Candidates Lining Up to Grab Council Seat by Lisa L. Colangelo - NY Daily News

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Hiram Monserrate (above) was elected to the state Senate, then arrested Dec. 19 for felony assault. (l to r) Francisco Moya, George R. Dixon, and Julissa Ferreras vie for his vacant seat. Pace, Schwartz/News

The Field of candidates hoping to replace Hiram Monserrate on the City Council is getting crowded.

At least three people -- including Julissa Ferreras, Francisco Moya and George R. Dixon -- have said they will be on the ballot for the Feb. 24 special election in the 21st District, which includes parts of Jackson Heights, Corona, East Elmhurst and Elmhurst.

Meanwhile, Monserrate’s influence on the race is in question since his Dec. 19 arrest for felony assault. Cops said Monserrate cut his girlfriend’s face. Monserrate said the injury was from an accident with a glass.

“I’m running on my record and working with every part of the district,” said Ferreras. “I’m getting a lot of calls. People in the community are very excited.”

Ferreras, 32, said she is hoping to "make history" as the first Latina to be elected in Queens.

She has worked with several local community groups, including Libre, a nonprofit that received city funds to provide English-language instruction and job placement. Investigations revealed the group lacked paperwork to show how it had spent hundreds of thousands of dollars.

"I have answered those questions to the voters and my supporters," she said. "I am willing and able to work with any agency to answer any questions."

Ferreras emphasized that she has received the endorsement of more than a dozen Council members and wants to focus on issues such as affordable housing and child care.

"I can go in and have colleagues I can work with," she said. "That speaks volumes."

Moya, a Democratic district leader, said he is best qualified to serve the neighborhoods because he has worked on the local and national levels.

Moya, 33, started the Corona Gardens Neighborhood Association when he was a teenager. He went on to work in Washington for Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez.

"We are on the brink of an affordable housing crisis," said Moya, who works in government affairs for a large media company.

He also said the district needs to look at downzoning to handle overdevelopment.

"The response from the people in the community has been overwhelmingly positive," Moya said of his candidacy.

Dixon, a 59-year-old Democratic district leader, said he is throwing his hat into the ring because the district is his "home."

Dixon, a Vietnam veteran, who is an executive board member of the East Elmhurst/Corona Civic Association, helps organize the Flushing Meadow Soap Box Derby and formerly served on Community Board 3.

"I have been involved in activities with young people and seniors," said Dixon, who owns a graphic arts and design company. "I have gained the trust of my fellow citizens."

lcolangelo@nydailynews.com

City Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley Carrying on a Family Tradition - NY Daily News

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The city council has several second-generation members who have followed in the footsteps of their parents. But newly minted member Elizabeth Crowley has them doubly beat.

Both her father and mother served in the Council - though very briefly in 1985, and in a different seat than the one she now occupies after three hard-fought campaigns.

Crowley, 31, was sworn in Wednesday to represent Queens' 30th District, which includes Middle Village, Glendale, Maspeth and parts of Ridgewood, Richmond Hill and Woodhaven.

Crowley, a Democrat, deposed Republican Anthony Como by 4,369 votes in November. Como had won the vacant seat in a special election last June by edging out Crowley by 41 votes.

The two could go head-to-head again this November, when the entire 51-member Council is up for election.

Crowley also lost a bid in 2001 for the same seat against Republican Dennis Gallagher, who resigned last year after pleading guilty to a sexual assault.

In welcoming remarks, Council Speaker Christine Quinn noted that Crowley was "the third member of her immediate family" to serve in the Council. "So we're very glad you're keeping this tradition going," Quinn said.

Crowley's father, Walter, was elected by the Council in January 1985 to fill a vacancy. But he died Sept. 24, 1985, at the age of 53 - just two weeks after winning the Democratic primary for reelection. The Council then named his widow, Mary, to fill out the three months left in that term.

That seat, now representing the 26th District, was won by Walter McCaffrey, who served until term limits forced him out in 2001. The current incumbent there is Democrat Eric Gioia.

Political veterans might remember that Walter Crowley had succeeded the now-late Thomas Manton when Manton became a Congressman in 1985. Manton had succeeded Geraldine Ferraro, who gave up her congressional seat to make her historic, though losing, vice presidential bid in 1984 on the Democratic ticket with Walter Mondale.

To add to the political pedigree that Elizabeth Crowley brings with her, she is a cousin of Rep. Joseph Crowley, who succeeded Manton both in Congress and as Queens Democratic boss.

