Astoria resident to run against Gianaris
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | DEC. 20-26, 2019 5
BY BILL PARRY
A former sanitation worker
became the second resident of
western Queens to file papers
in order to challenge state Senator
Michael Gianaris in next
year’s Democratic primary.
Ignazio “Iggy” Terranova
of Astoria, who retired from
DSNY after a 20-year career
last year, found Gianaris’ opposition
to Amazon’s plans to
build its HQ2 campus in Long
Island City, creating tens of
thousands of jobs over the next
decade, as disqualifying.
“I dedicated my life to helping
the city and helping New
Yorkers,” Terranova said.
“This guy hurt us, he really
truly hurt us. It’s a joke that
you would throw away 25,000
jobs, plus 10,000 union construction
jobs to build it, plus
all of the other jobs it would
have also created at restaurants
and stores. All of that
thrown away for what? To
show he’s progressive?”
The 45-year-old, born in
Ribera, Italy, before coming to
the U.S. a a 1-year-old, began
his career as a garbage collector
and worked his way up
to become the lead uniformed
liaison to the public and Supervisor
of the DSNY’s Community
Affair Unit, an ambassador
to the public and elected
officials throughout the city.
Terranova believes that experience
prepared him to serve
in public office.
“I was the one guy that every
politician turned to to fix
an issue and make them look
good,” Terranova said. “Be it
snow removal, enforcement
issues, all sanitation issues, I
was the one that fixed it. Now
that I’m retired I look around
and all I see is this city heading
in the wrong direction. I’ve
known the senator for nearly
15 years and I really thought
he was a good guy, but after
what happened with Amazon,
obviously he was not.”
It was just last June when
Gianaris honored Terranova
on his retirement speaking
from the Senate floor.
“New York City is full of
distinguished characters that
leave an impression, and Iggy
Terranova is certainly one
of them,” Gianaris said. “I’ve
been impressed by not only
his skill and ability, but his
outsized personality as well.
He lives in Astoria, in my district,
and I’m proud of that.”
The Senate’s deputy majority
leader doesn’t seem concerned
with the challenge.
“Anyone is entitled to run
for office, but not just anyone
has been part of a movement
that delivered a historic Democratic
Senate Majority resulting
in the most progressive
legislature New York has ever
seen,” Gianaris said.
Meanwhile, Terranova and
Gianaris crossed paths on
Sunday morning.
“We both attended the United
Community Civic Association
brunch and I could tell he
knew I was running,” Terranova
said. “I would imagine
he’s shocked and I think I will
be an annoyance to him.”
Long Island City’s Justin
Potter, who created the “Defeat
Gianaris” website blaming
him for Amazon’s breakup
with the borough, launched
his own campaign to unseat
the Senator last April.
“I am thrilled Iggy Terranova
is entering the race.
He has deep roots in the district
and just finished a long
career as a highly regarded
public servant handling community
outreach,” Potter
said. “The fact that Iggy is
entering the race is further
evidence of the deep dissatisfaction
in the district with
Senator Gianaris. Iggy and I
will surely have different approaches
and perspectives,
but we are united in the objective
of defeating Senator Gianaris
in the 2020 Democratic
primary.”
Reach reporter Bill Parry by
e-mail at bparry@schnepsmedia.
com or by phone at (718)
260–4538.
Astoria resident Iggy Terranova filed to challenge state Senator
Michael Gianaris in next year’s Democratic primary.
Courtesy of Iggy Terranova
Wishing You a Wonderful Holiday
Season Full of Joy and Success!
Many Blessings to All!
Congressman Gregory W. Meeks
5th Congressional District of New York
@GregMeeksNYC
th
Paid for and authorized by Friends for Gregory Meeks
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