20 THE QUEENS COURIER • OCTOBER 14, 2021 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
Ariola scores key endorsement for City Council
BY BILL PARRY
BPARRYSCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
QNS
Th e Uniformed Fire Offi cers Association
endorsed Joann Ariola in the hotly contested
race for the District 32 City Council
seat.
Ariola was met by three of the union’s
leadership outside Engine Co. 268/Ladder
Co. 137 on Beach 116th Street on Monday,
Oct. 11, to receive their support in the
contest to replace term-limited Republican
Councilman Eric Ulrich, who has also
endorsed her.
“We want to get behind candidates that
take public safety seriously,” Uniformed
Firefi ghters Association Vice President
Robert Eustace said. “It seems that public
safety has been taken for granted by
some or it gets explained away, and she’s
someone who doesn’t take us for granted.
She understands us. She gets us. She understands
the importance of public safety.
Th is is the kind of person who will support
our men and women.”
Ariola, the Queens GOP chairwoman
and Howard Beach civic leader, has
already received endorsements from the
Police Benevolent Association, Detectives
Endowment Association, Sergeants Benevolent
Association and the Correction
Offi cers’ Benevolent Association, among
other uniformed offi cers unions.
“We chose this spot for this particular
endorsement because so many of the members
of this house died on 9/11 and only
recently a member died from 9/11-related
sickness,” Ariola said before pausing for a
moment of silence.
“Th e 32nd Council District is comprised
of many fi rst responders, and I will make
this commitment to you now. When I get
to City Hall, and we will be in a battle
over the budgets that have to be cut, I will
never vote to close one of our fi re houses,”
Ariola said. “We need to support our fi rst
responders and I make the commitment to
all of you that as the City Council member,
if elected, that I will always support our
fi rst responders.”
Th e fi rehouse became nationally known
when Sandy ravaged the Rockaway
Peninsula in 2012. First responders rescued
dozens from the fl ooding from the 10-foot
storm surge and the fi res that engulfed the
business corridor.
“Living in a community that was devastated
by Hurricane Sandy, we relied on our
fi refi ghters and our fi rst responders, some
of which saved us from our homes, some of
which saved our family members and without
the support they need, they won’t be
able to do their job eff ectively,” Ariola said.
“I want to be their voice at City Hall. I want
to be a voice of common sense for them at
City Hall. I will always support our fi rst
responders. Th ey are what stands between
us and chaos. When our home is burning
and we want to run out, fi refi ghters are the
ones who are running in to make sure they
can save our belongings, our home and, a
lot of times, our lives. And they lose their
lives while doing so.”
Standing in Ariola’s way is Democratic
candidate Felicia Singh, a lifelong resident
of Ozone Park. Th e 10th-grade teacher
and community activist has become a focal
point for the progressive movement in
Queens, as waves of supporters canvass on
her behalf to try to “fl ip the last Republican
district in Queens blue.”
Singh has been endorsed by Senate
Majority Leader Charles Schumer, Queens
Borough President Donovan Richards,
Senator Jessica Ramos and Assemblywoman
Catalina Cruz late last month.
Both Singh and Ariola would be the
fi rst woman to represent the district, but
if Singh wins the general election on Nov. 2,
she would be the fi rst Punjabi or Guyanese
person, as well with identities as Sikh and
Muslim, to represent the district in the
Council.
“I am thrilled to have the support of Assemblywoman
Catalina Cruz, she grew up
as a DREAMer, and we share the workingclass,
immigrant experience, including
the struggle of exploitation and lack of
equitable access to resources,” Singh said.
“I am hopeful about the future well-being
of our communities because of the strong
relationships we’re building statewide as
Democrats. I’m proud to have Assemblywoman
Cruz as part of our coalition.”
Additional reporting by Paul Frangipane.
Dem. Holden endorsed by GOP in bid for reelection
BY JULIA MORO
EDITORIALQNS.COM
QNS
Councilman Robert Holden has been
endorsed by the Queens County Republican
Party for his re-election campaign to
the New York City Council representing
District 30, which will take place on Nov.
2.
Holden ran against progressive candidate
Juan Ardila during the Democratic
primary election in June, beating Ardila
by 926 votes. John Spataro was running
on the Republican ticket but dropped
out of the race shortly aft er the primary.
Spataro is now running for election for
judge of the New York Supreme Court
11th Judicial District.
Now that there is no candidate running
against Holden, he will appear
on the ballot on the Republican and
Democratic lines, as well the third
party Conservative and Save Our City
lines.
“I am very proud to be endorsed by the
Queens County Republican Party and
honored to have my name on the Republican
ballot line in November,” Holden said.
“My priorities have always been the issues
that unite most New Yorkers, like public
safety, clean parks and quality education.
I’ve always thought of the people of the
district as my party because they’re who I
serve. Bringing voters of diff erent parties
together is a great opportunity, especially
as we come together to recover from the
pandemic.”
Queens County Republican Party
Chair Joann Ariola, who is also running
on the GOP line for City Council District
32, said Holden’s record is “unmatched”
as he fi ghts for the quality of life in his
district.
“Standing up for our police and putting
meaningful solutions that work for everyone
above party politics makes him an
elected offi cial whose values appeal to the
vast majority of Queens residents,” Ariola
said in a statement. “Th e district and the
city need Holden’s continued voice of
reason. We are proud to support him in
the general election.”
Holden was elected into offi ce in 2017,
beating incumbent Elizabeth Crowley by
a slim margin of 0.64% of the vote. Holden
entered that race as a Democrat but
lost the Democratic primary to Crowley
by 27.62% of the vote. He then ran on the
Republican, GOP and other conservative
lines in the General Election, where he
beat out Crowley.
Kevin Ryan, a spokesperson for Holden,
said the councilman has been a registered
Democrat his whole life.
Photo by Paul Frangipane
City Council candidate Joann Ariola speaks following the endorsement of the Uniformed Firefi ghters
Association outside Engine Co. 268 / Ladder Co. 137 on Monday, Oct. 11, 2021.
QNS fi le photo
City Councilman Robert Holden
/WWW.QNS.COM