In brief remarks before taking her oath, Elizabeth Crowley said she was proud to serve in the same chambers where her father and mother had served.

Noting she is one of 15 children, Councilwoman Crowley joked, "You have to imagine what it was like to grow up in the Crowley family. At the dinner table ... it was hard to get words in edgewise, but it has definitely prepared me for this opportunity."flombardi@nydailynews.com

Ricatto’s Campaign Bus Kills Ozone Park Boy by Ivan Pereira - YourNabe.com

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Police investigate the scene of an accident at the intersection of Rockaway and Cross Bay boulevards, where a 9-year-old boy was killed as he was crossing the street. Photo by Christina Santucci

A 9-year-old Ozone Park boy was killed Tuesday afternoon when he was struck by the campaign vehicle used by a City Council candidate at the corner of Cross Bay and Rockaway Boulevards, police said.

Ibrihim Ahmed was running west on Cross Bay Boulevard to get to the other side of the street around 3:30 p.m. when a black RV advertising Mike Ricatto’s campaign for the 32nd Council District hit him as it was heading north, according to police.

Ray Sierra, 19, who was at the corner of Liberty Avenue and Cross Bay Boulevard when the accident occurred, said he saw the vehicle trying to beat a yellow light as the boy rushed to cross nearly a dozen lanes.

“The kid had a chance to make it, but the bus cut him [off],” he said.

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Police said Ibrihim suffered a serious head wound and was declared dead at the scene by EMS. Although the driver of the RV — Alexander Aponte, 22, of Manhattan — stayed at the scene of accident, he was arrested after the authorities found he had a suspended license, according to a police spokeswoman. Additional charges were pending as of press time Tuesday night.

Police said Ibrihim lived at 106-07 79th Ave. with his family, but a person living at that address declined to comment. A man who said he was Ibrihim’s cousin came to the scene after the medical examiner’s office took the body away.

“He was a good boy,” he said before leaving the intersection.

Ricatto, 52 who is running in a special election next month for the seat vacated by state Sen. Joseph Addabbo (D-Howard Beach), released a statement later in the evening expressing his condolences and announced he would suspend his campaign until further notice.

“My thoughts and prayers go out to the family of the child whose life was taken in this tragic accident. I have children of my own and can’t imagine the pain of losing a child in an accident like the one that occurred today,” he said.

Officers searched the inside of the RV while they were surveying the crime scene for several hours.

“When I saw the truck sitting there, I thought it just stopped [in front of the boy.] I looked and saw the kid on the floor, and I was shocked” said Michael Tota, 18, who witnessed the accident.

Several residents who live and work near the intersection said it is very dangerous for both pedestrians and motorists. Mariah Guadagno, 12, who saw the boy hit, said she had seen several accidents before due to reckless drivers and walkers trying to beat the lights.

“This area is so accident prone,” she said.

A traffic camera is installed on the second lane of Cross Bay Boulevard, but it was not known what was videotaped during the accident, police said.

Reach reporter Ivan Pereira by e-mail at ipereira@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 146.

Crowley's First Day in the Council By Azi Paybarah - The New York Observer

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Today is Elizabeth Crowley’s first day as a member of the City Council. After being sworn in in front of her new colleagues, Crowley said she knows what it’s like to be part of a big family.

“My parents had 15 children,” said Crowley, whose father and mother both also served in the City Council. “I know sometimes it can be a little dysfunctional, but at the end of the day, we work hard together.”

Crowley ousted Republican Anthony Como after narrowly losing to him in a special election last June. Crowley had also run, unsuccessfully, for the seat in 2001, when she lost to Dennis Gallagher.

Gallagher resigned after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting a woman, which create the vacancy that Crowley eventually filled.

George Bush Top 10 Moments - David Letterman Show

George Bush Top 10 Moments - Damn Funny. Watch the dumbest US president ever with his natural oops!!!!

Ricatto to Run for 32nd Council District Seat by Lee Landor - Queens Chronicle

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Ozone Park businessman Mike Ricatto is the sixth candidate in the race for the 32nd Council District seat. The special election for the seat will take place on Feb. 24.

The interview with Michael Ricatto conducted for this story took place on Monday, Jan. 5. The article was written on Tuesday afternoon, prior to a fatal accident in which Ricatto’s campaign bus struck and killed a 9-year-old boy in Ozone Park around 3:40 p.m. Tuesday. Ricatto has since suspended all campaign activities.

