Bronx LGBTQ Candidates Forum

 Wednesday August 20th The Bronx LGBTQ Center held its first Candidates Forum on LGBTQ issues. While this was a poorly attended event by both the candidates and the community one reason could have been a late change of location from St. Barnabas Hospital to the Bronx Public Library on Kingsbridge Road. Two public Advocate candidates started things off. Cathy Guerriero and Sidique Wai were the only candidates to show, but Ms. Guerriero came out in her usual advocating role and was the big winner here. 

  The city council races came next with three of the four candidates including the incumbent Councilwoman Mellisa Mark-Viverito. In the 11th District Mr. Cliff Stanton was alone, and left early due to another commitment. In the 15th District only candidates Albert Alvarez and Cynthia Thompkins showed, and there was a statement read after the two candidates finished from candidate Raquel Batista regretting not showing due to having her newborn daughter a few days ago. Both candidates in the 17th district showed, but at different times, and only Victor Pachardo and Kenny Nunez attended from the field of seven candidates. 

  Current City Comptroller John Liu was the only major candidate for Mayor to show as one minor candidate not even being listed in the polls was also there, and it was not Erick Salgado. Some photos are below, and you can visit Bronx LGBTQ at bronxlgbtqcenter.org .

 

Left - Public Advocate candidates Cathy Guerriero and Sidique Wai.

Right - The candidates in the 8th & 11th Council District race.

 

Left - Two candidates from the 15th council race with the incumbent from the 17th council district.

Right - Two candidates from the 86th A.D. Special election and the challenger from the 17th council district.

Coop City Mayoral Forum

  Even without two of the top four Democratic candidates Christine Quinn and Bill deBlasio, and none of the Republican candidates for mayor almost 2,000 people attended the Coop City Mayoral Forum last night. On hand were Democrats Bill Thompson, John Liu, Anthony Weiner, Sal Albanese, And Erick Salgado, along with former Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion who is running on the Independence Party line in November. No local elected official was on hand, but they all had someone from their staff in the audience. Also on hand was Public Advocate candidate Letitia James. 

  There were 15 questions scheduled to ask of the candidates, and then additional questions that were written on cards from the audience. Due to a late start only 8 of the questions were asked and answered. Female District Leader & President of the Coop City Democratic Club Shirley Saunders and Riverbay Board President William "Bill" Gordon moderated the forum. 

   The opening statements began with current City Comptroller John Liu stating that he has saved the city millions of dollars in his role as comptroller, the pension fund the comptroller controls was up 58 percent over the last 4 years, and that his high school sweetheart was from Coop City. Bill Thompson said that he was going to be the next mayor, mentioned his Brooklyn roots, and his family including his 89 year old father who is trying to pass himself off as the candidates brother. Sal Albanese said that he was independent, not taking money from developers, a former city councilman, and former teacher.Anthony Weiner started by saying that if he lived in Coop City he would not vote for anyone who did not come tonight. He then went into some of the problems of COOP City which included the lack of quality transportation, and good schools. He said that he wants to fight for the middle class. After Weiner finished there was  cheering and loud clapping. Erick Salgado spoke of his asthma problem as a child which forced his family to move to Puerto Rico from the Bronx. He then went on about the Campaign Finance Board not giving him matching funds and that he was not counted as a candidate in certain polls. Carrion mentioned that he was in the class of1979 from Truman High School, and that Coop City was a garbage dump and an amusement park in the 1960's. Carrion added that he would be on the ballot in November on the Independence Party line, and that only one of the people on stage would be.

  As for the questions - 1 - Mass transit in the area. Carrion claimed that he started the ball rolling on the proposed new Metro North train stations. Salgado wants the #6 train to go to Coop City. Weiner wants the cuts to the MTA three years ago restored, again to loud clapping. Thompson wants to find where the extra dollars can come from to make the restorations to the MTA. Liu agreed on restoring the cuts, and said that he led the fight to keep the express bus service.

