Queens Pride House Tries to Stay Afloat by Mark Lord - Queens Chronicle

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Photo Caption: Queens Pride House director, Daniel Castellanos addresses a crowd at Tuesday night’s meeting. Photo by Pauline Park

Queens Pride House, the only community center for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered communities in the borough, is waging a battle to prevent itself from becoming yet another victim of the difficult economy. At an emergency community meeting on Tuesday night, organizers suggested that unless the group’s financial situation improves, and quickly, it may be forced to shut its doors for good next spring.

Nestled between a laundromat and a mini-market, a couple of flights up from a beauty salon, a billboard outside QPH touts the organization as “Working together against injustice, discrimination and violence in all forms.”

“We’re a young organization,” said treasurer Charles Ober, “and we have a huge fiscal challenge.”

QPH opened its first office in Queens Borough Hall in 1997. After years of identifying funding sources and community needs, the organization opened for service in Woodside in 2001.

“We wanted to be who we are here in our own neighborhood,” said Daniel Castellanos, one of the original founding members and current director of the organization.

In 2006, the group outgrew its space and joined two other community-minded organizations to create the Diversity Center of Queens at its current location in Jackson Heights.

QPH provides a variety of health-related programs and services, as well as social and cultural programming, in areas such as substance abuse, immigration, employment, healthcare, legal assistance and youth services. The organization served a total of 4,588 people last year alone.

Now, QPH is calling upon the community it has assisted for over a decade to come to its rescue.

“We came out of a grassroots structure,” explained Ober, “and we still run as one.” The group’s estimated annual operating budget is $300,000.

Originally, all staff members were volunteers.Since the move from Woodside, several individuals have become paid employees.Recently, because of budget issues, five of the organization’s eight paid workers have been laid off.

Like many other funded organizations, QPH seems to have been caught up in a bureaucratic tug of war.

“The governor wanted certain things that the legislature refused to pass, so the governor vetoed what the legislature wanted to pass,” said Ober.

As a result, most of the $83,000 that had been anticipated from the state is, at least temporarily, on hold.

Inequities in city funding have left the organization wanting, as well.

In a financial report distributed by Ober at the meeting, statistics indicate that QPH received only $5,000 from Councilwoman Julissa Ferreras’s (D-Corona) office for the current year, placing it in a distant last place for funding among the five boroughs LGBT centers. Its Manhattan counterpart, by comparison, received $225,000 from the City Council.

Last year, QPH received a total of $12,500 from three council members.

Compounding the group’s woes is the fact that the two other organizations that had been sharing rent expenses have both gone out of business, according to Pauline Park, president of the board of directors of QPH.

“We now have the full burden of the rent,” she said.

If Queens were a city, it would have the ninth largest gay population in the United States. Castellanos said “Our needs cut across many groups. We are an immigrant community; we have many issues of diversity.We don’t want to lose that.”

In an attempt to overcome the current crisis, the organization is considering sharing its office space with other organizations.An Internet fund-raising campaign is in the works and fundraising committees are being formed.Volunteers have been recruited to replace the laid-off staff members, but more are needed.

Despite the severity of the situation, the organization’s leaders remain die- hard optimists.

“I’m thrilled we had over 50 very enthusiastic community members here,” Park said. “I was excited by all the positive energy. By the end of next spring we’ll see if we can keep our doors open.”

“We will stand based on the grass roots in this room,” said Ober, regarding the standing-room-only crowd.“We expect some of our money to be released by the state.”

“It is disappointing that we were moving in the direction of a dream.We don’t want to slow down. We want to make that dream a reality,” said Castellanos.

For further information on Queens Pride House, or to make a donation, visit queenspridehouse.org

Como and Crowley Prepare for Rematch in District 30 Election by Ben Hogwood - Queens Chronicle

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Barely a month is left before incumbent Councilman Anthony Como and Democratic challenger Elizabeth Crowley square off in a rematch for the District 30 Council seat.

While the race has been overshadowed publicly by the state Senate race between Councilman Joseph Addabbo Jr. (D-Ozone Park) and Sen. Serphin Maltese (R-Glendale), the eventual winner could play a vital role in the council for years to come.

The victor, if elected again in 2009, would be one of just a handful of council members who wouldn’t be term-limited out of office next year, unless the mayor and City Council overturn the current two-term limits for members.

Whether that will happen is still unknown, but if the current term limits remain in effect, the District 30 representative would hold a position of seniority and possibly a leadership role, either in the speaker’s seat or as minority leader or whip.

One reason Crowley said voters should pick her is because, as a Democrat, she will be able to take a more pivotal role in the council and bring more bacon home to the district’s neighborhoods of Middle Village, Ridgewood, Maspeth, Glendale and parts of Woodhaven and Richmond Hill.

“We want someone who can take on a leadership role and pass legislation. Republicans can’t pass legislation,” she said, because, at least currently, there are only three of them in the council.

Como disagreed. Though he has only served in the council for four months, he believes partisanship isn’t practiced by fellow council members once elected. “Being a Republican didn’t curtail me in any way this time” during the budget process, he said, adding that his district fared better than some with long-serving Democrat representatives. “In the council, you’re not Republican or Democrat. No one looks at party lines.”

The two candidates first squared off in a special election for the seat in June, although then former Councilman Tom Ognibene, a Republican, and Charles Ober, a Democrat, also vied for the seat. The election was necessary after former Councilman Dennis Gallagher resigned in April as part of a plea deal after being charged with sexual assault.

