City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer (pictured) was near the top of his class, according to the Urban Justice Center's Human Rights Report Card, whereas Councilman Peter Vallone's score indicated he could use some tutoring.

City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Sunnyside) is going to have to make some room on his fridge.

The chairman of the Council Committee on Cultural Affairs, Libraries and International Intergroup Relations had the best record of the Queens delegation on human rights issues last year, according to the Urban Justice Center’s 2011 Human Rights Report Card.

The report card identified 72 bills introduced over the past year that focused on housing, voting, disability and workers’ rights as well as issues concerning criminal and juvenile justice, health and government accountability.

Each Council member was graded on his or her votes and sponsorship of these bills as well as their response to a questionnaire.

Van Bramer voted in favor of eight bills, sponsored 52 — including two he was the primary sponsor of — and returned his questionnaire, all of which earned him an “A-.”

He fared particularly well when it came to housing rights and government accountability.

On the other end of the spectrum, Councilman Peter Vallone’s (D-Astoria) score of 12 earned him a grade of “D+,” the lowest in the borough.

Vallone was the primary sponsor of two human rights bills and sponsored three others. He voted in favor of four bills and did not respond to the questionnaire.

The councilman criticized the methodology of the report, calling into question the voting records of other Council members who scored higher than he did.

“Apparently, supporting brutal and repressive dictators gets you an ‘A’ from this supposed human rights group. I’m proud to be at the bottom of any list Charles Barron is at the top of,” he said.

Councilman Barron (D-Brooklyn), who praised the late Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, earned an “A” on the report card.

Council members James Sanders (D-Laurelton) and Julissa Ferreras (D-East Elmhurst) both received a “B-” and Councilman Daniel Dromm (D-Jackson Heights) got a grade of “B.”

Receiving a grade of “C” were Council members Karen Koslowitz (D-Forest Hills), Elizabeth Crowley (D-Middle Village), Dan Halloran (R-Whitestone) and Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans).

Councilmen Peter Koo (R-Flushing), Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park) and Mark Weprin (D-Oakland Gardens) each scored slightly lower: a “C-.”

Councilman James Gennaro (D-Fresh Meadows) got a “D+” and Councilman Ruben Wills (D-Jamaica), who took office last November, did not receive a grade.

While the report assigned each Council member a grade, its primary criticism was of the political power of the speaker and the Council’s failure to challenge that power.

Of the 72 bills introduced, only eight were brought to a vote, and the report implied this was because Council Speaker Christine Quinn (D-Manhattan) did not support them.

Quinn’s office did not respond to a request for comment.

The report cited two rules that allow the Council to advance the process of legislation that does not have the speaker’s support.

“There are no clear reasons for the Council’s reticence in taking advantage of these two rules. However, based [on] reports that the speaker readily wields political power internally, and on conversations with advocates, we speculate that failure to do so is linked with the desire of most Council members to maintain a relatively friendly relationship with the speaker,” the report read.

“However, given its impact on human rights in New York City, business as usual is not sufficient to protect our human rights. Council members should act — individually and as a collective — to challenge the status quo even in the face of political reprisals,” it continued.

Assemblyman Phillip Goldfeder (c.) is sworn into office as his wife, children and U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (from second r.) and state Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver look on. Photo by Ivan Pereira

Assemblyman Phillip Goldfeder (l.) talks with state Sen. Malcolm Smith following his inauguration. Photo by Ivan Pereira

Elected officials from all over the state gathered at Junior High School 210 in Ozone Park Sunday to pass the torch to the community’s newest representative in Albany.

State Assemblyman Phillip Goldfeder (D-Howard Beach) was inaugurated before his family, friends, community members and fellow elected officials.

Goldfeder, who worked in the political offices of City Councilman James Sanders (D-Laurelton), Mayor Michael Bloomberg and U.S. Sen Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), succeeded former Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer, who became the Queens county clerk in June after serving the 23rd Assembly District for 24 years.

The new Assembly member said he was grateful for all the support he received from both the party and constituents and vowed to improve their quality of life.

“As the new assemblyman, I’m going to do the things I promised on the campaign,” he said.

The district includes the neighborhoods of the Rockaways, Howard Beach and portions of South Ozone Park.

Several Democratic members of the state Legislature, including state Sen. Malcolm Smith (D-St. Albans), Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan) and Assemblywoman Grace Meng (D-Flushing), were in attendance for the event, at 93-11 101st Ave., ?and said the rookie elected official will be making big waves in office.

Smith noted that two key Republicans — U.S. Rep. Bob Turner (R-Kew Gardens) and Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park) — were at the inauguration and he called on Goldfeder to continue to lead in a bipartisan manner.

“The aisles shouldn’t matter. You should do what is right,” he said.

Silver agreed and said Goldfeder’s long career in the New York political arena has made him a strong community activist, and he would not only be able to convey the community’s voice to Albany but also bring Albany’s side of the issues back home.

“You are part of a young collection of leaders who continue to define themselves as defenders of working families,” he said.

Pheffer, who was Goldfeder’s former boss, said she was confident he would be able to fill her shoes.

“There are so many, many problems that need to be worked on,” she said. “I am confident that he is going to do a better job [than me]. ?He is confident.”

Goldfeder said he is working on solving those issues, including the elimination of the toll at the Cross Bay Bridge and creating new incentives for neighborhood store owners during the down economic times.

“Right here, there are many businesses that need to survive,” he said.

U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks says contrary to a news report, there was no secret meeting held to choose someone to succeed him.

U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-St. Albans) dismissed a published report that southeast Queens elected officials and U.S. Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-East Elmhurst), chairman of the Queens Democratic Party, met in secret to discuss replacing the Jamaica congressman.

The New York Post, citing two unnamed elected officials who were “familiar” with the meeting, said the alleged sitdown at the Guy R. Brewer Democratic Club led to a decision that state Sen. Malcolm Smith (D-St. Albans) should succeed Meeks, who is reportedly under federal investigation for receiving a $40,000 payment from a Richmond Hill businessman who is charged with mortgage fraud.