2- Senior citizens and the problem of crossing streets due to the high traffic volume with 87 more new stores in the area. Liu said the area needs the infrastructure due to congestion already. Thompson a study should be done before the stores open also adding it may be a safety issue. Albanese said the city needs to be proactive before a disaster strikes. Weiner opened up by joking that he did not see any senior citizens in the audience and he would have more traffic enforcement. Salgado mentioned George McDonald, and finished his rant of the CFB and polls. Carrion said a ramp from the Hutch was needed, and mentioned the new ramp from it to the new Hutch Metro Center. 

3- Youth and after school programs. All agreed more were needed with Weiner wanting to bring back the Beacon School program to Truman High School. Liu went on to say if children are not occupied it can lead to being stopped and frisked because of who they are.

4 - The asbestos problem of the glue under wood floors in the buildings and the cost to residents. Liu wanted a second opinion and said it was the EPA that moved up the PCB removal in public schools. Thompson said he met for years with residents and there was no air born asbestos problem. Albanese joked about the mention of 800 degrees and said at that temperature no one would be here to worry about it. Weiner did not want to remove it if it did not have to. Carrion wanted to know who supplied the glue. 

  There were other questions, but the worst line of the night came from Erick Salgado after the comment from Carrion that he was already on the November ballot. Salgado said vote for me on September 10th then you can vote for him in November. 

  Before the forum I asked many people who they might be voting for and the answer was they wanted to see the candidates tonight or they were undecided as of yet many said not wanting to admit to a candidate. After the forum it was clear that Anthony Weiner was the winner as many people said when I asked. Still however there was little commitment to any of the candidates.

 

Left - Candidate John Liu works the audience before the forum.

Right - Moderator Shirley Saunders lays down the ground rules for the forum.

  Left & right shots of the candidates on stage.

 

Left - a photo of part of the huge crowd.

Right - Male State Committeeman Lou Goldstein poses for a photo with John Liu, Goldstein said that he is supporting Bill deBlasio for mayor.

Comments About the Massive Gun Bust

Massive Gun Bust Reveals Chilling Account of Criminals’

Stop and Frisk Fears

Criminals know what the Democratic mayoral candidates don’t: stop, question and frisk keeps illegal guns off our city streets, today charged former deputy mayor Joe Lhota. Mr. Lhota highlighted the recent bust of the largest gun-running ring, where criminals were caught on tape discussing the need to keep the illegal weapons outside of New York City over fears of being stopped and frisked.

One of the alleged gunrunners was heard saying: “I can’t take them . . . to my house . . . I’m in Brownsville . . . We got like, whatchamacallit, stop-and-frisk.” According to reports, the weapons were stored in South Carolina to avoid the risk of being stopped.

Mr. Lhota, who served in the Giuliani Administration during the city’s remarkable transformation from more than 2,000 murders per year to the safest big city in America, has been an ardent supporter of proactive policing strategies such as stop, question and frisk, and has warned of the dangers of the effects of a handcuffed police department.

“First, I want to commend the NYPD on their superb work in the takedown of this massive gun-running operation and stopping the distribution of these highly destructive weapons into the hands of violent criminals,” said Mr. Lhota. “The tapes revealing these criminals’ fears about stop and frisk is a sobering account of how this policing tactic has helped to save thousands of lives. It’s deeply disturbing that criminals know what the Democratic mayoral candidates fail to acknowledge: stop, question and frisk keeps illegal guns off our streets.”

Mr. Lhota once again applauded Mayor Bloomberg’s efforts to appeal Judge Scheindlin’s decision and reaffirmed his commitment to continuing a laser-like focus on crime reduction and ensuring the NYPD has the tools it needs to keep New Yorkers safe. 

LIU ON GUN BUST AND STOP-AND-FRISK

******************************************

  Comptroller John C. Liu stated the following today on Mayor Bloomberg’s announcement of the City’s largest seizure of illegal guns:

“We applaud the City’s record gun bust, but we are nonetheless outraged that the Mayor is using it as a scare tactic to justify the unconstitutional stop-and-frisk police tactic. Stopping and frisking innocent New Yorkers never has been, never is, and never will be the answer.”

