Congressman Gregory W. Meeks Amendment to H.R. 2055 (St. Albans Veterans Campus) Passes on House Floor

The Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2012 passed in the House of Representatives today. Included in the bill was Congressman Meeks amendment to stop the Enhanced Use Lease Process (EUL) for the St. Albans VA in the Sixth Congressional District of New York.

“The passing of this legislation with the inclusion of my bipartisan amendment is a big win for veterans in my district and veterans across Metropolitan New York. This amendment precludes the leasing of any government land at the St. Albans Veterans campus to a private developer. By having the amendment included in this bill it will prevent the fabric of my community from being destroyed by the creation of high-density residential and retail developments. This amendment brings home the point that this EUL does not meet the needs of veterans and therefore should be stopped immediately,” stated Congressman Meeks.

In addition to the hiring of a private developer for veteran owned land, this EUL process also does not plan for the inclusion of construction of a full service hospital based on a study conducted in 2004 that supposedly showed the decline of veterans in my district, but didn’t take into account the returning Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and their needs. Veterans in the vicinity have adamantly expressed the need for a full service hospital, but the VA has chosen to ignore their wishes.

Congressman Meeks added, “The nearly 400,000 veterans in the vicinity of my district deserve to have their medical needs met with the inclusion of a full service hospital. To not take into account their needs is a disservice to our brave men and women in uniform.”

This bill will now go to the Senate for their consideration the matter and then, upon its passing, will go to the President for signature.

Congressman Gregory W. Meeks Introduces St. Albans Veterans Care Act - Action Needed NOW..!

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Congressman Gregory W. Meeks (NY-6) introduced H.R. 1799, The St. Albans Veterans Care Act, to stop the Enhanced Use Lease Process (EUL) for the St. Albans VA in the Sixth Congressional District of New York on May 6, 2011. Additionally, Congressman Meeks will be offering an amendment to H.R. 2005, the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2012.

This bill addresses the concerns of the current EUL process that has been designed by the Department of Veterans Affairs for the St. Albans VA in the Sixth Congressional District. This process is one that is highly unfavorable to veterans due to the VA’s hiring of a private developer to develop on federal property, a proposal veterans in both communities are strongly against.

The CARES (Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services) process began in May 2005, followed by the Enhanced Use Lease (EUL) process in 2006, and release of the RFP in 2007 for the St. Albans Campus. Under the VA’s EUL, the present St. Albans facility would be modernized with funds gained by leasing 25 acres of the property for private development.

Additionally, this bill also addresses the VA’s plan for not including the construction of a full service hospital, which veterans in the vicinity have adamantly expressed the need for. By not including a full service hospital, veterans from Queens and Long Island will have to travel more than an hour to the nearest full service veteran’s hospital. This decision by the VA was based on a study conducted in 2004 that did not take into account returning Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and their needs.

“Veterans in my district and across Metropolitan New York, many of whom are currently returning from brave service in Iraq and Afghanistan, deserve a full service Veterans Affairs hospital to support their medical needs. The redevelopment plan promulgated by the Department of Veterans Affairs sadly neglects the views of these courageous men and women, instead leasing government property for private development. Therefore, in representing their views, I introduced this bill to immediately stop the EUL process and prevent the destruction to the fabric of my community that a private developer would cause,” stated Congressman Meeks.

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ACTION NEEDED NOW..!

 

We need your help today!!  The legislation to terminate the EUL(privatization) for St. Albans VA will be voted on the floor of Congress this Monday.  We need everyone to call the Representatives listed below on Monday 13th and urge them to sign on to the Bill and vote in support of this legislation.

We are asking you to call the following N.Y.S. Representative's offices(these representatives had not signed on to this bill when it was put before them.). Please let the House Representative know that:

The New York State Veterans Community is requesting your support of HR Bill 1799 which will be presented for a vote on Monday June 13^th 2011.  Please vote YES to this very important piece of legislation.

Representative           District#                      Washington#
Rep Nan Hayworth      (845) 206-4600           (202) 225-5441
Rep Paul Tonko            (518) 843-3400            (202) 225-5076
Rep Maurice Hinchey  (607) 273-1388            (202) 225-6335
Rep Chris Gibson         (518) 610-8133             (202) 225-5614
Rep Bill Owens            (315) 782-3150            (202) 225-4611
Rep Richard Hanna      (315) 252-6700           (202) 225-3665
Ann Marie Buerkle      (585) 336-7291           (202) 225-3701
Kathy Hochul               (716) 634-2324           (202) 225-5265
Brian Higgins               (716) 852-3501           (202) 225-3306
Louise Slaughter         (716) 853-5813           (202) 225-3615
Tom Reed                    (585) 218-0040          (202) 225-3161
 
There is strength in numbers- let us come together as a community and get this bill passed!!!!

