From BoroPolitics.com:
Democrats Jerry Iannece, Paul Vallone, Steve Behar, Kevin Kim, Tom Cooke and Debra Markell will face off during the Sept. 15 primary election to score the Democratic slot for this fall’s election. The winner of the primary will compete against Republican Dan Halloran, an attorney, in November.
Each candidate answered a bevy of questions on issues pertinent to District 19, which covers Bayside, Little Neck, Douglaston, College Point, East Flushing, Malba and Whitestone, during the debate hosted Friday by TimesLedger at Flushing Library.
For more on the borough's primary races, visit the Queens Campaigner.
30 comments:
Debra is braindead - both CB2 and CB1 are run by people that are order takers for the machine and developers (and sadly, a reflection of the backwardness of their communities)
Cooke, there is a man! Like Tony, maybe next time cause no one knows him and he has no money.
Debra Markell is Claire Shulman's bitch! And the sad part is that Markell will end up looking like a not so pretty version of Shulman when she grows up (and out). And that's the moos...
this paul vallone is gonna lose by twenty poiints what an idiot
I'm thinking it ought to be Behar. The guy displays a knowledge of the issues and most importantly knows that over development is a HUGE issue in District 19. Can't have the Vallone$ or Jerry "Parkside" Iannece giving this neighborhood away.
The majority of the people in this district are used to having Tony Avella as their rep. Boy, are they in for a rude awakening if they choose incorrectly.
Vallone is gonna win.. its sad and unwanted but its clearly obvious from riding around the district and seeing all the sign for him everywhere you go
all you guys have really been brainwashed huh. Why does everyone hate Vallone? Have any of you people ever met the family? Have you ever spoken to Paul personally? All I'm hearing is everyone blaming the sins of the father on the son.
Hes a lobbyist because the law requires every family member to register. He runs a general practice law firm in Astoria where he was born. Hes lived in flushing for 15 years now. Yes he voted in Astoria till 2003, but does anyone know why?? Has anyone ever stopped and found out the reason why he voted in Astoria till 2003?? His first born daughter nearly died at birth and Paul was diagnosed with sarcoid all within the span of 1999-2003. His mind wasn't on where he was voting, rather it was on the health of his daughter and well being of his own life.
On the other hand Mr. Iannece has been running for the same seat for over 12 years now and has done NOTHING but blame the Italian community for not getting out and vote... and this clown wants the people to support him. HA
Kevin Kim HAS NEVER EVEN VOTED IN THE DAMN DISTRICT. WHY ISNT THIS SITE ALL OVER THAT?!??! And the fact that hes received nearly 300,000 dollars from private donations 80% of which are from OUT OF THE STATE!!!!!!
Please people, before you go and post hateful comments about the Vallones... really.. look a little deeper.
Kevin Kim isn't even a factor in this race. The Vallone name is well-known and he has a chance just based on that alone. If he's elected, he better be ready to fight developers and not just in Broadway-Flushing. Avella is going to be a hard act to follow. If overdevelopment is something Vallone isn't interested in fighting, he really should step aside now. Because if elected and doesn't fight, it's going to be a long 4 years for all of us and residents here will want his head on a platter.
OH THIS WILL BE A TURKEY SHOOT.
OK HERE GOES...
MYTH
all you guys have really been
brainwashed huh.
REALITY
BRAINWASHED? NO, WE ARE NOT MEMBERS OF THE ASTORIA COMMUNITY BOARD OR THE LOCAL DEMOCRATIC CLUB. AS FAR AS I COULD SEE, NO IGNORANT ARCHIES OR EDITHS AROUND HERE.
WE READ THE PAPERS, TALK TO OTHER COMMUNITIES, ACTUALLY THINK FOR OURSELVES.
TRY IT ASTORIA - A BIT CHALLENGING AT FIRST BUT A HELL OF A LOT OF FUN ONCE YOU GET THE SWING OF IT.