Como defeated Crowley by just 38 votes then. With just the one race on the ballot, the turnout was relatively small — only 7,751 people voted.

While voters in this district have elected a Republican in every election since the seat was first created in 1991, Crowley is optimistic this time, in large part because the presidential election will draw thousands more to the voting booths. Registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by 2-1 and Crowley expects over 40,000 voters to turn out.

Michael Reich, the executive secretary for the Queens Democratic Party, supported Crowley’s claims. “This is very different than the special election,” he said, adding that the Maltese-Addabbo race will also be a big draw for voters. “I think we have a very strong shot. We are making a very big effort there.”

Como’s not so sure. “The voters are not machines,” he said. “They know who they are voting for. I can’t venture to think voters will vote for someone just because of their party.”

Also, he said it wasn’t a slam dunk that Barack Obama would win this district, and that being beneath Maltese on the ticket would be an additional benefit. “I don’t think it’s even going to be close,” he said of his race.

When it comes to finances, it is Como who currently has the edge. He has collected $19,446 in donations and received another $35,266 in public funds, for a total of $54,712. Crowley has collected $37,806 and has not received public funds as of yet, though she expected to after filing her next statement with the Campaign Finance Board. Crowley could not receive public funds until she paid off the over $50,000 in fines for violations from her 2001 bid.

Como’s primary focus in the coming weeks is to show people the job he has done so far while in office. From helping to preserve quality of life issues, such as making sure a biker bar proposed for Metropolitan Avenue never opened, to bringing in over $2.2 million to schools in his area, Como is proud of his brief time in office.

Crowley, however, didn’t think Como has had the opportunity to be a councilman. “He was sworn in one week before the budget passed. He didn’t have much say as to how the money was spent,” she said.

Crowley’s primary focus is education and she wants to improve the graduation rate at Grover Cleveland High School, in Ridgewood, and make sure more local children go to good universities.

The winner of this election will serve the remainder of Gallagher’s term, which expires at the end of 2009. As a result, the winner will have to participate in a third election in November of next year.

Anthony Como and Elizabeth Crowley Both Confident in City Council Run by John Lauinger - NY Daily News

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Democrat Elizabeth Crowley said she didn't think Republican Anthony Como was her "competition" in the June special election to replace City Councilman Dennis Gallagher until Como beat her by 38 votes.

With the way Como has raised money for their rematch in November, it seems the feeling could be mutual.

As of last week's filing deadline with the Campaign Finance Board, Crowley said she had raked in about $15,000. The newly minted councilman claimed enough for barely two tanks of gas - $100.

"My record is going to be all I need," Como said confidently, touting prompt successes in securing dollars for his district.

Though he arrived at City Hall near the end of budget talks, Como said he netted more than $3 million in capital funds, including money for upgrades at Juniper Valley Park and Forest Park.

He said he also got big bucks for schools in the 30th Council District, which includes Middle Village, Glendale and Ridgewood, along with parts of Richmond Hill, Woodhaven and Forest Hills.

"I made sure that almost every school in my district got funded hundreds of thousands of dollars," Como said, noting it has allowed educators to purchase more laptops for classrooms.

"I've had principals who have been coming in every day since then, thanking me," he added.

That Crowley continues to raise more money than Como is no surprise. In the special election, she raked in $50,000 more than Como, despite being ineligible for 6-to-1 matching public funds, which Como received.

Yet Crowley is still paying off more than $80,000 in fines for fund-raising irregularities during her unsuccessful 2001 Council bid against Gallagher.

She said she has roughly $25,000 remaining to pay. "By mid-August, this will be behind me," she told Queens News.

Crowley said Como is putting too much stock in his brief incumbency - and attributed his razor-thin victory to the nonpartisan nature of the special election.

"I never thought Anthony Como was my competition," she said, claiming a general election showdown will allow her to capitalize on the more than 2-to-1 enrollment edge Democrats enjoy in the district.

The other two candidates in the special election - Republican Tom Ognibene and Democrat Charles Ober - have said they will not run in November. In that election, voters will select someone to hold the seat for 2009, the final year in Gallagher's four-year term.

jlauinger@nydailynews.com

In the Council Race That Never Ends, Candidates Find Thrills, Frustrations by Andrew J. Hawkins - City Hall News

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Como, Crowley and Ober Prepare for Rematch This Year...and Next...

Anthony Como came out ahead in the June 3 special election, but Liz Crowley is hoping to overtake him this November-or, if not, by 2009.

After his June 3 victory in the special election, Anthony Como (R-Queens) said he planned to surprise his wife with a week-long vacation. Elizabeth Crowley, a Democrat who lost to Como by just 38 votes, said she hoped to take her son golfing in Montauk for a few days.

Those short breaks are about all they can afford.

Como defeated Crowley and several other candidates in the nonpartisan election to fill the Council seat left vacant by Dennis Gallagher, who stepped down in April as part of a plea deal to a sexual assault charge.

But there is another election for the seat coming in November, and interested candidates had only a few weeks after Como's win was certified to register for the September primary and the November general election. Whoever wins will have to defend the seat again next year.

Como said he shrugs off all campaign exhaustion and keeps moving forward.

"It is what it is," Como said with what must pass for Zen in Queens. "We knew going into it that it was going to be this way."

Crowley is also committed to running again, as is insurgent Democratic candidate Charles Ober. But even though he came within 300 votes of winning the special election, Thomas Ognibene, who once held the seat, vowed not to run again and endorsed Como.