Statement of Congressman Gregory W. Meeks on the Capture and Killing of Osama bin Laden

As a New Yorker and as a Member of Congress who visited Ground Zero days after the 9/11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, who witnessed the carnage and smelled death and destruction emanating from the ruins, it is difficult to find words that fully express my appreciation of our military personnel and intelligence professionals who brilliantly and successfully accomplished the mission which led to the killing of Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad, Pakistan. The courage, skill, confidence and capability with which they carried out this assignment are magnified by the degree of difficulty involved.

By the same measure, I would like to convey my gratitude to President Barack Obama for his fortitude. Considering how much could have gone wrong and the consequences of failure, one can only imagine how lonely it must have been to take such a decision. Yet, our president discharged the commitment he had repeatedly made to the American people, and above all to the families and friends of the 9/11 victims, with singular fortitude and determination. The nation salutes you, Mr. President, and your entire national security team.

At the same time, I urge my constituents and all Americans to take seriously the president’s caution to remain vigilant. It is especially important at such an extraordinary moment of success to absorb the fact that the struggle against terrorism and extremism continues. There is more to be done. But, as President Obama said, there is nothing that we Americans cannot achieve together as “one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

Greg Meeks Said to be Seeking Candidate to Run Against Ruben Wills by Chris Bragg - City Hall News

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When Council Member Ruben Wills placed his hand on the Bible and took the oath of office in mid-December, the moment seemed to be one of détente.

Rep. Greg Meeks, the man who had feverishly tried to block Wills' road to City Hall, stood beside the new Council member and applauded. In the four months since, Meeks has repeatedly promised to work with the incumbent as the Queens Democrat gears up to run for reelection in November.

In a hurried interview before Meeks boarded a flight to Colombia, the congressman denied having spoken to anyone about running against Wills.

"I have not talked to anyone about my support or my commitments in the race at all," Meeks said.

Yet a number of politically plugged-in Democrats in southeast Queens tell a very different story.

In fact, they say Meeks has been quietly looking for a candidate to run against Wills. This has created a lot of speculation about who will challenge Wills, who won a special election in November following the death of Council Member Tom White.

Nicole Paultre-Bell, who ran against Wills last year with Meeks' support, is said to be uninterested in another run; she will instead focus on the nonprofit she founded in memory of her slain fiance, Sean Bell.

Lynn Nunes, who lost to White by four votes in 2009, was considered a highly viable candidate. Meeks even met with Nunes about a month ago to discuss a potential run, knowledgeable sources say, though Nunes ultimately decided to take a pass on the race.

(Disputing that any such meeting occurred, Meeks insisted that he "must have a twin brother, because I haven't met with the guy.")

Clifton Stanley Diaz, chairman of the Rochdale Village board of directors, has also emerged as a potential candidate. Wills has grown so concerned about Meeks backing Diaz that the Council member and congressman are meeting to discuss the matter this week.

Other possible challengers could be 2010 candidate Harpreet Toor, and former Council member and longtime Wills nemesis Allan Jennings. District leader Albert Baldeo would also be a strong contender, though Wills said Baldeo told him he did not plan to run.

Meeks and Wills have been political foes since 2008, when Wills challenged the congressman in a primary, and sharply criticized him for alleged ethical misconduct. Last year Meeks recruited Paultre-Bell to run against Wills, who pulled out a narrow victory by gaining the support of the rest of the southeast Queens political establishment.

There are many reasons why this November's special election, which will choose a Council member to serve out the remainder of White's term, is attracting so much interest. All of them have to do with the vulnerabilities of the incumbent. In office less than a year, Wills has not had time to build a political base. Last month The Daily News reported the existence of two outstanding misdemeanor arrest warrants stemming from Wills' contracting work more than a decade ago.

Wills has also been dealing with other personal foibles, which include unpaid debts for child support and questions about a member item Wills secured for his nonprofit while working for the State Senate. Wills acknowledged being so poor at handling money that his wife gives him only $100 in cash a week in an attempt to curtail his spending habits.

With so many local politicians under a cloud of scandal or investigation, including Meeks and State Sens. Shirley Huntley and Malcolm Smith, Wills said that residents of the district blame the media for the news stories.

"To everyone in the district, this has caused them to come out and support me even more," Wills said. "It's actually a slap in the face for the people that voted for me."

Wills has spent his short time in office opposing the construction of a homeless shelter in his district and trying to help his constituents stem a tide of foreclosures that rate among the highest in the country.

But Wills' money issues are never far away. While the Council member talked over coffee at a deli near City Hall, an aide walked in and handed him a thin manila envelope before abruptly departing. Wills pulled out a crisp $100 bill and bought a sandwich, soup and a Pepsi, burning through a full 10 percent of his weekly allowance.

If Wills wins reelection, some of his financial burdens would obviously be lifted with the guarantee of an $112,500 salary. Still, Wills does not expect his wife to back off anytime soon.

"No way she's going to let me spend more," Wills said. "Then, we're going to have to get a house."

