14 The Courier sun • january 23, 2014 for breaking news visit www.couriersun.com politics FILE PHOTO Embattled State Senator Malcolm Smith will seek re-election. SEE SMITH RUN Embattled senator will seek re-election BY MAGIE HAYES mhayes@queenscourier.com State Senator Malcolm Smith is running for re-election and fighting to keep his seat from current challengers Clyde Vanel and Munir Avery. While Smith is “focusing on governing,” Vanel has jump-started his campaign with a $100,000 loan to provide the “infrastructure of the campaign.” “We wanted to start off strong,” he said. He is seeking to maintain his campaign office and purchase voter information software, among other things. Vanel, who previously ran for City Council, said the senate district is “much bigger” and “we need resources to start the campaign the right way.” He hopes to raise $350,000 as election season continues. With the $350,000, he will pay back the loan and spend $250,000 on his campaign. Regarding his own race, the incumbent Smith said “the time for campaigning is later.” Despite an indictment on corruption charges, to which Smith plead not guilty, he hopes to reclaim the seat he has held for 13 years. “I don’t think there was ever any doubt the senator would run,” said a spokesperson for the embattled legislator. Vanel, a Cambria Heights business attorney, and Avery, a Queens Village estates attorney, both criticized Smith for his involvement with the Independent Democratic Conference (IDC), a group of Democrats who govern with Republicans. However, after Smith’s indictment, the IDC dropped him. “The senator is a Democrat and he will be running as a Democrat,” the spokesperson said, but added he “is no stranger to crossing party lines in order to work with everyone.” Smith is “focused on the budget and making sure southeast Queens receives the adequate share of resources for schools and jobs creation,” he said in a statement. As of press time, Mayor Bill de Blasio made the following appointments to his administration and city agencies since January 16: Dr. Mary Bassett: Commissioner of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Rose Pierre-Louis: Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence Mark Peters: Commissioner of the Department of Investigation Maria Torres-Springer: Commissioner of the Department of Small Business Services Dr. Ramanathan Raju: Commissioner of Health and Hospitals Corporation Rachel Noerdlinger: Chief of Staff to First Lady Chirlane McCray Miller makes safety his priority BY MAGIE HAYES mhayes@queenscourier.com Councilmember I. Daneek Miller is “rolling up his sleeves” and “running with the ball,” creating partnerships throughout the southeast Queens community to form one voice for City Hall. “There’s the potential to do really great things as a collective,” he said. “To be successful you have to be inclusive. You have to empower others, and you do that by being inclusive and engaging.” Miller’s first weeks in office have been a testament to his campaign – meeting with various community and clergy members to form those coalitions early on. He also introduced City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito to area residents because “we have a different set of concerns. We needed her to come out and see specifically what to do,” he said. Getting guns off the streets leaped to the top of Miller’s agenda after the city’s first murder of the year took place in Jamaica, when a 22-year-old man was fatally shot in the chest. “I’ve been a young man in the streets. There’s no reason you should walk around here and not feel safe,” he said. “That’s not what this community is about. We’re better than that.” He hopes to target the area’s youth, work on conflict resolution and provide a means to get them focused on school and employment. Miller was officially sworn into office on Saturday, January 11 by Mark-Viverito at the Jamaica Performing Arts Center, in front of a crowd of dozens of elected officials, community leaders and residents. Former Councilmember Leroy Comrie passed the torch to Miller, and said he expects the new councilmember to not only lead the 27th District, but to have a great impact on the city. “Daneek understands government. More importantly, Daneek understands people, the needs of people,” he said. U.S. Senator Charles Schumer, Congressmember Gregory Meeks, Borough President Melinda Katz, Public Advocate Letitia James, City Comptroller Scott Stringer, Mark-Viverito and labor leaders also spoke about Miller, and said he will be a voice for the middle class. Moving forward, Miller is determining the feasibility of participatory budgeting, establishing community policing and taking “full advantage of all amenities that the district has to offer.” “I’m going to shoot hoops at one of the youth centers later,” he said. “I don’t have to change who I am or what I’ve done in the past.” THE COURIER/Photo by Maggie Hayes Councilmember Daneek Miller is working to address community issues. IMPORTANT NUMBERS With the recent turnover in local and city-wide offices, here is a list of important contacts: Mayor: Bill de Blasio Borough President: Melinda Katz 120-55 Queens Blvd. Kew Gardens, NY 11415 718-286-3000 City Councilmembers: District 27 – St. Albans, Hollis, Cambria Heights, Jamaica , Baisley Park, Addisleigh Park, parts of Queens Village, Rosedale and Springfield Gardens I. DANEEK MILLER 113-43 Farmers Boulevard St. Albans, NY 11412, 718-776-3700 District 28 - Jamaica, South Ozone Park, Richmond Hill, Rochdale RUBEN WILLS 95-26 Sutphin Blvd. Jamaica, NY 11435, 718-206-2068 District 29 – Forest Hills, Rego Park, Kew Gardens and parts of Maspeth, Richmond Hill and Elmhurst KAREN KOSLOWITZ 118-35 Queens Blvd., 17th Floor Queens, NY 11375, 718-544-8800 District 30 – Glendale, Maspeth, Middle Village, Richmond Hill, Ridgewood, parts of Woodside and Woodhaven ELIZABETH CROWLEY 6477 Dry Harbor Rd. Middle Village, NY 11379, 718- 366-3900 District 31 - Rosedale, Laurelton, Springfield Gardens, Far Rockaway DONOVAN RICHARDS 15-26 Central Avenue Far Rockaway, NY 11691 718-471-7014 or 234-26A Merrick Blvd. Laurelton, NY 11422 718-527-4356 District 32 - Belle Harbor, Breezy Point, Broad Channel, Hamilton Beach, Howard Beach, Lindenwood, Neponsit, Ozone Park, Rockaway Beach, Rockaway Park, South Ozone Park, South Richmond Hill and Woodhaven ERIC ULRICH 93-06 101st Avenue Ozone Park, NY 11416 or 115-06 Beach Channel Drive Suite 103 Rockaway Park, NY 11694 718-738-1083
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