This is an exciting time in government, a unique time because thirty-five of the fifty-nine members of the City Council will be newly elected. In Queens all fourteen members will be new - so experience will matter. I gained experience helping constituents, managing a budget and passing legislation while serving the 28th District in the NYS Assembly, 1994-1998.

I was a member of the Health, Judiciary, Children & Families, Environmental Conservation Committees and Chair of the Sub-Committee on Urban Health. I authored sixteen bills that are laws today, including significant health-care initiatives, the first law requiring HMO’s to provide women direct access to gynecological care, “Keindle Law” which provides prosecutors the tools to convict long-term, repeated child abusers and bills which increased penalties for various forms of domestic abuse.

In the council I will concentrate on delivery of services, tenants rights, education and senior issues.

I will fight to guarantee that the district receives funding for vital services. This means providing the proper number of sanitation pickups, street cleaning days, increased numbers of police officers and park workers.
Within a few years, rent regulations on the state level will be up for renewal. I will be a strong advocate, with a track record of protecting tenants rights, who will lobby the state legislature.

I will also work on education - to reduce class size, repair/construct schools and pay teachers a competitive wage, so we do not lose teachers to positions in the suburbs.

I will address senior issues including, providing for their safety, lowering prescription medication costs and rent increase protections.

My candidacy has the endorsement of Comptroller Alan Hevesi; BP Claire Shulman; Honorable Tom Manton; current Council Member Karen Koslowitz; Senator Daniel Hevesi; Assemblyman Michael Cohen; Queens County Democratic Association; Central Labor Council; District Council 37; 1199; Captains Endowment Association; Uniformed Fire Fighters Association; Uniformed Fire Officers Association; United Food & Commercial Workers.

(Statement reprinted as supplied by the candidate.)