Geraldine A. Ferraro, First Woman on Major Party Ticket, Dies at 75

RIP Geraldine Ferraro (August 26, 1935 – March 26, 2011)

Geraldine A. Ferraro, the former Queens congresswoman who in 1984 strode onto a podium to accept the Democratic nomination for vice president to take her place in American history as the first woman nominated for national office by a major party, died on Saturday at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. She was 75.

The cause was complications from multiple myeloma, a blood cancer that she had battled for 12 years, her family said in a statement.

Statement from NYC Comptroller John Liu on the Passing of Former Vice Presidential Nominee Geraldine Ferraro

City Comptroller John C. Liu stated the following in response to questions about the passing of Former Vice Presidential Nominee Geraldine Ferraro:

“Geraldine Ferraro was an extraordinary New Yorker and American who set new standards of public service and shattered the glass ceiling for women in our nation. All the while, she never forgot her values of fairness and equal opportunity, and never forgot her roots in NYC and Queens. Geraldine Ferraro leaves behind a great legacy.”

Statement by NYC Public Advocate Bill De Blasio on the Passing of Geraldine Ferraro

“I am deeply saddened to learn of Geraldine Ferraro’s passing. Geraldine Ferraro was a true trailblazer who inspired enormous pride among women, Italian-Americans and all New Yorkers. My thoughts and prayers are with the Ferraro family as we all mourn the loss of one of New York’s most inspirational and dedicated public figures.

Statement from Congressman Joe Crowley on the Passing of Geraldine Ferraro

Today, Congressman Joseph Crowley (D-Queens, the Bronx), released the statement below on the passing of Geraldine Ferraro. Crowley is the current Representative of portions of Ferraro’s former district.

“I am deeply saddened by the news of Geraldine Ferraro’s passing. Many pay tribute to her as a trailblazer in American politics, but we in Queens will also remember her as a determined and tireless advocate for our community. An inspiration to us all, Geraldine Ferraro helped pave the way for our daughters to achieve anything they set their minds to. As the Representative of her former district, I am proud to call Geraldine a leader, a mentor, and most importantly, a friend. My thoughts and prayers are with Geraldine’s family and I join the entire country in mourning one of America’s great public servants.”

Statement from Congressman Gregory W. Meeks on the Passing of Geraldine Anne Ferraro Zaccaro

Congressman Gregory W. Meeks (NY-6) released the following statement today in regards to the passing of Geraldine Ferraro Zaccaro:

“All Americans are saddened by the news that Geraldine Ferraro Zaccaro passed away early this morning at the Massachusetts General Hospital. At the age of 75, this fighter for women's rights and social justice finally lost her heroic twelve year struggle against multiple myeloma. As always, she was surrounded by her loving family. A profound appreciation of her life and legacy is in the thoughts of millions of admirers.

“While most Americans associate the name Geraldine Ferraro Zaccaro with being the first woman and first Italian American vice-presidential nominee of a major political party on the 1984 Democratic ticket, her former constituents and indeed all residents of the borough of Queens remember her as an effective member of the House Democratic leadership and a skilled Member of Congress who ably advocated and legislated not only for her congressional district, but also the borough, New York City and New York State. I have the additional honor of having worked with her decades ago in the office of the Queens County District Attorney.

“On behalf of the constituents of the Sixth Congressional District, my wife, Simone, and I extend heartfelt condolences to the Ferraro-Zaccaro family.”

Statement From Former Councilman Eric Gioia On The Passing Of Geraldine Ferraro

"Geraldine Ferraro was the first of her kind and one of a kind. Growing up in Queens I got to know her at my family flower shop and have valued her wisdom and guidance my whole life. To me she was a mentor and a friend, to the nation she was a trailblazer as the first woman to run on a national ticket, to Queens she was our voice in Congress, to her family she was a loving wife and mother and to my two young daughters she is an inspiration that shows they can achieve anything through hard work. New York and the country are better off because of Geraldine Ferraro and she will be truly missed - but never forgotten."

MoveOn.org Queens Council Meets with Rep Greg Meeks to Save the American Dream - March 7th...

MoveOn Queens Council Meeting with Rep Greg Meeks

(Pictured from left to right) David M. Quintana (MoveOn Queens Council - co-coordinator), Javiad Zaidi, Joe Lauria (MoveOn Queens Council - co-coordinator), Rep Greg Meeks, Alex Tufel, Anthony Gellineau and Julian Tamburi

Congressman Gregory W. Meeks Statement on State of the Union

Congressman Gregory W. Meeks (NY-6), Senior Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Financial Services Committee released the following statement today in regards to tonight’s State of the Union Address:

“Tonight, as I sit next to my New York Republican colleague, Congressman Michael Grimm, I will anxiously be awaiting the President’s State of the Union Address. Since the President’s last address, tremendous progress has been made to restore the economy. The President has worked diligently with Congress to implement legislation for financial regulatory reform, fix the banks and the auto sector that contributed to the strengthening of the economy. I look forward to hearing the President’s agenda for his second phase on rebuilding the economy and address tonight.”