 

John Liu to Visit Tracy Towers Thursday Aug. 20

TRACEY TOWERS RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION

WELCOMES 2013 MAYORAL CANDIDATE DEMOCRAT

JOHN C. LIU

Special Announcement District Leader Kenny Agosto

Date: Thursday August 22, 2013

Time: 6:30PM  

          Food and refreshments will be served                 

 2435 Jerome Avenue Bronx New York 10468   

info 646-490-9818

Albert Alvarez Opens Campaign HQ

  15th City Council candidate Albert Alvarez today opened his campaign office on Webster Avenue just south of Fordham Road. As you will see in the photos below the place was packed with supporters. It was an unusually large spectrum of people from throughout the 15th council district. There were even some old strategist from many past campaigns who came to help candidate Alvarez become the front runner in this race. More than one candidate in this race has questioned "Why has Jimmy Vacca put a candidate in our race"? That reference is to Ritchie Torres a staffer for Jimmy Vacca, and one of the candidates in the 15th race.

  There were a few surprises at the grand opening, one being that the Albert Alvarez campaign has joined forces with the Eliot Stitzer for City Comptroller campaign. This sort of marriage between candidates often helps both candidates. Alvarez will help Spitzer in the Latino community, and Spitzer could give Albert Alvarez the needed boost to gain a few more votes that could make the difference in this race. The other surprise was the endorsement of Albert Alvarez by former 15th candidate Kenny Agosto. Many have aid that it was the Torres campaign that went after and knocked off Kenny Agosto, but Mr. Agosto denied that. Agosto said that he is backing who he feels is the best candidate in the 15th council race and that is Albert Alvarez.

Left - You can see the terrific banner for candidate Albert Alvarez that lines Webster Avenue south of Fordham Road complete with his photo, phone number and Website.

Right - You can see the Eliot Spitzer for Comptroller posters next to the Albert Alvarez posters.

Left & Right - you can see the packed campaign office.

Bill Thompson Campaigns at Tracy Towers

  Led by 80th Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj Mayoral candidate Bill Thompson spoke with close to 100 people who attended the Tracy Towers Tenants Association candidate forum last night. Other candidates in attendance were 11th City Council candidates Andrew Cohen and Cliff Stanton even though Mr. Stanton left before the event started. Ms. Jean Hill President of the Tenants Association said that they were giving the tenants a chance to meet the candidates running for office. 

  Assemblyman Gjonaj introduced Mayoral candidate Bill Thompson. Thompson spoke of his families heritage, and how fortunate his family was to have been given opportunities to succeed which now are closing fast. How his mother was a teacher, and his father became the first black State Senator, City Councilman, and Judge, and is still active at the age of 89. Thompson said he is running "to turn the city around to give all the people the same chance his parents had many years ago.

  Thompson spoke of the recent poor showing of New York City students on the recent statewide exams, and said that the students are not getting the education they need to compete with others for the jobs that are out there. He said he wants a real educator in charge at the Board of Education mentioning former chancellors Ramon Cortines and Rudy Crew as example when he was President of the Board before mayoral control which has gone no where. 

  Thompson would bring a new era of policing by getting rid of current police commissioner Ray Kelly, add more officers to an undermanned police force, and end the misuse of Stop N Frisk. He spoke of working with the private sector to get more good jobs, stop outsourcing municipal jobs, and train students who may not get into college for the high paying trade jobs. 

  On housing Thompson wants to have 120,000 more units of affordable housing in his 8 years as mayor, with 70,000 of them new units. He said that in the 20 years of the Giuliani and Bloomberg both only cared about one borough that being Manhattan. 

  Assemblyman Gjonaj then introduced City Council candidate Andrew Cohen who spoke briefly, but ended by saying "Better days are ahead for Tracy".

  Questions were taken that included how to cut crime that was answered by Thompson of having more programs and schools open longer to keep students away from trouble. Who will be the new police commissioner was answered that Thompson did not know yet, but that he would be in on the interview process of Ray Kellys successor. When asked about the polls Thompson said that 4 years ago the polls had him down by 20 points. When he asked how many people in the room had been polled only 2 raised their hands (with me the writer of this story being one). Thompson said not to be fooled again like in 2009. On a question of contracts and pay raises to city employees Thompson blasted Current Mayor Bloomberg for letting all city worker contracts expire at one time. He said that he would sit down with the unions to see just where and how the contracts could be done.

