Andy from Blue Collar corner talks to NYC Counciman Dan Halloran at the Lincoln Day Dinner at Antun’s on Sunday February 14, 2010 about the state of the GOP and the current Healthcare debate.
U.S. District Court Judge Nicholas Garaufis claims the city favors white firefighters and turns minorities away, via its written exam. Photos by Michael Lanza
The FDNY may have to hire two black and one Hispanic applicant out of every five new firefighters chosen, after a federal judge ruled that the department had engaged in intentionally discriminatory hiring practices.
Last week U.S. District Court Judge Nicholas Garaufis ruled that written exams administered to FDNY applicants in 1999 and 2002 were biased and ordered that the city create a new test and establish a process for the victims to receive monetary compensation and retroactive seniority.
Approximately 7,400 minority members took the exam, but of those only 293 — the number of applicants the judge says would have passed at the same rate as whites if the test had been fair — will be given priority hiring. Two blacks and one Hispanic from the pool will be chosen as part of every five new individuals hired by the FDNY.
The ruling came as a result of a lawsuit filed by the Department of Justice and the Vulcan Society, a fraternal organization of black firefighters who have continuously criticized the lack of ethnic diversity in the FDNY and claim the exam is not the only reason why the disparity exists.
“They need to put some serious effort and resources into recruitment and getting the word out in the black community,” said Paul Washington, past president of the Vulcan Society. “It is not widely known in the black community how good the job is.”
Leroy Gadsden, the president of the Jamaica chapter of the NAACP, believes that the strong traditions associated with the FDNY have made the force resistant to change. “They don’t have to reinvent the wheel,” Gadsden said. “There are many states that have successfully integrated minorities into their fire departments. It’s simple. They just have to change their mindset.”
Area officials expressed mixed opinions about the outcome of the case.
City Councilman James Sanders (D-Laurelton) believes the FDNY is lagging behind other city agencies in diversifying its force. “The majority of people in New York are minorities and the FDNY is not reflecting that,” Sanders said. “It is the worst of the uniformed services in that respect.”
City Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park) disagrees, saying the FDNY “spends a considerable amount of time trying to diversify the department.” Ulrich believes the decision may anger others who will think they have been slighted by any “priority hiring.”
“A government mandate in the form of a quota or a system that gives a leg up to one person and not another will not solve the problem,” Ulrich said, adding that the department should not be “tailoring standards.”
City Councilman Dan Halloran (R-Whitestone) echoed Ulrich’s sentiments, saying the FDNY has consistently reached out to minority communities over the last 10 years. He disagrees with the judge’s ruling and believes the city should appeal and will win if it does. Halloran opined that the FDNY exam tests precisely the skills needed to perform the job.
“Being a firefighter is more than knocking down doors and carrying a hose,” he said. “They have to understand the science of fires and that requires academic training. They also have to be trained to handle terrorism issues as well as biological and radiological issues and that means reading books.”
In the 2009 case of Ricci v. Destefano the U. S. Supreme Court ruled that New Haven officials had violated the Civil Rights Act when they invalidated the test results for a management promotion because black firefighters hadn’t scored high enough. Because the test was thrown out 17 white firefighters and two Hispanic firefighters who did qualify didn’t get the job.
Inquiries about the New York case made to the FDNY and the city’s Department of Administrative Services — the agency that creates the exam — were referred to the city’s Law Department.
“Contrary to the Court’s opinion, it is the city’s view that there is simply no evidence that the city ever intended to discriminate against black applicants,” Georgia Pestana of the Chief, Labor & Employment Law Division of the NYC Law Department said in a prepared statement.
Darius Charney, an attorney with the Center for Constitutional Rights, who is representing the Vulcan Society, says it isn’t any one particular question on the FDNY’s 107-page written exam that is racist, but rather that it fails to meet the validity criteria set forth by the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
In order to file a lawsuit, the plaintiffs must first prove that that there is a great disparity in the test results of white versus minority applicants. Of the approximately 11,000 members of the FDNY only 3 percent are black and 5 to 7 percent are Hispanic, Charney said. Next, the court must determine whether the exam is valid — that it tests knowledge necessary to be a firefighter.
In the case of the United States of America and Vulcan Society, Inc. v. the City of New York, the judge found the exam to be invalid because it only tested cognitive skills — reading and written comprehension. “The exam did not test oral comprehension and oral communication, which the FDNY says is more relevant to being a firefighter,” Charney said.