“The Post has its own way to create its own facts,” Meeks said in a phone interview Monday, a day after the story was published. “Everybody that was allegedly at this meeting said categorically there was no such meeting.

The newspaper said Smith, Crowley and City Councilmen Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans) and Ruben Wills (D-Jamaica) met on an unspecified date last month to discuss Meeks.

A spokeswoman for Smith said the senator was not aware of any secret meeting.

“If there was a meeting, the senator had no knowledge of it and the senator never attended the meeting,” she said

Crowley, Comrie and Wills could not be reached for comment.

The story, citing an unnamed source, reported that Meeks’ “premature exit is assumed.”

“Resigning? Are you kidding me? That’s nowhere near what I’m doing,” Meeks said.

Donovan Richards, chief of staff to Councilman James Sanders (D-Laurelton), also said the councilman was not aware of a meeting in southeast Queens.

“If there was one, we weren’t invited,” Richards said.

Donovan Richards is aiming to succeed James Sanders as the City Council representative for the 31st District. Photo by Ivan Pereira

Over the last eight years, Donovan Richards has moved his way up the political ladder under the guidance of City Councilman James Sanders (D-Laurelton) and now he is aiming for City Hall.

Richards announced that he will run to replace Sanders when the councilman’s third term ends in 2013, and he has started early work on his campaign. The 28-year-old chief of staff said he has been considering a serious run for the office for the last couple of months and he was ready to grab the torch from his mentor.

“We need to put this new generation in the forefront,” he said.

Sanders, who has been in office since 2002, will be term limited out of office in two years and has pledged his full support to Richards’ campaign. So far, no other candidate has officially announced his or her interest in the race for the 31st Council District, which includes the neighborhoods of Laurelton, Springfield Gardens, Far Rockaway, Arverne, Edgemere, Bayswater and parts of Cambria Heights and Ozone Park.

Richards said he would continue Sanders’ work to help solve the community’s biggest problems: violence and lack of programs for youth. The candidate said he is constantly out and about in the district and attends meetings with various groups to come up with solutions to the surge in shooting incidents in southeast Queens.

It was an act of violence that hit close to home and led to him to seek a career in politics.

In November 2003, Richards joined Sanders’ office while studying at Nyack College after his friend Darnell Patterson was murdered on the streets of Jamaica. The tragedy and a meeting with Sanders at an anti-gun event spurred the candidate to make a difference.

“When I lost my childhood friend to violence … I decided I wanted to do something about this community,” he said.

By starting out as an aide and later moving up to a district manager, Richards said he gained a lot of insight from Sanders and his staff. He has worked with them on several issues, including the constant flooding problems during torrential rain storms, the construction of a hot sheets motel near Springfield Gardens High School and mosquito problems in the Rockaways.

“There is not a fight I have not been involved with,” he said.

In 2008, Richards ran against state Assemblywoman Michelle Titus (D-Far Rockaway) in that year’s Democratic primary, but lost to the incumbent. The candidate said the experience taught him to make connections early to avoid any roadblocks, such as petition signatures.

During the Assembly campaign, his signatures were challenged and he said he had to spend a lot of time away from the streets to resolve the issue.

“One of the things I’ve learned is that I have to work with different people from different walks of life. You don’t make the same mistake twice,” he said.

Former Mayor David Dinkins speaks at Dora Young's funeral. Photo by Ivan Pereira

Dora Young was more than just a political activist in southeast Queens, she was an inspiration and guiding force to the community leaders and elected officials in the city.

Nearly 200 mourners, including a Who’s Who of political heavyweights, gathered at St. Benedict the Moor Church in St. Albans Friday to honor the 89-year-old Democratic district leader for her decades of service.

Not only was Young one of the first black and female deputy clerks to work at Queens Borough Hall, she helped several elected officials get into higher office, including City Councilman Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans), state Assemblyman William Scarborough (D-St. Albans) and state Sen. Malcolm Smith (D-St. Albans) as the co-chair of the Guy R. Brewer Democratic Club.

Comrie, who was joined by his fellow St. Albans leaders as well as Councilman James Sanders (D-Laurelton), Assembly members Michelle Titus (D-Far Rockaway) and Jeffrion Aubry (D-Corona) and former Mayor David Dinkins, said politics was always her passion.

“A Democratic district leader is a non-paid position … yet so many [prominent] people came out here,” he said.

Young was born Oct. 20, 1921, in North Carolina, and after marrying Evie Young Jr. in 1949, the couple moved to Addisleigh Park, where she remained for the rest of her life.

She worked at Queens Borough Hall for more than two decades and officiated at hundreds of marriages. More than 40 years ago, she and former Councilman Archie Spigner helped to create the Guy R. Brewer Democratic Club to put southeast Queens on the political map.

Spigner said she really had a good vision for the club and always spoke candidly to everyone.

“She’d always used to tell me, ‘Archie, you’re not the only leader around here in the club,’” he joked.

Young took many up-and-coming political proteges under her wing and helped them accomplish their goals. Scarborough recalled that when he first joined the club, he wanted to run for several open elections, but she forbade him to do so due to his inexperience.

The assemblyman said her advice paid off and he was able to work his way up to the Assembly seat.

“Dora helped people and taught people,” he said.

Smith agreed and said her energy brought energy to any event or meeting among the elected officials.

“She was the type of person that once she got in a room, she lit it up. She got everyone talking,” she said.

Aside from her duties as the club’s co-leader, Young never lost touch with the community. She was active with her church and kept volunteering her time — especially at Christmas, when she answered children’s letters to Santa Claus as St. Nick’s secretary.

Even when an undisclosed illness kept her from being out and about, she would still lend a hand in the neighborhood and make sure that the community’s quality of life remained stable.

Dinkins, whom she campaigned for during the late 1980s, said her life would be an example to generations to come.

“Service to others is the right we pay for being on earth. Dora Young left paid in full,” he said.

Assembly candidate Phil Goldfeder talks to supporters during the kickoff to his campaign in Howard Beach. Photo by Howard Koplowitz

Some of the Queens Democratic Party’s heaviest hitters helped kick off the campaign of state Assembly candidate Phil Goldfeder at his Howard Beach campaign office last Thursday night.

