Wednesday, October 10, 2018

Avella is all in

From the Wall Street Journal:

State Sen. Tony Avella, a former member of a now-defunct group of breakaway Democrats who lost to John Liu in his district’s Democratic primary in September, announced Monday that he will still run for his seat in the general election.

The Queens senator said in a video that he will run as a candidate for the Independence Party and the Women’s Equality Party.

Mr. Liu, a former New York City comptroller, beat Mr. Avella in the primary after announcing his own last-minute run. However, Mr. Avella said that he will have strong support in the general election from voters who couldn’t vote in the primary.

“Although I was disappointed in the results of the Democratic primary, I have been astounded by the level of support I have received since then from all aspects of our community,” he said.

Like Mr. Liu — who made a last-minute push to get on the Democratic ballot this summer after encouragement from a grass-roots group — Mr. Avella said residents urged him to continue his campaign.

52 comments:

Anonymous said...

Although I like Avella a vote for him in the General election is a vote for Liu.I am voting for Vickie Paladino.

Anonymous said...

So what was the point to the primaries if they are still allowed to campaign? Am I missing something?

Anonymous said...

Thank God. Now, all the people who were complacent and did not vote in the primary need to get out and vote. This is the last politician we have left who gives a shit about Queens and our quality of life.

If Liu the crook gets in its all over. He will only pander to the democratic macmachine and Diblasio.

Queens Crapper said...

The purpose of the primaries is to duke it out for a particular party line. But you can run on multiple lines, which is what Avella is doing. Low information voter?

Anonymous said...

It’s kind of cute how Tony thinks he can win this. By running,he destroys what little chance Paladino had. Tony will be drawing votes from Paladino, not Liu. Not only is Tony a phoney, but he’s also delusional. Tony’s base of NIMBYs and Falun Gongers will not be enough to win it.

Anonymous said...

Avella's support comes mostly from individuals in the district he has represented so well, check out contributions on Campaign Finance Board website, for Avella almost all contributions are $50 to $100. No big money. Avella works for his constituents and his constituents will remember that on Nov. 6.

Anonymous said...

If elected Liu won't stay in this position for long.
He is a political gold-digger.

Anonymous said...

Although I like Avella a vote for him in the General election is a vote for Liu.I am voting for Vickie Paladino.


This statement makes no sense. Avella will draw votes from his Democratic voting base (you know - the 47% that he won in the Primary) as well as many Republicans and unaffiliated registered voters (meaning independent voters, not Independence Party voters, of which there are only a few) who number in the tens of thousands.

This is a horse race - something which we rarely see in a general election. Giddy-up!





Anonymous said...

I'm voting Paladino. She's the only one who will prevent Democrats from controlling the State Senate. Avella will not take my vote away from her. Nobody knows what Avella will do if he wins. Sometimes he aligns with Republicans, sometimes with Democrats. He's not reliable.

Anonymous said...

Right! He's still running for the Democraps. By running Independent he will pull a block of voters away from Paladino and cause her to lose, while his Party favorite, Liu, will pull off a win that he shouldn't get. If Tony had ever done anything at all in his political career but talk a game, he wouldn't have lost to Liu in the primaries. Tony's the biggest loser, no matter how you cut it. Northeast Queens needs to wise up to him and vote Paladino. She's a winner!

Anonymous said...

"This is a horse race - something which we rarely see in a general election."

I must disagree.
Liu will win big time because many Asians and democrats will vote for him the same way they voted for Meng, Kim and Koo, it's the ethnic pull.

Anonymous said...

Well any chance that Vicky Palladino had is gone now.

Anonymous said...

Also if Avella doesn’t win this one, I bet he runs for city council. Vallone is term limited

Anonymous said...

Is this good, or will it split the honest vote between Avella and Paladino and let the crook win?

Anonymous said...

time for tony to leave never liked him phony like the rest liu will win

Anonymous said...

