Supporters give a thumbs up at the grand opening of Bloomberg’s Bayside field office. Photo: Jenna Bagcal/QNS
Queens pols endorse Bloomberg at grand
opening of Bell Boulevard campaign offi ce
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | FEB. 14-20, 2020 3
BY JENNA BAGCAL
Amid a roomful of enthusiastic
supporters, live music,
Mr. Met and local eats, Michael
Bloomberg’s Bayside campaign
office officially opened
on Feb. 6 in Bayside.
The former Mean Street
Tattoo storefront at 39-36 Bell
Blvd. is now the presidential
candidate’s second field office
in the city and will host
several voter outreach efforts.
Revelers at the Feb. 6 opening
included New York state director
of Mike Bloomberg 2020
John Calvelli, former Queens
Borough President Claire
Shulman, Councilman Paul
Vallone and Assemblyman
Clyde Vanel, who provided
glowing endorsements for the
three-term mayor.
“We are New York City residents,
we chose New York City
for our home. He was our mayor
for 12 years, he took this city
at the worst time, at our worst
crisis in 2001 when we were attacked.
The economic prosperity
we have today, the safety
that we have, who we are as a
city that leads the whole world,
is because he took us to that
point,” said Vallone who led
the crowd in a “We like Mike”
chant moments before.
Seven full-time Bloomberg
staffers, as well as dozens
of volunteers, will run canvassing
and phone banking
events and other coordinated
outreach activities at the
new field office ahead of New
York’s Democratic primary on
April 28.
“Mike Bloomberg is known
as a dedicated public servant,
successful entrepreneur, and
powerful advocate for some of
the most pressing issues facing
New Yorkers today,” said
Vanel. “As a community advocate,
I admire his passion for
causes like gun violence and
climate change. As a business
leader, I respect his ability to
create thousands of jobs. And
as an elected official, I appreciate
his ability to get things
done.”
Vallone and Vanel are the
first in the City Council and
state Assembly respectively to
publicly endorse Bloomberg.
So far, he has received 12 endorsements
from New York
state elected officials.
The grand opening featured
an appearance from
Mets mascot Mr. Met and food
from local Bayside establishments,
including Bayside Milk
Farm, Erawan, French Workshop,
Maria’s Mediterranean,
Martha’s Bakery, Mr. Pollo,
Papazzio and VIPizza.
“As the first woman elected
as Queens borough president,
I know a trailblazer when I
see one, and Mike Bloomberg
certainly fits the bill,” said
Shulman. “Mike is a fearless
leader who has taken on the
city’s toughest fights on behalf
of Queens residents and has
come out on top. As mayor,
Mike made all of New York
City a stronger and more resilient
place, and I know he will
do the same for the rest of the
country.”
Michael Dacosta, a
Bloomberg supporter from
Queens, created the slogan
“Let’s Get Bloom-in America,”
a play on Bloomberg’s name
but also a reference to how
America would “bloom” with
him at the helm. At the field
office grand opening, Dacosta
brought his handmade sign
and custom bomber jacket
with the slogan.
“To me, he’s the only one
right now with a clean heart,
somebody I can support and
somebody of dignity. He’s not
gonna tell you one thing and
do something else,” said Dacosta.
“To me, he’s a modernday
JFK. He’s a philanthropist,
he’s a man of wisdom and
a man of respect.”
Reach reporter Jenna Bagcal
by e-mail at jbagcal@qns.
com or by phone at (718) 260-
2583.
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