Michael Ricatto spent practically all of Monday talking. He introduced himself to hundreds of people, chatted with acquaintances and consulted with dozens of volunteers, who had, that morning, kicked off his campaign.

The 52-year-old Republican businessman still has a lot of talking left to do: just one month after Ricatto officially announced his run for the 32nd Council District seat, Mayor Michael Bloomberg set a date for the non-partisan special election.

Ricatto and at least five others have until Feb. 24 to gain recognition and earn the confidence — and votes — of residents of Howard Beach, Ozone Park, Richmond Hill, Woodhaven and Rockaway.

They are competing for the seat vacated on Jan. 1 by state Sen. Joseph Addabbo Jr. (D-Howard Beach), who served as the district’s councilman for seven years before defeating former Sen. Serphin Maltese on Nov. 4.

Although he decided to run about a year ago, Ricatto didn’t publicize his intentions until mid-December, leaving him in a position where he now has to play catch up. But he claims that in the short time since he announced his candidacy, “name recognition is getting to be quite good.” The reason, Ricatto said; “People like what I have to say.”

One thing he repeatedly says is no to tax increases. “I don’t believe we should have tax increases on property taxes now. The economy can’t afford it,” Ricatto said. “We’re going to drive people and industry further away from New York by doing that.”

Already, the city is competing with some “very fine” areas, including Long Island and New Jersey, for both their populations and industry, according to Ricatto, a former Long Island resident.

“We can’t make it too expensive for people to live here and that’s what we’re doing,” he said. “Instead of increasing our base for taxes, we’re increasing taxes on our base and making our base smaller.”

The city has to put an end to this, the former exporter said. It has to “invite industry and people back to the neighborhood because that’s where they belong.”

Citing planned tax increases and recent talk of toll placement on the East River bridges, Ricatto said he thinks the government is “trying to overextend its bounds.” As someone who has always believed in small government and low taxes, Ricatto refuses to stand for that. “If I’m in City Council I’m going to do my utmost to make sure that it doesn’t happen,” he said.

Excited for the election and to do what he calls a “civic duty,” Ricatto is giving the campaign his all. And, he is confident it’s going to pay off. “I’m a businessman. I’m not a gambler,” he said.

“Being a businessman, you tend to put your money where you think you’re going to have success. Well, I’m putting my time, effort, energy into something where I believe I am going to have success. I wouldn’t do it otherwise.”

Ricatto was set to hold a meet-and-greet event at his campaign headquarters, located at 161-08 Cross Bay Blvd. in Howard Beach, at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 8. Due to the fatal accident in which his campaign bus was involved, Ricatto suspended all campaign activities, including this event.

Among the contenders competing with Ricatto are Democratic District Leaders Frank Gulluscio of Howard Beach and Lew Simon of Rockaway, and Ozone Park Republican District Leader Eric Ulrich.

Rockaway resident and retired NYPD lieutenant Glenn DiResto, and Sal DiBernardo, who is running as an independent, also declared their participation in the 32nd Council District seat special election.

Another likely candidate who has not yet officially declared a run is Democratic District Leader Geraldine Chapey of Rockaway.

The candidate elected in February will serve as a City Council member until the term ends next January. He or she must get re-elected Nov. 3 in order to serve the next four-year term.

Review Your Bills By Heidi Harrison Chain President 112th Precinct Community Council - Guest Columnist

Review Your Bills

By Heidi Harrison Chain

President 112th Precinct Community Council

In this economy some vendors are trying new marketing techniques to entice us to buy additional products. This week I heard about people receiving a bill for “renewal/new order” for a magazine subscription to a magazine that they had never ordered and never received. Rather than include literature regarding purchasing an additional magazine, there was simply a bill. So my consumer advice to you is to be sure that you read all of your bills before you pay the bill. In the instance of the bill in question, we are sure that if the individual paid for the new magazine that they would receive it- -- but it was not something that they wanted.

In addition, this morning a major department store announced that due to computer errors, some of their customers mistakenly were charged twice for their purchases during the holiday period. SO YOU MUST review your department store bills before paying these bills.

There are other instances of people who receive bills for products that they did not order and never received. Regardless of whether the bill is for an option to receive a new product or if the bill purports to be for a item that you ordered, or if it for two of the item that you did in fact purchase--- you must review your bills to be sure that the item listed is something that you want to purchase or that you have already purchased.

