NST Resident Debra Markell
Runs for City Council
BY JILL DAVIS North Shore Towers resident
and former Board Vice
President announced her
candidacy for NYC Council District
23 last November. The winner of the
election will fill the vacancy left by
Barry Grodenchik, who is retiring.
Since the announcement,
Markell has been active in establishing
her agenda and reaching
out to the community to learn
about their concerns. Her most
immediate focus is on senior
citizens in NYC and, as would
be expected, especially residents
in North Shore Towers. On the
top of her list is greater accessibility
for seniors to obtain the
COVID-19 vaccine. “North Shore
Towers is by and large a senior
community,” Markell said, “and
the current difficulty in seniors’
ability to be vaccinated is simply
not acceptable.”
In addition to the current challenges
of there being sufficient
vaccine distribution overall, there
is the additional problem of the
protocol for making an appointment
for a vaccine. For all intents
and purposes, making an appointment
requires a computer—and
the skills to use one—and not
everyone in the senior age group
has that capability. “This dependence
on making an appointment
online, among the very community
is most in need of the vaccine,
is completely unfair and is, in my
opinion, simply discriminatory,”
Markell said.
Markell is making every effort
to fix the situation, but it isn’t
easy. In coordination with local
officials, Markell has been reaching
out to the Mayor’s and the
Governor’s offices to explain
the plight of seniors, particularly
residents of eastern Queens.
“We would welcome a partner
to bring the vaccine to the area,”
she said. “But eastern Queens
doesn’t even have a rapid testing
center, let alone a coordinated,
convenient vaccine facility.” She
added, “We are excited that with
the new administration, there is
hope for more vaccine production,
distribution and vaccine
centers to become available in
the very near future.”
As if dealing with the pandemic
weren’t already enough on her
plate, Markell also intends to
focus on the issue of local transit,
which was a hot topic last spring
before COVID hit. “Northeastern
Queens, and most especially areas
such as North Shore Towers,
are ‘transit desserts’ with little
access to public transportation,”
she said. As many NST residents
will recall, the MTA had plans to
severely reduce the already limited
bus service to the community,
and Markell was working with
local government to stop those
cutbacks. Although the MTA’s
efforts were put on hold amidst
the pandemic, the issue is likely
to come to the forefront again,
and Markell intends to resume
her fight as soon as it is practical
to do so.
She also plans to take up the
ongoing issue of property tax
reform for co-ops and condos as
well as lobby for stronger public
education, improved public
safety, and support for small local
business.
Markell’s experience in local
government positions her well
to take on these issues that are
of real, personal concern to the
residents of the district. She
remains active in North Shore
Towers’ initiatives and currently
serves as its Political Director
and she is a former Queens
Community Board member
and president of 109th Precinct
Community Council. Currently,
Markell is the Democratic State
Committeewoman for the 26
District, District Manager of
Queens Community Board 2 and
Chair of the Flushing Hospital
Advisory Board. In addition to
these roles, she is the Chairwoman
of the F.D.R. Democratic Club
Executive Committee. Markell
has also been a Queens leader
citywide, having served as the
Queens Director of the Mayor’s
Community Assistance Unit from
1998 to 2006.
All of this experience has
drawn the endorsements of
several lawmakers, including
former US Representative Steve
Israel, NYS Assemblyman Chuck
Lavine and NY Congressman
Tom Suozzi. Suozzi said, “Debra
has proven capable of working
with a diverse group of people
and maintaining a pragmatic
approach. I have seen firsthand
her commitment and hard work
to her community and the residents
of Queens. It is that same
dedication she will bring to City
Hall. Debra is the right choice on
the key issues including senior
services, education and quality
of life.”
“My service in the Mayor’s
office and city government has
shown me how the City of New
York and Queens operates. In
this critical time, we need experienced
leaders who can go to City
Hall and bring valuable resources
back to our district. I am running
for City Council because I believe
I am that leader,” Markell said.
City Council Candidate Debra Markell
Debra Markell and Congressman
Tom Suozzi
Photo courtesy of Queens Courier
New York Elections 2021
Important Information
In addition to the City Council, voters will also be casting their
ballots for NYC Mayor, City Comptroller, Public Advocate and
Queens Borough President. Dates to remember:
Friday, May 28: Deadline to register to vote
Saturday, June 12 – Sunday, June 20: Early voting period
Tuesday, June 15: Deadline to request absentee ballot
Tuesday, June 22: 2021 Primary Election
Tuesday, Nov. 2: General Election
February 2021 ¢ NORTH SHORE TOWERS COURIER 13