MYTH
Why does everyone hate Vallone? Have any of you people ever met the family? Have you ever spoken to Paul personally?
HATE? WE DONT HATE NOR DO WE CARE WHAT THEY ARE DOING TO ASTORIA - ITS NOT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD (ALTHOUGH IT DOES PLAY INTO THE HANDS OF QUEENS BASHERS IN THE CITY.)
WE HATE WHAT THE PLAN TO DO TO OUR COMMUNITY.
WHAT DOES MEETING THE FAMILY OR SPEAKING TO PAUL DO? CHANGE DECADES OF THEIR RECORD IN ASTORIA? WATCH THE DEBATES. EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT THEY ARE ABOUT.
MYTH
All I'm hearing is everyone blaming the sins of the father on the son.
REALITY
YOU WANT TO TELL US ABOUT SINS OF THE FATHER?!?!?!
MYTH
Hes a lobbyist because the law requires every family member to register.
REALITY
SO HAS HE DONE ANYTHING FOR HIS COMMUNITY BUT PROMOTE DEVELOPMENT?
DOZENS OF VALLONE CAMPAIGN POSTERS ON ALL THOSE CONSTRUCTOIN FENCES IN COLLEGE POINT OR BAYSIDE SAYS IT ALL.
ASTORIA IS FACING A BIG INCREASE IN POPULATION BECAUSE THEY ARE TOO STUPID TO PUSH OUT 'GROWTH' LIKE THE OTHER 90% OF QUEENS HAS. WHO CARES? EVERYONE KNOWS THAT ITS BECOMING A SLUM.
THATS THE RECORD FOR ME.
MYTH
He runs a general practice law firm in Astoria where he was born.
REALITY
HAVE YOU TALKED TO ANYONE WHO TRIED TO USE THE FIRM TO FIGHT DEVELOPERS AND SEE HOW FAR THEY GOT?
HMMM... DOESN'T THAT FIRM GETS LOTS OF ESTATE BUSINESS FROM ... PROBATE JUDGES NOMINATED BY ?!?!?!
MYTH
Hes lived in flushing for 15 years now. Yes he voted in Astoria till 2003, but does anyone know why??
REALITY
A SAVY POL WHO LIVES IN ONE COMMUNITY AND VOTES IN ANOTHER? SHADES OF BOSS TWEEDISM ... AND YOU SUPPORT HIM? MAYBE you SHOULD EXPLAIN WHY.
MYTH
Has anyone ever stopped and found out the reason why he voted in Astoria till 2003?? His first born daughter nearly died at birth and Paul was diagnosed with sarcoid all within the span of 1999-2003.
His mind wasn't on where he was voting, rather it was on the health of his daughter and well being of his own life.
REALITY
"HIS MIND WASN'T ON WHERE HE IS VOTING" THAT'S THE GUY FOR ME!!!
btw, .... YOU A MEMBER OF THE ASTORIA CIVIC, YOU KNOW, THE ORGANIZATION WITH THE AVERAGE AGE OF 75, WITH 30 MEMBERS, AND 25 VICE PRESIDENTS?
WHY DO YOU POST THINGS LIKE THIS? IT MIGHT FLY IN ASTORIA BUT NOWHERE ELSE.
YOU MUST BE A BEHAR OR IANNACE SUPPORTER - THE VALLONES ARE SMARTER THAN HAVING A SUPPORTER WRITE THIS...
Because if elected and doesn't fight, it's going to be a long 4 years for all of us and residents here will want his head on a platter.
---
If he is elected you are dead.
They will appoint developers in the community board, the local papers will crow for development, and they will quickly spot marginal types that are greedy and care not for their neighbors.
They will be elevated to the level of heros.
"Hes a lobbyist because the law requires every family member to register"
That is untrue. If that we're true, Peter Vallone JR. would be a registered lobbyist. But he's not. Nice try Paul Vallone staffer, but you fail at lying!
