14 The QUEE NS Courier • october 10, 2013 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com ▶politics de Blasio leads in funds, polls BY CRISTABELLE TUMOLA ctumola@queenscourier.com Polls once again showed Bill de Blasio with a strong lead over opponent Joe Lhota in the mayor’s race, while financial statements recently filed with the Campaign Finance Board showed him topping his GOP rival in fundraising as well. In a Quinnipiac University poll released on Thursday, October 3, de Blasio led Lhota 71 to 21 percent among likely voters. Those numbers are up from a September 19 Quinnipiac poll in which de Blasio led Lhota 66 to 25 percent. The results of a New York Times/ Siena College poll released on Friday, October 4 also showed de Blasio with a wide lead over Lhota—68 to 19 percent— among likely voters. And as de Blasio has been beating Lhota in the polls, he has been topping him in fundraising. According to disclosure statements from the city’s Campaign Finance Board, de Blasio’s fundraising totaled about $635,000 from September 17 to September 30. During the same period, Lhota raised almost $280,000. Though the polls said it could be a landslide victory for de Blasio, the Democrat didn’t miss the opportunity to criticize his opponent for statements made during a radio interview. During an appearance on WNYC’s The Brian Lehrer Show on Monday, October 7, Lhota said while he doesn’t support the complete defunding of Obamacare, he does agree its individual mandate should be delayed for a year. Lhota has also called the government shutdown a “disgrace,” and has been critical of national Republicans who have played a role in the stalemate. De Blasio, in a statement issued through campaign spokesperson Dan Levitan, said Lhota’s support of delaying the Affordable Care Act “puts him in lockstep with Republican extremists like Ted Cruz.” “Joe Lhota says he is a different kind of Republican, but when push comes to shove he sides with the GOP fringe.” Lhota took aim at de Blasio for remarks he made following a speech to the Association for a Better New York on Friday, October 4. Responding to a question, de Blasio said, “I’m a progressive activist fiscal conservative, but I’m still a fiscal conservative,” according to published reports. “His record proves otherwise,” said Lhota, adding the comment was “another episode of the latest in unreality TV: Pandering Bill. He’ll say anything to anyone to get elected.” CHARTER SCHOOLS FRONT AND CENTER IN MAYOR’S RACE BY CRISTABELLE TUMOLA ctumola@queenscourier.com Thousands of parents, teachers and students marched across the Brooklyn Bridge on Tuesday, October 8 in support of the city’s charter schools. The marchers, according to reports, were also concerned over some of Democratic candidate Bill de Blasio’s educational proposals, which they feel could negatively impact charter schools if he becomes mayor. Those ideas include his proposal to charge rent to charter schools that use space in city school buildings and his support for a moratorium on charter school co-locations within traditional public schools. Proponents of charter schools fear these policies could limit the number of charter schools in the city. Ending co-location and putting a moratorium on charter schools will “destroy charter schools in this city,” said de Blasio’s Republican opponent in the race, Joe Lhota. Lhota has proposed doubling the number of charter schools, saying they have been an “enormous success.” He has also said he would like to expand co-location. “If you oppose charter schools and other choices for minorities, inner city kids, and children of immigrants, you cannot call yourself progressive,” he said at a speech to the Association for a Better New York before joining a rally following the march. “The majority of the children in charter schools are from that other city Bill de Blasio likes to tell tales of, yet their voices today fall on his deaf ears,” he added. Poll site switch for Tudor Village BY MAGIE HAYES mhayes@queenscourier.com The fight has been won, and a poll site switch will give residents an easier travel route straight to the ballots. Councilmember Eric Ulrich wrote to the Board of Elections (BOE) in September on behalf of Tudor Village voters, whose poll site was switched from P.S. 63 in Ozone Park to P.S. 232 in Lindenwood. “The Board of Elections should be making it easier, not harder, for people to vote,” Ulrich said. Since the initial change was made two years ago, voter turnout from the area had decreased and “residents remained concerned about their ability to make it to the polls in the future,” Ulrich said. Michael Ryan, BOE executive director, responded to Ulrich and said these voters will be assigned to vote at J.H.S. 202 in Ozone Park, just in time for the November general election. “This change will certainly be more convenient and will enhance the safety of the voters as they will no longer be required to cross a busy thoroughfare to exercise their right to vote,” Ryan said. J.H.S. 202 is less than a mile from Tudor Village’s initial P.S. 63 poll site. “I am pleased that the BOE was able to accommodate the residents of Tudor Village. By making it easier for them to exercise their right to vote, we are ensuring that every voice can be heard on Election Day,” Ulrich said. Councilmember Eric Ulrich Schumer backs Vallone U.S. Senator Charles Schumer endorsed City Council candidate Paul Vallone for the District 19 seat on October 7. “I have known the Vallone family for decades and their respected name and commitment to public service have made the people of Queens proud to call them their own,” Schumer said. Vallone was recently endorsed by former Congressmember Gary Ackerman. He faces Republican challenger Dennis Saffran in the November general election. Photo Courtesy of Paul Vallone’s campaign
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