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Paladino declares victory as Avella concedes
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | NOV. 26 - DEC. 2, 2021 15
BY JENNA BAGCAL
Last week, Governor Kathy
Hochul signed a law simplifying
school enrollment for military
families, just six months
after it passed in the state Assembly
and Senate.
Proposed by Assemblyman
Edward Braunstein and officially
passed in May 2021, bill
A6528A allows military families
that relocate to New York
state to enroll their children
in schools at the same time as
their peers prior to physically
arriving in the neighborhood.
Hochul officially signed the
bill into law on Thursday, Nov.
11, on Veterans Day. It takes
effect immediately and is part
of a package of legislation that
supports and protects veterans
and their families.
“As we honor those who
serve our country this Veterans
Day, I’m proud to see this
bill to simplify school enrollment
for military families
signed into law,” Braunstein
said. “This legislation will help
to alleviate the unique school
enrollment challenges faced
by military families and offer
their children the best possible
educational experience while
they call New York state home.
I thank Governor Hochul for
signing this bill and Senator
Skoufis for his partnership on
this effort.”
According to the U.S. Department
of Defense, the average
child in a military family
will move approximately six to
nine times during their school
career. Over an estimated
185,000 military children move
between schools each year, resulting
in missed registrations,
applications and extracurricular
enrollment periods.
“With over 16,500 active
duty military school-age children
attending school in this
state, New York is in a unique
position to have a positive effect
on the educational experiences
of military children
and families by enacting this
legislation,” said the DOD in
a memorandum in support of
Braunstein’s bill.
Now that the bill has passed
in New York, it has become the
25th state to enact a policy for
military children to help ensure
their uninterrupted education
and timely graduation.
“Our active service members
and veterans have served
a high calling to protect our
democracy and freedoms, and
now it is our turn to support
them and their families,” Hochul
said. “By signing these
bills into law today, we are
taking steps to ensure veterans
and active duty military
members have the benefits and
resources they need, and the
flexibility their circumstances
require, to best take care of
themselves and their families.
New York’s veterans stood up
for us, and we will continue to
stand by them.”
BY BILL PARRY
Republican Vickie Paladino
declared victory over
Democrat Tony Avella in the
northeast Queens race to represent
City Council District
19, two weeks after Election
Day when she held the lead.
The Whitestone community
activist and small business
owner for more than
three decades saw enough
on Tuesday, Nov. 16, after
the Board of Elections began
counting mail-in ballots the
day before.
“After two long days at the
Board of Elections overseeing
the absentee ballot tally,
we can confirm that our election
night victory will stand,
and Vickie Paladino will be
the next council member to
represent the people of District
19 on the City Council,”
a Paladino campaign
spokesman said.
“We would again like to
thank all our staff and volunteers
who made this possible,
as well as the voters who put
their faith in our platform.
We cannot overstate the magnitude
of this accomplishment;
this was the toughest
and best-run campaign in
the city this year,” Paladino’s
campaign spokesperson
said. “We now look forward
to the transition and beginning
the hard work of delivering
on our agenda to the
community.”
District 19 includes Bayside,
College Point, Whitestone,
Malba, Douglaston,
Little Neck, North Flushing
and Auburndale.
Paladino ran against
Avella, a career politician
who represented District 19
in the City Council from 2002
to 2009 before serving eight
years in the New York State
Senate.
Avella had hoped to regain
his seat, and replace
term-limited Councilman
Paul Vallone, but conceded
the race to Paladino in a
statement on Wednesday,
Nov. 17.
“My wife and I want to
thank all of my supporters
and volunteers who worked
tirelessly on our campaign,”
Avella said. “Although we
lost, I am proud of the positive
and issued-based campaign
we waged. A mere 387
votes was the difference in
the outcome despite my opponent
conducting negative
ads and a Trump-like disinformation
campaign. In the
near future, I will review
the election results and what
this means for our community.
I wish everyone a happy
and family Thanksgiving.”
The Board of Elections
will certify the results on
Nov. 30.
Republican Vickie Paladino declared victory over Democrat Tony
Avella after two days of mail-in ballot counting at the Board of
Elections. Photo courtesy of Paladino campaign
Assemblyman Edward Braunstein Courtesy of Braunstein’s offi ce
Hochul signs Braunstein legislation easing
school enrollment for military families
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