14 THE QUEENS COURIER • JANUARY 21, 2021 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
What to know about the Feb. 2 special election
BY JACOB KAYE
jkaye@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
Th e fi rst election in Queens in 2021 is
fast approaching.
On Tuesday, Feb. 2, voters in Kew
Gardens Hills, Pomonok, Electchester,
Fresh Meadows, Hillcrest, Jamaica Estates,
Briarwood, Parkway Village, Jamaica Hills
and Jamaica will head to the polls to vote
in the special election to fi ll the New York
City Council seat in District 24.
Eight candidates are currently seeking
the seat, which became vacant aft er former
Councilman Rory Lancman took a
job as Governor Andrew Cuomo’s new
special counsel for ratepayer protection.
Th e nonpartisan election will also be
the fi rst test of the city’s new rankedchoice
voting system, which aft er being
overwhelmingly approved by voters in
2019, has come under fi re in the months
leading up to its implementation.
Despite legal challenges by several
Queens electeds, the new system, which
allows voters to rank their top fi ve choices
instead of choosing just one candidate,
will be used in the Feb. 2 special election.
Th e winner of District 24’s special election
will serve until the end of the year,
when Lancman’s term is set to end. Voters
in the district will also cast ballots for the
seat in during the June 22 primary elections
and during the November general
elections. Th e winner of the November
election will represent the district come
January 2022.
Seven of the eight candidates on the ballot
for the special election have not previously
run for public offi ce.
See the list of candidates running in the
City Council special election in District
24 below:
Moumita Ahmed: A progressive community
activist, Ahmed is campaigning
on, among other issues, tenants rights, climate
change and shift ing money from the
NYPD to various social services.
Michael Brown: A real estate agent,
Brown is campaigning on, among other
issues, the development of economic
zones, the COVID-19 recovery and providing
relief to New York City yellow cab
medallion owners and drivers.
James Gennaro: A former councilman
in District 24, Gennaro is campaigning
on, among other issues, centrist government
in New York City, revamping governance
of public schools and addressing
the city’s infrastructure against storms.
Neeta Jain: A Democratic district leader,
Jain is campaigning on, among other
issues, providing aff ordable healthcare to
city residents, providing fi nancial relief
to small businesses during the pandemic
and pushing for the creation of more
aff ordable housing.
Dilip Nath: Nath, the president of
the New American Voters Association,
is campaigning on, among other issues,
increasing public schools funding, providing
COVID-19 economic relief and
expanding health care for seniors.
Mujib Rahman: A community activist,
Rahman is campaigning on, among other
issues, public safety, increasing funding
for the NYPD and expanding school
choice.
Deepti Sharma: Sharma, a small business
advocate, is campaigning on, among
other issues, reinvesting in the community,
making the district more accessible,
making Queens more equitable.
Soma Syed: Syed, president of the Queens
County Women’s Bar Association, is
campaigning on, among other issues, ending
increases on property taxes, addressing
discrepancies in public education and
providing assistance to small businesses.
Early voting for the special election will
begin on Jan. 23 and run until Jan. 31. Poll
sites and their hours during the early voting
period can be found at voting.nyc by
entering your address on the “Where to
Vote” page.
Th e absentee ballot request period is
currently open and will be until Jan. 26.
Voters must mail their ballot with a postmark
date prior to Feb. 3 or leave it in
a drop box at any poll site or Board of
Elections offi ce through the end of Feb.
2. Voters can request an absentee ballot
at vote.nyc.
Polls will be open for in-person voting
on Tuesday, Feb. 2 from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m.
LGBT Network relocates to Kaufman Astoria Studios
Courtesy Kaufman Arts District
File photo/QNS
BY ANGÉLICA ACEVEDO
aacevedo@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
Th e LGBT Network has announced its
relocation from its original Long Island
City space to Kaufman Astoria Studios.
LGBT Network, a 28-year-old nonprofi
t serving the LGBT and ally community,
moved to the studio’s main
building at 34-12 36th St. in December
2020.
David Kilmnick, president and CEO
of the LGBT Network, said the organization
is excited about the move to the
historic studio.
“We are so excited to open up our new
Queens LGBT Center in the heart of the
arts district in the borough of Queens.
Th e new Queens LGBT Center will continue
to be a place where the entire
community will have a home to be
their true authentic selves and fi nd the
support, encouragement and resources
they need to reach their full potential,”
Kilmnick said. “Aft er years of working
with Kaufman Astoria Studios, we can
think of no better partner and place to
be to broaden our services to the borough’s
LGBT community.”
Tracy Capune, vice president of
Kaufman Astoria Studios, said the LGBT
Network will be a “great addition to the
Kaufman Arts District community.”
“Th e organization serves as a needed
resource to the lesbian, gay, bisexual,
and transgender community, and has
for over two decades,” Capune said.
“We are thrilled to keep the LGBT
Network here in the neighborhood
and are glad we can play a small part
in helping David Kilmnick and his
team continue their work from right
here in the Astoria community, and
from our historic studios.”
At the LGBT Network’s Kaufman
Astoria Studios location, the community
will be provided access to vital health
and human services, including arts and
cultural programs.
Th e LGBT Network operates three
LGBT Community Centers throughout
Long Island and Queens. Th ey have
been at the forefront of providing lifechanging
services and programs —
including health, education, leadership
and advocacy programs — for hundreds
of thousands of families.
Th is spring, they will be opening a
75-unit LGBT and LGBT-friendly
aff ordable housing complex and community
center in Bay Shore.
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