Goldfeder is running to replace former Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer, who retired after taking the vacant Queens county clerk position.

“He has shoes to fill, there’s no doubt about it,” said U.S. Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-Jackson Heights), who is also head of the Queens Democratic Party.

Crowley said Goldfeder’s age, 30, will not be a detriment to his campaign, noting that Goldfeder has kids and a mortgage.

“It doesn’t matter how old you are to some degree if you have those responsibilities,” Crowley said. “That is something that transcends gender. That is something that transcends race, religion. I’m very happy that Phil is representing our party and when he’s elected he’ll represent this district well.”

Goldfeder, a former staffer to U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Mayor Michael Bloomberg, said he was “humble” about getting the backing of the Democratic Party.

Goldfeder said the people of the Assembly district he wants to represent — Howard Beach, Ozone Park, Broad Channel and parts of the Rockaways — are just like him.

“I struggle every month to pay the mortgage and pay the bills on time,” he said. “These are the things I hear all across this district; we’re struggling.”

Goldfeder, who also worked for Pheffer and City Councilman James Sanders (D-Laurelton), appeared to take a swipe at his Republican opponent, District Leader Jane Deacy, saying now is “not the time for on-the-job training.”

Democratic District Leader and Goldfeder supporter Frank Gulluscio said he knew Goldfeder from his days in Pheffer’s office.

“I believe it’s a new generation of leadership,” Gulluscio said of Goldfeder’s candidacy. “I look forward to working with him. It’s important to have someone follow in Audrey’s footsteps that’s aware of both national issues and more importantly the local issues to the benefit of the constituents.”

State Sen. Joseph Addabbo (D-Howard Beach) pointed to Goldfeder’s government involvement as an attribute that suits him well in the race.

“I look for candidates who ‘get it’ and Phil ‘gets it,’” Addabbo said. “Hard work pays off. Because he gets it in that way, he’ll get the position.”

Howard Beach resident Barbara Friedman said she has known Goldfeder for four years.

“Phil is a wonderful individual to follow in Audrey’s footsteps,” she said. “He has experience working in both local and national issues. Working in Bloomberg’s office and also Schumer’s office brings nonpartisan decision-making to the community.”

Sanders noted that Goldfeder got his start in politics working in his office.

“I would like to think that I saw something first in him,” the councilman said. “I share the Rockaways with the seat that was held by Audrey Pheffer. She had left such a gap that we have to ensure that we have quality representation for my community and the neighborhood.”

Ruben Wills speaks at a rally at the Friendship Center in December. He and Councilman Leroy Comrie gave thousands of dollars to the center's parent group, JSPOA, in their member items this year. Photo by Christina Santucci

City Councilman Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans) has given out more than a million dollars in taxpayer money to more than ?a hundred of groups in southeast Queens during this fiscal year.

His fellow southeast Queens members on the Council, Ruben Wills (D-Jamaica) and James Sanders (D-Laurelton), have also parceled out large donations to community groups with a combined total of more than a million dollars, according to the city’s list of discretionary funding.

Comrie, the deputy majority leader at City Hall, has listed 144 member items in this year’s budget, including small donations to neighborhood groups such as the Cambria Heights Civic Association, which received $3,500, and large contributions to long-running community organizations, such as the $28,000 he gave to the Afrikan Poetry Theatre for workshops.

In total, the councilman, who represents the neighborhoods of St. Albans, Hollis, Cambria Heights, Jamaica, Baisley Park and Addisleigh Park in the 27th Council District, distributed $1,124,121.

The largest single contribution went to a performing arts center at York College, at 94-20 Guy R. Brewer Blvd. in Jamaica, where the councilman’s wife, Marcia Moxam Comrie, works in the Department of Marketing and Communications. Comrie gave $45,000 to support the center’s 12-part series that brings the arts to southeast Queens.

The councilman gave a combined $57,550 to the Jamaica Service Program for Older Adults, JSPOA, in four separate items. The nonprofit has been caring for senior citizens in the neighborhood for years and was on the verge of losing one of its centers, the Friendship Center, due to a cut in funding from the city Department for the Aging.

The city reversed its plans and restored the funding after a massive rally in December which Comrie attended.

“The Council member does not want to put them in a situation where they can not fund their centers,” Reggie Thomas, the director of legislative budget affairs for Comrie’s office.

Comrie was not available for comment.?

Although he has been in the Council for less than a year, Wills had 69 member items listed and has given a total of $577,071.

Wills, who replaced the late Thomas White as the Council representative for the 28th District in a special election in November, gave $28,500 to the nonprofit group Young Leaders Inc. to help fund after-school activities for elementary and middle school.

“These groups do an incredible amount of work in the community, but they have not secured enough grants to do a lot of services. I decided to fund them based on that,” said Wills, who represents the neighborhoods of Jamaica, South Ozone Park, Richmond Hill and Rochdale Village.?

Comrie, Sanders and Councilman Mark Weprin (D-Oakland Gardens) have all contributed to Young Leaders during this financial year, according to the member item list.

Wills’s other member items include two grants to the southeast Queens housing advocacy group Neighborhood Housing Services of Jamaica that totaled $20,000 and $12,500 to JSPOA.

Sanders, who represents the neighborhoods of Rosedale, Laurelton, Springfield Gardens, Far Rockaway, Arverne, Bayswater and Edgemere in the 31st Council District, donated $588,321 with 48 member items. The councilman gave a combined $183,750 to the Margert Community Corp. with three different member items for senior, youth and community engagement services, according to the expense list.

The Rockaway-based nonprofit focuses primarily on housing counseling, but it also provides free services such as trips for seniors and a summer concert series in southeast Queens, according to Sanders.

“Margert is kind enough to sponsor a music festival that has become regionally renowned,” he said. “We have had groups as [big] as Roberta Flack, Ernie Eisley and Maxi Priest.”

Sanders said the money has gone a long way to help out his constituents over the years.

