Thursday, June 4, 2009

Is this not a HUGE conflict-of-interest?

"05/03/09 - Paul Vallone announces Chuck Apelian as Campaign Manager"
"Chuck Apelian, who is the Vice Chairman of Community Board 7 and a respected leader in the community, is honored and excited to work with and support Paul to become the next City Councilman."

So...the chair of the Community Board committee that oversees development is running the campaign of the candidate who works as a lobbyist for his daddy's lobbying firm who is paid million of dollars by developers and whose campaign is being financed by real estate developers and special interests.

48 comments:

Mr. What the ...? said...

This is New York City. Democracy has left the building...


to Bloomturd and the billionaire's development buddies. I guess we might as well get used to it. I hope that they at least use lube! Thank you, sir. I'll have another.

Anonymous said...

Did anyone notice the date on the announcement? A month has gone by and not one article in any newspaper??? Can you say under the radar? Why? Crappy, you are amazing. Another major scoop!!!!

Were the members of the community board informed of this? And most importantly of all, did this taint recent decisions made by CB#7? For example, the vote to allow some (but not all) Willets Point businesses to set up shop in College Point now takes on a different perspective.

Can anyone tell this forum where Paul Vallone stands on the Willets Point land theft? What is his commitment to the College Point community? What about the mayor's threat to use the power of his office to push ahead with the police academy without allowing for community input?

This reeks and I hope that people start to wake up and see how tainted the backroom politics and backroom deals really are. Do they think that our tax dollars are monopoly money that can be spent at their whim without oversight. Oh yeah, the name Bloomberg comes to mind. Never mind. We're all doomed!

Anonymous said...

Met him two or three times now. I think he's a huge asshole. He'll prob win, I see his name everywhere.. everyone seems to love him.. I just hope over the next 5 months things change. I don't get how this is allowed, but hey its NYC I should expect this kind of B.S.

Anonymous said...

What's in it for you Chuck?

You needn't bother answering...you damn phony sell-out!

Anonymous said...

Where's Tony's pick Steve Behar...(yuck, yuck, yuck)?

Invisible!

Anonymous said...

It's time to bust him off CB#7!

Anonymous said...

Ap-PAUL-ing...Apelian!

Have you no shame?

Anonymous said...

Some more VALLONEY BALONEY!

There are more dynasties in New York,
if not American, politics than all the past and present empires of the world!

Anonymous said...

Is it TRULY a LEGAL conflict of interest or just a conflict of ethics?

There's a vast difference!

That might provide the legal loophole.

Nevertheless, Apelian's conduct over the years has left a lot of unanswered questions!

IT'S TIME FOR THE FEDS!

But who's gonna call 'em?

The community is already under the thumbs of these avaricious thugs!

Anonymous said...

Exactly, "Mr. What the...?"!

Democracy is checked at the door with hat & coat!

Anonymous said...

What's the other Paul got to say?

Anonymous said...

WTF (or rather who TF) are you talking about?

Anonymous said...

The preservation community is allowing this to happen.

Anonymous said...

Smart move Chuck.

Vallone is electable not like that dope Ianecce or, who the hell is he, Behar?

That's politics.
I'll probably wind up voting for Vallone myself.

He lives near me so at least he won't shit in our neighborhood.

Anonymous said...

www.SteveBehar.com Steve Behar is not only electable, but the right choice for Dictrict 19. Don't take what you feel you're being given; go out there and find the right answer.

Anonymous said...

He lives near me so at least he won't shit in our neighborhood.
---

Freakin moron. Have you walked around Astoria lately?

That is what is in store for your community, too.

Anonymous said...

Typical - and Jerry jerrymandered his re-election to CB11 to ensure he gets the free press- what a surprise.

IMHO the only two real candidates are Behar and Halloran, who actually have principles- agree or disagree with their political perspectives.

Anonymous said...

So far, there are 8 candidates who have filed to run for Council District 19:
http://www.nyccfb.info/reports/candidate_09.htm

I've lived there for 10 years, and I'm leaning toward Jerry Iannece (http://www.iannece.com/), whom I liked the first time when Tony ran and who has been active and fighting against over-development for years. Another candidate is Kevin Kim (http://www.votekevinkim.com/), who works/worked for Gary Ackerman, and who seems competent, but I'll wait for more facts before I make my decision.

Anonymous said...

I wish I lived in that council district because I would pull the lever for Steve Behar. I live in north Flushing and he expressed the same concerns about important issues such as overdevelopment, the College Point Corporate Park, Willets Point and the threat of eminent domain, that I share.

The problem is that the local media are doing a piss poor job at introducing the candidates to the constituents in your council district. The same problem exists in my district. That is why the positions that Vallone has on certain issues is very important.