Queens Representatives On Fight For Gun Legislation - NY1 Online: Inside City Hall - NY1.com

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NY1 VIDEO: Queens Congressmen Gregory Meeks and Joseph Crowley appeared on Monday's edition of "Inside City Hall" to discuss whether the shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords should lead to a renewed discussion of federal gun laws.

NY Delegation Split On Tax Cut Vote by Liz Benjamin - Capital Tonight

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Members of the New York delegation were sharply divided on last night’s 277-148 vote to pass the tax cut deal President Obama brokered with the Republicans, with the more liberal members making good on pledges to oppose the measure.

Not surprisingly, the three lone Republicans – Chris Lee, Pete King and the newest House member, Tom Reed – voted “yes.” (They’ll soon be joined by five GOP freshmen, a number of whom have said they would have voted in the affirmative had they been given the chance).

All of the outgoing Democrats also voted “yes,” even if they lean toward the left, which I found interesting.

Here’s how the NY vote broke down:

YES: Arcuri, Bishop, Crowley, Hall, Higgins, Israel, King, Lee, Lowey, Maffei, Maloney, McMahon, Meeks, Murphy, Owens.

NO: Ackerman, Clarke, Engel, Hinchey, Nadler, Rangel, Serrano, Slaughter, Tonko, Towns, Velazquez, Weiner.

Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, a Long Island Democrat, was one of eight House members who didn’t vote.

Wills Prepares His Council Agenda by Ivan Pereira - Queens Campaigner

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Ruben Wills campaigns outside PS 223 in southeast Queens on election day. Photo by Christina Santucci

In the week since he won the special election to the southeast Queens City Council seat, Ruben Wills said he has been hard at work at making sure his constituents’ voices are heard when he enters City Hall.

The councilman-elect for the 28th Council District, which includes the neighborhoods of Jamaica, South Ozone Park, Richmond Hill and Rochdale Village, said he has been visiting with community leaders and constituents to hear their concerns and work on his agenda.

“It is just starting to settle in because we have been working, working, working,” Wills said of his Nov. 2 victory in the non-partisan election. “I haven’t had the chance to absorb it and smile.”

Wills, 39, filled the seat that suddenly opened up when Councilman Thomas White died Aug. 27.

The Democratic former aide said he already has a plan to help the district and has starting working on implementing plans for the community. He has met with the borough president and Aqueduct Race Track developer Genting New York about the jobs that will be created by the racino project.

He is also talking with the principals and parents of PS 30 and PS 40 in Jamaica, PS 147 in Cambria Heights and IS 231 in Springfield Gardens, which are slated for closure by the city.

“The education agenda is something that I have been working out. This is not a one-sided thing. It’s not just about if you have a child in the school. You can have a nephew or neighbor in the school and it affects them, too,” he said.

Wills said he also has long-term plans for the other problems that have been crippling the neighborhood. He is looking into drafting legislation that would curb the foreclosure problems in southeast Queens and has spoken with the NYPD’s chief of community affairs to see what can be done to stop the growing cases of violent crime and murders in the area.

Wills said the best solution was for law enforcement and residents to work together to combat crime.

“We want to let people know what’s going on with the gangs so we can discuss ways on the best possible solution to deal with it,” he said.

Wills won with 31.17 percent of the total vote and beat out Nicole Paultre-Bell, Albert Baldeo, Allan Jennings, Charles Bilal, Harpreet Singh Toor and Martha Taylor Butler, who had 436 votes, or 4.06 percent, according to unofficial results from the city Board of Elections.

Wills said that as of Monday the only challengers who had contacted him were Toor and Baldeo, both of whom congratulated his victory. He did, however, get congratulatory phone calls from U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-Jamaica) and Councilman James Sanders (D-Laurelton), who both endorsed Paultre-Bell during her campaign.

Wills, who was endorsed by former bosses state Sen. Shirley Huntley (D-Jamaica) and Councilman Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans), said his years of work and trust with the community is what led to his victory.

“I had the confidence of the most important people in the community: the voters,” he said.

Public Advocate De Blasio Demands Disclosure from Gov. Pataki’s 501c(4): Revere America...

De Blasio Challenges Former Governor Pataki to Publicly Debate Why Revere America’s Contributors are Hidden from the Public

Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, along with Representatives Yvette Clarke, Carolyn Maloney, Gregory Meeks, Jerrold Nadler, José E. Serrano, Nydia M. Velázquez, and Anthony Weiner, today demanded that former New York State Governor George Pataki disclose what corporations are funding his 501(c)(4) organization, Revere America. The request sent to Governor Pataki, who is the Chairman for Revere America, highlighted his past public commitments to restrictions and disclosure on unlimited spending by outside interest groups.

According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Revere America has spent $2,184,212 nationwide, including $695,054 in New York State this election cycle under Pataki’s chairmanship, all while refusing to disclose any of its contributors to the public. The Public Advocate challenged Governor Pataki to participate in a public debate about his decision to keep the source of Revere America’s funding secret.