“Overwhelmingly, the city and the taxpayers of New York feel proud for what their Council members are using their money for,” he said.

Y. Philip Goldfeder is believed to be the favorite to land the Democratic nomination for former Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer's seat.

Y. Philip Goldfeder, U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer’s (D-N.Y.) director of intergovernmental affairs, is expected to run for the seat vacated by former state Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer (D-Rockaway Beach) and has the inside track to become the Democratic nominee in the yet-to-be announced race, a source close to Goldfeder told TimesLedger Newspapers.

Goldfeder, who declined to comment, has been Schumer’s director of intergovernmental affairs for 2 1/2 years and previously worked as the Queens director of Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s Community Assistance Unit.

Pheffer’s seat became vacant after she accepted the position of Queens county clerk last month.

Political insiders say Gov. Andrew Cuomo wants the special election to replace Pheffer to take place on Primary Day, Sept. 13, which means he is expected to announce the contest June 24 at the earliest.

Under previous law, special elections had to be held within 30 to 40 days of the governor’s announcement, but the law was tweaked to 70 to 80 days in order to accommodate ballots from overseas.

Before his position with Bloomberg, Goldfeder, a Rockaway resident, worked for City Councilmen James Sanders (D-Laurelton) and James Gennaro (D-Fresh Meadows).

Democratic district leaders in the Assembly district decide who makes it on the ballot as a Democrat, with two of the leaders — Lew Simon and Geraldine Chapey — expected to run in the race.

But the source close to Goldfeder said he is expected to be supported by the other two district leaders — Jo Ann Simon and Frank Gulluscio — which would be enough backing for Goldfeder to make the ballot on the Democratic line.

Jo Ann Simon, who was Pheffer’s chief of staff, declined to run and Gulluscio is also not expected to be a candidate.

The source said Goldfeder is close to Simon and noted he worked on Gulluscio’s failed Council campaigns and the two district leaders are said to be backing him.

On the Republican side, district leader Jane Deacy is a candidate for the seat and she has the backing of Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park).

The source said Ulrich’s criticism of Goldfeder — he said Goldfeder is virtually unknown outside of Rockaway — was a “silly statement,” pointing to Goldfeder’s career working for two councilmen, Bloomberg and Schumer.

“Phil has spent his entire career working from within the diverse borough of Queens,” the source said.

Rep. Anthony Weiner takes the podium moments before Monday's press conference. Andrew Brietbart claims the shirtless photo (inset) is one of many Weiner sent over the Internet. AP Photo/Richard Drew, inset courtesy BigGovernment.com

The borough’s elected officials have not rushed to support U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-Forest Hills), with most declining to comment after the congressman owned up to tweeting a suggestive picture of himself wearing boxer briefs to a Seattle college student and admitted to having online relationships with six women.

The strongest encouragement came from Weiner’s mentor and predecessor, U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.).

“By fully explaining himself, apologizing to all he hurt and taking full responsibility for his wrongful actions, Anthony did the right thing,” Schumer said in a statement. “He remains a talented and committed public servant, and I pray he and his family can get through these difficult times.”

Weiner, who choked up at times during a news conference he called Monday to take responsibility for the picture, said he was not resigning because he does not believe he violated his congressional oath or any laws.

“I have made terrible mistakes that have hurt the people I care about the most and I am deeply sorry,” an emotional Weiner told reporters at the Sheraton Hotel in Manhattan. “I have not been honest with myself, my family, my supporters.”

The revelation led House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to call for an ethics investigation into Weiner, who said he welcomed the probe and claimed no government resources were used in his indiscretions.

Reince Preibus, head of the Republican National Committee, called on Weiner to resign, but the congressman said he was not stepping down.

Weiner’s colleague, Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-Astoria), called the scandal “a sad situation.

“My heart goes out to Congressman Weiner’s family during this difficult time,” she said.

Many of the borough’s elected officials, including Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-Jamaica), state Assemblyman Rory Lancman (D-Fresh Meadows) and City Councilman James Sanders (D-Laurelton), declined to comment.

A Democratic insider said Weiner could have avoided the media circus if he had told the truth about the tweet from the onset.

The insider said Weiner probably will not be in Congress next year, but it would be due to redistricting, not the sexting scandal.

Weiner’s district may largely be carved up between Reps. Joe Crowley (D-Jackson Heights) and Gary Ackerman (D-Bayside), the insider said.

“I’d bet a beer right now that he won’t be in Congress in 18 months because of redistricting,” the insider said.

After days of denials and maintaining that his Twitter account was hacked, Weiner admitted Monday to sending the lewd photo that was intended to be seen only by 21-year-old Gennette Cordova, but was viewable to thousands of his followers on the social media website.

Weiner said the photo of his crotch was intended as a direct message to Cordova “that was a joke,” but he panicked when he realized the picture could be seen by anyone following his Twitter account and took it down himself.

The congressman called the news conference after more photos showing Weiner shirtless were released Monday by right-wing blogger Andrew Breitbart.

“The picture was of me and I sent it,” Weiner said in stunning admission.

The congressman also admitted to engaging in “inappropriate conversations, e-mail, Twitter” and pictures of “explicit images” that he shared with six women, although he said he had no physical relationships with them.

Phil Ragusa, chairman of the Queens Republican Party, said Weiner should have resigned.

“It’s really a shame because he’s supposed to be doing the people’s work and what’s he doing? He’s twittering, he’s sending lewd photos,” Ragusa said. “If he lies about things like this, how can you trust a guy like this?”

Weiner said his wife, Huma Abedin — an aide to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton — was aware of the online relationships before they were married last summer and that the relationships started before the marriage.

“I should not have done this and I should not have done this while I was married,” he said.

Weiner said the online exchanges were conducted on his personal BlackBerry and his home computer and that government property was not used.

The congressman said that in some cases he initiated contact with the women and most of them he met on Facebook, but said he never met them in person.

Ann Jawin, president of the Center for the Women of New York, said she was both heartsick and disturbed by Weiner’s actions.

“He’s a very effective congressman and he’s represented the area very well,” she said. “What he did … was a personal thing, but people in public office have to consider that their personal life is not personal anymore.”