Chuck Apelian and Gene Kelty have ruled CB#7 with an iron fist and I have seen first hand at a Monday night community board meeting how much control they have over the rest of the board members. Therefore, after hearing this announcement (which was not covered by the press although it was made over a month ago)I am now highly suspicious of everything that the board has done, specifically about Willets Point and College Point. Perhaps it is time to call for a federal investigation and I think that the Willets Point business owners should be the first to do so!

Anonymous said...

"The problem is that the local media are doing a piss poor job at introducing the candidates to the constituents in your council district."


That and the fact that Vallone has placed his signs in key places which is what Behar has not done. In the end the people of Dist. 19 will vote for the most familiar name since most people don't know much about any candidates in general. So if Behar, who has Avella's endorsement is smart, he will get his name out there and not let Vallone or even Iannece take over.
Where are your signs, Behar?

Anonymous said...

Charles Vallone wrecked Ass-toria decades before sonny boy Pietro Sr. even started.

You were too dumb to see it coming up to full speed and move before it hit critical mass so you waited too long until you couldn't!

Hard cheese old man!

Anonymous said...

Steve Behar ? Har-ity har, har!

I'm bustin' my gut!

Even Ianecce will pull more votes.

Anonymous said...

Some Ass-torian is "freakin'" jealous of us north easterners!

By the way the part of Astoria that Pete Vallone Sr. and Gloria D'Amico
live in is just fine.

They didn't crap in their yards now did they?

Anonymous said...

That and the fact that Vallone has placed his signs in key places which is what Behar has not done.

WHICH MEANS HE HAS A CLUBHOUSE ORGANIZATION, NOTHING MORE.

In the end the people of Dist. 19 will vote for the most familiar name since most people don't know much about any candidates in general.


CONTROL OF PRESS MEANS GUESS WHOSE NAME WILL APPEAR VERY OFTEN (FRON PAGE OR BETTER, EH?) AND GUESS WHOSE NAME WILL BE ON PAGE 19.

Anonymous said...

Fughettaboutit!

Astoria/Dutch Kills is known as the asshole of Queens (and appropriately located near the river to carry all the poop away)!

Anonymous said...

It's all about premium brand name recognition on the supermarket shelf of politics!

Behar, so far, is a sub brand.

There's "Green Giant" peas and then there's the "America's Choice" generic store brand.

See what I mean?

Steve might be the best bargain going provided everyone knows about him.

So far it's zilch! too bad.

Anonymous said...

H.G. Wells wrote "The Invisible Man".

I hope we don't see a sequel by Behar with "The Invisible Candidacy".

Betta get movin' Steve!

Anonymous said...

"CONTROL OF PRESS MEANS GUESS WHOSE NAME WILL APPEAR VERY OFTEN (FRON PAGE OR BETTER, EH?) AND GUESS WHOSE NAME WILL BE ON PAGE 19"

Most folks don't even read the local papers. RIGHT NOW the most recognizable name is Vallone, based on his daddy and now based on the vulgar amount of signs his campaign has placed up everyone's asses.

Anonymous said...

In politics a well oiled and organized (clubhouse) machine is the key to winning an election!

You need manpower to place all those signs and work the hood!

Sadly, the clubhouse has the advantage here. Them's the facts of life!

Any boy scouts troops out there wanna volunteer for Behar?

He's good folks. I hope he can win!

Anonymous said...

Ackerman first set up the Queens Trib so he could use it as a vehicle to help him win future elections!

That's what all these weekly rags are for "Italian girl".

i.e.
Vicki Schnepps (via the Courier) has been kissing Shulman's ass for so long her lips are permanently bowed!

In the meantime (yawn) I'm still waiting for my Behar for city council lawn sign.

Anonymous said...

I think you're wrong.

Anonymous said...

Getting back to Chuck (Oh THAT Chuckie) Apelian, has anyone heard from any CB#7 board member about his appointment? This stinks as much as downtown Flushing on a hot summer's day.

Does anyone know when the next board meeting will take place? I'd like to be a fly on the wall. The community board is now going to face some serious credibility issues now that this has gone public. Why was it not reported by the press sooner? I do see the announcement was made on May 3.

I wonder how this will help/hurt the Willets Point proposal. The July 4th fireworks will start early if the Willets Point owners find that there were backroom deals that have negatively impacted their survival. Seriously, did Chuck receive a reward for the CB#7 approval of the plan??? Or could it have been the College Point Corporate Park "victories" recently announced???????

Anonymous said...

Next CB7 meeting:

This coming Monday, June 8, 2009 at 7:00PM. Location: Union Plaza Care Center, 33-23 Union Street, Flushing.

Public Participation is scheduled for approximately 10:10PM but may occur earlier. You can sign up for 3 minutes of speaking time, and express your concern about the possibility of a conflict of interest due to Apelian's leadership of recent CB7 decisions that benefit candidate Vallone.

Anonymous said...