Tony looked out for his constituents and his office could cut through red tape if you needed a city service item done,

Before the primary one of Liu's supporters rang my doorbell and started talking about how we needed John Liu to fight Donald Trump. I don't want my state senator to make fighting the president his highest priority, I want my state senator to fight for the local issues that we face which is exactly what Tony did everyday.

Anonymous said...

Why are people assuming that Paladino is weaker because of this? A three-way race makes her stronger in my opinion. The idea that Tony will only siphon off votes from Paladino is flawed. Anybody paying attention on the street knows that she has momentum. I think Liu and Tony will cannibalize each other on the Dem side and the Elephants have a real chance at a pick-up. And luckily, she is not with the hapless Queens GOP which only wins elections through dumb luck.

Anonymous said...

"This is a horse race - something which we rarely see in a general election."

I must disagree.
Liu will win big time because many Asians and democrats will vote for him the same way they voted for Meng, Kim and Koo, it's the ethnic pull.


This is incorrect.

While the Asian population in the 11th is significant, the voter enrollment and turnout is relatively small. In addition, there are MANY Asian voters who despise John Liu and will vote against him without question.

The bigger question is: outside of his base - which is automatically 25-30% of the vote - who does Avella pull more votes from, Liu or Paladino? I think he pulls from both.

Anonymous said...

In the September 21st editions of the Times Ledger newspapers they published their semi-annual "Guide to Queens". They've removed Tony Avella as the state senator for District 11 and replaced him with John Liu in their section on local government.

Avella is still the state senator for that district and Liu is not running unopposed but the Times Ledger already has him as the current state senator!

Anonymous said...

Paladino is weaker if Avella runs. Liu has his base of progressive democratic voters and Asian American voters. They are not voting for Avella or Paladino. Paladino can draw from republicans and conservative Democrats. The conservative Democrats, who will not vote for Liu, will now have the option of voting for Paladino, Avella or Minching.

Anonymous said...

Avella will be taking votes from Vickie Paladino and John Liu. He can do it, if all his supporters come out to vote. He is the best qualified candidate.

Anonymous said...

From the Wall Street Journal:

Vickie Paladino, the Republican candidate in the race, said in a statement that Mr. Avella didn’t have a chance running as an independent candidate.

“A vote for Avella is now a vote for Liu,” Ms. Paladino, a first-time candidate, said. “I hope to have the backing of the many moderate Democrats and independents who have supported Tony over the years and who have been abandoned by their party.”


Even she thinks Avella will be taking her votes away. She probably has polling to back this up. Avella made a deal with the Dems to make peace and help take Paladino out. After all, he is now looking for a job.

Anonymous said...

In the September 21st editions of the Times Ledger newspapers they published their semi-annual "Guide to Queens". They've removed Tony Avella as the state senator for District 11 and replaced him with John Liu in their section on local government.

Avella is still the state senator for that district and Liu is not running unopposed but the Times Ledger already has him as the current state senator!


You can thank Vicki Schnepps - Claire Shulman's best friend - who owns the Courier (recently rechristened QNS) and just purchased the Times Ledger two weeks ago. That's right: two papers in Bayside, the Queens Courier and the Times Ledger, are both owned by Schnepps. Don't expect any fair coverage from the Times Ledger anymore.

John Peter Zenger said...

"...the Times Ledger already has him as the current state senator!"


Bill Parry, the Times Ledger reporter, is a rabid left-wing operative. Watch how he colors his stories.

Anonymous said...

I say Avella takes more votes from Liu than he does from Vickie. Horse race indeed.

Anonymous said...

We hope that Avella pulls votes from both mainstream candidates. His office does the work and has been helping communities whenever asked. He was recruited by a large group of residents in District 11 -- people who were not registered Democrats and could not vote in the Primary. Think about the large number of people who are not registered with any party and you will see a Tony Avella voting base.

Get out the vote and make the numbers count!!