Other relevant skills include: integrity, cooperativeness, teamwork, interest in being a firefighter, physical ability and empathy, according to Richard Levy, a lawyer who is also representing the plaintiffs. He contends that firefighters do not need to read quickly or write extensively when rushing to a fire scene and therefore those abilities should not be the main focus of the FDNY exam.
When asked why minorities do not perform as well as their white counterparts, Levy said a multitude of factors including economic circumstances, schooling and income come into play.
“They can come up with a test for the Police Department and the Corrections Department — jobs that require carrying a gun and having a great deal of authority — that don’t discriminate, but they can’t do that with the Fire Department?” Levy asked.
If the judge had ruled that the FDNY exam was valid, the plaintiffs would have still had an opportunity to win their case by trying to prove that another test given by a city agency was equally valid and yet did not result in the same racial disparities.
As a result of the judge’s ruling, all the plaintiffs, not just the 293 selected for priority hiring, may be eligible to collect damages for the shame and humiliation they may have experienced as well as the back pay, health and pension benefits they would have received if they had been hired. They have the option of suing as a group or hiring their own lawyers to seek individual compensation.
City Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. (D-Astoria) disagrees with the judge’s ruling and contended that there are many reasons why people gravitate toward different professions.
“The top requirement in a job involving saving lives should always be merit,” he said. “The test was examined by experts and there has been no proof that it is biased. The ruling went way too far. Taxpayer funded back pay without evidence of bias is absurd.”
City Councilman Leroy Comrie (D-St. Albans) is doing his part to ensure that the FDNY is more ethnically diverse. He has proposed legislation that would allow any New York City firefighter candidate who has a diploma or GED from a city high school or testing center to receive an additional eight-point credit on the firefighter exam. He will reintroduce the legislation at the next scheduled City Council meeting, which is at the end of the month, and he expects the bill will be passed in February.
Vallone supports the idea of giving test credits to city grads, but thinks the amount needs to be reworked.
“You can’t give eight points to a New York City High School graduate and only five points to a veteran,” Vallone said, but added that if too many credits are given out in general, it will void the exam’s attempt to gauge skill.
Comrie agrees with the federal judge’s ruling in the FDNY case and says that individual questions on the exam may have been the problem. “The focus of the questions were aimed at people who had inside knowledge of the Fire Department,” Comrie asserted. “They focused on questions that the average Joe wouldn’t know unless they had a father or brother or uncle who works for the Fire Department.” Comrie also added that the black and Hispanic caucus will ask the mayor not to appeal the decision.
The city will participate in discussions with the judge regarding his recommendations at a legal conference set for Thursday. After that, it will be placed on the court docket and the city will be forced to comply unless it chooses to appeal, a move Kate Ahlers, a spokeswoman for the city’s Law Department said officials are “contemplating.”
Questions from the FDNY exam
The following are typical questions from the 107-page test that a federal judge determined to be discriminatory.
The correct answers are provided in informative paragraphs above the questions, as they are in many parts of the test.
You are a firefighter at a fire scene, and have been attempting to remove a conscious victim from the inside of the building that is on fire. As you prepare to descend the closest set of interior stairs with your victim, you notice that more fire is blocking your path. Which one of the following should you consider using to get out of the building?
a) The closest fire escape
b) A Fire Department issued life-saving rope
c) A nearby corridor that runs horizontal to another area of the fire building that is not on fire
d) A Fire Department ladder which is placed near a window on the outside of the building
Which of the following drills is the most useful for firefighters in terms of immediately evaluating their performance at a fire scene?
a) Field drill
b) Critique drill
c) Company drill
d) Multi-unit drill
Firefighter Jacobs has just come upon a young woman who has just started bleeding profusely from the lower part of her arm. Which one of the following actions should Firefighter Jacobs take first to control the bleeding?
a) Hold the woman’s right arm above her head.
b) Apply a tourniquet just below the woman’s right elbow.
c) Press the artery that is closest to the wound against a bone.
d) Use a sterile dressing to apply direct pressure to the wound.
The NYPD and NYDOC Pipe & Drums, Boy Scouts Color Guard
Speeches of the Speaker of the City Council Christine Quinn and Minority Leader James Oddo
Senator Frank Padavan
Swearing In by Justice Robert Hanophy Dan Halloran Commentary
The Halloran Victory Committee cordially Invites you to the Inauguration of Newly Elected Council Member:
Daniel J. Halloran, III
The event is the Swearing-In Ceremony for the City Councilman for the 19th Council District comprising the Northeast Queens communities of College Point, Auburndale-Flushing, Whitestone, Bay Terrace, Bayside, Little Neck and Douglaston in New York City.
