Calling All NST Artists: The Art Studio is Open!
Sylvia Landau digs into
details
Who will be the next Queens D.A.? It’s debatable
BY JILL DAVIS
Photos by Dawn Steinberg On May 7, NST hosted its
first-ever debate for the
Democratic primary for
the Queens’ District Attorney’s
seat. The debate was co-sponsored
by NST’s PAC Committee
and the Queens Bar Association.
Queens Bar Association President
Marie-Eleana First introduced the
event, and the debate was moderated
by former Queens Bar Association
President Joseph DeFelice.
The Queens’ D.A. post is open
for the first time in 28 years following
the resignation and passing of
the Honorable Richard Brown,
who had held the position since
1991. The primary will be held on
Tuesday, June 25, and will decide
who will be the Democratic nominee
in the November general election.
Whoever wins the primary
is widely considered to be the
front-runner to ultimately capture
the seat when he or she faces off
against attorney Daniel Kogan,
whose Republican nomination is
uncontested.
l-r: Candidates Tiffany Cabán, Melinda Katz, Rory Lancman, Greg
Lasak, Betty Lugo, Mina Malik and Jose Nieves
The seven Democratic candidates
are, in alphabetical order: Public
Defender, Tiffany Cabán; Queens
Borough President, Melinda Katz;
NYC Councilman, Rory Lancman;
former Queens Supreme Court
Judge, Greg Lasak; former Nassau
County ADA, Betty Lugo; former
Washington, D.C., Deputy Attorney
General, Mina Malik; and former
NYS Deputy Chief Attorney,
General Jose Nieves.
Notably, all the candidates share
many fundamental ideologies as to
how the D.A.’s office should evolve
in the coming years. Common viewpoints
include easing up on jail sentences
for misdemeanors; not prosecuting
the personal use of marijuana;
and building a conviction review unit
(Queens is the only borough in NYC
that does not have one).
The candidates do diverge on
several issues, however: Some
candidates support closing Rikers
Island while others would rebuild
it; some accept and others decline
contributions from corporate PACs;
and some would refuse to prosecute
all “broken-windows” offenses
(such as unlicensed driving), while
others would take a case-by-case
approach. For more details on the
individual candidates’ positions,
readers can visit: cityandstateny.
com/articles/politics/new-yorkcity/
queens-district-attorney-candidates
policy-differences.html.
Only registered Democrats may
vote in the primary. North Shore
Towers residents can vote on-site
and polls will be open from 6am
until 9pm.
BY BOB RICKEN
& KAREN PERRY
TPhotos by Julie Weissman he Grand Opening of
the newly renovated Art
Studio was held on June
2 following a "dry run" by the
Special Projects Committee. Thus
far, the studio has been open for
two sessions each weekday, and
when demand dictates more time
is needed, we are prepared to keep
it open on weekends. So come on
down and grab a paintbrush!
Anita Stein evaluates her
masterpiece
Bob Ricken, BOD member/Chair,
Special Projects Committee
Herb Zaller is hard at work Karen Perry, Art Studio Director Deb Heffler pauses for a pose
Marie-Eleana First addresses a
full house
Joseph DeFelice asked the important
questions
l-r: Debate moderator Attorney
Joseph DeFelice; NST PAC
Chairwoman Felice Hannah;
Queens Bar Association President
Marie-Eleana First; Attorney
Geoffrey Mazel; NST PAC
Committee Member Vicki Mazel
Norm Kaufman is focused
June 2019 ¢ NORTH SHORE TOWERS COURIER 17