“As Governor, George Pataki defended our democracy, now he’s undermining it,” said Public Advocate Bill de Blasio. “Revere America is funneling millions of dollars into our elections, all while hiding any corporate contributions from the public eye. If Governor Pataki refuses to reveal the sources of his funding, he should at minimum be willing to participate in a public debate so he can explain why he is keeping shareholders, consumers and the New Yorkers he used to serve in the dark.”



Demand Disclosure: Revere America from Bill de Blasio on Vimeo.

“The Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United was an astounding example of judicial activism,” said Rep. Jerrold Nadler. “The justices answered a question they were not asked and struck down a century of law prohibiting independent expenditures by corporations and unions using their general funds in favoring or opposing particular candidates. And as predicted we have seen corporations draw on general treasury funds to finance candidate advertising without any transparency, this is bad for our country and democracy. I join with my colleagues in government and demand accountability and disclosure of all contributions that have been used to support election-related advertising.”

Take action NOW...send an email to Pataki demanding disclosure


Last week, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio sent formal requests to sixteen non-profit organizations and trade associations on all sides of the political spectrum, including Revere America, requesting disclosure of any corporations that are contributing to their electioneering efforts. From September 1st to October 8th, these organizations have spent over $22 million, according to electioneering reports filed with the Federal Election Commission.

Governor Pataki’s actions as Chairman of Revere America stand in sharp contrast to his initiatives and statements as Governor. While serving as Governor he publicly stated, “You have to restrict what individuals can do with unlimited amounts of their own money or what interest groups can do in a way that now is completely unaccountable.” Additionally, following through on a campaign pledge, Pataki also introduced a campaign finance reform package that included dramatically lowering contribution limits, enhancing disclosure and cracking down on sham issue ads.

Today’s action is part of an ongoing campaign by Public Advocate de Blasio to reduce the impact of the Citizens United decision on the electoral process. It builds upon the work the Public Advocate has done over the past several months – most notably using public actions or negotiations to persuade corporations like Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Morgan Stanley to adopt policies against spending treasury dollars in elections.

The New York City Public Advocate is the second highest citywide elected official and serves as a trustee for the New York City Employees' Retirement System, which manages more than $30 billion in assets, one of the largest funds of its kind in the nation. Since the Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United eliminated longstanding restrictions on corporate spending in elections, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio has been pressuring corporations to reform their political spending practices to reduce the impact of the decision.

Resorts World New York Groundbreaking Ceremony at Aqueduct Racetrack - October 28th, 2010 Slideshow

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Wills Outraises Paultre-Bell by Ivan Pereira - YourNabe.com

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Ex-Huntley staffer nets near $51K in race for White council seat

Ruben Wills has a major financial lead over Sean Bell’s fiancee, his chief rival for late City Councilman Thomas White’s vacated seat, who has raised roughly $6,000 for her bid, campaign finance records show.

Although major groups and other elected officials, such as the Rev. Al Sharpton, City Councilman James Sanders (D-Laurelton) and U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-Jamaica), have been throwing their support behind Nicole Paultre-Bell, only 15 individuals have given her money for her campaign, according to the city Campaign Fiance Board.

Wills — who has the backing of his former boss, state Sen. Shirley Huntley (D-Jamaica); Councilman Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans); and state Assemblywoman Barbara Clark (D-Jamaica) — has the financial backing of 157 contributors and is the only candidate in the race to receive matching public finds, campaign finance records show.

So far, he has collected a total of $50,921, with the largest donation of $1,375 from Local 1182, the union that represents traffic enforcement agents, according to campaign finance records. Wills has spent more than $7,000 on his campaign, with the largest outlays going to former state Sen. Martin Connor, who has been paid $1,500 to act as his attorney, according to the records.

Paultre-Bell, was given the green light to appear on the Nov. 2 ballot by a city Board of Elections judge last week, following a challenge to her petitions by Wills.

So far, she has received more than $6,000 in contributions, with the largest donation coming from New Jersey physician Christopher Kyriakides, who gave her campaign $1,350, Campaign Finance Board records show. All of her other donations are from single individuals and her attorney, Sanford Rubenstein, so far, according to the records. Paultre-Bell has spent $3,185 for her bid as of this week, including $3,000 to Oakland Gardens resident Jesus Ocasio to help with her signature petitioning, according to the Campaign Finance Board.

Albert Baldeo, who ran unsuccessfully for White’s seat in 2005, has more than $46,000 in his campaign coffers, with $27,000 coming from loans and nearly $4,000 coming out of his own pocket, according to the board. So far he has spent more than $19,000 on his current bid for office, including $3,350 to a political voter file vendor known as Prime New York for voter data, campaign finance records show.