Como said the voters feel the pain of multiple elections more so than he does.

"Numerous constituents have said, 'I can't believe you have to go through this again. We voted for you the first time. We're going to vote for you the second time. It's just silly,'" he said.

Ongoing fundraising has not cramped his style either, Como said, mainly because he relies on small donors rather than labor unions or political action committees for support. Como has accumulated numerous contacts from his time spent as an aide to State Sen. Serphin Maltese (R-Queens) and as a commissioner on the Board of Elections.

"Having that background and that support allows me to continue to do my job and not have to worry about making phone calls," he said.

The main difference between the special election and the November election, Como said, is that this time he will have 145 days of incumbency to his advantage. On the campaign trail, he said he will tout the $3 million in discretionary funds he managed to grab for the district, which includes money to improve Juniper Valley Park, as well as cash for senior centers and schools.

Como said operating a district office will be another key advantage, by enabling him to directly address constituent needs and problems.

"Even though it's going to be a short period of time," Como said, "they're going to see if I was able to accomplish so much in such a short period."

But Crowley sees Como's abbreviated time in office as a potential liability. Most of the budget negotiations were done by the time he was sworn into office, she pointed out, preventing him from bringing as much pork as he would have wanted.

"They had some budget cuts for local organizations and he wasn't really able to spend as he saw fit," Crowley said. "Rather, the money was allocated before he got in there."

As she gears up to run again, Crowley said she is trying not to get bogged down in the nuts and bolts of campaigning. Headaches like attorney fees, closing and re-opening her campaign office, and filing with the Campaign Finance Board and the city Board of Elections can easily distract from the actual issues, she said.

"You have to remain focused," Crowley said, "not get lost in silly, non-important stuff."

Fundraising poses another challenge for Crowley. She was not eligible for matching funds because of outstanding fines and allegations of fraud committed by her campaign during her bid for Council in 2001 against Gallagher. But as the preferred candidate of the Queens County Democratic Party, chaired by her cousin, Rep. Joseph Crowley, as well as with endorsements from the Working Families Party and several labor unions, Crowley still managed to out-raise and out-spend Como and the other candidates by a nearly 3-to-1 margin.

Her loss on June 3 was certainly disappointing, but once she got back down to petitioning, going door-to-door and talking to voters, Crowley said she felt rejuvenated.

"I love talking to voters," she said. "They say, '38 votes and he's the Council member, how can that be?' I tell them, 'You know, it's really just 'til November.'"

Ober's decision to run for the Democratic nomination in September will further complicate Crowley's bid for the seat. The county organization believes he split the vote and allowed Como to win, and members are doing little to hide their displeasure.

"Charles Ober should stay under the rock where he's hiding," said Michael Reich, executive director of the county party.

Ober said if he fails to win the primary this year, there is always 2009. The election laws that prolong this seemingly never-ending campaign are ridiculous, he said. But he believes his support in the community is strong and he is committed to continue to campaign. Fundraising, Ober said, is what exhausts him.

"We managed to raise $67,000," Ober said. "I don't even now how I did that."

Ridgewood Democratic Club Flag Day Celebration and New Flag Pole Dedication

Old Glory being furled out onto the new flag pole...!

The color guard and the scouts....you gotta love Tom Dowd's uniform shirt..!

On Saturday June 14th, the Ridgewood Democratic Club celebrated Flag Day with a morning of patriotic tunes, a color guard and local scouts leading the pledge of allegiance...

Local scouts just finishing up the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag...

There was also a dedication of the new flag pole addition onto the front of the building and new stained glass windows...This is the RDC's 100th anniversary...After the ceremony, we all enjoyed typical summer picnic of hot dogs, chips and soda....Notice the new stains glass windows...

Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan acknowledging the Club Executive board and thanking the Color guard and the scouts...

Como Lead Shrinks, Absentee Ballots to Determine Winner by Pete Davis - The Queens Courier

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One week after polls closed for the 30th City Council District Special Election, Democrat Elizabeth Crowley has closed the gap on Republican Anthony Como to 29 votes after the machine recount with more than 200 absentee votes to be counted on Wednesday, June 11.

Officials at the city's Board of Elections (BOE) finished the machine recount on Tuesday, and Como's slim 70-vote lead in the election to replace disgraced former City Councilmember Dennis Gallagher had shrunk by 41 votes, according to sources close to both campaigns.

"This is everything that we had discussed after Election Day," Como said on Tuesday after the machine recount. "I told everyone I was cautiously optimistic. I'm still ahead, and I prefer to be that way going into paper ballots."

BOE officials will go through the remaining absentee paper ballots on Wednesday, but officials may not certify an official winner until next week.

"I think tomorrow is still going to work out in our favor, and then we can put it behind us and have the representation we need in the Council," Como said.

A source close to the Crowley campaign confirmed the new vote margin and said he would wait to comment until after all the paper ballots were counted.

When the precincts reported the votes on Tuesday, June 10, Como received 2,352 votes while Crowley garnered 2,282 votes - a 1 percent difference in vote totals.

In addition to Como and Crowley, former City Councilmember Tom Ognibene and Ridgewood civic activist Charles Ober campaigned vigorously as voters went to the polls to cast their ballots on Tuesday, June 3. Ognibene received 2,031 votes while Ober received 752 votes.

After Gallagher resigned, Queens Republicans hoped to hold onto their only council seat in the borough, and the Queens County Republican Party backed Como over Ognibene for the seat.

