South Queens Democratic Club Meeting at Carosello Restaurant in Howard Beach - Guest Speaker Deputy Borough President Karen Koslowitz

The meeting this month featured Deputy Borough President Karen Koslowitz. She talked at length about the pending shake ups at our senior centers brought about by Mayor Bloomberg's most recent proposed budget. The Mayor plans to consolidate many of the senior centers and start bringing frozen meals twice a week to shut-ins instead of the present system of delivering hot meals daily. She explained how she felt this was a terrible way to treat our senior citizens, that they need and appreciate the human contact daily.

City Councilman Joe Addabbo, Deputy Borough President Karen Koslowitz, District Leader Frank Gulluscio and Community Board Chair Betty Braton (l-r)
Photo by Stephen Geffon

Karen also said she would be running for the City Council for the seat being vacated by Melinda Katz in Forest Hills. Borough Hall is being remodeled with all the offices being painted and new rugs being installed. She praised Frank Gulluscio's handling of Community Board 6 as it's District Manager, whom she works with daily in her capaity of Deputy Borough President. She also had praise for Democratic club executive board member and Chairperson of Community Board 10, Betty Braton. And, she said she was quite hopeful that CM Addabbo would soon be representing her as State Senator and wished him luck in the fall campaign against Serphin Maltese.

Larry Love from Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer's office gave a recap of all the happenings in Albany with the recent resignation of Eliott Spitzer and the swearing in of David Paterson. He said that Audrey has known the new Governor for many years and feels that he's man that the Assembly can work with to the benefits of our community. He also went over the Aqueduct racetrack situation and how it should help the neighborhood.

District Leader Frank Gulluscio spoke about how he plans to do a voter registration drive in anticipation of the fall presidential election. He also encouraged all the members to attend his Campaign Kickoff for City Council on April 10th at Roma View restaurant in Howard Beach. He emphasized how it was more of a show of community strength and unity than a fund raising event.

Deputy Borough President Karen Koslowitz
Photo by Stephen Geffon

Lastly, CM Joe Addabbo talked about the City's budget woes, also stressing senior center and education cuts, as DBP Koslowitz did. He also spoke at length about the Town Hall from the night before and how his constituents gave him the message loud and clear that they oppose Congestion Pricing. It offers nothing for our community and does not help alleviate the health problems being faced by Queens communities nor does it truly address the real problems with traffic in Manhattan. He cited taxi cabs as a major problem due to the fact that they stop wherever they want to pick up and discharge passengers delaying cars and buses behind them and causing unnecessary hold ups and delays.

Deputy Borough President Karen Koslowitz
Photo by Stepen Geffon

As always there were great desserts, cappuccino and coffees for everyone, the Carosello restaurant does a wonderful job of catering for the meetings.Deputy Borough President Karen Koslowitz