Liz Crowley claims her opponent is anti-LGBTQ, but her record is much worse

In our previous post, we cited the Queens Chronicle article about Elizabeth Crowley's candidacy which quoted her as saying her opponent, Robert Holden, has "a record of taking strong anti-woman, anti-LGBTQ stances" because of items published in the Juniper Berry, the newsletter of the Juniper Park Civic Association, of which Holden is president. Let's examine the anti-LGBTQ accusation this time.

We discovered an Op-Ed about gay marriage written by someone else on Juniper's website and also one by the Bishop of Brooklyn, but they are both clearly marked as opinion pieces. Newspapers print various op-eds all the time (like this one from Crowley), it doesn't mean they endorse the positions presented. There also was a letter to the editor printed in support of gay marriage which criticizes one of the original pieces. Basing her "anti-LGBTQ" accusation on this is a bit weak. We found nothing authored by Holden that broached this topic. A Google search came up empty as well.

Now, let's see what Crowley's record reveals.

Crowley denied that she supported gay marriage when asked about it, tried to dodge a question about it and defended taking money from a renowned white supremacist as per her own 2001 interview with the Juniper Berry - the same magazine she cites as proof that her opponent is unqualified for public office.

Q: In the Queens Tribune you said you support gay unions (marriages), can you tell me why?

A: Sigh...That was Frank [Borzellieri]. I never said that, I said equal rights for all people.

Q: Does that mean you do or do not support it?

A: {No comment} I'd rather not discuss this.

Q: Speaking of Frank Borzellieri, knowing his history, do you think you should have accepted his endorsement money?

A: We have only two things in common...same district and same beliefs. 

Q: So you have the same right-wing controversial beliefs as he does?

A: No, but he wants a hard working city council member. We don't agree on all issues.

Q: But that's not what you just said.

(Mr. Borzellieri, as member of the local school board, pushed for the removal of then-teacher Danny Dromm for being openly gay. Crowley's mother, Mary, was president of the District 24 board at the time.)

- In addition, Crowley is the only candidate in this race with a history of OPPOSING gay marriage.

- She lied to get the endorsement of an LGBTQ political club (then hid the fact that they endorsed her by refusing to put their logo on her mailers).

- She completely avoided answering questions from another LGBTQ club.

- Crowley had the most to gain from a mailer put out to disparage a past Democratic opponent for being openly gay which she never denied. She even went so far as to attack then-candidate Tom Ognibene for joining the victim, Charles Ober, in denouncing it and in the same statement called on Ober to drop his bid for office and unite behind her, which is pretty damn arrogant.

- Ober struck back in a press release.

- A strikingly similar flyer was dropped on people's doorsteps the night before the 2001 election that attacked Crowley's only opponent for supporting gay-friendly candidates, among other things, with the last 3 lines thrown in as a lame attempt at a smokescreen:

Voters in the district were not moved by either cowardly smear attempt and she lost both races.

Liz Crowley: Proud supporter of LGBTQ rights!

Since Crowley has spent most of her campaign complaining that her opponent "lacks Democratic values", we're happy to show you what Miss Crowley, a supposed "real Democrat", believes and practices. Bringing up your opponent's alleged anti-LGBTQ history when your own is this shitty is probably not a wise campaign move, Diz.

Why gay groups and self-described "progressives" have lined up to endorse someone who has a documented 16 year history of homophobia is a good question. Why other liberal candidates would seek a female Trump's endorsement is another. It all just proves what a joke Queens politics is.

#Fauxgressive

Former Council Member Tom Ognibene has passed away

From the Queens Chronicle:

Thomas Ognibene, one of the borough's most active and recognizable Republican fixtures over the last two decades, died on Monday after a battle with cancer at the age of 72.

Ognibene was first elected to the City Council in 1992, where he served the 30th District, encompassing southwest Queens neighborhoods such as Maspeth, Glendale, Ridgewood, Woodhaven and Middle Village, where he lived with his wife, Margaret, from 1986 until his death.

The politician also served as the legislative body's minority leader from 1994 until 2001, when term limits forced his departure from the City Council.