Jawin said Weiner’s conduct “sounds like the behavior of a teenager that didn’t grow up.”

When asked if he deserves another term in office, Weiner said it is up to voters to decide.

“My constituents have to make that determination,” he said. “I’m going to go back to work and I’m going to convince them this was a personal failing.”

Von Stewart, a Forest Hills resident of five years, said Weiner has his vote next year, but said the congressman destroyed his mayoral aspirations.

“I’m a New Yorker. I think New Yorkers will forgive him, but the chance of him becoming mayor is slim now,” Stewart said.

Weiner, who has more than 65,000 Twitter followers, said he will still use the social media site.

“I don’t believe I’ll use it the same way, that’s for sure,” he said.

A panel of Council members -- including Ruben Wills (from r.), Eric Ulrich, Julissa Ferraras and James Sanders -- listen to negative testimony about Walmart at the Council's second hearing. Photo by Joe Anuta

Anti-Walmart demonstrators rally across the street from a smaller group of pro-Walmart demonstrators outside of the second Council hearing on the retail giant. Photo by Joe Anuta

City Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park) fought a lonely battle against a barrage of Walmart criticism in Manhattan last Thursday when the Council held its second hearing on the retail giant’s possible move into the five boroughs.

Walmart has been eyeing a site in Brooklyn, and has attempted to sway public opinion in its favor with an aggressive ad campaign in newspapers and on the radio.

But there was no need to convince Ulrich. The Queens Republican was the sole official in favor of the retailer opening a New York City store and served as a voice of opposition in the largely one-sided discussion.

“In the City Council, we do a fair and balanced hearing,” said Councilman James Sanders (D-Laurelton), chairman of the Committee on Civil Service and Labor. “I’m sorely disappointed that Walmart didn’t come.”

The nation’s largest retailer did issue a statement saying it declined to participate but also benefitted from the defense of Ulrich, whom Sanders allowed extra time to speak.

At one point in the hearing, Ulrich questioned four people who testified against the company and cited multiple court cases accusing the retailer of discriminating against women and exploiting employees.

Ulrich asked whether they believed the practices mentioned — locking employees in the store overnight and prohibiting organized labor — would continue in the city, which he characterized as home to the toughest labor laws in the country.

“I find it hard to believe that that would happen in New York City,” Ulrich said. “Walmart realizes that doing business in New York is different than doing business in Alabama or Arkansas.”

To support his point, he said Walmart had mentioned allowing union labor to construct future stores.

But Annette Bernhardt of the National Employment Law Project said enforcement of labor laws is lax in the city due to an overloaded city Department of Labor, so the laws while tough are not actually enforced.

“There are 150 inspectors for the millions of workers and half a million workplaces,” she said. “The only option is to file lawsuits.”

But Ulrich took issue with many of the lawsuits that were provided as evidence of Walmart’s employee discrimination and violations of labor laws, since the retailer often decided to settle out of court.

“A settlement is not an admission of guilt,” Ulrich said. “It is unfair to characterize a corporation as basically wholly unscrupulous just because they settled out of court.”

Adam Klein, a lawyer at ?Outten and Golden in Manhattan, said Walmart had in fact lost several court cases.

Despite the retailer’s legal entanglements, Ulrich also asked why an employer that claims to pay $12 an hour is a bad thing.

“Walmart is coming to New York City and paying $12 an hour,” Ulrich said. “That’s higher than the living wage bill that my co-Council members are sponsoring.”

The panelists expressed skepticism that the company would make good on that promise and accused Walmart of hiring predominantly part-time workers for less pay.

“A job is a job. If they hire 1,000 people they would be taking 1,000 people off of the welfare list,” Ulrich said.

“If it is such a terrible company to work for, why do 1.4 million people work there?” he asked.

Sandra Carpenter, a former employee of Walmart in Massachusetts who testified against the company, replied, “They need jobs.”

After the hearing, Ulrich said he would like to see the retailer in the city, although he likes some spots more than others.

“I want Walmart anywhere in the five boroughs,” Ulrich said. “But I would gladly take them in my district.”

Ulrich also stressed that the location should be in a spot where it would not harm small business.

He cited other big box stores in Brooklyn that are removed from small commercial districts as examples.

Donovan Richards (from l.), Councilman James Sanders and U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks push for an end of senseless violence in southeast Queens. Photo by Ivan Pereira

On the day the city celebrated the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., leaders in southeast Queens urged residents and law enforcement agencies to continue the civil rights leader’s work for peace by getting guns off the streets.

City Councilman James Sanders (D-Laurelton) joined U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-Jamaica) and civic groups at the Birch Family Center, at 145-02 Farmers Blvd. in Laurelton, to call for the Queens district attorney’s office to start another gun buy-back program for the neighborhood.

Over the last year, murder has increased 13 percent in the city and the surge was even greater in communities in southeast Queens, where there are a number of unsolved shooting homicides.

Sanders, who has held gun buy-backs in the past, said the first step to curbing the problem was to get the weapons out of the hands of criminals.

“It is madness to let the violence continue when we know that there is a simple solution to the problem,” he said.

Aside from illegally obtained guns that finger in the incidents, Sanders said firearms used in shootings are stolen from the homes of licensed owners. The councilman said those owners should think carefully about their weapons during these dangerous times.

“If you bought a gun and don’t know how to use it, you better turn it in,” he said.

DA Richard Brown said he would support a gun buy back.

“I applaud Councilman Sanders and his fellow civic leaders for their efforts in wanting to help to curb gun violence and would welcome their assistance in helping to secure the necessary funding to finance another gun buyback program,” he said in a statement. “I would also remind individuals that they can currently turn in guns at their local police precinct and receive a voucher for $100,” he said in a statement.

Meeks agreed with Sanders’ call and said the initiative is more important than ever because of the shooting incident in Tucson, Ariz. The congressman noted that the alleged shooter was able to legally obtain a gun despite having a minor criminal record and possible mental problems.

James Earl Ray, the man who shot King in 1969, also bought the gun used in the assassination legally, according to the congressman.

