4 THE QUEENS COURIER • FEBRUARY 13, 2020 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
Queens pols endorse Bloomberg at opening of Bayside campaign offi ce
BY JENNA BAGCAL
jbagcal@qns.com
@jenna_bagcal
Amid a roomful of enthusiastic supporters,
live music, Mr. Met and local eats,
Michael Bloomberg’s Bayside campaign
offi ce offi cially opened Th ursday night on
Bell Boulevard in Bayside.
Th e former Mean Street Tattoo storefront
at 39-36 Bell Blvd. is now the presidential
candidate’s second fi eld offi ce in
the city and will host several voter outreach
eff orts. Revelers at the Feb. 6 opening
included New York state director of
Mike Bloomberg 2020 John Calvelli, former
Queens Borough President Claire
Shulman, Councilman Paul Vallone and
Assemblyman Clyde Vanel, who provided
glowing endorsements for the threeterm
mayor.
“We are New York City residents, we
chose New York City for our home. He
was our mayor for 12 years, he took this
city at the worst time, at our worst crisis
in 2001 when we were attacked. Th e economic
prosperity we have today, the safety
that we have, who we are as a city that
leads the whole world, is because he
took us to that point,” said Vallone who
led the crowd in a “We like Mike” chant
moments before.
Seven full-time Bloomberg staff ers, as
well as dozens of volunteers, will run canvassing
and phone banking events and
other coordinated outreach activities at
the new fi eld offi ce ahead of New York’s
Democratic primary on April 28.
“Mike Bloomberg is known as a dedicated
public servant, successful entrepreneur,
and powerful advocate for some
of the most pressing issues facing New
Yorkers today,” said Vanel. “As a community
advocate, I admire his passion
for causes like gun violence and climate
change. As a business leader, I respect his
ability to create thousands of jobs. And as
an elected offi cial, I appreciate his ability
to get things done.”
Vallone and Vanel are the fi rst in the
City Council and state Assembly respectively
to publicly endorse Bloomberg. So
far, he has received 12 endorsements from
New York state elected offi cials.
Th e grand opening featured an appearance
from Mets mascot Mr. Met and
food from local Bayside establishments,
including Bayside Milk Farm, Erawan,
French Workshop, Maria’s Mediterranean,
Martha’s Bakery, Mr. Pollo, Papazzio and
VIPizza.
“As the fi rst woman elected as Queens
borough president, I know a trailblazer
when I see one, and Mike Bloomberg certainly
fi ts the bill,” said Shulman. “Mike
is a fearless leader who has taken on the
city’s toughest fi ghts on behalf of Queens
residents and has come out on top. As
mayor, Mike made all of New York City
a stronger and more resilient place, and
I know he will do the same for the rest of
the country.”
Michael Dacosta, a Bloomberg supporter
from Queens, created the slogan
“Let’s Get Bloom-in America,” a play on
Bloomberg’s name but also a reference to
how America would “bloom” with him at
the helm. At the fi eld offi ce grand opening,
Dacosta brought his handmade sign
and custom bomber jacket with the slogan.
“To me, he’s the only one right now with
a clean heart, somebody I can support
and somebody of dignity. He’s not gonna
tell you one thing and do something else,”
said Dacosta. “To me, he’s a modern-day
JFK. He’s a philanthropist, he’s a man of
wisdom and a man of respect.”
Rockaway electeds to bring two anti-Semitism town halls to peninsula
BY BILL PARRY
bparry@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
In an eff ort to combat the rising incidents
of anti-Semitism across the city,
state Senator Joseph Addabbo and
Assemblywoman Stacey Pheff er Amato
are teaming with the Simon Wiesenthal
Center to bring a pair of educational town
halls to the Rockaways in the coming
months that will discuss hate crimes today
and what is being done to prevent them.
Members of the Simon Wiesenthal
Center will be on hand, as well as Michael
Brovner, deputy chief of Gang Violence
and Hate Crimes from the Queens district
attorney’s offi ce, to explain how they
are working to stop anti-Semitism in the
borough.
“Th is is Queens, the ‘World’s Borough.’
We are in the most diverse county in the
nation and we will not tolerate anti-Semitism
in our communities,” Queens District
Attorney Melinda Katz said. “Sadly, we
are living in a climate where people feel
emboldened to express intolerance purely
on their own ignorance. I am outraged by
the rise in hate crimes that we have experienced
in the last few years. Th e Queens
district attorney’s offi ce has a bureau dedicated
to prosecuting those who act on
their hate and as your DA, know that I will
do everything within my power to keep
residents safe. Th is is a vital step in eradicating
hate through education.”
Last year, anti-Semitic graffi ti was found
scrawled on the walls of the Silver Gull
The Simon Wiesenthal Center sent representatives to an anti-Semitism town hall in Breezy Point last fall and they’ll return for two more events in the
coming months.
Beach Club in Breezy Point. Th is incident
sparked a partnership between the
Simon Wiesenthal Center, the National
Park Service and Ortega National Parks to
combat anti-Semitism and hate.
“In the wake of the anti-Semitic attacks
at both the Silver Gull Beach Club and
in Belle Harbor this past fall, the Simon
Wiesenthal Center is proud to partner
with Senator Addabbo and Assembly
member Pheff er Amato on this critical
series of forums, and commends their
extraordinary dedication toward ensuring
that our local communities are educated
about the unfortunate hate around
them and how together we can better
work to more eff ectively combat it,” said
Michael Cohen, eastern director at Simon
Wiesenthal Center.
Th e fi rst event in this two-part series
will take place on Th ursday, Feb. 20, from
6 to 8 p.m. at the West End Temple, located
at 147-02 Newport Ave. in Rockaway
Park. Th e second event is in the process of
being planned.
“Hate crimes are some of the most heinous
crimes because the victims are targeted
for their nationality, color of their
skin, or their faith,” Addaboo said. “No one
should have to live in fear because of where
they come from, what they look like or
how they worship. I believe one of the best
Courtesy of the Simon Wiesenthal Center
ways to combat hate crimes, and specifi -
cally anti-Semitism, is through education.”
Participants of the town halls will
receive information and resources on
what to do if they see a hate crime taking
place, or are the victim of a hate crime.
Th ose interested in attending are asked to
RSVP with Pheff er Amato’s district offi ce
by calling 718-945-9550.
“It is so important that we stand up
together against bigotry, intolerance, and
anti-Semitism,” Pheff er Amato said. “As a
community and state, we must continue
to educate the public and our youth about
what hate crimes are so that we can prevent
future victims.”
Photo: Jenna Bagcal/QNS
Supporters give a thumbs up at the grand opening of Bloomberg’s Bayside fi eld offi ce.
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