If it wasn't for Tom Ognibene, working class Queens would not have Elmhurst Park or the Stockholm Street historic district. He wasn't your typical politician.

Ognibene out

From the Queens Chronicle:

Despite circulating petitions earlier this month with his name as a candidate for state Senate, ex-Councilman Tom Ognibene will not run, GOP sources say.

Ognibene, of Middle Village, was listed on Republican petitions as a candidate for the seat now occupied by state Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. (D-Howard Beach).

A GOP source said attorney Ken Sullivan will instead be the Republican candidate for the seat, and Ognibene’s declining the Republican nomination was reported by Capital Tonight on Tuesday evening.

Ognibene to run against Addabbo

From the Queens Chronicle:

Ex-City Councilman Tom Ognibene, a Republican, is circulating petitions to run for the state Senate against incumbent Sen. Joe Addabbo Jr. (D-Howard Beach), a source tells the Queens Chronicle.

Ognibene, a Middle Village attorney, served as a city councilman representing Middle Village, Maspeth, Ridgewood and Glendale from 1992 through 2001. He attempted to take back his Council seat in 2009, but lost to Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley (D-Middle Village). He later ran for lieutenant governor as the running mate of Carl Paladino, but in a fluke lost the GOP primary to Greg Edwards, county executive of Chautauqua County in Western New York, the preferred running mate of unsuccessful GOP gubernatorial candidate Rick Lazio.

Ragusa remains head of Queens GOP

From the Queens Tribune:

Phil Ragusa will remain chair of the Queens County Republican Party after the petition against his election was dismissed.

According to a court filing obtained by the Queens Tribune, the judge ruled the case against last September’s reorganizational meeting invalid, saying there was not enough evidence to overturn the vote, which saw Ragusa retain his position as head of the Queens GOP, against former U.S. Rep. Bob Turner.

“The court has examined the petition and finds that it fails to set forth facts sufficient to justify the relief requested. The petition must set forth facts supporting the claim that irregularities occurred at the organizational meeting which altered the outcome of the election,” the filing read in part.

Last year, Turner’s side, represented by former Councilman Tom Ognibene, filed a petition in court, challenging the vote over concerns about the meeting’s operation, including the vote being held on a weekday afternoon, which allegedly prevented some members from attending the meeting.

The filing ruled that notice for the meeting was clear and sufficient.

Districting Commission makes withdrawal official

From NY1:

The city's districting commission, charged with redrawing the lines that make up the 51 City Council districts, voted to withdraw their original plan Tuesday and hold more public hearings before coming up with a new one. NY1's Zack Fink has the story.

The hastily called meeting came amid questions about whether the commission had the authority to withdraw the maps it had already submitted.

After receiving assurances from the the city's law department, the commission voted unanimously to take back its maps and hold a new round of public hearings.

But that wasn't all. The commission also voted for two changes to the maps.

One change addressed a controversy involving the embattled Assemblyman Vito Lopez.

After the maps had already been voted on by the commission, Lopez's ally, City Councilman Erik Dilan, requested that Lopez's home be moved to the neighboring 34th district where it would be easier for Lopez to run for City Council.

"My concern was that in voting on these several changes, which I don't disagree with, we leave the perception that that's all we are going to do," Padavan said.

Several organizations are seeking additional changes to the maps and their concerns were not addressed.

"I just wanted to make sure that it was understood that this plan isn't adopted because we just revised it," Ognibene said. "There still needs to be public hearings, this is not part of the adopted plan, and I wanted that clear."

The new round of public hearings are expected to take place in January.

N.B. The word unanimously is crossed out because Padavan actually abstained from voting.

GOP members charge extortion

From the NY Post:

City Councilman Eric Ulrich is demanding an investigation into claims that Queens GOP leaders milked candidates “for financial gain.”

His call comes amid mounting criticism of the county party from prominent Republicans, including former Rep. Rick Lazio, Rep. Bob Turner and ex-Councilman and party honcho Thomas Ognibene.

“The District Attorney’s Office or the US Attorney’s Office should look into these issues because they’re deeply troubling,” Ulrich said. “These con artists have been playing this game for far too long.”