"They will be elevated to the level of heros."
District 19 is NOT Astoria. Vallones are no heroes over here. In fact, I haven't met one person who will be voting for Vallone. People are sick of family dynasties. Like I said before if he's not ready to fight developers he should get lost because there are many of us who are ready to make him miserable if he doesn't fight for us.
And he got endorsed by Bloomberg?! A kiss of death if you ask me.
SIGNS don't elect people..PEOPLE do. I go with the issue solvers, not the question evaders.
Sorry you pro Vallone posters but the sins of the father ARE visited upon the sons or (if you like) the apple(s) don't fall far from the tree!
Anyone who's a Pro-Vallone supporter is a cheese head.
Gimme a provelone and salami hero.
FU....not in my district!
VALLONE-Y BALONEY!
La Famiglia's track record is how they've f-----d up Astoria!
And now the latest from the Partridge Family (not the 70s TV show):
Is Vanna Partridge related the Partridge realty family that Paul Vallone received campaign money from?
Did one of her family members build a Mc Mansion in the Broadway/Flushing neighborhood that is currently seeking municipal landmark designation?
Is she not on the board of the Broadway Flushing Homeowners Association?
H-m-m-m...should BFHA watch their back for the existence of a possible political mole in their midst?
And you really think that Don Paulo is going to support neighborhood preservation along with Mayor Bloomberg if he's elected?
I luv it....a new deli sandwich with the community caught in the middle.
Vallone-Y baloney and pro-Vallone cheese heads on hero bread!
Ha, ha, ha...cone head Paul will sell out his supporters the day he's elected just like his pal Bloomberg sold out the Republican party soon after they gave him their support.
Stupid is as stupid does you cheesy pro-Vallone (provelone) traitors to your neighborhood.
Vote for anyone but Vallone!
This political mafia dynasty doesn't need to gain a foothold in northeast Queens.
Send him packing back to Astoria...the shit hole his family helped to create!
With strains of the "Godfather" main title theme playing in the background:
PAUL VALLONE:
"I only want to wet my beak a little".
A tidbit from Paul Vallone's latest campaign flier indicates that he's blackmailing the Broadway/Flushing neighborhood by suggesting they won't get their municipal historic district status without him in office.
A direct quote:
"With Mayor Bloomberg's endorsement and support, Paul is the only one who will finally get our Broadway-Flushing Homeowners Association Landmark application approved".
LIAR, LIAR, PANTS ON FIRE!
Every one knows that Mayor Mike via his anti preservation attorney chair of the LPC Robert Tierney is blocking the formation of our historic district.
And Paul is acting as though Bloomberg were already in the middle of his third term.
What arrogance...the same kind that brought us all into our current financial downturn!
FU...Don Paul!
You, the Partridge family and Waste Management can dance with the devil in the moonlight before we let your kind represent our community!
Iannecci for city council!
Pshaw...do you mean Jerry "Parkside" Ianecci?
Behar is better!
Otherwise Evan Stavisky and Giannoulis of the Taxi & Limo Commission will be running your hood!
ANYBODY BUT VALLONE!!!
The two most decent candidates:
Behar
Cooke
The mostly decent candidate with the highest chance to win:
Iannece
The candidates with the most contributions from questionable sources:
Vallone
Kim
The candidate who says absolutely NOTHING about anything:
Markell
as a small business owner and lifelong resident of whitestone, here's my take on the 6 democratic candidate after meeting them at a bay terrace alliance meet the candidates forum.
Iannece: he's lost twice before and seems to be one of the front runners of the race, if not the leader. he enjoys pretty decent backing from local community groups and even has the backing of (oh my!) celebrity Judge Judy! Kept yelling at us about how much he's already done for us. what a character. i've gotten used to him, but something about him has always seemed off.
