18 The Queens Courier • january 23, 2014 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com politics FILE PHOTO Embattled State Senator Malcolm Smith will seek re-election. SEE SMITH RUN Embattled senator will seek re-election BY MAGIE HAYES mhayes@queenscourier.com State Senator Malcolm Smith is running for re-election and fighting to keep his seat from current challengers Clyde Vanel and Munir Avery. While Smith is “focusing on governing,” Vanel has jump-started his campaign with a $100,000 loan to provide the “infrastructure of the campaign.” “We wanted to start off strong,” he said. He is seeking to maintain his campaign office and purchase voter information software, among other things. Vanel, who previously ran for City Council, said the senate district is “much bigger” and “we need resources to start the campaign the right way.” He hopes to raise $350,000 as election season continues. With the $350,000, he will pay back the loan and spend $250,000 on his campaign. Regarding his own race, the incumbent Smith said “the time for campaigning is later.” Despite an indictment on corruption charges, to which Smith plead not guilty, he hopes to reclaim the seat he has held for 13 years. “I don’t think there was ever any doubt the senator would run,” said a spokesperson for the embattled legislator. Vanel, a Cambria Heights business attorney, and Avery, a Queens Village estates attorney, both criticized Smith for his involvement with the Independent Democratic Conference (IDC), a group of Democrats who govern with Republicans. However, after Smith’s indictment, the IDC dropped him. “The senator is a Democrat and he will be running as a Democrat,” the spokesperson said, but added he “is no stranger to crossing party lines in order to work with everyone.” Smith is “focused on the budget and making sure southeast Queens receives the adequate share of resources for schools and jobs creation,” he said in a statement. As of press time, Mayor Bill de Blasio made the following appointments to his administration and city agencies since January 16: Dr. Mary Bassett: Commissioner of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Rose Pierre-Louis: Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence Mark Peters: Commissioner of the Department of Investigation Maria Torres-Springer: Commissioner of the Department of Small Business Services Dr. Ramanathan Raju: Commissioner of Health and Hospitals Corporation Rachel Noerdlinger: Chief of Staff to First Lady Chirlane McCray SPEAKER NAMES QUEENS REPS TO COUNCIL CHAIRS Van Bramer named majority leader BY CRISTABELLE TUMOLA ctumola@queenscourier.com Several important leadership Official NYC Council photo by William Alatriste City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito with Councilmembers Jimmy Van Bramer, Julissa Ferreras and Daniel Dromm, to whom she gave chair positions later. CUOMO BUDGET: Universal Pre-K & Subway Upgrades BY CRISTABELLE TUMOLA ctumola@queenscourier.com Governor Andrew Cuomo presented his 2014-2015 Executive Budget address, highlighting economic investments in education, including universal, full-day pre-k, while promising to deliver a fourth, consecutive on-time budget. “If government works right the budget is an easy process,” the governor said during the Tuesday, January 21 address. The $137.2 billion budget provides for tax relief measures the governor outlined in his State of the State address earlier this month, including a renters’ tax credit. But “the budget is more than just a budget. It’s more than just dollar and cents,” said Cuomo. “The best long-term economic development strategy is to have the best economic system,” according to the governor. Cuomo is proposing universal, full-day pre-k statewide, with an estimated cost of $1.5 billion over the next five years. The state would fully fund the program. “The state will pay for it and the state will be proud to pay for it,” Cuomo said. A plan proposed by Mayor Bill de Blasio for universal, full-day pre-k in the city would be funded by taxing the wealthy. The budget puts aside money for a plan the governor outlined earlier this month for the state’s ongoing storm mitigation and recovery efforts. It includes $5 billion for the most massive reconstruction of subway system in 110 years, according to Cuomo. Additional investments discussed at the budget presentation were $100 million to restore and build 300 affordable housing units and $1.2 billion of capital funding for hospitals, clinics and long-term care facilities. Cuomo concluded his address by emphasizing the importance of ethics reform, which is included in the budget. “We’re going to put a system in place that make sure if and when these things happen again there will be a system to take care of it,” he said. For more details on the 2014-2015 Executive Budget, visit www.budget.ny.gov. positions went to Queens representatives who showed support for newly-elected City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito last month. Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer retained his position as chair of the Cultural Affairs Committee, but was named majority leader. “It has always been my goal to play a meaningful leadership role in this new, progressive council. The opportunity to serve in the second highest position in the council ... is one I relish and am truly humbled by,” he said following the Wednesday, January 22 appointment. Van Bramer was rumored to be in the running for Finance Chair along with another Queens elected, Julissa Ferreras, who got the position. She was previously the chair of the Women’s Issues committee. “As the first woman and first person of color to ever chair the Council’s Finance Committee, I am honored and humbled to have the opportunity to further serve the people of our great city,” she said. Van Bramer and Ferreras were two of six Queens councilmembers to back Mark- Viverito for the speaker position in December, along with Daniel Dromm, Daneek Miller, Donovan Richards and Republican Eric Ulrich, in contrast to the wishes of their county’s Democratic and GOP leadership. Dromm, a former public school teacher, is now the Education Committee chairperson after previously heading the Immigration Committee. Ulrich was appointed chair of the Veterans Committee, Miller chair of the Civil Service and Labor Committee and Richards chair of the Environmental Protection Committee. Additional chair positions went to Elizabeth Crowley, Fire and Criminal Justice Services; Karen Koslowitz, State and Federal Legislation Committee; Peter Koo, Landmarks Public Siting and Maritime Uses Sub- Committee; Mark Weprin, Zoning and Franchises Sub- Committee; Ruben Wills, Drug Abuse Sub-Committee; and Paul Vallone, Senior Centers Sub-Committee. SE OUR POLITICAL COLUMN, PAGE 26
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