Anonymous said...

Paladino has no name recognition. Avella is well-known.

Anonymous said...

From the Wall Street Journal:

Vickie Paladino, the Republican candidate in the race, said in a statement that Mr. Avella didn’t have a chance running as an independent candidate.

“A vote for Avella is now a vote for Liu,” Ms. Paladino, a first-time candidate, said. “I hope to have the backing of the many moderate Democrats and independents who have supported Tony over the years and who have been abandoned by their party.”


Even she thinks Avella will be taking her votes away. She probably has polling to back this up. Avella made a deal with the Dems to make peace and help take Paladino out. After all, he is now looking for a job.


What polling??? Vicki has $5,000 in her bank account. In the world of politics, that gets you a subway ride and slice of pizza. Polling costs serious money, and she doesn't have it.

Anonymous said...

New Yorkers vote two ways; Party and Ethnic! Because Avella is running as an independent that will split the ethnic (Italian) vote between Paladino and Avella. It will draw Italian Democrats away from Paladino and to Avella. While Liu will gain ALL of the Asian votes, Democrat and Republican. Liu will also gain a heck of a lot of the Jewish vote and some of the other ethnic voters, Hispanic and Black especially. Avella's just serving his masters in the Democrat Party. The only thing he ever fought for, and tried to pass a bill on when he was a Councilman, was allowing his swimming pool to sit on his neighbor's property line with no set back! He lost that one too! Loser!

Anonymous said...

It was bay terrace, as usual, that got Liu in there. Liu has ties to CB 7 through Schrieber and a few others. And CB7 is just a branch of REBNY.

Avella has had the courage to challenge CB7 even though its arguably more powerful than him. He goes into Staviskys district to clean up after her apathy.

Palladino is crazy. Her political resume consists of yelling at the mayor in the middle od the road. Thats about it.

I would rather write in the mystery greek Queens College student from the vallone race than vote for her.

Anonymous said...

Avella ran against and defeated Padavan, a Republican. Avella should publicly drop out and ask his supporters to vote for Paladino. But I can't see Avella doing the right thing by supporting a Republican, if he really cares about defeating Liu.

Anonymous said...

Avella should publicly drop out and ask his supporters to vote for Paladino.

Tony obviously thinks he is the best qualified of those 3 candidates - and I say he's right.

Anonymous said...

Tony was here when my neighborhood needed a political voice. I'll return the favor to him.

Anonymous said...

Palladino has zero name recognition and as such has no chance of winning. The few who might have heard of her probably thinks she's crazy. Avella is a Democrat in the tradition of Democrats from generations ago when they weren't insane socialists. The Republican vote should go to Avella otherwise it will be a wasted vote.

Anonymous said...

Yep! You're right. Tony's a traditional Democrat. That's why your city and state is in such a mess. You've proven the point. Democrats never, never, learn.

Anonymous said...

@ Anon 34

If Phony Tony actually delivered on his promises during his term, was more reliable and didn't accept 100k in illegal campaign contributions he would not have lost to scandal scorched Lousy Liu. Name recognition can only get you so far when the tail end of your political career involved physically bullying constituents and small business owners. In any case their stars have dimmed and we need new fresh and honest leadership.

I'm a centrist Democrat and voted for Phony Tony but only because his opponent was Lousy Liu. In The General election I will be voting for Vickie Paladino. She tells it like it is, is building name recognition , knows the issues, cares about the community and unlike Phony Tony and Lousy Liu has operated a small business and is not a career swamp creature.

J. Kim said...

"This is incorrect.

While the Asian population in the 11th is significant, the voter enrollment and turnout is relatively small. In addition, there are MANY Asian voters who despise John Liu and will vote against him without question."

Asian Here. I didn't vote for John Liu.

"Avella will not take my vote away from her. Nobody knows what Avella will do if he wins. Sometimes he aligns with Republicans, sometimes with Democrats. He's not reliable."

