18 North Shore Towers Courier n September 2013 Board members at the forum. The Political Action Committee put together the successful event. Courier hosts ‘Focus on Queens Forum’ The Queens Courier held the Focus on Queens Forum at the North Shore Towers on Wednesday, August 21. Borough President, City Comptroller and Public Advocate candidates from various parties attended and spoke on their ideas for the future of their respective offices. “Too often, people vote right down the Democratic line on the ballot,” said Bob Ricken, Towers’ Board President. “This gives residents an opportunity to get to know the candidates.” Felice Hannah, board member and chair of the Political Action Committee, organized the event with nearly every candidate for each office. Councilmember Peter Vallone Jr., Melinda Katz and Aurelio “Tony” Arcabascio came out for Borough President. Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, John Burnett and Hesham El Meligy for Comptroller, and Cathy Guerriero, Leticia James, Reshma Saujani, Daniel Squadron and Sidique Wai for Public Advocate. Public Advocate candidates take the stage All five Democratic candidates for Public Advocate came to the North Shore Towers to participate in the Focus on Queens Forum. “People in our city are really suffering,” said Reshma Saujani, current Deputy Public Advocate and recipient of the Queens Democratic Party’s endorsement. Candidates were each given the opportunity to answer questions by moderator Tamani Wooley of NY1. First, the five answered what sort of legislation they would first propose upon entering office. Letitia James, a Brooklyn city councilmember and former assistant attorney general, said she would focus on affordable housing, as well as putting a cap on co-op and condo taxes. Brooklyn State Senator Daniel Squadron said he would create new partnerships for local community education councils, because parent groups need a partnership outside of bureaucracy, while Cathy Guerriero, educator, said she would expand her staff and “put a think tank into the office.” Saujani, similarly, said she would instate four deputy public advocates for jobs, housing, education, and women and seniors. Sidique Wai, a civilian member of the NYPD, wants to help reform stopand frisk and be sure police officers wear cameras on their person. Wooley then brought up the low grades the city school system just received, and questioned the candidates as to how they would work to improve education. Guerriero, who has an extensive education background and comes from a family of teachers, said first the mayor should prioritize schooling in the city, and Wai said subjects such as science, math, engineering and math should start at the kindergarten level. “If you don’t invest in children earlier on and train them to be able to compete for those jobs that are now fast going into the technological field, it’s just not going to work,” he said. Squadron said schools should become an anchor for students, especially during trying times. He hopes to oversee a different approach to teaching special needs and ESL children as well as give parents a stronger voice. “We have turned schools into test preps we have taken our tax dollars and invested more in technology than teachers, respecting teachers and reducing classroom size,” James said, who hopes to promote art and physical education courses. Saujani noted her computer science program for young girls, Girls Who Code, and believes computer science education should be taught in every single high school. “This job has a vital role to play in a city our size,” Squadron said in closing. “They can make a real difference in people’s lives by focusing on things within its scope and within its power.” Guerriero said she’s the candidate to “come at your straight, not at angles.” “I run against a set of politicians. I’m not one. That’s kind of the point,” she said. James, however, said she recognizes the power of government and knows how to work through it. “This office has got to do something,” Saujani said. “It’s got to change people’s lives; it’s got to create something.” THE COURIER/Photo by Maggie Hayes THE COURIER/Photos by Maggie Hayes
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