Several Queens Republican sources said it’s commonly known that if candidates want the party’s nomination, they’ll have to pay — whether it’s in the form of hefty contributions to the party or fees to the party’s consultants.

One high-ranking Republican familiar with the allegations against the Queens GOP leadership said Ragusa is a “decent guy” but has surrounded himself with “operatives who make a living off this.”

Congressman Turner said he was dismayed when the Queens leadership delayed his nomination last year for the special vote arising from the Anthony Weiner sext scandal.

“They were hesitant, and it cost us two weeks of campaigning for what every other political professional thought was a no-brainer,” he said. “Their reasons for doing it were suspect.”

Turner said he was approached by Jay Golub, a consultant for Queens political candidates.

“I think his play was that I could clear up the nomination process by using him,” Turner recalled. “The conversation didn’t last long . . . I didn’t like where it was going.”

Golub said he was “just trying to help Bob.”

“I was never hired by the Turner campaign,” he said.

Federal court upholds NYC campaign finance law

From the NY Times:

A New York City law that limits campaign contributions from individuals and entities that have business dealings with the city survived another legal challenge on Wednesday, when a federal appeals panel ruled that the law did not violate the free-speech and equal-protection provisions of the United States Constitution.

Several plaintiffs had challenged the city’s “pay to play” regulations in a lawsuit filed in federal court in Manhattan in 2008. A district court judge upheld the constitutionality of the law in February 2009.

The plaintiffs, including former Councilman Tom Ognibene and the State Conservative Party, appealed that ruling, but their legal challenge has now been rejected by the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

Battle for control of Queens GOP

From the Daily News:

Former City Councilman Thomas Ognibene said he may challenge Queens County GOP leader Phil Ragusa at the upcoming organizational meeting.

"A lot of people feel the party can move forward. There are new opportunities in 2012," he said. "Real leadership can make a difference."

Queens Republicans are eager to harness the momentum created by newly elected Congressman Bob Turner's victory and grab back state legislative seats they lost in recent years.

"The county [party] adds nothing," said Ognibene. "They do not raise money and they do not provide expertise."

Queens GOP spokesman Robert Hornak said Ognibene's criticism was unfair and unfounded.

"If Tom feels compelled to run for county chairman, he's certainly free to do so," said Hornak. "If he had been more involved in the county organization over the past few years he would know our field operations and fund-raising has increased."

Ragusa was recovering from surgery and was not immediately available for comment.

Hornak said Ragusa has enough votes to be reelected.

Queens GOP version of Hatfield-McCoy feud

From City Hall:

The Queens Republican Party paid for a mailer suggesting the brother of indicted campaign operative John Haggerty was involved in a scheme to steal $1 million from Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Bart Haggerty is facing a Republican district leader primary challenge in the 28th Assembly District from Patrick Gallagher, the son of former Council Member Dennis Gallagher, who has the backing of the Queens Republican leadership.

The party paid for the negative mailer – which suggests Bart Haggerty was involved in his brother’s alleged scheme - that recently landed in mailboxes in Forest Hills, Queens.

The Haggerty brothers have long sought to overthrow Ragusa and are actively supporting Ognibene, while Dennis Gallagher is a Ragusa ally. Gallagher himself resigned from office in disgrace in 2008 after pleading guilty to misdemeanor sex abuse charges.

Ognibene said going after Bart Haggerty was completely out of bounds.

“Bart Haggerty has never, ever been accused of anything improper in his life,” Ognibene said.

A spokesman for Ragusa declined to comment, saying the mailer speaks for itself.

Bloomberg’s money has been a centerpiece of the battle for control of the party. Ognibene says he is running against Ragusa in part because the current chair failed to secure enough money from Bloomberg when the mayor was seeking the Republican ballot line in 2009.

“It is not our job to extort money from people,” Ragusa replied.

There's a pathetic bunch of hacks in the GOP. In the Democratic party, too, but the GOP wins the prize. Is this the best they can come up with?

Board of Elections saga: Here we go again

From City Hall:

For the past seven months, the 10-member New York City Board of Elections, consisting of five Democrats and five Republicans, has been deadlocked in appointing a $180,000-a-year executive director. No candidate has been able to line up the six votes necessary to win the job, and the board has refused to conduct a public search for the best national talent.