Como, who started his political career as an aide to State Senator Serphin Maltese, has served as a prosecutor in the Queens District Attorney's Office, counsel to Maltese and most recently a Commissioner for the Queens Office of Board of Elections, before he resigned his position to concentrate fully on the June special election.

"We are going to have a very active and dedicated Councilman working on behalf of his constituents," Maltese said. "I think the two of us working together we can be even more effective."

A lifelong Queens resident who currently lives in Middle Village, Como has been actively involved in many community and civic organizations.

"I look forward to working tirelessly for the people of Queens," Como said.

Once an official winner is declared, that person will serve until November of this year when another election will be held to decide who will serve the remainder of Gallagher's term.

From NY Daily News Political Blog by Elizabeth Benjamin:

Crowley Closes The Gap

The machine count is complete in the 30th CD, according to a source in the know, and Democrat Elizabeth Crowley is closing on Republican Anthony Como, who had a razor-thin 70-vote lead on election night.

That gap has narrowed to a mere 29 votes, with 268 paper ballots remaining to be counted tomorrow.

The stakes are unusually high in this race, with the Republicans not only hoping to hold on to their third Council seat, but also considering this a bellweather in the fight for Sen. Serphin Maltese's seat, which could prove crucial in the battle for control of the state Senate.

On the Democratic side, a loss would be a serious blow to the county organization and Chairman Joe Crowley. The party not only endorsed Elizabeth Crowley, the chairman's cousin, but threw everything it had into this race and urged its labor allies to do the same.

Only 70 Votes Separate 2 Candidates in City Council Race - AP New York - Newsday.com

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Only 70 votes separated the two leading candidates in final unofficial returns late Tuesday in a special election for City Council.

Anthony Como, a registered Republican running in a conservative Queens district, led with 2,352 votes, or 32 percent, over registered Democrat Elizabeth Crowley, who had 2,282 votes, or 31 percent.

Como, a former Queens assistant district attorney and commissioner of the New York City Board of Elections, and Crowley, whose parents once represented the area on the council, were sharing the ballot with conservative Republican Thomas Ognibene and Democrat Charles Ober.

Ognibene, a former city councilman, trailed with 27 percent, while Ober, a financial executive and community activist, got 10 percent of the vote. The ballot listed the candidates without their party affiliation.

The District 30 election was held to fill the remainder of the term of Republican Dennis Gallagher, who in March admitted to sexually abusing a woman he had met in a bar in his district office in Queens. Gallagher's term was to end at the end of the year, and the seat will be up for election again in November.

Gallagher pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor charges: forcible touching and sex abuse. He agreed to complete an alcohol treatment program, and he avoided jail time by resigning his council seat. He also agreed to complete an alcohol treatment program.

Gallagher was elected to the council in 2001 and was one of three Republicans in the 51-member body.

Gallagher had acknowledged the encounter with his accuser, but said it was consensual. The accuser told authorities that he offered to drive her home after meeting her in the bar, but instead took her to his district office and attacked her.

District 30 includes neighborhoods such as Ridgewood, Middle Village and Glendale.

Former Prosecutor Leading in Council Race in Queens by Jonathan P. Hicks - NYTimes.com

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Anthony Como, a former Queens prosecutor and longtime aide to State Senator Serphin R. Maltese, was leading a special election Tuesday night for a City Council seat in Queens that was vacated by Dennis P. Gallagher, a Queens Republican.

According to unofficial results from the New York City Board of Elections, Mr. Como won a four-way battle with 31.7 percent of the vote, just 70 votes more than his closest rival, Elizabeth Crowley, who received 30.7 percent of the vote. The results reflected all of the votes, outside of absentee ballots, having been counted.

But the Board of Elections said that there were 196 absentee ballots that have not yet been tallied, and that there could be additional valid absentee ballots, as long as they are received by next Tuesday.

Paper ballots are typically counted within a week after the machine ballot is tabulated. Mr. Gallagher resigned in April after he pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors, admitting that he sexually abused a woman in his district office last summer while he was intoxicated.

Ms. Crowley is a cousin of United States Representative Joseph Crowley, the Democratic Party chairman in Queens. She is also the daughter of Walter and Mary Crowley, each of whom once represented many of the same Queens neighborhoods in the City Council.

Mr. Como, a Republican, is a former commissioner of the City Board of Elections and was endorsed by the Queens Republican Party organization. And his victory was seen as a triumph, not only for the Republican organization in the borough, but also for Senator Maltese, who faces his own re-election battle this year.

In third place was Thomas V. Ognibene with 27.3 percent. Mr. Ognibene was Mr. Gallagher’s predecessor in the Council, having served from 1992 to 2001, when he left his seat because of term-limit requirements.

The fourth candidate was Charles J. Ober, a financial executive and community activist, who received 10 percent of the vote. The district includes Middle Village, Ridgewood and Glendale, and its constituents are considered moderate to conservative.

The Republicans have been eager to hold the seat, one of only three they control in the 51-member Council.

The special election in the 30th Council District on Tuesday was a nonpartisan contest in which candidates were barred under the City Charter from running on the ballot with the name of an established political party.

Nonetheless, most of the candidates in Tuesday’s race had had longstanding affiliations with either the Democratic or Republican Parties.

Queens Holds Special Election for Gallagher's Council Seat by Benjamin Sarlin - The New York Sun

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The Republican presence in the City Council could be whittled down to two members as voters go to the polls today in Queens to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Council Member Dennis Gallagher.

