McCabe Calls For MTA Board Elections, Verrazano Bridge Data
Liam McCabe, one of the three Republicans running for the open 43rd District City Council seats covering Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst and Bath Beach, today released a petition asking that the public directly elect the MTA Board.
The petition, written with South Brooklyn Republican Club President Ray Denaro, comes in in response to the crippling $17 Verrazano Bridge Toll hike on commuters crossing from Brooklyn into Staten Island. The petition also asks that the MTA release data showing the cost of maintaining the bridge and the amount of money collected.
“Simply put, the MTA Board is a group of people appointed by the governor, the mayor, and the unions that want to bleed NYC residents dry so they can go on using our money for their own interests.The petition gets to the heart of the dirty politics that make our neighborhoods suffer at the hands of bureaucratic failures,” said McCabe.
“Like you, I’m tired of that, and I’m not going to stand for it any longer. I have a tremendous respect for good government, and I take the responsibility of representation seriously. So here’s the idea. Make the MTA Board electable. Make it so that the people who sit on this Board making decisions about how we spend our money, have to answer to us. When you put your trust in me with a vote, I will honor that trust. In this petition, I’m calling for an MTA Board that will do the same.”
You can Sign the petition today.
Capano Calls For Investigation Of El-Yateem & His Ties To Arab American Association
Bob Capano, one of the three Republicans running for the open 43rd District City Council seats covering Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst and Bath Beach, yesterday fired off a letter to State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman calling for an investigation of the Arab-American Association (AAA) of New York and its reported activities in support of political candidates and organizations.
Under New York State Law, the Attorney General’s Office is responsible for the oversight of non-profits based in New York State, and Capano alleges AAA violated non-profit ethics laws. Non-profits are not allowed to get involved in political activities as they are often funded through government and it would be a breach of ethics.
The treasurer of the Bay Ridge-based AAA is Democratic candidate for the city council seat, Rev. Khader El-Yateem, the Palestinian-American pastor of the Salam Arabic Lutheran Church in Bay Ridge.
“Specifically, public information shows this non-profit organization, which has received over $200,000 in city taxpayer funds, hosted events for the Muslim Democratic Club of New York City, and political activities on behalf of Senator Bernie Sanders’ campaign for President in 2016,” wrote Capano.
“Significantly, the treasurer of this organization, Khader El-Yateem, is a candidate for New York City Council in Brooklyn’s 43rd district, and the voters have a right to know if he and the organization violated any laws, as well as his fiduciary responsibility to those who donated to the Arab-American Association of New York.”
Quaglione Proposes Independent Theater Week
John Quaglione, one of the three Republicans running for the open 43rd District City Council seats covering Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst and Bath Beach, last week proposed the establishment of a “New York City Independent Theater Week” to be organized and promoted by the City’s official marketing organization known as New York City and Company.
Quaglione announced the proposal during his remarks at a “Meet The Candidates” forum sponsored by The League of Independent Theater at Manhattan’s The Kraine Theater.
“We need to do more to support and encourage folks to embrace the talent that is on the stages of our independent theaters throughout the five boroughs. What better way to promote these shows and actors than to mirror NYC Broadway Week and officially dedicate a time period that celebrates and highlights Independent Theater in our City. I look forward to working with The League of Independent Theaters when I am elected to the City Council to see this happen” said Quaglione.
“I also look forward to standing shoulder to shoulder with the League and presenting the industry’s economic impact study to City Hall. The industry features the work of over 40,000 artists and entertains more than 1.5 million people each year. This live performance theater network is generating many jobs, significant tax revenue, and creating opportunities for many families and people in Brooklyn. New York City government must do more to rightly recognize these important contributions,” he added.
Brannan Touts Grassroots Groundswell With $73K Campaign Fundraising Total
Justin Brannan, of the the four announced Democrats running for the open 43rd District City Council seats covering Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst and Bath Beach last week reported raising over $73,000, including $30,000 in donations eligible for publicly-financed 6-to-1 matching, further contrasting his grassroots campaign with big-dollar, out-of-district contributions to rest of candidates.
Brannan’s filings show the longtime community advocate leading the crowded field in in-district and small-dollar donations, giving the candidate a strong lead in publicly-financed fundraising.
“Nearly every donation we took in came in the form of small-dollar contributions from everyday New Yorkers,” said Brannan. “There is no room in our campaign for the kinds of wealthy, out-of-district money that far too often fuel Council races. I’m proud to say that we lead the pack in grassroots, publicly-funded campaigning, and that is just the kind of support that Brooklyn should see from its candidates.”
According to filings posted to the CFB this week, the Brannan campaign raised nearly 70% of his war chest from donors residing in the 43rd District.
