Avella & Katz Appeal To Potential Voters
Two candidates seeking to become Queens’ next borough president stopped by the Ridgewood Property Owners and Civic Association (RPOCA) meeting last Thursday, Apr. 7, at I.S. 93’s auditorium to stump for votes.
State Sen. Tony Avella of Whitestone and former City Council Member Melinda Katz of Forest Hills outlined their visions for the office. Avella touted himself as an independent voice for Queens unafraid of taking on higher-ranking officials to bring improvements, while Katz cited her 20 years of experience in government as a strength needed to hammer out deals benefiting the entire borough.
They are just two of the seven declared Democratic candidates for Queens borough president. The rest of the field includes City Council Members Leroy Comrie and Peter Vallone Jr., Deputy Borough President
Barry Grodenchik, State Sen. Jose Peralta and businessman Everly Brown. Comrie was scheduled to last Thursday’s meeting, but did not appear .
The other candidates have been invited to attend the civic group’s May meeting, RPOCA President Paul Kerzner told the Times Newsweekly.
‘An independent voice’
Avella was first to take the microphone, noting that prior to becoming state senator, he served as an aide to former Mayors Ed Koch and David Dinkins, as well as two terms in the City Council.
The state senator stated he is seeking to become borough president to give the borough “an independent voice” which he claimed that it has lacked “for the last 12 years.”
To that end, Avella noted that he has criticized Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the past, and would not be afraid to publicly criticize top elected officials when necessary if elected borough president.
“I think I have a reputation for speaking out and I’m not afraid to take on the mayor or [City Council] speaker or governor,” Avella said. He charged that Queens “always seems to get the short end of the stick” on city services, and he vowed to be the borough’s biggest voice in city government.
“We need somebody with experience in government who understands the quality of life issues we face every day,” he added. “The borough president can be a tremendous force as a public advocate” for Queens residents.
Avella stated he would bring a community-centered philosophy to the borough president’s office and rely on the input of civic associations and Queens residents in advocating for funding and solutions to the problems the borough faces. To that end, he pledged—if elected—that civic groups in Queens “will be sitting with me” at meetings of the Borough Board (attended by all 14 community board chairpersons and the Queens City Council delegation) and the Borough Cabinet (attended by representatives of city agencies).
“We should be telling the city, ‘Here’s what we want,’” he added.
Audience members and RPOCA representatives questioned Avella about his thoughts on Parks Department improvements at the Ridgewood Reservoir. The state senator supported maintaining the location as a natural preserve, adding that it presents the city with a “tremendous opportunity if it’s done right.”
Regarding transit issues, Avella said he would strive to begin a conversation with representatives of the MTA and the city Department of Transportation (DOT) on the mass transportation needs of the borough.
Alocal resident asked for Avella’s thoughts on problems related to freight rail activity in Ridgewood and Glendale. While he stated he was not familiar with the topic, Avella indicated he was interested in learning more about how residents felt and advocating for necessary improvements.
Knowing ‘how to advance’ agenda
Following an introduction by her husband—Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa—Katz spoke to the audience about her life-long ties to Queens and her 20 years of service in the City Council, the State Assembly and as director of community boards for former Queens Borough President Claire Shulman.
Katz regarded her election and reelection to the City Council and Assembly as a strength in her pursuit of the borough presidency, as she brings experience needed to “advance the agenda” for the borough.
“In this profession, having the experience on all levels and getting reelected by your constituents proves to be a priceless asset,” she said. “The borough president is an extremely important job, and I believe, very underestimated.”
Katz also stated that her experience as former chairperson of the City Council Land Use Committee also proves valuable, as the borough president “has a say” in zoning and development matters taking place across Queens. She stated that she would fight to protect communities while still spurring economic activity.
“We want to create jobs and have economic development, but on the other side, many of us are proud of where we live,” Katz said. “We do not want to see overdevelopment.”
The former lawmaker also criticized the Department of Education for promoting the “co-location” of schools within existing schools as a means of addressing overcrowding. Katz also pledged to promote the creation of primary care facilities across the borough to help make up for the loss of hospitals which have closed in recent years.
Kerzner asked her about the revitalization of the defunct Rockaway Beach branch of the Long Island Rail Road and an alternate plan to create a park/bike trail in its place. Katz said she had concerns about both plans regarding the impact on nearby residents, but acknowledged that residents in southern Queens and the Rockaway peninsula need better access to the city.
“The Rockaways need to be worked on with transportation,” she said. “We’re going to have to listen to all of the communities along the line and figure it out.”
Asked for her opinion regarding development plans at Flushing Meadows
Corona Park, Katz said the USTA should replace any parkland taken for the proposed expansion of the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, while also kicking in funds for the maintenance of the entire park. She also charged that she hasn’t heard any concrete details on the planned Major League Soccer stadium at the Fountain of the Planets to make a decision.
Katz, however, opposed any proposed creation of a casino at Willets Point, charging that any new gaming facilities should be developed at Aqueduct Racetrack, where the Resorts World New York casino is based.
Landmarking
City Council Member Elizabeth Crowley and Kerzner invited residents to celebrate the creation of landmark districts in Ridgewood with a ceremony scheduled to take place on Thursday, Apr. 18, at noon at Korean Square, located at the corner of Forest and Grandview avenues.
The ceremony commemorates the installation of terracotta street signs in the Ridgewood North and South Historic Districts, which were created by the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) previously to preserve Mathews flats apartment houses in the community. LPC Commissioner Robert Tierney is scheduled to attend the Apr. 18 event.
While celebrating the achievement, Kerzner noted, RPOCA members intend to inquire about the status of the Ridgewood Central Historic District, which would preserve 400 rowhouses in the neighborhood. He claimed the LPC has yet to move on the plan though it was first presented two years ago.
In that amount of time, the civic president stated, the LPC approved historic districts in the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Crown Heights and Clinton Hill, each of which had almost as many homes as that in the Ridgewood Central district.
The Apr. 18 event “will be an opportunity for all of you to tell the LPC to pick up the pace” on considering the Ridgewood Central district, Kerzner added.
Other news
Crowley informed residents that she supports a bill in the City Council to require businesses in NewYork City to provide paid sick leave for employees. Recently endorsed by City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Crowley said the bill should come up for a vote in the coming weeks.
“I’m not sure what the mayor will do with it, but it is veto-proof,” Crowley said, indicating the City Council has enough votes to override a veto by Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
The Council member also publicly stated her opposition to the Community Safety Act, a series of bills designed to regulate NYPD policies and tactics such as “stop-andfrisk.” Crowley argued that the bills would not make the city any safer, arguing that hiring additional police officers would be a more preferable public safety effort.
Finally, the legislator said she is opposed to proposed cuts to Fire Department and library funding as city budget negotiations get underway.
In the wake of an Elmhurst landlord’s arrest on charges that he illegally subdivided four buildings, Kerzner encouraged attendees to report any location which they suspect has been illegally converted. He stressed the dangers such buildings pose not only to the tenants but also to neighboring residents and property owners.
Kerzner said suspect locations could be reported “discreetly” to RPOCA members, who will then forward the information to the proper authorities and follow up on enforcement actions.
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The next Ridgewood Property Owners and Civic Association meeting is scheduled to take place on Thursday night, May 2, at 7:30 p.m. at I.S. 93, located on Forest Avenue between Madison and Woodbine streets.
