The Campaign Trail

Voters in Queens and Brooklyn will go to the polls on Tuesday, Sept. 13 for special elections to fill vacant Assembly and Congressional seats. In the weeks leading up to the contests, the Times Newsweekly/Ridgewood Times will feature “The Campaign Trail,” a column that will include press releases and statements sent by the campaigns of the various candidates on the ballot.

Press representatives of candidates may send their information to this paper by fax to 1-718-456-0120 or e-mail to info@times newsweekly.com. All releases are subject to editing. The statements in this column do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the Times Newsweekly/Ridgewood Times or its staff. Mud-slinging statements that include personal attacks on candidates will not be considered for publication.

Weprin Visits F.H. Small Businesses

Assemblyman David Weprin,, Democratic candidate for New York’s Ninth Congressional District, toured a small business strip along Austin Street in Forest Hills with City Council Member Karen Koslowitz on Tuesday, Aug. 30.

Weprin spoke with several small business owners, and discussed the state of local businesses in Forest Hills and the general direction of the U.S. economy. He also briefed several store owners and customers on his plan to help small businesses grow and create jobs.

“Everyone knows how important small businesses are for the national economy and for local neighborhoods, but we need to do more than simply pay lip service to their contribution,” said Weprin. “I plan to cut taxes for these businesses and pass legislation making it easier for them to access loans by encouraging large banks to loan to community based small businesses. Giant corporations that ship good middle class jobs overseas and exploit tax loopholes need to bear their fair share of the burden. Closing these tax loopholes for giant corporations will allow us to give tax cuts to small businesses and alleviate the pressure that has been placed upon them.”

“These businesses are so vital to the community,” said Koslowitz. “I fight for them in the City Council every day, and I am absolutely certain that David Weprin will do the same in Congress.”

Turner: Feds Should

Assess Irene Damage

Businessman and Republican Congressional candidate Bob Turner, who was among those evacuated in advance of Hurricane Irene, called for an independent federal damage assessment of New York’s Ninth Congressional District because it does not currently have congressional representation.

The district, which includes parts of Queens and Brooklyn, had been represented by Rep. Anthony Weiner, who resigned the seat earlier this year.

Turner, a resident of Rockaway Point, toured parts of the district throughout the weekend, including an evacuation center in Ozone Park, and witnessed considerable flood damage and beach erosion.

“This district will be without congressional representation for another two weeks, and an independent assessment of the damage it suffered is warranted so that it can receive federal funding if appropriate,” Turner said. “We were fortunate not to be hit harder than we were, but there is considerable flooding and beach erosion in the parts of the district I visited over the weekend. The residents of NY-9 deserve every consideration for federal support.”

Turner praised New York City's preparedness for the storm in a Fox television interview Monday morning, Aug. 29. He said the evacuation was organized and orderly.

Goldfeder On Storm, Gets IAPAC’s Nod

Phil Goldfeder, the Democratic Candidate for the 23rd Assembly District in Queens, spent Sunday afternoon, Aug. 28, meeting with residents at John Adams High School in Ozone Park who had been evacuated from low-lying areas as a result of Hurricane Irene.

“The last two days have been tough for many Queens families, but as always we have come together and shown how tough we are,” Goldfeder said. “It was an honor to work with my friends and neighbors transporting disabled homebound community members, volunteering at the John Adams High School disaster evacuation site and delivering supplies to our emergency professionals throughout South Western Queens.”

Earlier in the week, Goldfeder announced that he picked up the en- dorsement of the Italian American Political Action Committee (IAPAC).

“ Spread throughout Ozone Park, Howard Beach, Rockaway Park, and the rest of the 23rd Assembly District, Italian Americans are business and community leaders who contribute to the diverse makeup of the 23 AD,” Goldfeder said. “Thank you again to the members of the Italian American Political Action Committee for their support of my candidacy.”

Deacy Repeats Call For Job Creation

Assembly candidate Jane Deacy is calling for job creation to be the number one priority for state government moving forward. With high unemployment rates driving young adults across state lines, Deacy indicated that economic development must be at the root of any and all governmental decisions.

“As a mother and a grandmother, I want to see my children and grandchildren have the opportunity to build their lives here in the community that raised them,” said Deacy. “Without job opportunities, however, they will not have that option. New Yorkers are voting with their feet. As unemployment numbers rise, population numbers fall. For too long, state government has given our families and businesses every reason to leave New York for green pastures. I am running for state Assembly, because I think it’s time we start giving them reasons to stay.”

Recent unemployment numbers from the Department of Labor show that nearly 800,000 New Yorkers are searching for full-time work. According to the Empire Center, New York lost approximately 1.6 million people over the last decade, more than any other state in the nation, while the Tax Foundation has labeled New York as having the worst business climate in America.

Deacy is the only candidate in the race for the 23rd Assembly district to have signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, promising to vote against any tax increase that comes to the Assembly floor.

“The people of Queens are fed up with the business-as-usual in Albany that’s led to the job-killing taxes stifling economic development in our community, like the Cross Bay Bridge toll and the MTA payroll tax,” said Deacy. “Frankly, if you’re satisfied with the way state government does business, than I am not the candidate for you. I am tired of seeing Albany tax our job-creators out of the state and force our children to look elsewhere for work, and I will fight the status quo in state government that has failed this community for so long.”

The special elections will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 13, which coincides with party primaries. While the special election contests are open to all registered voters regardless of party affiliation, only voters registered to a party may participate in their respective primary races.

For more information on voting or to obtain a voting registration application, contact the New York City Board of Elections at 1-212-VOTENYC or visit www.vote.nyc.ny.us.