Numerous elected officials and Guests will be on hand. Reception to follow.
Sunday, January 3rd
1:00 PM
Bayside Historical Society
at the Officers Club
208 Totten Avenue
Bayside, NY 11361
Councilmember-elect Dan Halloran recognized outgoing Councilmember Tony Avella for his focus on eliminating graffiti in Northeast Queens at a press conference in College Point on Tuesday, and vowed to continue the fight after taking office in January.
“My predecessor, to his credit, understands that graffiti has an insidious affect on property values and the quality of life in our neighborhoods,” Halloran said. “Our city is asked to do so much with precious few resources. Community groups and the private sector must continue to play a vital role.”
The outgoing incumbent is to be commended for supporting a system allowing city residents to call in graffiti complaints, which are then cleaned up – free of charge. Additionally, maintenance teams regularly scour graffiti hotspots and remove any graffiti they may observe.
Halloran reminded constituents to contact his office when they see graffiti in the neighborhood. Halloran’s District Office can be reached in January at (718) 631-0328.
“If you see graffiti on your business or anywhere in our district, contact my office,” Halloran said. “Northeast Queens is the cleanest residential district in New York City, and I will do whatever it takes to keep it that way.
“We’re winning the fight against graffiti,” said Halloran. “But we have to keep working to preserve our community’s precious quality of life.”
Regarding the Approval of the College Point Police Academy
“Today I am disappointed in the City Council, but sadly, I am not surprised. I attended the original subcommittee hearings at City Hall last month, where I was the only person to speak on the issue from the public. At the hearings, I advocated a long-range plan that remembers the needs of the College Point community. Our leaders have long thought only in the short-term. The police academy could have been a huge boon to College Point, but because of poor planning, it will cause numerous problems that could have been avoided.
“As anyone from College Point knows, there are only three roads in and out of the neighborhood. The police academy is at the intersection of two of them. This is going to have a serious impact on transit in the area. Northeast Queens drivers already have too few places to park their cars, and now hundreds of police cars will be added to our streets. The additional traffic will make it even harder to get in and out of College Point.
“I grew up here. My family has been here for five generations. We know what it means to be a member of this community. The police academy is good for College Point if and only if infrastructure is developed. This neighborhood’s small businesses just got 5,000 new potential customers, who happen to be police officers. Their presence will keep the community safer. But what the neighborhood really needs is good planning. That didn’t happen in City Hall this week.
“My hope is to develop this police academy with a $1.5 billion price tag, but to do that, we need real long-term planning. When I take office in January, I will bring a long-range view to solving problems. Leadership isn’t about quick political dividends or bringing home cushy member items. It’s about making this city better for our families today and our grandchildren’s families in the future.”
Dan Halloran declared victory Tuesday night in his City Council campaign and pledged to move forward working to unify the district.
The following is a statement from Dan Halloran.
“On Tuesday night, the voters of Northeast Queens made a statement. We’ve had enough overdevelopment. We’ve had enough overtaxation. We’ve had enough of a government that barely seems to know we exist and acts without community input. Now, that all changes.
“I’m from this neighborhood – and I know that our community’s unique character is what makes it so special. Northeast Queens has quaint, tree-lined streets with historic one-family houses. We have bustling commercial centers and thriving schools. But we know that what makes our neighborhood so great is under threat right now – from developers who treat our neighborhoods as a cash box. This neighborhood is a part of me – and I will fight those who want to compromise it to make a dollar.
“I’m immensely proud of the campaign we ran. We proved you can win a City Council campaign not by mudslinging, but by earnestly talking about the issues that matter. We proved you can win running a grassroots campaign, supported by working people from the neighborhood.
“After the results were in, I received a gracious concession call from my opponent, and I appreciated that. It must be said that Kevin Kim ran a strong campaign. While Kevin and I disagree on many issues, we do share a passion for public service. I look forward to working with Kevin in the next four years on the issues that matter to northeast Queens, and I congratulate him for a spirited campaign.
“But the campaign is over now. Now, it’s time to govern. I pledge to work with everyone in my diverse district to move forward. I know that if we work together, we can preserve the character of northeast Queens. We can improve our schools, make our streets safer and reinvest in our small businesses. And our work begins today. I welcome everyone, from all parts of my district, to work with me for our neighborhood’s future.
