Month: November 2010

There an outdoor ice rink opening in Glendale this week across the street from Atlas Park.

Thoughts?

From the Glendale Register:

If you’ve a Queens resident that has been looking for a place to skate, your prayers have been answered, as an outdoor rink is headed to Glendale.

Now I am really upset.  Glendale, the neighborhood where you wash your stoop every month , clean windows every week and sweep the sidewalk every day.  Yes washed inflatable tent windows every week…has been awarded by the Daily News as having the most piles of doggy doo in the entire city.  Cooper Avenue is the problem – it had the highest concentration of complaints.    Any thoughts on how we can prevent this from continuing.

Governor

Andrew Cuomo

State Comptroller

Thomas DiNapoli

Attorney General

Eric Schneiderman

STATE SENATE RACES

District 10

Shirley Huntley

District 11

Tony Avella

In a major victory for Senate Democrats, former City Councilman Tony Avella beat Republican Senator Frank Padavan in a closely watched race for the 11th State Senate seat.

Avella’s win was a milestone; Padavan has tobogan hinchable represented the district, which includes the neighborhoods of Douglaston, Little Neck, Hollis and Floral Park, among others, since 1973.

He rose to become a top Republican leader in Albany, but was targeted by Senate Democrats in recent years and nearly lost reelection in 2008.

This year Avella was able to convince voters that a change was needed. He ran a tight campaign, and took advantage of high name recognition – his former council district largely overlaps Padavan’s.

For Republicans the defeat represented a major blow.

District 12

Michael Gianaris

Assemblyman Michael Gianaris defeated Republican challenger Patrick Tina in the race to replace Senator George Onorato, who did not seek re-election.

Tina, a Jackson Heights native who recently moved back after nearly a decade out-of-state, campaigned on issues including school choice and the Albany budget crisis. He ultimately proved to be no match for Gianaris, who has worked under state legislators for decades and has authored significant bills of his own during his 10-year career in the State Assembly.

The 12th Senatorial District includes the communities of Astoria, Ditmars, Steinway, Ravenswood, Queensbridge, Long Island City, Dutch Kills, Sunnyside, Woodside and Ridgewood.

District 13

Jose Peralta

District 14

Malcolm Smith

District 15

Joseph Addabbo

Democratic Senator Joseph Addabbo Jr. defeated Republican Anthony Como in one of the state’s most closely watched races, handing a blow to Republicans who inflatable water slide saw the conservative South Queens district as highly winnable.

Addabbo took office in 2008, the first Democrat to represent the 15th Senatorial district, which stretches from Howard Beach to Middle Village- in several decades.

Senate Republicans saw an opportunity to retake the seat and poured money into the race. Despite the help Como, a former city councilman, could not capitalize.

In his first term in office, Addabbo established a reputation for solid constituent services, but caught criticism for his vote against gay marriage.

District 16

Toby Ann Stavisky

via Queens Ledger

Assembly Races:

District 22

Grace Meng

District 23

Audrey Pheffer

Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer beat Republican challenger Harold Paez in a lopsided contest to represent the 23rd Assembly District, which covers Rockaway Beach, Howard Beach and Ozone Park.

Pheffer has been in Albany since 1987.

Her long track record in the community was enough Inflatable Water Park For Sale to overcome anti-incumbent sentiment in a tough election year for career politicians.

Paez, a doctor and first-time political candidate, ran an efficient campaign on a reform platform, but was outmatched by the veteran lawmaker.

District 24

David Weprin

District 25

Rory Lancman

District 26

Ed Braunstein

Democrat Ed Braunstein defeated Republican Vince Tabone in a tight race for Ann-Margaret Carrozza’ vacant Assembly seat. The 26th assembly district covers the neighborhoods of Whitestone, Bayside and Douglaston, among others.

Braunstein, a former aide to Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, beat several opponents in a heated primary campaign, then carried the momentum into the general election.

Tabone, the vice chairman of the county Republican Party, is a former city officials and longtime civic activist who has made several previous runs for office. Despite support from county Republicans, Tabone failed to make significant inroads with voters.

Carrozza dropped her bid for reelection earlier this year, after facing a residency investigation by the Attorney General’s office and questions over her Albany attendance record.