Alan Jennings, who held the seat until he was censured by the City Council and forced out in the 2005 Democratic primary, has raised more than $7,000, with the largest contribution coming from a retired Jamaica resident named Norma Taylor, who gave him $1,375, campaign finance records show. He has spent more than $4,276 on his bid, including $590 that was given to Omar McClain for help in gathering petition signatures.

Harpreet Toor has raised more than $9,000 for his campaign, including a $1,001 donation from South Richmond Hill resident Prem Singh, based on the records. He has spent more than $6,000 on his campaign, including a $2,000 expenditure for voter data from the New York Public Affairs Group.

Charles Bilal has raised a total of $370 from $10 donations from 37 individuals, according to campaign finance records. He has not listed any expenditures for the race, campaign finance records show.

Although the city Board of Elections lists Martha Butler as a candidate for the race, there are no campaign finance listings for her as of press time Tuesday.

Shirley Huntley Steered $33,000 Member Item To Top Aide Ruben Wills, Now Running For Council by Chris Bragg - City Hall News

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Ruben Wills’ non-Profit never filed tax returns, purpose and expenditures remain opaque...

In the City Council special election to replace the late Tom White, Ruben Wills is citing his work for a non-profit called New York 4 Life—an organization he founded in September 2006 and still runs—as one of his prime qualifications.

What that qualification actually entails, though, is unclear: New York 4 Life lacks a website, and few details about the organization’s work exist. Wills has never filed a tax return detailing the organization’s spending. The non-profit is registered to Wills’ residence at 194-19 115th Drive in St. Albans, Queens.

And the group has just one apparent source of funding: a $33,000 member item steered to it in 2008 by State Sen. Shirley Huntley—for whom Wills was then serving as chief of staff.

Wills left Huntley’s office in June 2008 to run for Congress against Rep. Greg Meeks, three months after the cash for New York 4 Life was approved. He soon dropped the bid, and instead ran an unsuccessful 2009 Council primary against White.

A December 2009 document filed with the attorney general’s office—more than three years after the group was incorporated, and more than a year after the member item was included in the budget—explains New York 4 Life’s purpose: to “empower residents to positively impact the community at large from changes made within themselves by providing immediate information on matters of finance, health and overall quality of life.” A 2008 press release sent out by Wills’s congressional campaign, meanwhile, said the group’s intent was to promote “civic literacy, financial empowerment, and with there [sic] single parent initiatives has touched over 600 single mothers to date.”

In an interview, Wills defended the group’s work, saying that the IRS had never required him to file a tax return because New York 4 Life never had any revenue apart from funding out of Wills’ own pocket.

The original start date for the contract to deliver the member items was set to be Dec. 7, 2009, but the contract was not actually approved by the comptroller’s office until Aug. 19, 2010, according to data from the state comptroller’s office.

Wills said he had voluntarily delayed receiving the money because he wanted to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest that could have come from getting money as he was running for Congress in 2008.

“I didn’t want the appearance of impropriety,” Wills said, discussing the member item grant from Huntley.

Wills said he had yet to actually receive the $33,000 from the state, but expects the money will primarily go to cover out-of-pocket expenses the non-profit incurred the past four years. That includes advertising for an event for single mothers and food purchases for an anti-obesity program, he said. Wills said he plans to recoup these costs from the state grant when it arrives.

In an initial interview last week, Wills offered to provide information detailing the non-profit’s expenditures, but later said his accountant could not immediately produce the information. He had also offered to provide records of news accounts highlighting the New York 4 Life’s work. He did not produce those either.

The December 2009 document registering New York 4 Life with the attorney general’s charities bureau lists Wills as its president and executive director of the group; Sharon Carnegie as treasurer; Manelva Herrington as secretary; and Ray Trotman as chief financial officer.

All of them also worked on Wills’ campaign in 2009 for City Council against White, and they had similar job titles. Carnegie served as treasurer for the campaign, pulling in more that $20,000; Herrington made $300 petitioning; and Trotman made $1,250 for audit compliance services, according to campaign finance records.

Though the non-profit is still registered to Wills’ home, Wills said that New York 4 Life is now actually run out of the office he used during his 2009 Council campaign, in a residence at 134-03 Liberty Ave. in Jamaica. (Wills said the non-profit gets its mail at yet another address, 229-19 Merrick Blvd.)

Wills rented the space from the property’s owner, Doreen Totarum, for $650 a month during the Council race, though she donated more than $2,600 to the campaign, offsetting most of the cost of office rent. Wills said that Totarum is now giving him the space rent-free to run the non-profit.

In a subsequent interview, though, when Wills was asked where he his office for his new Council campaign would be located, he said it would also be run out of the 134-03 Liberty Ave. address—the location where he initially had said New York 4 Life is housed.

Wills said that New York 4 Life office would be moved from the Liberty Ave. address to another address in southeast Queens.

“Everything we’re doing,” Wills said, “is to avoid a conflict of interest.”

Back to School - Free Gap Clothing @ Roy Wilkins Park - September 11th, 2010...