“I am grateful to all the voters in the 19th Council District who voted on Tuesday and participated in the democratic process. Thank you for placing your trust in me. For those who did not vote for me, I will work hard to earn your trust. It is truly an honor and a privilege to serve and I look forward to giving it my all.”
Hellas Weekly News and Diaspora FM Radio endorsed Council Candidate Dan Halloran this week and cited his knowldege of the Community at large, and specifically Greek traditional issues in their decision to “endorse this lifelong resident of the area.” This endorsement adds to the litany of Newpaper endorsements in the district for Halloran.
City Council candidate Dan Halloran had a clear message for his opponent, Kevin Kim – end the desperate attacks and stick to the issues.
“All Kevin Kim wants to do is attack me, in a pathetic and desperate attempt to distract the voters from the real issues,” said Halloran. “Kevin Kim doesn’t talk about the issues that affect northeast Queens because he doesn’t understand those issues – not surprising, as he moved to the district just a few months ago, to run for City Council.
“Kevin Kim doesn’t want to talk about overdevelopment because he knows he’s funded by the same builders that overdeveloped downtown Flushing. Kevin Kim is itching to sell this neighborhood to the highest bidder. I’m from the neighborhood. My family has been here for five generations. I know how important it is to preserve the character of our community.”
Halloran spoke to the press outside the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church in Whitestone on the same day he was endorsed by the Greek newspaper Hellas News.
The candidate was joined by supporters including Glenn Berwin of Whitestone and Kimon Thermos, a parishioner at Holy Cross.
“If you’re a developer seeking to make a profit off Northeast Queens, by all means, vote for Kevin Kim,” Halloran said. “If you’re a homeowner trying to raise a family here in Northeast Queens, and you want to preserve the integrity of our neighborhoods, vote for me on November 3.”
Candidate Makes Case for Safeguards in New Police Academy Proposal
Dan Halloran had a simple message for City Council Members on Monday at the Meeting of the Landmarks, Public Siting and Maritime Uses: College Point needs a police academy.
But Halloran cautioned we must listen carefully to the concerns expressed by the community and plan properly. The police academy is a $1.5 billion project, and it must be implemented with measures to mitigate adverse impacts on the community.
“This police academy could potentially be helpful to the area around College Point Boulevard, but only if the community’s recommendations are incorporated into the final project,” said Halloran.
Halloran warned that the City must do its due diligence in planning, or the new academy may actually hurt the neighborhood.
“There are only three roads in and out of College Point, and this station is going to be at the intersection of two of them,” Halloran said. “I have serious questions about the transit impact this will have on the community.
“I am joining with Council Member Tony Avella and civic leaders in cautioning that this has to be done right or not at all. If done right, there will be adequate mitigation measures, the opportunity for increased public safety, and even a police substation, which would ultimately benefit the neighborhood.”
Halloran pointed out that a police academy will add hundreds of police cars to the streets of College Point.
“The neighborhood already has very few parking spaces available for its residents,” Halloran said. “We have to have a plan in place – where are these extra cars going to go? The people of College Point deserve answers, and we owe it to them to think things through.”
As added benefits, the police academy will make the neighborhood safer and boost College Point’s economy, Halloran said.
“The small businesses of College Point just got 5,000 new potential customers,” Halloran said. “And those potential customers also happen to give the area a strong police presence. This will deter crime.”
The Sergeants Benevolent Association became the latest union to endorse Dan Halloran’s City Council campaign on Friday.
“Dan’s commitment to the NYPD and the law enforcement profession is second to none,” said SBA President Edward D. Mullins. “His knowledge of local issues is unparalleled, and I am confident that he will serve his constituents in the 19th Council District with fresh and new ideas. It is my pleasure and honor to endorse Dan.”
“I’m proud to be endorsed by the Sergeants Benevolent Association,” Halloran said. “Our police officers are true heroes. In the City Council, I will focus on keeping our streets safe, and I will never forget the brave men and women in blue.”
Halloran, a former prosecutor and member of the NYPD, has deep roots in northeast Queens going back five generations and a legacy of public service. His great-grandfather was an NYPD chief, and his grandfather was an NYPD detective. Two of his brothers are firemen.