The Federal Trade Commission on its website had the following quote:

“Tricking consumers into paying bills they don't owe for products and services they didn't order is one sure way to attract the attention of the Federal Trade Commission,” said Lydia B. Parnes, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.

You also must review your credit card bills carefully to insure that the purchases listed are yours. There are so many ways that people fraudulently can obtain your account number and charge items to your bill that is not yours.

News from the 112^th Precinct Community Council:

We have new FREE 2009 safety calendars for you. Please come to the January 21^st precinct council meeting to get you calendar.

Interview with City Council Candidate Julissa Ferreras on THE PEREZ NOTES at 7PM on January 7th...

On Wednesday, January 7th at 7PM Roberto will be interviewing Julissa Ferreras who is running in a special election in the 21st councilmatic district to replace State Senator Hiram Monserrate.

Julissa served as Councilman Monserrate's Chief of Staff and also worked for NALEO.

To listen to the interview go to: www.lagcc.cuny.edu/webradio

THE PEREZ NOTES airs every Wednesday from 6-8PM so spread the news and tell a friend.

Council Contender's Campaign Truck Kills Boy, 9 - Runnin' Scared - Village Voice

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Friday we told you there were two Republicans running in the special election to fill the city council seat vacated by state senator Joe Addabbo. (The Democrats contending for the seat are Lew Simon, Frank Gulluscio, Geraldine Chapey, and Glenn DiResto.)

This was mainly relevant because Addabbo's Queens district is pretty conservative and GOP candidates may have an advantage. But the first Republican, Eric Ulrich, may go it alone after today: a flatbed truck campaigning for GOP contender #2, Michael P. Ricatto, has just run over and killed a 9-year-old boy.

The truck bearing the legend "Mike Ricatto Special Election 32nd City Council District" hit the boy at the intersection of Cross Bay Boulevard and Liberty Avenue in Ozone Park.

Ricatto is a prominent local businessman with fingers in a number of pies, including engine and transmission dealerships and a Flushing club called Mike's Whiskey Bar (or, as Ricatto's website calls it, the St. James) , of which Club Planet says "There's not much to be said about the cocktails at Mike's Whiskey Bar. They're not necessarily cheap, but they're as tasty as they are potent... a delicious and dangerous combination." The boy's name has not been released and the campaign has not yet released a statement.

Update: The boy's name is Ibrihim Ahmed. The driver was found to have a suspended license and arrested. Ricatto has suspended his campaign activities. "Family loss comes before any politics," he said in a written statement.

Pol Bus Kills Kid by Philip Messing, C.J. Sullivan and Cathy Burke - New York Post

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A campaign bus for a candidate in the City Council's special election killed a 9-year-old Queens boy scampering home from school yesterday, devastating the child's family and stunning the politician, who suspended his race.

PS 63 fourth-grader Ibrihim Ahmed was struck by the bus bearing the legend "Mike Ricatto Special Election 32nd City Council District" at the intersection of Cross Bay Boulevard and Liberty Avenue in Ozone Park.

He was pronounced dead at the scene at around 3:40 p.m.

The operator, Alexander Aponte, 22, who lives on the Upper East Side, was charged with driving with a suspended license and failure to yield the right of way.

Republican Ricatto, 52, a prominent businessman in the conservative 32nd District in Queens, which includes Ozone Park and Howard Beach, was not on the bus.

"I think this must have been the worst day of my life," an emotional Ricatto told The Post.

"I have a boy his age. It's absolutely a tragedy - a little boy like that. I really can't continue [the campaign] right now. It's such a blur.

"His poor father," Ricatto said, his voice cracking.

The campaign released a statement saying all activities were suspended "until further notice because the reverence for family loss comes before any politics."

At Ibrihim's home on 79th Avenue, not far from the scene of the tragedy, his family gathered to mourn their loss and comfort one another.

"He was always playing around and joking," said a 23-year-old cousin who did not want to give her name

She said Ibrihim leaves an older sister, and that family members are devout Muslims.

One witness to the accident said it looked like the vehicle sped up to make a light "and smacked into the kid" at the busy intersection.

"The kid had the light and was trying to run faster, but he didn't make it," said Raymond Sierra.

Neighborhood resident Mary Sheeley, 35, called the site a dangerous crossing.

"I'm always scared to cross this intersection," she said.

Ricatto is running in the special election to fill the City Council seat vacated by state Sen. Joe Addabbo. He's well-known in the area for Ricatto Enterprises - which operates engine and transmission dealerships - and the Whiskey Bar in Flushing.

