From left to right are Councilman Simcha Felder, South Queens Democratic Club Executive Member Betty Braton, and Councilman Joseph Addabbo.Although City Councilman Simcha Felder of Brooklyn hasn't officially thrown his hat into the ring just yet for City Comptroller in 2009, he has raised more than $1.5 million according to the latest report filed with the City Campaign Finance Board.
Felder was the guest speaker at the monthly meeting of the South Queens Democratic Club held last week in Howard Beach. He spoke about his "do not feed the pigeons" legislation, a bill to ban unsolicited materials from being distributed to homes, and his run for comptroller.
Of his sponsored City Council bills, the councilman has taken the most heat for his proposal to fine residents $1,000 if they are caught feeding pigeons, as well as suggesting that the city appoint a "pigeon czar" to coordinate the pigeon fight to control the growing population.
Pigeon proponents have defended the urban bird's right to co-exist with city residents, but Felder defended his proposal, noting the amount of "pigeon poop" in neighborhoods across the city is getting out of hand. He also added that some residents weren't just throwing a few bread crumbs to the pigeons, but were feeding them loaves of bread. Felder said that what the pigeons leave over the rats eat in the evening.
Felder has also introduced a bill in the council that would allow New Yorkers to opt out of the stream of advertising circulars, menus, and other flyers currently being delivered to residents' doorsteps. Specifically, his legislation would make it illegal to distribute any unsolicited materials to households and buildings that display a sign indicating that they do not wish to receive them.
However, Felder told the audience that the State Legislature has passed a similar bill, which is now law and will take effect statewide on April 27. The councilman said that each violation would result in a $250 fine to the distributor.
Felder, 49, said that among his qualifications for comptroller are his accounting background and experience. He is a certified public accountant and a professor of Management at Brooklyn College. For seven years, he served as chief of staff for Assemblyman Dov Hikind, legislative liaison for Comptroller Alan Hevesi, and was an auditor for 10 years with the New York City Department of Finance.
Felder said that in his view, the job of city comptroller is to make sure that the taxpayer's money is not wasted and is being spent wisely, as well as insuring the city is investing its money properly.
Two of Felder's four expected opponents for the position, council members Melinda Katz and David Weprin have also collected more than $1.5 million for their run. Councilman David Yassky has raised just over $900,000 and Assemblyman James Brennan has raised over $390,000.