But Queens Republicans have renewed their push for the appointment of former City Councilman Anthony Como, and have struck a tentative deal with Brooklyn Democrats under which party chairman Vito Lopez would back Como, according to two sources with knowledge of the agreement.

Como, a Republican, would be appointed executive director, while a Brooklyn Democrat—most likely current Board of Elections counsel Steve Richman—would be appointed deputy director, the board’s other plum patronage post. Board of Elections rules require that the executive director and deputy director be from different parties.

Como and Richman both declined to comment.

Bloomberg knew exactly what was going on

From the Village Voice:

...right up to that fateful election day, John Haggerty Jr. had worked his heart out for the Bloomberg cause with no apparent payment by the most generous political candidate in municipal history. Other top officials of Team Bloomberg scored the biggest paydays of their lives. Haggerty worked for free—at least as far as filings show. Yet his tasks were just as crucial, if not more so. He played the leading role in persuading five cranky Republican county leaders to get over their hurt feelings and give Bloomberg their nomination, even though the mayor had jilted them two years earlier by quitting their party. Take a look at those photos of Bloomberg's pre-nomination meetings in which he pleaded with GOP officials to let bygones be bygones. There's John Haggerty, quietly at his side.

Without the GOP nod, Bloomberg would've been forced to slog it out as a third-party candidate against an African-American Democrat on his left and a Republican spoiler on his right. We know how that would have turned out: Even with the GOP in line, Bloomberg managed only a 4 percent win, despite spending more than $108 million. We'd be talking today about Mayor William C. Thompson. That seems like reason enough to want to throw Haggerty a million bucks worth of thank-yous.

"John was responsible for the mayor's election," says Tom Ognibene, the former Queens Republican Councilmember. "Without the Republican line, he was not getting re-elected."

...the reason Bloomberg never cried thief last year is because there was no harm and no foul. "John got this money funneled to him," he says. "That's why there was no complaint filed. He never took a penny. He could've been making hundreds of thousands of dollars. This was John's bonus."

Then there's Bloomberg's own curious performance in all this. Vance says that he's had complete cooperation from the mayor and his campaign, and that neither are targets. For that, Bloomberg can thank the state's election laws, which are murkier than a Louisiana oil slick.

By routing it through his own checking account, the mayor guaranteed that it would stay secret until mid-January, the party's next required public filing. That much of the scheme Haggerty was clearly involved in. In a note to Bloomberg's campaign staff cited in Vance's legal papers, Haggerty wrote that the payment for the operation should be funded with "a Housekeeping contribution that will not be reported until January 15, 2010."

From the Times Ledger:

Queens Republican Party Chairman Phil Ragusa said he tried to dissuade Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s re-election campaign last year from dealing with GOP operative and Forest Hills resident John Haggerty Jr., who was indicted earlier this month on allegations he stole $1.1 million of the mayor’s money and lied to Bloomberg that the money would go to poll watching and ballot security operations.

“I warned Bloomberg before this happened,” Ragusa said in a phone interview Monday, saying he was “saddened and surprised” by the indictment against Haggerty, who along with brother Bart have been warring with Ragusa over control of the Queens GOP.

Ragusa said he did not want to take satisfaction from the indictment against his rival.

“I don’t want to revel in someone else’s problems if he did it, and the evidence seems overwhelming ... he’s going to have his day in court, right?” Ragusa said.

“I am the chairman of Queens,” he said. “They should’ve run the campaign through the different counties, not through political operatives. We never saw any of Bloomberg’s people out on the street. He should have come to us and let the Haggertys go someplace else.”

Como comeback?

From City Hall:

Anthony Como is still waiting to hear on the job he says was promised to him to be a commissioner for the New York City Housing Authority. But if that does not work, State Sen. Joe Addabbo could have something to worry about.

“I think my wife would kill me [if I passed on the NYCHA job]” Como said. “I’m upset. I’m hoping it comes through sooner rather than later. As long as I can stay in government, that’s what I’m looking for. Whether it’s the city level somewhere in the administration, or on the state level in the State Senate, I don’t know.”