Additional reporting by Erin Calabrese and Simon EskowRe

9-Year-Old Struck And Killed By RV In Queens - wcbstv.com

Accident Vehicle Used By Campaign For Man Running For Political Office In 32nd City Council District

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There was a deadly accident in Queens on Tuesday afternoon. A 9-year-old boy was struck and killed by an RV in Ozone Park.

The child was crossing at the intersection of Cross Bay Boulevard and Liberty Avenue when he was struck.

"He almost made it to the sidewalk," witness Raymond Sierra said. "He was running trying to make the light. The RV tried to make it to the light and hit the kid."

The RV involved in the crash is a campaign vehicle for Mike Ricatto, who's running in a special election in the 32nd City Council district.

The driver was not charged.

Child Hit And Killed By Campaign Vehicle In Queens - NY1 News

Unofficially, I have heard that the child killed was between 8-10 yrs old and that he attended PS 63 in Ozone Park...Rumor has it that GOP City Council candidate Mike Ricatta's son may have been driving the RV vehicle...

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A child has allegedly been hit and killed by a campaign RV in Queens.

Details are still coming in, but emergency officials said the accident happened around 3:30 p.m. at Woodhaven and Rockaway Boulevard in Ozone Park.

The RV has "Mike Ricatto Special Election 32nd City Council District" written on the side.

Ricatto is a Republican businessman running for the seat vacated by Joseph Addabbo.

NY1 has reached out to Ricatto for comment, but so far have not heard back.

NY1 has a crew on the scene and will have more information as it becomes available.

Special Election Countdown with City Council candidate Frank Gulluscio - Roma View on January 7th...

Special Election Countdown with City Council candidate Frank Gulluscio
Wednesday, January 7th...
Roma View 160-05 Crossbay Blvd, Howard Beach
7:30 - 9:30 pm
Suggested Donation: $10

Click on image to enlarge...

Special Election Date Announced by Pervaiz Shallwani-- Newsday.com

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City voters will head to the polls Feb. 24 in a special election to fill three City Council seats, including the post vacated by the embattled Hiram Monserrate of Jackson Heights.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced the date of the election yesterday.

Under the City Charter, Bloomberg had to wait until the council seats were officially vacated at the start of the new year before announcing the election. Several candidates already are vying to fill the seats, all of which were held by Democrats.

Winners in the special election will fill out the remainder of the four-year terms, which run through Dec. 31.

Monserrate, 41, who was elected to the state Senate in the November general election, faces charges of assault and criminal possession of a weapon for allegedly slashing the face of Karla Giraldo, his girlfriend, with a broken glass during an argument in his Jackson Heights apartment last month.

Prosecutors said the slashing occurred because the couple was arguing over an item Monserrate had found in Giraldo's purse. But in court papers, Monserrate said he tripped while bringing his girlfriend a glass of water, causing the injuries.

Giraldo, 30, who received 20 stitches above her left eye, has denied that Monserrate assaulted her.

He is due back on court next week. If convicted of the charges, he would have to resign his Senate seat.

The other two seats being vacated were those of Joseph Addabbo of Howard Beach and Michael McMahon of Staten Island.

Addabbo was elected to the state Senate, beating out long-time Republican state Sen. Serphin Maltese of Glendale. McMahon was elected to the House seat once held by disgraced Rep. Vito Fossella, a Republican.

Fossella did not seek re-election after his drunken-driving arrest in suburban Virginia in May led to revelations that he had a child from an extramarital affair. Fossella, who is married with three children, was convicted in October. His five-day jail sentence is pending his appeal for a jury trial.

Special Vote Planned for Vacant City Council Seats by Michael Saul - NY Daily News

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A special election will be held next month to fill three vacant City Council seats - two from Queens and one from Staten Island, Mayor Bloomberg announced Saturday.

The special election will be held Feb. 24 to fill the seats of the three former councilmen, all Democrats whose resignations became effective this past week.

In November, Joseph Addabbo and Hiram Monserrate of Queens were elected to the state Senate. And Michael McMahon, who represented the north shore of Staten Island, is replacing Vito Fossella in Congress.

Fossella, the lone Republican representing the city in the House, did not seek reelection following his drunken driving arrest last year and confession that he fathered a child out-of-wedlock.

The elections will be nonpartisan, and the winners will serve through Dec. 31.

The entire City Council - plus the mayor, city controller and public advocate - face election this fall for full terms beginning Jan. 1.