District 27

Nettie Mayersohn

District 28

Andrew Hevesi

In a tough year for incumbents Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi beat back his Republican challenger Alex Powietrzynski to win re-election in Forest Hills.

Hevesi’s 28th Assembly District also includes Rego Park, Middle Village, and sections of Glendale, Maspeth and Kew Gardens.

Hevesi, a Democrat, took office in a special election in 2005, and was elected to his first full term the following year. As the chairman of the Subcommittee on Renewable Energy, Hevesi is emerging as an important voice on the environment.

Powietrzynski, a 26-year-old lawyer, was born in Poland and raised in Greenpoint before moving to Forest Hills. This was his first run at public office.

District 29

Will Scarborough

District 30

Marge Markey

Assemblywoman Marge Markey won re-election, withstanding a challenge from perennial Republican candidate Anthony Nunziato in a close race marked by ugly political wrangling.

Nunziato relied on the support he’s gained over the years in parts of Maspeth and Middle Village, but his campaign could not muster enough momentum to beat Markey, a Democrat who has represented the 30th Assembly District since 1998.

The district covers Maspeth, Woodside and sections of Long Island City, Astoria, Sunnyside and Middle Village.

District 31

Michelle Titus

District 32

Vivian Cook

District 33

Barbara Clark

District 34

Michael DenDekker

District 35

Jeffrion Aubrey

District 36

Aravella Simotas

District 37

Catherine Nolan

Assemblywoman Cathy Nolan cruised to re-election, easily beating her Republican challenger, the actor John K. Wilson.

Nolan, a Democrat and lifelong Ridgewood resident, has represented the 37th Assembly District since 1984, during which time she has served as the chairperson of the Labor and Education committees.

Wilson, a newcomer to politics who moved to Queens seven years ago, cultivated a base in Sunnyside. But in the end he couldn’t build the necessary name recognition to beat Nolan, who enjoys widespread support throughout the district.

Nolan represents sections of Long Island City, Woodside, Sunnyside, Maspeth and Ridgewood.

District 38

Michael Miller

Assemblyman Michael Miller was re-elected to serve another term in the position he has held since 2009, once again facing off against Republican contender Donna Caltabiano.

Caltabiano’s experience with seniors and education is impressive, but it’s Miller the people want. Since being elected to replace disgraced pol Tony Seminerio in a special election, Miller has become a fixture in the district.

The 38th Assembly District encompasses the neighborhoods of Woodhaven, Ridgewood, Glendale, Richmond Hill and Ozone Park.

District 39

Francisco Moya

via Queens Ledger

by Daniel Bush

Starting in Ridgewood, the YMCA is re-branding its image one branch at a time.

The association, in the midst of a push to update its programs, chose the Ridgewood branch to launch its nationwide improvement effort in New York City.

The Catalpa Avenue facility is scheduled to reopen later this year after a long and costly makeover.

When it does it will be the city’s first YMCA branch to feature the association’s new logo, revamped youth offerings and health conditioning services for members. The city’s other locations will make the transition next summer.

“It’s really a blank slate there,” YMCA spokesperson Kevin Shermach said of the Ridgewood branch, which has been closed during a years-long reconstruction project. “We have a second chance to make a first impression.”

The re-branding effort is about more than the logo, which Inflatable Tent For Sale has been slightly reworked with a new set of color schemes. Shermach said the YMCA will introduce improved supportive services for members seeking healthier lifestyles.

A cornerstone initiative will be Y Personal Fitness, a new, 12-week program that helps people establish a regular exercise schedule. YMCA staff will receive updated training to run the new activities, Shermach added.

The Ridgewood YMCA is in the final stages of a multi-million dollar renovation. The facility has added several thousand square feet of space, a computer lab, teen center, state-of-the-art health and wellness center and a renovated gym, among other improvements.

Jack Lund, president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater New York, said the branch offers the community a sneak peek into the association’s future.

“While we have been serving the Ridgewood and Glendale communities for decades,” Lund said in a newsletter, “the reconstruction and renewal of this building gives us a blank slate to reaffirm our commitment to the kids, adults and families here, while fine-tuning some of the strategies we’ll implement in all of our Y’s late next summer.”

via Queens Ledger