So if a man doesn't follow the party lines he's not unreliable? F That. At least he's not a lemming and has the balls to stand against the party. ( I don't approve of all his decisions).







Anonymous said...


That young kid from Little Neck seems to have a good head on his shoulders.

He won on the a Conservative line and lost to that nut job Paladino in the Republican primary

I saw them both at candidate night and he ran circles around her.

Repbublicans should vote for the Conservative candidate.

Moderate Democrats should hold their noses and also vote for the Conservative candidate.

Now that would send an intelligent, young alternative to Albany who is not a left wing leaning socialist (Liu) or worse, a sore looser (Avella)
.
Boy would that rattle some cages!

Anonymous said...

Avella is a fossil from the Koch admin. A career politician who betrayed his constituents by being elected as a democrat (he was more than happy to accept the help of the Queens a Democratic Party), but working with the republicans. He’s pulled the rug over our eyes long enough. Wake up people. He’s not to be trusted.

Anonymous said...

J. Kim said...
"This is incorrect.

While the Asian population in the 11th is significant, the voter enrollment and turnout is relatively small. In addition, there are MANY Asian voters who despise John Liu and will vote against him without question."

Asian Here. I didn't vote for John Liu.


Exactly. That was my point. Lots of Asian folks can't stand John for a multitude of reasons and I expect many of those voters to turn out and vote for Avella.


Anonymous said...

Avella and Crowley will handily win re-election.
Meng and Liu are toast in light of
Peking meddling revelations.
They may claim to be Taiwanese, but their
loyalties have been proven clearly Peking.

Anonymous said...

If Paladino is such a nut job with zero recognition,
then why are all her co-candidates with her,
plus she got national media recognition?
Spleen it to me phaggerties.

Anonymous said...

That young kid from Little Neck seems to have a good head on his shoulders.

For those who might not know, the Conservative Party candidate is Simon Minching.

Anonymous said...

Crowley? Dude spilled his secrets to bartender, not realizing she was his opponent!

Anonymous said...

Dumb Dong also put Jimmy Meng on the Conservative line in 2002.

Anonymous said...

>their loyalties have been proven clearly Peking.

How so? Liu in particular seems loyal only to his own pocketbook.

Anonymous said...


Is their going to be a debate on New York 1 with all four candidates?

Anonymous said...

From Simon Minchings website: wants " long term suply increase" in housing".

Thoughts?

Anonymous said...

Menschling is just like Broomburglar, too imprressed by college-born ideas to let common sence seep through. On the contrary, my friend, we need to tear down those apartment buildings and mass transit and put up two family homes. That's what we did in the fifties to Make America Great Again. That's right, it's been proven city life makes you nuts: https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2014/feb/25/city-stress-mental-health-rural-kind

Anonymous said...

Paladino, while not elected yet, has more national name recognition than any elected Republican in NYS except for Peter King. While this doesn't necessarily translate into more votes within her district, the idea that she is unknown is ridiculous. So what if she's at a fundraising disadvantage? This isn't a national race - it can be won by knocking on doors. I know plenty of life-long Dems who will be pulling the lever for her.

Anonymous said...

Paladino’s Name recognition is because of this

http://gothamist.com/2018/10/17/paladino_queens_proud_boys.php

Anonymous said...

All the attacks on Vickie come from one "Cindy Grosz"
and are unsubstantiated inuendo.
Consider the counter argument on Vickie and Proud Boys:

https://qns.com/story/2018/09/10/op-ed-taking-umbrage-qns-report-state-senate-candidates-alleged-extremist-views/

https://1-tube.ru/watch/X9V3pwW2-hU

http://www.centralfloridapost.com/2017/10/24/proud-boys-unfairly-tied-actual-racists-racist-fashion/

https://www.theodysseyonline.com/coalition-forms-protect-free-speech-trump-supporters-slandered-neo-nazis