gianarisvsperalta_we_2012_02_02_q_filestaff

New western Queens districts create faux state Senate fight

Posted by Rebecca Henely in District 12, District 13, District 16, Governor, State Senate on February 2, 2012 | No Comments

The new proposed state Senate district lines would set Sen. Michael Gianaris (D-Astoria) against Sen. Jose Peralta (D-East Elmhurst), but the longtime friends say they have no plans to duke it out at the polls. “This actually makes it very amusing,” Peralta said. Both senators characterized the new districts, drawn by Senate Republicans, as politically [...]

addabbosmithhuntleyredistrict_all_2012_02_02_q_filestaff

New lines mean Qns senate shift

Posted by Howard Koplowitz in Congress, District 10, District 14, District 15, District 6, District 9, Governor, State Senate, U.S. House on February 2, 2012 | No Comments

State Sens. Joseph Addabbo (D-Howard Beach), Shirley Huntley (D-Jamaica) and Malcolm Smith (D-St. Albans) may need to sign up for dance lessons if newly proposed district maps are approved because they will be doing the shuffle. “It looks like a switcheroo,” Huntley said in a telephone interview Monday, comparing how the new lines give her [...]

avellavsstavisky_2012_02_02_q_filestaff

Task force lines pit Avella vs. Stavisky

Posted by Joe Anuta in District 11, District 12, District 13, District 16, Governor, State Senate on February 2, 2012 | No Comments

After a state body released redrawn lines for New York’s state Senate districts, cries of political gerrymandering were heard from northeast Queens all the way to Albany. In particular, political sources pointed to the proposed districts of Sens. Toby Stavisky (D-Whitestone) and Tony Avella (D-Bayside), who would have to run against each other if the [...]

lancmanvsweprin_all_2012_02_02_q2_file

Proposal turns Lancman seat into a majority Asian district

Posted by Joe Anuta in Assembly, District 24, District 25, Governor on February 2, 2012 | No Comments

Reactions were mixed after two state Assembly districts in eastern Queens were drastically changed last Thursday by a state panel in charge of redrawing political boundaries. Assemblymen Rory Lancman (D-Fresh Meadows) and David Weprin (D-Little Neck) saw their districts — the 25th and 24th, respectively — morph to include different neighborhoods throughout northeast Queens, with [...]

wrapuponredistricting_all_2012_02_02_q_staff

Qns. residents slam Albany’s plan

Posted by Howard Koplowitz in Assembly, District 10, District 11, District 12, District 13, District 14, District 15, District 16, District 24, Governor, State Senate on February 2, 2012 | No Comments

No matter how you slice it, the redistricting plan drawn up by a state task force last week was widely panned in Queens by critics who said the proposal breaks up communities and gerrymanders the lines. Every 10 years, districts for state Senate, state Assembly and congressional lines are redrawn to reflect population changes recorded [...]

addabbogamblingage_fh_2012_01_26_q_filestaff

Raise NY gambling age to 21: Addabbo

Posted by Howard Koplowitz in District 15, Governor, State Senate on January 26, 2012 | 2 Comments

State Sen. Joseph Addabbo (D-Howard Beach) said he supports raising the legal age to gamble to 21 from 18, saying the move would limit the number of youngsters with gambling addictions. “I believe the time is right to address the issues of gambling through raising awareness and legislation,” Addabbo said in a statement Monday. The [...]