Vallone: If Iannece doesn't win, it would probably go to Vallone. Now, when Mike Bloomberg was running for a second term, Paul helped his brother Peter Jr drum up support for Mike's scheme to get rid of term limits. Several years later, Mike pays him back by "endorsing" him. This confused a lot of people, since Mike is Republican/Independent, not a Democrat. But with this background story, we can see how political deals are done in this day and age. Yea, it's dirty. But that's politics. I personally don't know how he'll stand on zoning issues. His signs are everywhere too.
Debra Markell: now, you know something's wrong with a candidate who introduces herself as the "rose among the thorns!" out of all the candidates, she came across as least trustworthy. You know that first impression you get when you meet someone? Yea...wasn't good. I didn't listen to what she was saying but how she said it. I didn't like. She seems to be going after the female vote.
Tom Cooke: As a person, I genuinely liked him. First impression of him was that he was an honest hard-working fella who experienced misfortune early on in life but didn't let that prevent him from realizing his ambitions. very straightforward and honest man. I heard that he doesn't have a lot of money left, however.
Kevin Kim: My first impressions of him were also very good. His story resonated with me quite well (son of immigrant parents who were small business owners). He's also got one of the most impressive resumes (Columbia Law School, Stanford undergrad). In addition, he's the only non-white minority running, which may or may not help in a district as diverse as 19. Overall, I really liked him though, and will keep on eye on him. His monstrous fundraising talents ($300,000 I believe?) are also worth noting, giving him a very decent shot at lasting through till november.
Steve Behar: Now, Steve is an interesting character. I also liked him a lot, because he's one of those straight-shooting guys who isn't afraid to speak his mind. (Not surprising, considering he used to work for Howard Dean!) He answered his questions very honestly and my first impressions of him were very good. When I asked him some questions afterwards, 20% of the time, he was answering my question, and the other 80% was spent going off about Vallone (using daddy's name to steal an election) or Iannece (using County backing to bully the other candidates).
Notice that I didn't mention where they stood on any issues. That's because they are all Democrats, and therefore they all believe in the same things. That's why personality matters. Are people like Iannece/Vallone or even Markell unfit for the job? They all seem to be reasonably smart. So if you had to choose among 6 reasonably smart candidates who share the same beliefs, why elect somebody whose personality seems off?
Two words: Dan Halloran!!! All of dem Dems are tainted.
Dan is a decent guy until his libertarian/ultra conservative mode kicks in.
He's also anti landmarking despite his lip service to the contrary.
P.S.
He really doesn't stand a chance but if you want to throw your vote away...be my guest.
Hey Chuck "follow the buck" Apelian...those sleazy bus shelter posters you concocted for Vallone don't make him look a friend of the people. He's "Il Duce" revisited.
Time to dump Chuck from CB#7 too.
He's been a one man dynasty for far too long.
But disposing of his enormous ego at the curb will be a ponderous undertaking for it weighs more than his body.
In case you all forgot...this is America folks!
We shouldn't allow dynasties to proliferate in our republic....be they the Staviskys, Vallones or Apelian!
"Two words: Dan Halloran!!! All of dem Dems are tainted."
Our one Republican could be tainted too. Can someone please define theodsman?
Halloran has proven to be the worst fundraiser of any major party candidste in recent memory. He has no primary opponent and has raised almost no money.
Also, he hypocritically calls for investigations of ACORN and WFP when his biggest endorser is the corrupt Carpenter's Union who are always working with both. Perhaps he should reject their endorsement and give them their money back.
Debra Markell has got to be the biggest joke of the race. Has anyone actually talked to her or got her to respond to a complaint/request for help? Here in CB2 she routinely blows off constituents...she's KNOWN for it for those who are active in the area. She also has ZERO ability to answer a question on the fly. One time I approached her at a meeting and asked her about certain campaign issues that were important to me as a feminist and single mom and she had the gall to say "I'll research that and get back to you". Really, you aren't able to tell a constituent how you feel about feminist issues of the day?
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