Mr. Gallagher, of Queens, left office after pleading guilty to misdemeanor sexual abuse charges stemming from allegations that he assaulted a 52-year-old grandmother in his campaign office.

Today's special election is a four-way matchup between two Democrats and two Republicans. The vote will fill Mr. Gallagher's seat temporarily; the candidates could compete again as soon as 2009 in regularly scheduled elections.

The Queens Democratic Party has endorsed Elizabeth Crowley, a program director at the Consortium for Worker Education, a nonprofit labor advocacy group. Ms. Crowley ran unsuccessfully against Mr. Gallagher for City Council in 2001, when she was 23. Her family has a history in city politics: Both her parents served on the City Council, and her cousin is Rep. Joseph Crowley, who represents parts of Queens and is chairman of the borough's Democratic Party, connections which are drawing charges of nepotism from critics.

Ms. Crowley has battled for endorsements with the race's other Democrat, community activist Charles Ober. Mr. Ober has the backing of the local Independence Party and last week received the support of the New York Times editorial board. At times, Ms. Crowley and Mr. Ober's competition has been heated; after a local gay club last week endorsed Ms. Crowley, who opposes gay marriage, the openly gay Mr. Ober accused the club's chairman of currying favor with the local Democratic Party to boost his own political ambitions.

On the Republican side, the Queens Republican Party is throwing its support behind Anthony Como, a Queens County Board of Elections commissioner and former assistant district attorney. The other Republican candidate is the district's former council member, Thomas Ognibene, whom Mr. Gallagher succeeded. Mr. Ognibene served in the City Council between 1991 and 2001, before being forced out by term limits. He ran unsuccessfully against Mayor Bloomberg in 2005.

Of the four candidates, Ms. Crowley has had the most success at fund-raising, garnering $159,400 in contributions, but because of fines she received for violating campaign finance laws in her 2001 race, she is not eligible for public matching funds. Mr. Ober has raised $23,744, Mr. Ognibene has raised $35,365, and Mr. Como has raised $48,230.

Queens Residents Vote To Replace Disgraced Politician - NY1

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A special election is being held today in Queens to fill the City Council seat vacated by Dennis Gallagher.

Voters in the 30th District will choose from among four candidates: Republican Anthony Como, a former counsel to State Senator Serph Maltese; Republican Thomas Ognibene, who used to hold the seat until forced out by term limits; Democrat Elizabeth Crowley, who ran against Gallagher in 2001; and Democrat Charles Ober, an openly-gay civic leader.

The winner will serve out the remainder of the year.

Another election will be held in November to serve out the rest of Gallagher's term.

Gallagher resigned in April as part of a plea deal on misdemeanor sex abuse charges for assaulting a woman inside his Middle Village office.

The district, which comprises Middle Village to Ridgewood, is one of the city's few Republican strongholds.

Polls are open until 9 p.m.

Gay Dems' Pick in Queens Opposes Gay Marriage by Paul Schindler - GayCityNews

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In a meeting last week with the editorial board of the Queens Tribune, Elizabeth Crowley, a candidate for an open City Council seat who won the endorsement of the Lesbian and Gay Democratic Club of Queens, stated her opposition to marriage equality for same-sex couples. Crowley was joined at the editorial board meeting by the other three candidates in the race, including Charles Ober, an out gay Ridgewood civic activist who is the former board president of the Queens Pride House, the borough's LGBT community center. The election, which takes place on June 3, is a nonpartisan contest for the 30th District seat representing Ridgewood, Glendale, and Middle Village.

The gay club made its pick of Crowley despite the fact that she did not answer its candidate questionnaire, did not attend its endorsement meeting, and sent a representative who could not answer when asked her position on marriage equality or transgender rights. Asked about Crowley's statement to the Tribune, Larry Menzie, the club's communications chair, said, "It's surprising because she did send a representative to the club and she showed interest in getting our endorsement. I'm not going to try to minimize that." Menzie then added, "It doesn't make Charlie Ober any better of a candidate. We're not comfortable with Ober's relationship to our club."

Menzie and Daniel Dromm, a Democratic district leader who was a founder of the club, both earlier criticized Ober for his participation in a short-lived rival LGBT club in the borough. Dromm, who is running for the 25th District Council seat in Jackson Heights next year, acknowledged that the club pressed Ober on how supportive he had been of Dromm's work on behalf of the LGBT community, but argued that the questions posed a fair test of the 30th District candidate's own dedication to the borough's gay community.

A blog posting charged that Crowley's campaign had reneged on its promise to feature the Queens gay club's logo in its campaign literature. Dromm volleyed back on that charge, saying that ads Ober took out in Queens newspapers were "whitewashed" of any reference to the fact he is gay or enjoys the endorsement of the Stonewall Democrats of New York City.

Crowley is the cousin of Congressman Joe Crowley, the head of the county Democratic Party, and a featured speaker at a political fundraiser for Dromm prior to the Queens LGBT Pride Parade on June 1. Joe Crowley is a supporter of same-sex marriage.

NY Times Endorsement in 30th CD Race - Charles Ober for City Council - Editorial - NYTimes.com

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There will be a special election on Tuesday in the 30th City Council District in Queens, which includes Ridgewood, Middle Village and Glendale. The seat became vacant after the resignation of City Councilman Dennis Gallagher, who admitted to sexually abusing a woman in his district office. Voters in this election, to fill the seat for the rest of the year, should seize the chance to force some much-needed change.

