WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES SEPTEMBER 7, 2017 15
PRIMARY 2017
Crowley-Holden slugfest tops local
Democratic primary contests
BY ROBERT POZARYCKI
RPOZARYCKI@RIDGEWOODTIMES.COM
@ROBBPOZ
Democratic voters in nine
Queens City Council districts
should head to the polls on
Tuesday, Sept. 12, for primary elections
that, in many cases, will decide
who will be each district’s voice in City
Hall beginning next year.
Incumbents are seeking re-nomination
in two-thirds of the borough’s
competitive City Council district
primary races. Voters in two other
districts are looking to fi ll vacancies
created by outgoing (or, in one case,
expelled) lawmakers.
In the Ridgewood Times area, the
big contest is the 30th Council District
primary between incumbent City
Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley
and Juniper Park Civic Association
President Robert Holden. It’s perhaps
the most vitriolic of the Queens races,
considering both sides have been
waging their battle primarily through
vivid mailed campaign fl iers.
Looking for her third term in offi ce,
Crowley said she would continue her
eff orts to improve public transportation,
boost public schools and keep
the communities of the district safe.
Holden, meanwhile, indicated that he
would fi ght forces that are looking to
profi t from the people, and pledged to
increase crime-fi ghting eff orts, stop
the placement of homeless shelters in
communities and fi ght overdevelopment
and traffi c problems.
The 30th District covers much of
Ridgewood, Glendale, Maspeth and
Middle Village, as well as portions of
Woodhaven and Woodside.
The Democratic primary is open
only to registered Democratic voters,
and the winners will advance to the
November general election to face
Republican and/or third-party opponents.
The primary also includes the
mayoral and public advocate contests
in which the incumbents — Mayor Bill
de Blasio and Public Advocate Letitia
James — are expected to easily win.
De Blasio is facing four challengers:
former City Councilman Sal Albanese
of Brooklyn, tech entrepreneur
Michael Tolkin, attorney Richard
Bashner and director of the Police
Reform Organizing Project Robert
Gangi. James, meanwhile, is squaring
off against history professor David
Eisenbach.
Some other City Council primaries
in the Ridgewood Times distribution
area include the following (most information
about each candidate comes via
the Campaign Finance Board’s Voter
Guide):
21st District (East Elmhurst, Elmhurst,
Jackson Heights, and Corona in
Queens, including Flushing Meadows
Corona Park, LeFrak City and LaGuardia
Airport)
With incumbent City Councilwoman
Julissa Ferreras-Copeland not
seeking re-election, the campaign
to replace her comes down to two
well-known politicians in the district:
Assemblyman Francisco Moya and
former State Senator Hiram Monserrate.
Moya said he would work to
build on Ferraras-Copeland’s legacy
and fi ght to reduce the cost of living,
while also expanding school programs
and standing up to the Trump administration.
Monserrate, who was previously
jailed for public corruption and
expelled from offi ce aft er being convicted
of assaulting his ex-girlfriend,
pledged to use his previous positive
experience in government to support
local organizations, create aff ordable
housing and put for a new development
plan for the Willets Point area.
32nd District (Belle Harbor, Breezy
Point, Broad Channel, Howard Beach,
Lindenwood, Neponsit, Ozone Park,
Richmond Hill, Rockaway Park, Roxbury,
South Ozone Park, West Hamilton
Beach, Woodhaven)
A trio of candidates are fi ghting
for the right to square off against incumbent
Republican City Councilman
Eric Ulrich in the November general
election.
Helal Sheikh, a public school teacher,
stated that he’ll work to champion
a clean environment while also
fi ghting for additional resources to
keep the community safe, improve
public schools and create jobs. Mike
Scala, former legislative director in
the State Senate, pledged to increase
public transportation options, investigate
the “Build it Back” program to
rebuild homes damaged or destroyed
during Hurricane Sandy and bring into
the district innovative public school
programs. Housing advocate William
Ruiz has made constructing aff ordable
housing his top priority if elected, and
he also pledged to expand aft er-school
programs and bring modern technology
into the NYPD to help fi ght crime.
Know when you vote
The polls will be open from 6 a.m.
until 9 p.m.; if you’re on line to vote
just before the polls close, you will be
able to cast a vote.
Polling sites may have changed in
the last year; the city Board of Elections
mailed notices to registered
voters weeks ago. If you’re unsure
of where to vote, visit www.vote.nyc.
ny.us to search the NYC Poll Site Locator
by your home address, or call
212-VOTE-NYC for more information.
If you are a registered Democrat
but your name is not on the voting
roll for unknown reasons, you have
the right to ask for an affi davit ballot
to cast your vote. See a poll worker for
further assistance.