Como said he was offered the $172,311-a-year commissionership last spring by Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s campaign around the same time Bloomberg sought support for his mayoral campaign from a recalcitrant Queens Republican Party.

Como said the last time he was in contact with the Bloomberg administration about the NYCHA job was in late November or early December, and was told the Department of Investigation inquiry was still ongoing into several zoning violations Como committed while renovating his Middle Village home in 2007.

One local GOP operative said that Como appeared unlikely to get the position at this point. The operative said tensions between the Bloomberg campaign and the Queens Republican Party, which on several occasions bashed the mayor after giving Bloomberg their Wilson-Pakula endorsement, were a factor in Como likely not getting the position.

Other possible candidates include Gabriel Tapalaga, president of the Middle Village Republican Club and 2008 Assembly candidate Anthony Nunziato, a district leader who is part of the Haggerty faction. [Tom] Ognibene said he is not interested in running.

30th Council District result

Elizabeth Crowley 59%, Tom Ognibene 41% with 100% precincts reporting

Phony flier shenanigans in 30th Council District

Crowley Mail 2
From the Daily News:

A Queens Tribune reporter who lives in Kew Gardens said this eyebrow-raising flyer arrived in the mail last night in an unmarked, stamped envelope.

The flyer, which for some reason I can only upload upside down, urges "fellow black Americans" to vote for Democratic Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley because "she will make sure we get our New York City Services" and features a photo of Crowley next to a photo of Gov. David Paterson, who has been plagued by historically low poll numbers.

There is no "paid for" message, and, as the reporter wrote in his accompanying e-mail: "I do not think this could be from Crowley... pretty ugly, no?"

Pretty ugly, yes indeed. Dirty tricks at best, and clumsily concealed racism at worst. Anyone who knows the 30th Council District is aware of its conservative bent and the fact that it is not, in fact, home to many "fellow black American" voters.

Ognibene's campaign manager, Michael Michel, said he didn't know anything about the flyer and suggested I speak to the candidate himself.

I reached Ognibene on his cell phone, and he demanded that I ask Crowley's campaign about the glossy mailer - unidentified - that repeated many of the same allegations Burak made above and featured a mock-up of him in handcuffs.

"I have never in my life been in handcuffs," an indignant Ognibene declared. "If I have to put up with all the things she's sent out about me - vicious things, almost libelous...These things happen. I don't know anything about it. I get this kind of sh--. Excuse my language, but it makes me so angry when people do this."

Nope. Never in handcuffs. Just caught on wiretaps accepting bribes. It pays to have friends in high places.

Bloomberg part of "Queens team"; brags of Shulman endorsement...

The Queens team? Bloomberg has never cared about Queens unless it had to do with a megaproject or getting his own ass elected.

He's proud of being endorsed by Ackerman and Shulman?

Good gravy...

Ognibene tries deception (with Gallagher's help)

Got a robocall tonight. A young male voice said that they were representing the Gay and Lesbian Coalition and urging me to vote for Liz Crowley because she is the only candidate in the 30th district council race that is 100% for gay marriage.

TRUTH: There is no Gay and Lesbian Coalition.

TRUTH: There is another robocall going out saying not to vote for Bloomberg and that Crowley is pro-gay marriage.

TRUTH: These calls came courtesy of the Ognibene campaign in an effort to score points with older voters.

TRUTH: Crowley is for civil unions, but not gay marriage.

TRUTH: Dennis Gallagher is working on Ognibene's campaign and his fingerprints are all over this. His blog is also encouraging violence against Crowley.

God help Council District 30!

Crowley vs. Ognibene: It's on!

From City Hall:

Crowley’s aides describe the campaign as a mostly ideological “contrast of ideas.” Crowley will paint Ognibene as the product of a bygone era, when Rudy Giuliani reigned imperiously over the city, aided by loyal Republicans in the Council.

She will also seek to turn Ognibene’s ties to the mayor into a disadvantage. Crowley touts her opposition to the sprawling development projects sponsored by Bloomberg, saying they distort the character of the district’s largely middle-class neighborhoods.

“Overdevelopment and out-of-character development have been going on for far too long, and they’ve really been compromising the quality of life in our district,” Crowley said of Ognibene. “I don’t know what he was thinking when he saw all this happening and did nothing.”