What: Free Gap School Clothing

Where: Roy Wilkins Park

119th Avenue @ Merrick Blvd Entrance

When: September 11, 2010

Time: 

Registration: 9am - Noon

Program: 12:30pm - 3:30pm

Names Circulate For Race To Fill Tom White’s Council Seat by Chris Bragg - City Hall News

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The funeral is not until Thursday, but the jockeying was well underway by the weekend.

Until Tom White is buried, at least, the potential candidates for his Council seat covering southeast Queens seat are reluctant to go on the record about their ambitions. But though they will not speak publicly, the consensus on who is on the list of potential candidates has already begun to take shape, as has the consensus that Assembly Member Vivian Cook—who is herself suffering from health problems that kept her out of Albany and had some questioning her own plans for a re-election run—will play the kingmaker in the non-partisan special election set for Nov. 2, the day of the general election.

Of the dozen names floating around, the most serious possible contenders are seen as Martha Taylor Butler, the chief of staff for Assembly Member Michelle Titus, and Anthony Andrews, the director of student activities at York College, who came in just behind Allan Jennings in the 2001 race for the seat. Andrews was extremely close with White, and is also close with Cook.

Reached by phone, Andrews declined to comment on his plans out of respect for White.

“I’ve certainly been involved in the community in the past, and certainly would like to be in the future, but for now it’s too soon to discuss anything like that,” Andrews said.

Butler did not return a phone call seeking comment.

Ruben Wills, the former chief of staff for State Sen. Shirley Huntley, who ran for the Council last year—and reportedly threw a punch during a dispute at the Board of Elections last year with Allan Jennings, who was trying to reclaim the seat he lost to White in 2005—is also seen as a potentially strong candidate.

Others who may run include Jennings, who was censured for sexually harassing staffers while on the Council, and Albert Baldeo, a perennial candidate who ran for the seat in 2005 and is now running for district leader with the county party’s backing.

Jennings and Baldeo also declined to comment out of respect for White. Wills did not return a phone call seeking comment.

Others being talked about as potential candidates include Taj Ramjkumar, a local district leader and professor at Borough of Manhattan Community College; political consultant Patrick Jenkins (though his candidacy appears less likely after his appointment Monday as deputy director of Andrew Cuomo’s campaign for governor); Elizabeth Goldsmith, the president and founder of Mothers Against Guns; and Charles Bilal, an imam at the Masjib Al Hamdul Lillah mosque in Jamaica.

One potential wildcard: if State Senate candidate Lynn Nunes loses the Sept. 14 primary against Huntley, he would technically have enough time to switch gears and mount a campaign for the Council seat. Nunes came within four votes of beating White last year, and his name recognition has only increased since then in a Senate campaign in which he has already raised more that $175,000.

Reached by phone, Nunes declined comment.

Were Huntley to lose the primary, she could also end up in the Council race.

Cook, president of the Queens County Democratic Committee, is a key powerbroker in the area who helped put Senate President Malcolm Smith, Rep. Greg Meeks, Titus and others into office.

But Cook has been sidelined with an unspecified illness and has not attended an Assembly session since Mar. 23, according to Assembly records. Still, she is running for re-election and controls some 40 percent of the district leader votes in the Council district.

The Queens Democratic Party’s decision will likely be a bellwether of whether Cook still holds the same sway over local politics as she did before her health began to decline.

Though the election is non-partisan and candidates will be able to win matching funds, the county party’s endorsement will still be a major boon, given the condensed time frame to petition onto the ballot and to fundraise.

Update 12:20 p.m.
A reader wrote in to point out that the deadline to apply for Campaign Finance Board matching funds is Tuesday, Sept. 7. That makes it unlikely that either Nunes or Huntley would be able to join the program in the case of a possible Council race, since applying for matching funds in advance of their Sept. 14 State Senate primary would be very politically difficult.

The 2010 - 2011 NYC Exams for Jobs Booklet..!

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The New York City City-wide Administrative Services "Exams for Jobs" booklet has been updated with the latest information about upcoming civil service exams.

Included in the book:

• Complete schedule of upcoming exams
• Upcoming promotion exams for City employees
• How to apply online or by mail
• Directions to our new Computerized Testing Centers
• Starting salaries
• Job descriptions
• The education or work experience you need to qualify

View Complete Booklet (in pdf)  

New York City is an Equal Opportunity Employer

h/t to: Rep Greg Meeks for the info...

Obama Cabinet Member Takes Tour of Jamaica Bay by Ivan Pereira - YourNabe.com

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U.S. Rep. Anthony Wiener (from l.), U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and Park Ranger Dandelion Dilluvio remove an invasive vine in Jamaica Bay during Salazar's visit to the ecosystem. Photo by Christina Santucci

The U.S. secretary of the Interior paid a visit to Jamaica Bay Monday and borough elected officials said they hope his trip will have a positive impact on the future of its environment.

