Van Nest Neighborhood Alliance Candidate's Night

Wednesday October 4th was the Van Nest Neighborhood Alliance candidates night for the 13th City Council District. The election is between incumbent Marjorie Velazquez and challenger Kristy Marmorato. Before the candidates spoke, Officers from the 49th Precinct Sector A and the NCO Sergeant Maldonado spoke about the rising crime figures in the 49th Precinct. Hondas, Jeeps, and Acuras are being stolen by organized crime, and each precinct now has a unit assigned to only stolen cars. 

After the officers left VNNA President Bernadette Ferrara announced that the VNNA Fall Festival would take place on October 15th from 12 - 4 PM in Van Nest Park at Van Nest Avenue and Unionport Road. As for the candidates night, each candidate would be asked a few questions from the executive board of the VNNA, and then some questions from the audience. She added that while challenger Kristy Marmorato was live in the room that the current councilwoman Marjorie Velazquez was not feeling well and would be on a zoom meeting hookup. 

Challenger Kristy Marmorato went first introducing herself as a woman working in the area of healthcare, has a strong work ethic, supports the New York City Police Department, parents choice when it comes to school, is adimitly against the Just Home Riker Island proposal for Jacobi Hospital, and will listen to what the community wants. The incumbent said that she has represented the district since January 2022, brought investment into the district, is doing the job, just created new legislation for outdoor dining, and should be reelected. the same questions were answered of both candidates with very much the same answers until a question about why six thousand units of housing will be built at the Morris Park and Parkchester/Van Nest stations only and none at the Coop-City and Mott Haven station. Challenger Kristy Marmorato answered "what happened to Fair Share that each station should get an equal amount of housing. Councilwoman Velazquez said that I should speak to Council members Riley and Salamanca to get them to take housing by their stations, since it was my question. I replied to Councilwoman Velazquez, "if I have to do your job, why do we need you in office?"  

The VNNA Executive Board (L - R) Treasurer John Messinger, President Bernadette Ferrara, Senior AdviSor Bob Nolan, Sergeant of Arms jOHN Fernandez, Vice-President Sharlene Jackson Mendez, Secretary Marion Manfredi, with candidate for 13th City Council Kristy Marmorato.

Sector A NCO Officer Nicewitz Gives the police update, answering a question from Mr. Nolan.

Challenger Kristy Marmorato answers a question from the front of the room. 

Incumbent Marjorie Velazquez answered on the television via zoom connection. An amateur photographer got in the way of my photo.