The Political Scene

Nolan Gives Nod

To Van Bramer

Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan has endorsed City Council

candidate Jimmy Van Bramer in his

effort to win the 26th City Council h so much t er on Educat ng e vironmen Schoo Band District seat, which covers parts of <I TAL Astoria, Long Island City, Maspeth, f! Sunnyside and Woodside.

arter n Educat on.

“I have known Jimmy for many

years, and I am greatly impressed

urelernin eniroment <I with his work on the is ues that ma

ter most, like education, transporta

tion, libraries, public safety and Sc ence Ce te mary & Ju ior Hig

quality of life,” said Nolan. “Jimmy Ti NYCBad fEducatio Serv esfor

M h and ELA

has earned my respect and the respect ) op ywet

access

g of so many people in this community • Afte chool clubs

by working hard.”

r s

“I am deeply grateful for the sup

P o ra s ffere at fford ble

port of Assemblymember Nolan,”

rat

said Van Bramer in a mass e mail. “I

look forward to working along side

• Scien Centers (Prima • pani h this dedicated public servant on the

issues facing our community ”

• Title I NYC oard Math n ELA Van Bramer is one of four con

tenders seeking the Democratic nom

• Computr never la ination for the seat in the Sept. 15

primary election. The 26th City

• Playsta ns ing T fte l bs n ite Council District is currently repre

St T omas the po tle Schoo sented by Eric Gioia, who is running

for public advocate. 49 7 St et

v

Central Labor Gives Acc reitedb e dle tates

a ai b <ITAL I

Support To Feerick

ra ms City Council candidate Deirdre Feerick has received the endorsement of the New York City Central Labor Council, the five boroughs’ largest advocacy group for working men and women which consists of 400 local unions of every trade and occupation in the public and private sector.

“It is clear that the city’s largest and definitive advocate for hard working New Yorkers has declared that I am the best Democrat in my district for working men and women,” said Feerick. “I am deeply humbled and grateful for this en dorsement.”

The candidate has previously been endorsed by the Detectives’ En dowment Association of New York City, the Captains Endowment Asso ciation of the NYPD and the Assis tant Wardens/Deputy Wardens Association. She is an attorney and lifelong resident of the 26 h Council District whose late father was an NYPD detective.

Dromm Gains Nod

From Housing Org.

The Citizens Union, the United Auto Workers, the Metropolitan Council on Housing, the Association of Legal Aid Attorneys and former Assemblyman Ivan Lafayette have all endorsed City Council candidate Daniel Dromm in his bid to win the 25th Council District seat.

“We look forward to working with [Dromm] in the future on meas ures to improve the quality and af fordability of housing in our city,”

offer. wrote Scott Sommer, the Metropoli

tan Council on Housing chairperson in a letter to the candidate announc ing their endorsement. The Metro

politan Council, established in 1959,

is an advocacy group dedicated to

on.

preserving and expanding New York

City’s supply of affordable housing.

Dromm expressed appreciation to

the council and the other advocacy

groups and politicians who have sup P US

ported his campaign. In response to the Met Council endorsement, the candidate said that he remains “com

mitted to fighting against abuse by

landlords and to working to increase

& Junior Hig )

affordable housing in my district.

The 25th Council District seat

t on Serv ces r which serves the communities of Co

rona, Elmhurst, East Elmhurst,

m I Jackson Heights and Rego Park is

currently occupied by Helen Sears,

learigso ae. who is running for re election. Sears,

Dromm and attorney Stanley Joseph Kalathara are seeking the Democratic nomination in the Sept. 15 primary.

Chain’s Committees

To Examine Issues

f ordabl

City Council candidate Heidi Harrison Chain has announced the formation of volunteer advisory pan els, known as “Chain’s Citizens Who Care Committees,” aimed at identi fying and addressing the different problems facing the city and commu nity.

According to the campaign, each committee will be made up of local stakeholders living in the 29th Coun cil District, which includes the neigh borhoods of Forest Hills, Kew Gardens, Rego Park and parts of Maspeth, Elmhurst and Richmond Hill.

The committees will tackle vari ous topics including security, quality of life, transportation, education and senior centers.

Chain is one of six candidates

at: seeking the Democratic nomination

in the Sept. 15 primary to succeed stl Sc ool City Council Member Melinda Katz,

87-49 87 S reet who is running for comptroller.

Bill Increases DWI aven, NY 11421

1 8 -3

Criminal Penalties

State Sen. Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr.

States Associa ion

has announced the introduction of

Habla Espanol legislation in the State Senate which

would increase criminal penalties for vehicular manslaughter by an indi vidual under the influence of drugs or alcohol in the first and second degree, to a ClassA I felony punishable by a maximum of 25 years in prison.

Under current law, vehicular manslaughter in the first degree is a Class C felony punishable by a max imum 15 year prison term. Vehicu lar manslaughter in the second degree is currently a Class D felony punish able by a maximum prison term of 7 years.

“I believe that a person who de liberately intoxicates themselves through drugs or alcohol and operates a motor vehicle has committed a pre meditated act,” said Addabbo, adding, “If you drink and drive, or take drugs and drive, there is intent since you are already breaking the law and know that you put yourself and others in danger.”

Senator Addabbo said that the purpose of this bill is to increase penalties to a significant level and allow the punishment to fit the crime. He is hopeful that the increase in penalties causes a decrease in the amount of vehicular fatalities.

Addabbo said the bill was sub mitted last April, before Diane Schuler, of West Babylon, drove the wrong way on the Taconic Parkway on July 26 with what police said was the equivalent of 10 drinks in her sys tem, killing eight people, including herself, her daughter and three nieces. But Addabbo said he hopes the Schuler tragedy will draw atten tion to the importance of the legisla tion.

Senator Addabbo noted that his proposed legislation also predates Governor Paterson’s proposed Child Passenger Protection Act which was submitted to the State Legislature for consideration on Aug. 13.

Political Scene does not neces sarily reflect the views and opinions of the Times Newsweekly/Ridge wood Times. All submitted press re leases are subject to editing. Send press contact information by e mail to info@timesnewsweekly.com or by fax to 1 718 456 0120.