This is the first time Ken Salazar visited the 31-square-mile ecosystem and got up close with its fauna and flora, according to U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-Forest Hills), who accompanied the secretary during the tour.

“There are a lot of, ‘Oh, wow,’ moments when you visit Jamaica Bay,” the congressman said.

Salazar, who was touring several Gateway National Recreation Area sites, including the Statue of Liberty, walked the path of the bay’s wildlife refuge and took a boat tour of the bay along with park rangers, Weiner and Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-Jamaica).

Park experts explained to Salazar how Jamaica Bay’s environment is closely tied to the nearly 400 species of birds, fish and other wildlife that populate the area. The ecosystem serves as a home to many of the animals during their migratory patterns, according to Barry Sullivan, the superintendent of the Gateway National Recreation Area.

“It’s unbelievably important to the ecosystem, not just for the city ... but also for the entire Atlantic coast,” he said.

Leaders and environmentalists say the bay’s importance to the area means it should qualify for more preservation projects.

Its saltwater marshland has been dissipating for decades and more than 70 percent of the ecosystem has been lost. Over the last 10 years, city, state and federal governments have been providing funding, planning to stop the decay and restoring some of the lost marshland.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been restoring several sections of the marshland, including Elders Point West. In the winter, the city announced it was dedicating $100 million over the next decade to enhance its wastewater treatment plants around the ecosystem so the facilities discharge less nitrogen, which causes the plants to decay.

Dan Mundy Jr., a member of the Jamaica Bay Ecowatchers, an environmental group that has been advocating for protecting the bay, said projects are coming along well.

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“The results for the sites of growth are doing very good so far,” he said.

Weiner said he thinks Salazar’s visit will help bring more funding and attention to the environment since the secretary has had a hands-on experience with the bay.

“So much about the [restoration projects] is about oiling the squeaky wheel. This is not a well-known park,” he said.

Additional photos from the Rockaway Wave...

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar Visits Gateway NPS at Jamaica Bay Visitors Center with Rep Weiner and Rep Meeks...

Click here to view these pictures larger

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar visits Jamaica Bay Visitor Center and walks West Pond Path with Congressman Anthony Weiner and Congressman Greg Meeks on Monday, July 26th...


View full screen slideshow...

Assembly Member Barbara Clark Petitions With The Dead In Southeast Queens by Andrew Hawkins - City Hall News

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Twelve-term Assembly Member Barbara Clark is counting on her old friends Gloria Black and Warrington Canston, two state committee members from Clark’s district in Southeast Queens, to help her win another term in office this year. And she did not let the fact that both Black and Canston are apparently dead deter her from putting their names at the top of her petitions.

Clark’s opponent, Clyde Vanel, a 36-year-old lawyer and former candidate for City Council in 2009, filed a challenge to Clark’s petitions with the Queens Board of Elections last Thursday. He said Clark’s indifference toward the petition-gathering process speaks to a wider sense of apathy in the community he hopes to provoke with his candidacy.

“That’s just ridiculous,” Vanel said. “Barbara’s county committee people, a majority of them don’t even know that they’re on county committee. We’re fighting against something that has historically kept a majority of the community uninvolved and outside the process.”

“Is a dead person a Democrat?” he asked. “I don’t know.”

But Clark could end up skating by without much damage to her re-election efforts. According to the Board of Elections, while it may seem odd to include the deceased on a candidate’s petitions, the signatures that are collected are technically counted as separate for each person on them. Therefore, while the fact that they are deceased makes Black and Canston ineligible for the ballot, as long as Clark herself is living (which she is), there is no legal problem.

Vanel said he would be disappointed if Clark got away with just a wrist slap, but noted he would not want to rob residents in the district the chance to choose between their two candidacies.

All the same, he used the opportunity to blast his opponent for doing a disservice to the political process, and to the memories of community leaders like Black and Canston, by turning in petitions that read more like the obituary pages.

“Clark is not getting people in involved and active in the process by using dead people. It’s a shame,” he said. “I have to tell my county committee people, who are working in the sun, working in the hot summer to collect signatures, that they may be running on the ballot against a dead person. It reflects badly on Clark and it reflects badly on the district.”

Vanel is part of a small-scale movement to challenge the political powerbase in Southeast Queens. He ran against and lost to Council Member Leroy Comrie last year in a race that garnered some attention for unveiling some of the dissatisfaction in the community with leaders like Comrie, Rep. Gregory Meeks and State Sen. Malcolm Smith.

Vanel has run into his own difficulties. He only raised $1,250 for the race, though Clark reported just $2,500 on hand, having raised $900. The Board of Elections also has identified a problem with a number of the petitions turned in by Vanel’s ally and mentor, Donnie Whitehead, who, along with his wife is running for district leader. Vanel said they are still mulling whether to contest the Board’s decision to disallow Whitehead and a handful of others from running as district leaders. Whitehead may run for state committee member instead, he confirmed.

“It’s been a struggle to open this process up,” Vanel said.

Clark could not be reached for comment.