The ballot, on which the candidates will be listed without party affiliation, is crowded with the old way of doing business. Thomas Ognibene, a conservative Republican and former councilman, wants to retake the seat. He held it until he hit the term limit and stepped aside for Mr. Gallagher, who was Mr. Ognibene’s chief of staff. Mr. Ognibene is too tied to clubhouse politics, as is another Republican, Anthony Como, an aide to State Senator Serphin Maltese and a former assistant district attorney. His command of the issues is unimpressive.

Elizabeth Crowley, one of two Democrats, has the same problem, having built her candidacy not on talent or experience but on party machinery. She is the cousin of Representative Joseph Crowley, the Queens Democratic Party leader, and has raised the most money. Ms. Crowley, whose parents represented the area on the Council, is short on substance on issues like budget reform and education. She also ran afoul of campaign finance laws when she ran against Mr. Gallagher in 2001.

The other Democrat in the race is Charles Ober, a financial executive and community activist. The fact that Mr. Ober is openly gay has drawn attention because of the district’s conservative leanings. But more important are his deep roots in the community and the years he has spent engaging his neighbors on problems like prostitution and graffiti. His energy and civic engagement would be a valuable addition in the City Council.

District 30 deserves a serious-minded, independent legislator who will put the needs of constituents first. That’s why we endorse Charles Ober for City Council.

Email Sent to Blog - Charles Ober’s Signature is a Record of Accomplishments Not Just Election Time Puffing by Edward Kampermann

As the special election in the 30^th Council District enters the home stretch, each candidate has had an opportunity to market themselves with glossy handouts, appearances at senior centers, at so called debates, including the NY1 Dominic Carter Show “Inside City Hall”, a resume` that includes their education and civic accomplishments and their background. Although I am not a blogger myself, I have read many of the comments posted on blogs by anonymous writers, many who are more venomous than accurate. However, the competent bloggers often link you to newspaper stories or court records to substantiate their claims or accusations. After perusing what the candidates have put in print and listing to what they say and how they say it, I have come to the conclusion that the most sincere and honest candidate is Charles Ober. Charles is not a party candidate and he is the only one that does not have a questionable political past. He is the only one with an outstanding civic record, Incidentally, civics are made up of Volunteers; they are not paid for a no-show job nor are they like past elected officials who only operated with the taxpayers money.

Take the time this weekend to read and re-read all that the candidates have mailed out and you will agree with me that Charles Ober has the fortitude, the sincerity, the past accomplishments, and the devotion to our community to be elected to represent us in the NYC Council District 30. Charles Ober was endorsed by the very Honorable Councilman Tony Avella and named by Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez as a delegate to The Democratic National Convention. Now! do your part, get out and vote for Charles Ober.

Edward Kampermann
Middle Village, NY

Vision Required to Preserve Ridgewood Reservoir - Crow Man Blues Blog

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Seventy concerned citizens, community activists and local politicos turned out on May 15 to show support for the preservation of the Ridgewood Reservoir as a natural urban oasis on the border of Queens and Brooklyn.



The group voiced concern about the city’s proposed plans to cut down trees, breach the walls of the dam and to build artificial-turf covered ball fields that would destroy what is considered a unique natural habitat.



The area contains a succession forest with many native plants, freshwater wetlands and critical habitat for native birds, mammals and amphibians.




The Ridgewood Reservoir Education and Preservation Project (RREPP), a group of community members and nature enthusiasts, opposes the plan and is promoting the concept of creating an environmental learning center on the site. The group feels that the development plans could jeopardize some endangered or threatened plant species and several bird species that are declining or rare that were spotted during recent bird surveys.

Councilman Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr., David M. Quintana and Assemblyman Darryl Towns

Queens Parks Commisioner Dorothy Lewandowski addressing the crowd...

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'Historic' Race to Fill Councilman's Seat by Nicholas Hirshon - NY Daily News

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Four candidates vying to replace ex-City Councilman Dennis Gallagher pledged support for historic districts in Richmond Hill and Ridgewood during a unique debate last week that focused on preservation in Queens.

The contenders also listed historic sites they'd help landmark if they win the June 3 special election to take over for Gallagher (R-Middle Village), who resigned in April after pleading guilty to sexual abuse charges.

Democrat Elizabeth Crowley singled out Transfiguration Catholic Church in Maspeth and the Woodhaven Post Office among sites she'd help landmark, preventing developers from altering or demolishing them without city approval.

"The list could be endless," Crowley said, proposing signs at the landmarked spots to detail their history.

Republican Anthony Como heralded his bid to save Woodhaven Lanes, a Glendale bowling alley open since 1959 that was recently shuttered, and proposed yearly public forums on potential landmarks.

Democrat Charles Ober and Republican Tom Ognibene said they would reach out to local history experts to determine which sites need saving.

One of the debate's more memorable moments occurred when moderator Simeon Bankoff, executive director of the Historic Districts Council, asked if the candidates would help restore $300,000 for landmarking in the city budget.

Como and Ober vowed they would. Crowley went a step further, saying she'd look for funds from wealthy donors who typically don't view Queens as a historic area.

Ognibene, however, said he would only support increasing the budget of the city Landmarks Preservation Commission if its members promised to focus more on Queens sites.

"If they tell us they don't know if they can do it, they can only save buildings in Manhattan, I won't. That's the only leverage we have," Ognibene said.

Ober was the only candidate who vowed to hire a zoning and historic preservation expert to his Council staff.

Under city law, the June 3 special election will decide who holds Gallagher's seat only through the end of the year.

