14 The QUEE NS Courier • AUGUST 15, 2013 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com ▶politics BOE BLUNDER VEXES VOTERS BY MELISA CHAN [email protected] An apparent mistake by the city’s Board of Elections (BOE) would have had Whitestone residents voting in Forest Hills during the upcoming primary. About 100 people in Whitestone, College Point, Malba and Beechhurst were sent BOE mailers last week directing them to vote more than six miles away, double the distance of their usual polling place, a local civic leader said. The 61-20 Grand Central Parkway poll site listed on the notices is on the border between Corona and Forest Hills. “I’ve been in Whitestone for 27 years. I’ve always voted at P.S. 193. It’s four blocks from my house,” said resident George Mirtsopoulos, 58. “I get this notice saying I’m voting in Forest Hills. I thought it was ridiculous.” Mirtsopoulos, Malba Gardens Civic president Alfredo Centola and the area’s city councilmember said they alerted the elections board of the blunder. The BOE first told residents the change was due to recent redistricting and later switched to say it was a “glitch” that sent voters in the 11357 ZIP code Weprin faces potential challenger in general election BY MELISA CHAN [email protected] Numerous police unions are backing one candidate’s bid to unseat incumbent Councilmember Mark Weprin. Joseph Concannon, a retired police captain from Bellerose, announced his run for City Council on August 8 — with the full support of several law enforcement groups, including the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association (PBA). “I can assure you I will never risk the safety and security of one New York City citizen at any time at all,” Concannon said. The PBA pledged in June to invest its full resources to target councilmembers, including Weprin, who voted in favor of the Community Safety Act. The union distributed anti-Weprin leaflets in Bayside in July. “No councilmember who puts this city at risk will have a free ride in the next election,” PBA president Patrick Lynch said. Two oversight bills in the act would create an inspector general to oversee the NYPD and allow individuals to sue the city in state court over the NYPD’s stop-and-frisk practices. The PBA and Concannon said the bills would increase crime and handcuff police. “I didn’t pick this fight. I didn’t ask for this challenge,” Concannon said. “I’m afraid that Mark Weprin and all the members have come to this with a very faint heart. They don’t understand the reach of this bill and what it will do to police officers we send out into the street.” Concannon is planning to make the Reform Party line. He ran for State Senate as a Republican last year and lost to incumbent Tony Avella. The Detectives Endowment Association, Lieutenants Benevolent Association, Sergeants Benevolent Association and Captains Endowment Association have also endorsed his candidacy. Weprin stood by his vote, saying the bills would keep the city safe without leading to an increase in lawsuits since there is no monetary incentive. “Everyone has the right to run,” he said. “I know Joe a little bit. I respect his service to our country and city. I just think that the law is in the best interest of New York City.” If Concannon collects the 450 petition signatures he needs to make the ballot by August 20, he will face off with Weprin in the November general election. “The voters will decide in the election,” Weprin said. “Having no opponent would be better, but this is democracy and democracy will run its course.” Photo Courtesy of Joseph Concannon’s campaign Joseph Concannon stood by several police officer unions at City Hall to announce his candidacy for City Council. to poll sites in the 11375 area, residents said. The two numbers differ only by switching the last two digits. “You should check and double check,” Mirtsopoulos said. “Somebody should have said, ‘Wait. They live in Whitestone, why are they voting in Forest Hills?’ The bells and whistles should have gone off a little bit.” The mailer blindsided multiple residents, mostly the elderly, who did not take immediate notice of change in poll site, Mirtsopoulos said. “A lot of people on my block didn’t even realize it,” he said. “It would have caused a lot of confusion.” Councilmember Dan Halloran — who awaits trial for bribery but represents the district for the remainder of the year — said his office “was flooded with calls from angry or upset people.” He said an 84-year-old widow named Marilyn would not have traveled to Forest Hills despite voting in every election since 1955. Residents who called the BOE to complain were told new mailers with the correct poll site would be sent out soon, but the Board had no immediate comment for the press. BY MELISA CHAN [email protected] The once-crowded Democratic race for Queens borough president is now down to two. State Senator Tony Avella dropped his bid for the seat on August 14, citing “unfinished business in Albany” as one of his reasons, his campaign said. “It has become clear that there is still a lot of work left to be done,” Avella said. “At this time, I believe I can best serve the people of Queens by remaining a State Senator.” Avella, who had low fundraising totals, was facing off with former legislator Melinda Katz and Councilmember Peter Vallone in the Democratic primary. “From protecting against the threat of hydrofracking to preserving women’s rights, there is a lot of unfinished business in Albany,” Avella said, “and I hope to take more of a leadership role in helping address these important issues, which reverberate beyond Queens and affect people across the entire state.” The race to replace term-limited Borough President Helen Marshall once had many contenders. Councilmember Leroy Comrie withdrew his bid last month. Avella’s name will still be on the ballot during the September 10 primary election. “This was certainly not an easy decision and I am eternally grateful for the overwhelming amount of support I received from people throughout Queens,” he said. “Queens is my home borough and I will never stop fighting and advocating for all residents of Queens.” The winner will run against Republican candidate Tony Arcabascio in November. And then there were two Avella drops Democratic BP bid
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