Although Meeks said he and his colleagues in Washington, D.C., were looking for ways to change gun laws to prevent similar killings, reducing the amount of illegal weapons was the easiest way to stop the senseless shootings.

“Where does the community go? Community or chaos? That is the question,” he said.

Many community groups supported Sanders’ initiative because they said they were tired of all the violence that has been plaguing their streets.

Earl Roberts, vice president of the 113th Precinct Community Council?, said residents needed to push for programs that would also spread a message of peace to the youth.

“We need that gun buy-back program, but most importantly we need that value for life,” he said.

Sanders was not the only elected official who was out in the community during the national holiday. City Councilmen Ruben Wills (D-Jamaica) and Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans) distributed coats to needy residents.

State Sen. Joseph Addabbo (l.) and Assemblywoman Margaret Markey speak at a voting machine demonstration before the primary election last month. Photo by Christina Santucci

City Board of Elections officials defended themselves at a hearing sponsored by state Sen. Joseph Addabbo (D-Howard Beach) last week on widespread problems on Primary Day, saying they needed more government funds to effectively implement the new voting machines.

“Nobody takes into consideration what it means to put on an election,” said George Gonzalez, executive director of the city Board of Elections. “If I had funding for the staff I needed to put on an election, some of these problems would go away.”

Addabbo held the hearing Sept. 29 following numerous complaints from borough legislators and city residents, who said broken machines, uneducated poll workers and privacy issues were pervasive throughout the city, including in Whitestone, Springfield Gardens and Sunnyside.

“There were delayed openings, malfunctions, poll workers who were not sure about handling ballots and violations of voter privacy,” city Public Advocate Bill de Blasio said at the hearing. “At my site in Park Slope, Brooklyn, there was a three-hour delay before it was fully functional. That means some voters go away and aren’t coming back.”

The new voting system, mandated by the federal Help America Vote Act, makes voters select their candidates by filling out ovals — something reminiscent of multiple-choice tests in school — on a paper ballot that is fed into a scanner.

The scanner then records the voter’s choice and the physical evidence of the ballot will remain — one of the main stipulations of the federal act, which was passed in part as a response to the confusion over the ballots in the 2000 presidential election.

Addabbo and others at the hearing said they were pleased to discuss issues involving the machines in an attempt to fix the problems before November’s general election.

“Today is about identifying problems and finding practical solutions,” Addabbo said.

Board of Elections officials said at the hearing that they worked hard to educate the public about the new voting system and contended the problems during Primary Day particularly stemmed from a lack of financial support from the state. Still, Gonzalez said city election officials were working to make the general election a more seamless process, including having poll workers undergo additional training.

“Since the city and state have not provided the board with adequate resources, the implementation of the new voting system is placed in jeopardy,” Gonzalez said.

Queens legislators have reported a number of problems in the borough.

Halloran said that after reports of “computer glitches” at the PS 209 polling site in Whitestone, he called on the BOE to fix problems with the machines and ballots, including a small font he said was difficult for people to read. Southern Queens was also hit with problems, including at the Springfield Gardens High School polling site, according to City Councilman James Sanders (D-Laurelton).

“In my district, Springfield Gardens did not get voting machines until 3 p.m.,” Sanders said. “I don’t believe they were handing out paper ballots to people either. If this is true, then you have disenfranchised people because most people sadly will not come back.”

Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Sunnyside) said the machines at the Queen of Angels Church in Sunnyside were not functioning when he went to vote at 7 a.m., and he had to cast an emergency ballot.

Councilmen Thomas White (D-South Ozone Park) and James Sanders (D-Laurelton) both defeated their rivals on an Election Day that  although not as busy as the presidential race  last year, drew big crowds in the neighborhood.

“I’m hoping that the best candidate wins,” said Elijah Davis, 79, who voted for White at PS 223 in South Jamaica.

White defeated his Conservative Party rival, Ruben Wills, with 8,604 votes, according to unofficial results from NY 1. Wills, who was defeated by White in the Democratic primary in September, received 1,184 votes.

White represented the 28th Council District, which covers Richmond Hill, Ozone Park, Jamaica and Rochdale Village, from 1994 and 2002 and was term limited out of office. He was re-elected to the post in 2005.

Sanders beat Republican challenger Scherie Murray with 14,529 constituents choosing him vs. 1,807 votes for her, NY 1 reported. The former Marine has been representing the 31st Council District, which covers the areas of Laurelton, Springfield Gardens, Rosedale and the Rockaways, since 2002.

“We are glad the people of the 31st District spoke loudly and clearly that they wanted bold leadership at City Hall. We are humbled and grateful of this victory. There is a lot more work to be done,” Sanders said in a statement.

Murray could not be reached for comment by press time Tuesday night.

Councilman Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans) ran unopposed and will also be serving a third term as the representative for the 27th Council District, which covers St. Albans, Hollis, Cambria Heights, Jamaica, Baisley Park, Addisleigh Park and parts of Queens Village.

Voters in neighborhoods such as St. Albans, Springfield Gardens and Laurelton came out in large numbers to vote for the Council contenders as well as the mayoral and borough president candidates, but polling stations did not have the packed long lines that were present last year.

Anne Garrick, who voted at PS 156 in Laurelton, said last year she had to wait for an hour to put in her vote, but this year it took minutes.

“Last yearit was the presidential election and the line was around the corner,” she said.

Mary Odom, who has been living in Laurelton for 33 years, voted for Bloomberg. Although she said she was disappointed he and the Council extended term limits, she said he was the best candidate to lead the city during the recession.

“It was a little unfair,” Odom said about the overturning of term limits. “But we are in a scary time.”

Reach reporter Ivan Pereira by e-mail at ipereira@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 146.

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn (l.) and Councilman Leroy Comrie talk about the new city bill designed to crack down on fraudulent mortgage consulting firms. Photo courtesy Leroy Comrie

The city will be cracking down on scammers who have been targeting helpless homeowners who had their properties foreclosed, City Councilmen Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans) and James Sanders (D-Laurelton) announced last week.