In November, voters will cast ballots for someone to hold the seat starting in 2009. And in the fall of 2009, voters will pick someone for the seat's normal four-year cycle.

Read the Historic District Council Voter Guide for Queens's 30th District

Photos courtesy of Lauren at hdc.org

NYC City Council 30th District Candidate Debate on NY1 Inside City Hall with Dominic Carter - May 23rd, 2008

City Council District 30 Debate on NY1 May 23rd 2008
by davanaweb
Length of Video: 19:42

Press Release - ELIZABETH CROWLEY COMES OUT AGAINST GAY MARRIAGE - Crowley Also Comes Out Against Tony Avella

PRESS RELEASE

Contact: May 23, 2008

Ober for Council

FOR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION

ELIZABETH CROWLEY COMES OUT AGAINST GAY MARRIAGE

Crowley also comes out against Tony Avella

This morning at 10:30 the Queens Tribune, which serves the Queens community, held its editorial board meeting. At that meeting several things transpired. When asked about Gay marriage, Crowley stated she was against Gay marriage. Charlie Ober answered the question by stating he was for gay marriage. Ober replied “We knew all along that she was going to say she was against gay marriage, while saying she was for it behind the scenes. I am not surprised that she would pander.” What it does, is send a clear cut message to the Lesbian and Gay Democratic Club of Queens that they were duped by their own district leader Daniel Dromm. Crowley committed to put their logo on all of her literature and has failed to do so. It is well known that the Lesbian and Gay Democratic Club says that it will not give support to any candidate that does not support gay marriage and place their logo and name on the candidates literature. In addition Crowley had sent a representative to the endorsement meeting and failed to show up in an attempt to have it both ways. Ober replied “The people in this district respect honesty and I will be honest where I stand on every issue and will not pander.” Allison Grant, Crowley’s campaign manager, representing Elizabeth, stated that she had not discussed the 3 major issues that were important to that club even though she had a copy of the questionnaire in advance and purposely failed to fill it out.”

Another disturbing question answered by Crowley was who do you think is the worse city councilman and Crowley stated “Tony Avella” at which time the editor of the Queens Tribune, Brad Groznik stated to Crowley “That is very funny Elizabeth. Charles Ober has been endorsed by the Honorable City Councilmember Tony Avella. Charles Ober stated” It is a shame Elizabeth Crowley decided to answer that question cynically.

It is a shame.” This leads us to conclude that she believes that Dennis Gallagher was not a bad councilman and that his behavior resulting in conviction, from the original charges of rape, was NOT the worse thing a city councilman could do. Where in her answer did she show concern and compassion for the grandmother who was the victim of this horrendous crime?” The first person to answer that question was Como, Followed by Ognibene and Ober all saying that Dennis Gallagher was the worse city councilman to date.
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Suraci Drops Out; 2 Are No-Show in JPCA Debate by Austin Considine - Queens Chronicle

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For those keeping track, and depending on one’s politics, Tuesday May 20 may go down in history as the most pivotal — or, at least controversial — day of the District 30 special election to replace the disgraced former Councilman Dennis Gallagher.

Most significantly, the day saw the elimination of Joseph Suraci, a Middle Village lawyer, who was widely seen as the election’s anti-establishment Republican.

At a Board of Elections hearing in Manhattan on Tuesday afternoon, the board voted unanimously to strike his name from the ballot for failure to obtain enough signatures.

Rules for the special election had required candidates to gather 986 signatures in order to appear on the ballot. According to the BOE clerk’s report, Suraci only filed 828.

Before a candidates debate in Middle Village that evening, hosted by the Juniper Park Civic Association, Suraci told reporters that he had a date in federal court scheduled for the the next day, where he planned to file a show cause order.

Citing regular election rules, which allow candidates six weeks to collect their signatures, he said he would be filing suit against the BOE for violations of the First and Fourteenth Amendments.

Suraci called into the Queens Chronicle on Wednesday morning, however, to announce that he had decided to drop out of the race, citing “too much aggravation, too much stress.”

That Suraci even showed up at the JPCA debate Tuesday night, despite having been kicked off the ballot, set him apart from two candidates still on the ballot who failed to appear: Middle Village Republican Anthony Como, and Glendale Democrat Elizabeth Crowley, both of whom have the backing of their respective county parties.

Ridgewood Democrat Charles Ober and Middle Village Republican Tom Ognibene, the only two of the four balloted candidates to appear for the debate, said they had received a call after 4 p.m. from Walter Sanchez, publisher of the Queens Ledger, inviting all candidates to a meeting so he could determine whom to endorse in his paper.

Robert Holden, who lambasted both candidates for failing to appear, said he had emails from all the candidates confirming that they would attend. Before the debate, he received phone calls from Como and Alyson Grant, Crowley’s campaign manager, canceling for the evening.

According to Holden, Como cited a meeting with an unspecified newspaper as the reason for his absence, while Grant cited an unspecified scheduling conflict.

“What does that tell you about their character?” Holden asked the audience, referring to the no-show candidates. At the end of the debate, he closed by asking audience members to “please remember these candidates who insulted you tonight.”

Holden also pointed an accusatory finger directly at Sanchez for calling the meeting at the same time as the debate, which was widely publicized.

“The Queens Ledger has been at odds with the Juniper Park Civic Association for quite some time,” he said.

After the debate, Sam Esposito, Ober’s campaign manager, noted that Sanchez had left them the option of coming after the debate, which they intended to do.

With two candidates missing, the debate was a spirited affair, with attacks on the missing candidates coming from all sides.

