Voters in Queens and Brooklyn will go to the polls on Tuesday, June 26, to choose nominees for Congressional seats up for grabs in the November election.
In the weeks leading up to the contests, the Times Newsweekly/Ridgewood Times will feature in this column press releases and statements sent by the campaigns of the candidates on the ballot.
The statements in this column do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the Times Newsweekly/Ridgewood Times or its staff. Mud-slinging statements which include personal attacks on candidates are omitted.
Police Captains, DC9 Supporting Crowley
The Captains Endowment Association, the union representing captains, deputy inspectors, inspectors and deputy chiefs working in the New York City Police Department, endorsed City Council Member Elizabeth Crowley for the new Sixth Congressional District.
“Throughout her career, Elizabeth Crowley has fought to protect the public safety of New Yorkers,” said Captains Endowment Association President Roy Richter. “She has been a great supporter of the NYPD and is the best candidate to ensure that police officers in New York and around the country receive the support and resources we need from Washington to keep our city safe.”
Crowley has fought to protect the rights of the men and women who protect the city. She was a supporter of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health bill and she protested the city’s attack against police officers’ pensions when Mayor Micahel Bloomberg threatened to eliminate the Variable Supplement Fund last year.
Crowley has also partnered with the NYPD to raise awareness about domestic violence, sponsored public safety events in her community, and prioritized funding for local police precincts.
“The NYPD has shown time and again that they are up to the task of protecting the city,” said Crowley. “Police officers risk their lives every day to protect New Yorkers, and they need someone in Washington who will demand they receive funding and equipment necessary to keep New York protected. I am honored that the NYPD Captains Endowment Association believes I am best suited to go to Congress and fight for our police officers.”
Crowley also secured the endorsement of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 9 (DC9), which represents more than 11,000 painters, decorators, glaziers, paint makers and allied trades throughout New York.
“Elizabeth Crowley understands the needs of our membership. Only 12 years ago, she was working on job sites throughout the City. She understands that construction sites need to be safe and that an honest day of work deserves an honest day of pay,” said DC9 President Joseph Ramaglia. “As a Council Member, she has worked tirelessly to create jobs and advocate for workers. That is the type of person we need to send to Washington.”
Before running for City Council in 2008, Crowley, who is a member of DC9, worked as a restorative painter on the renovations of major New York City landmarks including Radio City Music Hall, Central Synagogue and St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
Lancman Pushes For Rail Improvements
Assemblyman Rory Lancman, a candidate for the new Sixth Congressional District, stood last Monday, Apr. 2, with residents of Glendale and Middle Village on an overpass overlooking the Fresh Pond freight rail lines to unveil the federal Neighborhood Rail Improvement Act.
Lancman intends to introduce the act if elected to Congress. The legislation would prohibit railroad yard activities from taking place on tracks outside of the railroad yard and give local residents input into railroad yard operations, benefiting the communities surrounding the Fresh Pond Rail Transfer Station who have been adversely affected by the noise, smell, chemical hazards and lack of security resulting from companies operating outside of the rail station.
Because of the increased demand for rail traffic to dispose of waste, the Fresh Pond Rail Transfer Station has seen a spike in freight activity, which has imposed a constant disturbance on the daily lives of people in the neighborhoods surrounding the railroad yard. Trains routinely conduct noisy operations such as coupling and decoupling of cars outside of the railroad yard at all hours of the night, and since many of the trains are commercial freight carrying waste, the smell permeates throughout the neighborhood as the trains sit idle outside of the rail yard.
According to residents of the area, the rail companies have not taken the concerns of neighbors seriously, and since regulation of rail falls under the purview of the federal government, states and municipalities have been powerless to act.
The Neighborhood Rail Improvement Act would specifically prohibit rail companies from performing railroad yard activities on tracks located outside of the yard and in residential neighborhoods, including repairs, maintenance, collection, storage and transfer of materials and coupling and decoupling of cars. The legislation would also create nine member Regional Community Advisory Boards for railroad yards, comprised of residents appointed by the federal elected officials representing the area.
“For far too long, residents of this area have had to put up with the noise, the smell and the lack of security resulting from rail companies ignoring the community’s concerns and performing railroad yard activities outside the railroad yard,” Lancman said. “This legislation would not only put an end to these disturbances by ensuring railroad yard activities actually take place inside the railroad yard, but would also give the residents of this community input into the railroad yard’s operation.”
“The rail companies have plenty of representatives in Congress to stand up for them; when I get to Washington, I’m going to stand up for the people in this community,” Lancman added.
Pro-Life Group Endorses Long
The Susan B. Anthony List Candidate Fund, a national pro-life political action committee, announced its endorsement of Wendy Long for U.S. Senate in New York.
“From her days as a Hill staffer to her work on behalf of Supreme Court Justices who practice judicial restraint, Wendy has constantly been engaged in the fight for adherence to the Constitution and the principle of the right to Life in the Declaration of Independence,” said Susan B. Anthony List Candidate Fund President Marjorie Dannenfelser. “We look forward to having her back on Capitol Hill and adding to the number of prolife women in the Senate.”
Long’s pro-life activism began on Capitol Hill where she served as press secretary for Senators Gordon Humphrey and Bill Armstrong. Long was inspired to obtain a law degree to better defend pro-life principles. She studied at Northwestern University School of Law under the direction of legal scholar, the late Professor Victor G. Rosenblum. She also studied at Harvard Law School under the direction of Professor Mary Ann Glendon.
Her professional legal career includes serving as a law clerk for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and private practice with the Kirkland & Ellis law firm in New York City.
Recently, Wendy Long won a significant plurality of delegate votes at the New York State Republican Convention, winning 47 percent of the vote. She also received the unanimous endorsement of the New York Conservative Party after winning 91 percent of the delegate votes at that party’s convention.
The GOP primary election between Long and two other candidates, Rep. Bob Turner and Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos, will take place on June 26. Long is already assured a place on the November ballot to face Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand.
During the 2010 election cycle, SBA List spent $11 million and was involved in 90 races, 62 of which resulted in victories.
As noted, only voters who are registered with a party may vote in that party’s primary election on June 26 (Democratic voters may only vote in the Democratic primary; Republican voters may only vote in the Republican primary, etc.). There will also be a Republican presidential primary on Apr. 24 open to registered Republican Party members.
For more information on voting or to obtain a voting registration application, contact the New York City Board of Elections at 1-212-VOTENYC or visit www.vote.nyc.ny.us.
Press representatives of candidates may send their information to this paper by fax to 1-718-456-0120 or e-mail to info@times newsweekly.com. All releases are subject to editing.
