. “I’m for stop and frisk, but this policy has not been about crime prevention, because the statistics say otherwise.”
Stringer suggested that the city adopt “a more targeted approach” to the policy which includes greater community outreach to youth and inner city groups across the five boroughs.
While he would not definitively declare himself a candidate for mayor, Stringer pointed out that he’s touring most of the city to introduce himself to civic and community groups. He said he would enter the race by the end of the year if could build up enough support from the public.
A potential advocate
Following Stringer was James, a former prosecutor and assistant attorney general, who told residents of her three “claims to fame”: her opposition to the Atlantic Yards project, her attempt to block the term limit changes enacted in 2008 and the discovery of the CityTime scandal.
Regarding Atlantic Yards, James stated that she fought its primary developer, Bruce Ratner, in “a very ugly battle” over the use of eminent domain to acquire property in the area of Atlantic and Flatbush avenues in order to build a new basketball arena for the New Jersey (soon to be Brooklyn) Nets.
“It was about my community and standing up for what was right,” said James, who noted that many of the promises made by the developers to the community have not been fulfilled. Though it was pledged that hundreds of people in the neighborhood would be employed through the project, the lawmaker claimed, just 14 people from the area have received jobs.
“What is blighted is what the development created,” James added, dismissing claims by developers that the Atlantic Yards project would enhance the surrounding community.
Regarding the law passed by the City Council and signed by the mayor in the fall of 2008 extending their term limits from two to three terms, James noted that she joined other groups tried to have the legislation blocked through litigation.
The council member also stated that she worked to uncover abuses made by those contracted to work on the CityTime project which have cost city taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. James added that she is currently protesting plans in the mayor’s preliminary budget that could result in the closure of 20 Fire Department units and the elimination of 3,700 child care slots.
“When my mother was dying, it was firefighters who came to my home,” she said, “and tried to pump life into her body for 25 minutes. It’s our duty and obligation to make sure all firehouses are kept open.”
Speaking about the Vulcan Society lawsuit against the FDNY, which has prevented the department from hiring new firefighters, James stated that the city’s continued appeal of the case has hindered the process. She noted, however, that Fire Commissioner Salvatore Cassano has worked with her and other lawmakers to increase minority enrollment of candidates scheduled to take the next FDNY exam, once it is approved by the federal courts.
Police report
Though crime is slightly up in 2012 around the 112th Precinct, the command has seen a decrease in burglaries and robberies, according to Capt. Ralph Forgione, the force’s executive officer.
Felony assaults and grand larcenies have been driving the overall increase in crime around the precinct, he said. Forgione explained that the rise in assault incidents is the result of new laws which have elevated previously misdemeanor cases to felonies. Most of the cases, he stated, resulted in arrests.
As for grand larcenies, the executive officer noted that the precinct continues to see a large number of vehicle break-ins resulting in the theft of valuables left behind by the victims. “In order for us to do our job and bring crime down, you have to do your part,” he said, advising residents not to leave any valuable property inside their parked vehicles in the view of passersby.
The 112th Precinct has also been working to increase traffic safety after an increase in pedestrian accidents so far this year, Forgione said.
“I read every accident report that comes in,” he said. “You won’t believe how many people are crossing against the light at Queens Boulevard.”
Forgione urged residents to take extra precautions while driving or walking through local streets. Pedestrians, especially, must “be on the defensive and assume” that drivers do not see them while crossing the street, he added.
The precinct has also been cracking down on individuals who illegally operate scooters, motorcycles or motorized bikes on sidewalks throughout the command, the executive officer said. Officers have seized dozens of electric bikes in recent months from reckless operators.
Noting that it takes between four and six weeks for offenders to get their rides back, Forgione said, officers have noticed that once they do, many of them avoid riding on the sidewalks.
The next Forest Hills Community and Civic Association meeting is scheduled to take place on Tuesday night, Apr. 10, at 7:30 p.m. at American Legion Continental Post 1424, located at 107-15 Metropolitan Ave. For more information visit their website, www.fhcivic.org.