Members of JPCA asked Ober and Ognibene several questions throughout the evening, including questions about Crowley’s past campaign finance violations, which incurred over $56,000 in fines, and about a house Como is building in Middle Village — a house many have characterized as out-of-character in a district where overdevelopment is a major issue.

Ognibene presented the audience with a blown up photograph of Como’s house, which Department of Buildings records show has garnered 14 violations and 21 complaints.

Ober, fresh from having received a key endorsement from Councilman Tony Avella (D-Bayside) earlier that afternoon, presented himself as a candidate with deep ties to the community and a history of civic action — including, most notably, efforts to clean up crime along the Queens-Brooklyn border and to help write and pass the city’s Graffiti Nuisance Abatement Law.

Ognibene, who touted his 10-year history of service as the former councilman for the district, had spent a chunk of his day at the BOE hearing to defend himself against objections to his petition filed on behalf of Como. Of the 2,057 signatures he submitted, 1,318 were determined to be valid, allowing Ognibene to stay on the ballot.

After the hearing, Ognibene called the objections “very disingenuous,” referring particularly to allegations by Como that some of his signatures had been fraudulent. One issue was the validity of signatures gathered by witnesses from outside the district, which state election law prohibits, but was unclear on the Special Election ballot forms. The BOE ruled to keep signatures collected by those witnesses, citing previous court rulings on the matter.

Council Debate Snubs Prompt 'Character' Jab | NYPolitics.com

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Two candidates in the June 3 special election to replace ex-City Councilman Dennis Gallagher backed out hours before a debate this week in what was seen as a political snub by the event’s host.

Democrat Elizabeth Crowley and Republican Anthony Como had pledged to attend the Juniper Park Civic Association’s debate Tuesday night, but both bailed out via phone message shortly before it was to begin, said association President Bob Holden.

Both candidates ditched the debate in order to meet with the editorial board of a Queens weekly newspaper, the candidates confirmed to the Daily News.

Holden said the pair feared being asked tough questions.

“To me, this is disgraceful,” Holden told the 150-person crowd at Our Lady of Hope in Middle Village. “They made a commitment in writing to us, the neighborhood, and then at the last minute they renege. What does that tell you about their character?”

Crowley chose the option that would “allow her to communicate with a broader audience,” her campaign manager, Alyson Grant, said in a statement.

Como said he chose the newspaper meeting for the same reason when faced with a conflict after the debate was rescheduled.

Como and Crowley’s absence left only former Republican Councilman Tom Ognibene and Democrat Charles Ober to answer questions.

Kew Gardens lawyer Joseph Suraci - who had previously campaigned in the nonpartisan 30th Council District race - failed to secure enough signatures to appear on the ballot.

Of the no-show pair, Crowley took the hardest hits, as Ognibene and Ober blasted her for campaign finance violations in her unsuccessful 2001 bid against Gallagher, who resigned from office in April after pleading guilty to sex-abuse charges.

Crowley was fined $56,267 for exceeding spending limits and for failing to explain allegations of money order fraud, according to a 2005 Campaign Finance Board audit. She is currently ineligible to receive public matching funds in the special election.

Ober called Crowley’s campaign indiscretions arrogant. But Ognibene was far more critical, accusing her of manipulating laws designed to protect taxpayers.

Grant said in a statement that Crowley is adhering to campaign spending limits while continuing to pay off her 2001 debt.

Ognibene said candidates should not be allowed to run for office again until they pay off all campaign finance penalties.

“It’s an outrage,” he said. “If you owe a parking ticket, see how long you can go owing the city $56,000.”

The Campaign Finance Board announced Wednesday the first payment of public matching funds to qualifying candidates. Como received $75,192 while Ognibene got $58,351.

Source: NY Daily News

Queens Independence Party Endorses Charles Ober...

Queens Independence Party Endorses Charles Ober for City Council in District 30 in June 3 Special Election

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 21, 2008

CONTACT: Jerry Everett

Phone: 917-859-2838

Email: jerryeverett@earthlink.net

The Queens County Committee of the Independence Party of New York announced today it has endorsed Charles Ober for the June 3 special election for the 30th Council District. Mr. Ober is running in a four-way race on the “Community First” line in the election. Special elections in New York City are nonpartisan, open to all registered voters, and do not list party affiliations of the candidates.

"Charles Ober has a genuine affinity for, and practical track record on, the issues and processes of grassroots democracy that the Independence Party cares about," said Queens Chairman Gerald Everett.

Mr. Ober is a civic leader with an impressive track record of independent, non-partisan organizing on behalf of both practical community concerns and structural political reforms such as non-partisan redistricting, campaign finance reform, nonpartisan municipal elections, same day voter registration and term limits.

"I'm proud to have the endorsement of the Queens Independence Party, and I look forward to working with independents and all voters in the district in the process of further developing the district and continuing to move the city in a nonpartisan direction," Mr. Ober said.

In answer to a question by the Queens Independence Party screening committee on his thoughts about the recent rash of political scandals among New York elected officials, Mr. Ober said that corruption is the result of a "disconnect" between elected officials and the people. "If you don't have a strong connection to your constituents, and a culture of transparency, corruption will worm its way in."

“Twenty-three percent of the voters in the 30th Council District are Independence Party and unaffiliated independent voters,” said Chairman Everett. “We are looking forward to reaching out to them on behalf of Charles Ober. Unlike partisan elections, nonpartisan special elections create an important opportunity for all the voters in the district to be on a level playing field.”

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