She added: “I do believe that he’s a conservative at heart, and that’s what he preaches.”

That argument is unlikely to prevent Ognibene from brandishing his conservative credentials. More central, though, will be his argument that his experience and connections in city government will prove invaluable at a time of economic distress.

Not to mention the help from a billionaire mayor.

“You have to have somebody that knows what’s going on at City Hall,” Ognibene said. “The most important relationship that I have is the relationship with the mayor’s office.”

God help Council District 30...

Republicans feel the time is ripe

From the Daily News:

The primary election may be over, but the battle for several City Council seats in Queens is just getting started.

Republicans are hoping to hang onto their one seat and gain another two. Democrats, still recovering from a bruising primary, want to regroup and keep their overwhelming majority.

Three races in particular will be in the spotlight:

Councilman Eric Ulrich, the only Republican from Queens and one of three in the Council, is running to keep the 32nd District seat he won in a nonpartisan special election earlier this year. He replaced Joseph Addabbo, who’s now in the state Senate.

Ulrich faces Democrat Frank Gulluscio, district manager of Community Board 6 and a former Addabbo aide.

Former Republican Councilman Thomas Ognibene, who served as minority leader, is fighting to regain his old seat. Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley, a Democrat, won the spot in November after losing a previous special election.

Newcomer Kevin Kim, an aide to Rep. Gary Ackerman, beat out several well-known Democrats for a chance to succeed Tony Avella in District 19.

But Republicans think candidate Dan Halloran has a chance of winning back the seat the GOP held before Avella was elected in 2001.

Gallagher accused of threatening to kill poll worker

The following is an excerpt of a complaint filed with the 104th Precinct against former Councilman Dennis Gallagher:

"On September 15th I was at Lutheran Church on the official business of being a certified Poll Watcher (pursuant to provisions of Section 8-500 of the Election Laws of the State of New York), on behalf of City Council candidate Michael Cohen.

At approximately 9:15 PM at the Trinity Lutheran Church – in use as a primary election polling site – Dennis Gallagher pushed past me while saying, “get out of my way, you f---ing jerk.” Once in front of me, he then turned his face to me and we had a “staring contest”.

Gallagher had me squeezed between himself and a chair or table behind me. I felt very threatened. I know Gallagher, his criminal history, and consider him to be dangerous.

So, I said to him: “Get your f---ing face out of my face.”

He continued his threatening stare for a moment or so, and then moved away. Whereupon he called back to me that he was going to kill me.

City Council Candidate Tom Ognibene was present and helped remove Gallagher from the site. I do now know what he witnessed.

I am filing this statement as a formal criminal complaint against Dennis Gallagher, and will testify under oath against him at any subsequent proceeding." - Robert Doocey

Why were Dennis Gallagher and Tom Ognibene at a poll site together on primary day after the polls closed?

Was it to watch Rick Metzger Jay Golub get his ass kicked by Bart Haggerty?

FOLLOW-UP:

"Inspector Green,

I've been calling [the precinct] repeatedly for more then 90 minutes with many rings but no answer.

Finally, twice, starting at about 11:20AM, the phone was answered with "104 precinct ~~~ PA ~~~" as the greeting. I responded that I was calling to obtain the complaint # for a complaint I made yesterday.

Then the phone was dead.

After some time on a dead line, the PA spoke again.

The end result?

No handwritten report was submitted for the PA to enter into the computer, therefore, no complaint #.

This is unacceptable.

The two women officers arrived at my house on September 16 at approx. 11AM in response to my 911 call to enter the complaint. They handwrote a report on a form that I saw, and told me to call the above number today to get the complaint #.

Dennis Gallagher, a criminal, made a death threat to me in front of several witnesses - including the officer from the 104th Precinct on duty at Trinity Lutheran Church.

I want to pursue this complaint. Gallagher is a vindictive, violent criminal who must be put under control.

Please have the two officers submit the report they made so I can get the complaint # and pursue the matter.

I've attached the document I provided to the officers. It was signed. This has only my typewritten signature. If necessary, I will sign it and fax it to you."

Robert Doocey