The southeast Queens leaders were co-sponsors of a Council bill that passed Oct. 28 that requires mortgage property consultants to disclose state regulations on any advertisement posted in the city.

Residents in neighborhoods such as Jamaica, St. Albans and Springfield Gardens have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars and their homes to unscrupulous agencies that charge them for loan consulting but never give them the service, according to Comrie.

“Nearly every day a constituent enters my district office desperate for assistance to save their home. In that desperation, they have often turned to a consultant who for a fee takes advantage of their plight,” the councilman said in a statement.

Fliers and advertisements are posted throughout southeast Queens for foreclosure help with nothing more than a phone number, according to Comrie.

The companies are not always trustworthy, but many homeowners in the area reach out to them because they are at the end of their rope and do not want to be homeless, Sanders said.

“If you are a property consultant trying to get rich off of the misery of people in need, this bill was crafted just for you,” Sanders said in a statement.

Since last year mortgage consultants are regulated by the state and required to provide specific information on their practices. The bill, slated to be signed by the mayor, mandates that companies must disclose that their consultants cannot perform services without a contract, accept a payment before completion of services or take power of attorney from a homeowner, according to the Council.

The consultant must also tell the client that his or her work does not guarantee that a mortgage will be foreclosed. The bill will fine businesses between $2,500 and $5,000 for not disclosing the information, according to the Council.

Similar scams involving unscrupulous lenders who gave subprime mortgages to homeowners led to the massive surge in foreclosures in southeast Queens over the years, according to Comrie. Of the 318 city foreclosure auctions that took place in July, 63 percent were properties in Queens, the councilman said.
More than a quarter of those foreclosed properties were in southeast Queens, according to Comrie.

The Council said it is working with the state attorney general’s office to identify fraudulent consultants and possibly prosecute them.

“Preying on desperate New Yorkers who are in danger of losing their homes is simply deplorable,” said Council Speaker Christine Quinn (D-Manhattan). “It not only devastates these already struggling families, it also threatens to further destabilize neighborhoods hit hardest by foreclosures.”

Reach reporter Ivan Pereira by e-mail at ipereira@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 146.

Councilman James Sanders (r.) talks with a Carleton Manor resident after a fatal fire in May. Photo by Christina Santucci

City Councilman James Sanders (D-Laurelton) is living up to his campaign promise of securing funds for installing security cameras in public housing in his district after he earmarked $214,000 for Carleton Manor.
Sanders said the money was not steered toward the Far Rockaway housing project because of high levels of crime, although he acknowledged there have been serious incidents there.
“Although there have been violent episodes at the Carleton Manor, this is keeping with my [campaign] promise,” Sanders said in a telephone interview Friday. “We have heard the calls of the seemingly abandoned people and we stand with them.”
“Until every child can go out in the sunlight, we will continue to attack crime,” the councilman said. “We’re not going to leave these people alone.”
Sanders said he came under fire from Republicans over the allocations.
“There are those who say I should not give money to public housing,” he said. “I encourage them to go to the homes of mothers who had children die from a stray bullet.”
Sanders won the Democratic primary and faces Republican Sherie Murray in the general election.
Teenager Brendan Bethea was struck and killed by a stray bullet last year while she was walking in the courtyard at the Redfern Houses, which received $2 million from Sanders for the security cameras.
Redfern and the Hammels Houses, both in Far Rockaway, received money from Sanders to outfit security cameras at those locations.

James Sanders

Despite a large number of challengers who actively campaigned up to the last second, voters in Laurelton and the Rockaways chose to keep City Councilman James Sanders (D-Laurelton) as their Democratic candidate for in this year’s primary.

Sanders beat out five candidates who were vying for his seat with 3,071 votes, which was 39.91 percent of the total for the primary, according to the city Board of Elections. The incumbent is seeking a third term in office and will be running against sole Republican challenger Scherie Murray in the general election this November.

His opponents included his former chief of staff, Michael Duncan, community activists Lou Grays and Jacques Leandre, political staffer Fredrick Lewis and former 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement and Community Board 13 member Marq Claxton.

Leandre came in second with 21.60 percent of the vote with 1,662 Democratic constituents voting for him, followed by Duncan, who had 14.01 percent of the vote with 1,078 votes and then by Claxton with 12.09 percent, or 930 votes, according to the city Board of Elections. Grays came in fifth with 479 votes, or about 6.22 percent of the total, and Lewis had the least number of votes with 475 constituents, or 6.17 percent, voting for him, the BOE said.

Leandre congratulated Sanders on his win and promised to continue his activism in southeast Queens.

“As a community leader I will do everything in my power to help the councilman in whatever efforts that will enrich and enhance the lives of the residents of this district,” he said following the results.

The 31st Council District encompasses the neighborhoods of Laurelton, Rosedale, Springfield Gardens, Far Rockaway, Arverne, Bayswater and Edgemere. Turnout was not heavy in southeast Queens, but the voters who went to the polls said they cared deeply about who won the Democratic bid for City Council, comptroller and mayor.

Sanders, Leandre, Claxton and Duncan all bumped into each other outside PS 156 at 229-02 137 Ave. Tuesday morning as they made one final push to get southeast Queens voters to chose them.

“I feel great today. I encourage everyone to be peaceful,” Sanders said as he began his primary morning.

The councilman voted to extend term limits last year, but abstained on a vote to leave the issue up to the voters in a referendum.

Queens Coalition for Parks and Greenspaces President Fred Kress (from l.) and Councilman James Sanders listen to Jacques Leandre as he explains what happened during an event he co-sponsored in Brookville Park last month. Photo by Ivan Pereira

Civic leaders and residents of Rosedale clashed with state Assemblywoman Michelle Titus (D-Far Rockaway) and political candidate Jaques Leandre last week as they tried to piece together how one of their family events at Brookville Park had spiraled out of control and littered the greenspace.

Members of the Queens Coalition for Parks and Greenspaces and the Rosedale Civic Association demanded answers from the politicians and the other co-sponsors of the Aug. 22 family day picnic at the park during a meeting Sept. 2 after alcohol was served during the afternoon and evening celebration and garbage was scattered for nearly one square block.