Public Participation is scheduled for approximately 10:10PM but may occur earlier. You can sign up for 3 minutes of speaking time, and express your concern about the possibility of a conflict of interest due to Apelian's leadership of recent CB7 decisions that benefit candidate Vallone.
___________________________________
Sounds like a suicide mission, if you get my meaning. Besides, shouldn't the board members themselves bring up this issue? Apelian will probably make sure that there is a positive spin on the appointment, even if it is untrue. Case closed!

If the meeting starts at 7 p.m. and public participation starts at around 10 p.m., it seems like testifying on that issue will be a moot point. Most people will have left the auditorium, especially any reporters. What's the use? Shouldn't the concerns of community members be expressed earlier in the meeting? Another great example of democracy in Queens.

Anonymous said...

I've been seeing Paul Vallone posters all over College Point. Come on, Steve- increase your visibility!

Anonymous said...

The community boards are not for the average citizen's participation in government.

They were created as a municipal welfare program to reward the faithful
clubhouse political servants with well paying jobs.

The district manager of CB#7, Marilyn Bitterman gets about 80K a year (plus "gifts"...recorded or unrecorded...a lot from from Taiwan ??? maybe)!

If she and Wellington Chen were any tighter they'd be lovers...occupying a room at the Sheraton La Guardia East!

Anonymous said...

Well, I still say that if they are truly serious, the Willets Point landowners need to call for a federal investigation. What will they uncover? Will they do the appropriate due diligence or will it be something being done to placate the owners...while Bloomturd and buddies "influence" the results. Any thoughts?

Anonymous said...

damn I love this board!

Anonymous said...

Someone has to have the balls to report this conflict of interest to the City's Conflict of Interest Board. YES, there is such a thing.

Anonymous said...

"You need manpower to place all those signs and work the hood!"

But there's no substitute for knocking on doors and talking to the voters. Steve, Jerry, Kevin, whoever, have to come out and tell us what their positions are, and why we should vote for him. Otherwise, as has been pointed out by several others, many people will vote for the candidate with the most name recognition, and that is Paul Vallone. His signs are everywhere, he has a prominent campaign office on Francis Lewis Blvd around 25th Ave, and his name is Vallone, so people will think that he has the influence to bring money and improvements to the area.

Anonymous said...

CB7 has been derelect in its duties to represent the community for years. Appelian has learned from the best, former Chair Adrian Joyce and present Chair, Gene Kelty. They work for politicians and do as they are told. There are a few good people on that board but they have no say. The real winner of the council race in the 19th district will be jerry iannece. he has put his time in. where did this paul vallone emerge from?

I have been a community activist for over 25 yrs. and never heard of him. What has he done to compare to iannece? Or any other candidate. Papa Vallone may be kicking and screaming since I understand that Iannece has the county nod. It's the best nod they have had in a long time. Kudos also to ann margaret carrozza for openly endorsing iannece.

Take your toys and go home Paul. By the way...where is home? You say you have lived in this district for 14 yrs. yet have voted out of daddy's house until 2005. Isn't that illegal? Someone should look into that!

Anonymous said...

And the NYC Conflict of Interest Board will say that it's all OK!

They're all in cahoots!

C-mon....this is a federal case!

Stop waisting gab and get on the phone!

Anonymous said...

we need pictures of vallone posters on construction fences - thats the ticket!

Anonymous said...

Please lets all get together. I heard that Paul Vallone while living in NE Queens since 1994 kept voting in Astoria until 2005!!! That's how much he cares about our community. I am going to Com. Bd. meeting tomorrow nite.

Anonymous said...

THIS is getting good.....

a paolino said...

whats with all the anonymous posts. no one has the guts to use their real name or are the posts all from the same person. i live in the district and work in the district. i am a friend of paul vallone and you are all wrong about him. he is a great guy and very passionate about what he is doing. have you ever met him and got to talk to him? probably not. remember the saying: he who casts the first stone. well i see a lot of casting but no one stepping up to the plate to show what they are made of. and there are those of you that think iannece should win because he put in his time, he paid his dues. what a crock of crap. the best person should be elected not someone who failed already so now people feel bad for him. and which of these low life canidates is going around stealing all the vallone signs. now that is the kind of child i want in that seat.

Anonymous said...

Talk about a crock of crap!. What failures are you talking about concerning Iannece? All the enviromental and civic projects he initiated and solved for our community? His countless hours spent on the community board as a volunteer? Yes he ran for City Council before, but I am a believer of the old motto that it's better to try and fail, then not to try at all. Speaking of not trying, what has Vallone done for our community? The last I heard the 19th CD didn't have a prison to utilize his vast knowledge of the Department of Correction. What kind of self respect can a forty something year old man have, if his only claim to fame is his Daddy's name. Answer these questions Mr. Paolino.

Anonymous said...

so how is the fact that Jerry is the Chair of CB11 and states it every single time a word comes out of his mouth not a conflict of interest??

Thats right, if were not bashing Vallone its alright.