Left - 80th A.D. Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj introducing Mayoral candidate Bill Thompson. 11th City Council candidate Andrew Cohen is seated near Thompson, and spoke later.

Right - Mayoral candidate Bill Thompson telling the voters of Tracy Towers why they should vote for him.

 

Left - 80th A.D. Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj (Right), 11th City Council candidate Andrew Cohen (center), and Mayoral candidate Bill Thompson (left) pose for photo.

Right - The three are joined by 81st A.D. Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, Ms. Jean Hill, and other officers of the Tracy Towers Tenants Association.

New Carlos Danger Weiner to Debut Labor Day

  This one comes from Celeste Katz at the Daily News. 

  An outfit pushing “Carlos Danger Weiners” plans a Labor Day weekend NYC launch replete with “super hot Weiner Girls” promoting an extra-large frank that “rises to any occasion.” 

  The all-beef (but non-kosher) dogs weigh in at a quarter-pound each and “plump up to about the size of a 50-cent piece around” when cooked.

  

  A 40-dog “Super Tailgater” pack selling for $79.95 comes with a dozen stick-on moustaches thrown in as a tribute to Weiner’s infamous online alias.

  It was mentioned that team Weiner had no immediate comment. 

  To read the full story by Celeste Katz go to Hot Dog Entrepreneurs .

Weiner Visits Bronx Again

  Mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner visited Soundview Park in the Bronx’s 43^rd Precinct, which had the borough’s second-highest number of stops in 2011, to discuss a proposal from his book, Even More Keys to the City – 61 Additional Ideas to Keep New York the Capital of the Middle Class, to require beat cops to wear cameras so that stops can be police-citizen encounters, can be recorded and accountability is heightened. 

  Weiner said that in  Rialto, California, (about the size of the average NYC Police Precinct) a body-worn camera pilot program implemented between February 2012 and July 2013 resulted in an 88% decline in the number of complaints filed against police officers and a 60% reduction in the use of force by officers as compared to the year before, increasing accountability and protecting both civilians and officers.  The program has been considered such a success that the Rialto police department is expanding it this fall.  

  Weiner stated that each year, the NYPD interacts with on average 23 million civilians, and the end of 2012, lawsuits against the NYPD were at a historic high, costing taxpayers $185 million in 2011 alone the previous year.  

  Idea Key #74: Require Beat Cops to Wear Cameras as a vehicle for ensuring citizens a higher level of accountability from the NYPD and protect officers from false accusations. Weiner’s proposal, part of several measures to improve crime abatement, would drastically improve the relationship between officers and citizens. Implement a pilot program in 20 high-risk, high-poverty precincts with the goal of gauging the lessening of crime and arrests in the area due to this measure. Cameras are a small investment for the city that will pay for themselves in savings the city will receive from clearing the back log of tort and civil actions and administrative costs associated with an arrest.

 “Each day we send our NYPD officers into communities with the expectation that they will treat communities with ‘Courtesy, Professionalism, and Respect’ and we have an obligation to modify the enforcement of a policy that is clearly straining relationships with our citizens,” said Weiner. “This proposal is one solution worth pursuing in the effort to continually bring down crime while building strong community ties,” Weiner said.  

   You can go to  www.anthonyweiner.com  to find out more.

Left- Mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner talks about Idea Key #74 Implement a pilot program for police to wear body cameras to improve crime abatement, and the relationship between police officers and the community.Right - one such camera is in Weiners hand to show the size of it.

 

Left - After answering reporters questions Ms. Roselle O'Mara and Mr. Shawn Roberts confronted Weiner over the Stop N Frisk issue. Mr. Roberts said that he had been stopped twice for no reason.

Right - Weiner answers the pair.

 Weiner then went to the James Monroe Senior Center located at 1776 Story Avenue to meet the seniors and listen to their concerns. As seen in the photos below.