“If this was supposed to be a family day, then we are in trouble,” said Fred Kress, president of the Queens Coalition.

Brookville Park Manager Mark Edwards said an application permit for the family day picnic was submitted by Eric DeBerry, Titus’ husband, and it stated there would be 300 people attending.

When Edwards arrived the next morning to inspect the damage, which required extra city Parks Department crews, he was confronted by DeBerry and another organizer who screamed at him and demanded their deposit back.

“They said the party got out of control,” Edwards recalled. “These two gentlemen felt they did nothing wrong.”

Leandre, who is running against incumbent City Councilman James Sanders (D-Laurelton) in the Democratic primary next week, arrived at the meeting an hour late and said he heard about the litter and called DeBerry and the other man to go to the park the next morning to sort things out. He said he was appalled to hear about the incident and pledged to help the community rectify the situation.

“I would not expose my wife and children to that,” he said

Martha Butler of Titus’ office said she never saw the tent where the alcohol was served or the garbage, which contained several empty beer bottles and sexually suggestive postcards with scantily clad women. Although Kress and other community members took pictures of the litter and the confrontation between Edwards and DeBerry, Butler questioned whether the mess was caused by her office’s party.

“You think we would have sat there and let what happened happen?” she asked.

“Apparently you did,” responded Rosedale Civic member Paul Mader.

Titus arrived at the meeting more than an hour later, allegedly after Butler called her during the session, according to several community members, and disputed Edwards’ account of his meeting with her husband the morning after.

She suggested it was another party that trashed the park, but Edwards said that was impossible since the park was closed.

“It was not another party, it was an extension of the party from the daytime,” the park manager said.

Suzette Wilkins of Valley Stream, L.I., told the community members the event was initially created three years ago by her family and friends as a memorial to her husband, Vaughn, a Rosedale resident who was killed in an auto accident. During the second year, one of her friends, party promoter June Baloon, wanted to make the party bigger and called Titus’ office to help sponsor it and get permits.

For this year’s celebration, Wilkins said she only helped organize the area for the children and the other sponsors took over the remaining parts of the party. She said she was shocked when she saw a tent advertising “open bar, ladies only,” during the celebration, which was scheduled to last from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

“I did address it and they said it was taken off,” Wilkins said of the sign.

The Long Island resident said she did not meet Titus that day and never met Leandre and apologized to the residents for the damage the party caused.

Kress and his fellow civic members accepted her apology, but he said he was going to pursue the matter with the Parks Department and possibly the state Assembly. He said Wilkins’ somber memorial was hijacked by the sponsors and he called for them to be banned from the park permanently.

It backed Coucilmen Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans) and James Sanders (D-Laurelton) in their bids for a third consecutive term. Clergy United did not make an endorsement in the race for District 28, where incumbent Thomas White (D-South Ozone Park) will be facing off against five challengers.

The clergy leaders also backed William Thompson in his bid against City Coucilman Tony Avella (D-Bayside), John Liu in the comptroller primary, Eric Gioia in the public advocate race and incumbent Helen Marshall in the primary for borough president.

The group stated in a press release:

Along with diversity, we are confident in the quality and qualification of those whom we have endorsed will help to raise the quality of life in [a] vast urban center and provide the needed resources necessary to care for the people we serve in the most diversified borough in this city.

Fred Kress, president of the Queens Coalition of Parks and Green Spaces, was scheduled to hold a meeting this week with the two elected officials and other community members to discuss the massive cleanup the city Parks Department had to undertake following the family day held there Aug. 22 between noon and 9 p.m.

A tent was set up in the park advertising an open bar for ladies, hard liquor was given away to dozens of participants and several empty bottles and trash were left behind the next morning, according to Kress.

“The debris field was one square block. I’ve never seen something like this in the park,” he said.

Among the garbage left at the park were sexually suggestive pamphlets with color photos of scantily clad women. It was not known who exactly set up the tent and sold the alcohol, according to the Parks Department.

Other sponsors for the family day picnic included a promotion company called June Ballon, an Avis car rental dealership on Long Island and a company called “Crazy Joint.”

“It’s so disturbing to see them not respect our community,” said Laurelton community activist Barbara Morris.

Titus condemned the alcohol distribution and littering of the park and said she did not see any of those activities when she visited the event with her daughter. The assemblywoman, who has hosted the family day picnic for the last three years, said there were many other groups using the space that day for other events.

“Shame on them. This was a beautiful day,” she said of the litterers. “Every event I hold, I make sure before we leave that it is cleaned.”

Several calls to Leandre, who is running against incumbent Councilman James Sanders (D-Laurelton) in the Democratic primary in two weeks, were not returned.

Sanders said he was appalled by the incident after his office received several phone calls from constituents who complained about the wild party that went into the late hours of the night.

“I’ve been informed that one person passed out and the park was left in disorder,” he said. “I do not condone the use of drugs or alcohol in public venues.”

While Kress was overseeing the damage done to the park, he said he saw two of Leandre’s associates argue with park officials, asking for their money back. The park members declined and the men left, according to Kress.

“They were yelling, saying that, ‘They are the community [sic].’ Well, you’re not with the community if you’ve done this,” the civic leader said.

Kress said he tried to reach out to Leandre to get him to address the incident, but the political candidate said he was busy. The civic head said that was no excuse and called on him and Titus to take responsibility, regardless of who sold the contraband.

“Well, if you rented a hall and the people who stayed at the hall wrecked the place, you’re responsible,” he said.”

Despite his campaign’s second lease on life, Claxton, who is challenging incumbent Councilman James Sanders (D-Laurelton) in the Council District 31 race, has filed an “order to show cause” against the city’s Board of Elections for not placing his name on absentee and military ballots that were mailed out.

“Aside from blatantly ignoring the judge’s order, they are attempting to limit the choices of the constituents. Their conduct borders on corruption and I will fight to [ensure] that the people of the 31st District are not deceived by dysfunction of the established political machinery,” Claxton said in a statement, referring to the Board of Elections.