Dan Halloran is running on the Republican, Conservative, Independence and Libertarian lines in the general election on Nov. 3. The 19th Council District includes Bayside, College Point, Auburndale, Beechhurst, Whitestone, Bay Terrace, Robinwood, and parts of Flushing, Douglaston and Little Neck
Former Congressman and U.S. Senate candidate Rick Lazio threw his support behind Dan Halloran’s City Council campaign on Thursday.
“New York needs Dan Halloran,” Lazio said. “We need someone who knows what it’s like to run a small business. We need someone who knows our government can’t be all things to all people. We need a fighter for the working class. That’s who Dan Halloran is, and that’s why I support his campaign for City Council.”
“I am proud to be endorsed by a great New Yorker, Rick Lazio,” Halloran said. “We share a vision of what New Yorkers want from their government. When I’m in the City Council, I look forward to working with leaders like Rick Lazio to make sure the middle class families of Queens have a seat at the table.”
Gazette Endorses Mike Bloomberg for Mayor and Dan Halloran for City Council
Election Day 2009 will arrive in New York City six days from today. It is incumbent upon every qualified voter in Queens, regardless of political party affiliation, to go to the polls and cast a vote for the re-election of Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
When the final count is made after the polls close at 9 p.m., the tally should provide a huge vote of confidence for our mayor and leader for the past eight years.
19th City Council District
Daniel Halloran, a lifelong resident of Bayside, has presented a community-oriented platform in his campaign and the Gazette endorses him for election.
Dan Halloran is running on the Republican, Conservative, Independence and Libertarian lines in the general election on Nov. 3. The 19th Council District includes Bayside, College Point, Auburndale, Beechhurst, Whitestone, Bay Terrace, Robinwood, and parts of Flushing, Douglaston and Little Neck.
“The Dan Halloran campaign commends five principled New Yorkers who filed a lawsuit against the Working Families Party. It’s about time someone else stood up to their brand of dirty politics. Dan Halloran exposed these shady deals back in July – when the Working Families Party’s shadowy for-profit affiliate company, Data and Field Services, was revealed to be illegally evading campaign finance laws.
“The WFP claims to care about grassroots change – but they endorse big-money candidates who are in bed with developers and political insiders. And they help their corrupt cronies by laundering money under the table and funneling campaign assistance for reduced prices, violating the trust of the voters and tainting our city’s elections. The Working Families Party and ACORN have hijacked the Democratic Party and replaced moderate Democrats with radicals.
“There is a pattern of deception at play with Kevin Kim. He accepted the Working Families Party line in a backroom deal – then bragged that he was proud to be endorsed by the scandal-riddled party, with its ties to ACORN. It should come as no surprise that Kevin Kim – whose campaign is funded by Flushing developers – would be the WFP candidate. Kevin Kim is itching to sell off our community to the highest bidder.
“The Halloran campaign calls on Kevin Kim to disclose any surreptitious help and to openly discuss the details surrounding his ‘bait and switch’ cross endorsement. What promises were made? What money changed hands?
“Dan Halloran is running a grassroots campaign, powered by the homeowners, small business owners, and working people of northeast Queens. He will fight to preserve the residential character of our neighborhoods because they are his neighborhoods. A vote for Dan Halloran is a vote to stop the Working Families Party’s radical anti-neighborhood agenda. A vote for Dan Halloran is a vote for the community.”
HALLORAN CAMPAIGN CALLS FOR END TO SIGN THEFT
Dozens of Dan Halloran for City Council signs have been stolen and slashed in northeast Queens – and community residents have had enough.
Several residents of the neighborhood have filed police reports alleging signs were stolen from their private property. Community residents have expressed fears that Kevin Kim’s campaign or Kim supporters are stealing and destroying the signs in what appears to be an organized, systematic way throughout the district.
“I call on Kevin Kim to denounce this activity,” said Halloran. “This has no place in a campaign. The voters of Queens deserve to have their property rights respected and they deserve more civility and a real discussion of the issues. That’s what my campaign is all about.”
These crimes may be a continuation of a pattern of smears done by the Kim campaign, designed to distract voters from Kim’s ties to developers and his newness to the district.
“Kevin Kim will do and say anything to distract the voters from his lack of substance,” Halloran said. “In northeast Queens, we don’t stand for Kevin Kim’s brand of dirty politics. Of course, Kevin Kim just moved to this district in February, so maybe he just doesn’t know any better.”
Anthony Carollo, a former NYPD officer who volunteers for the Halloran campaign, pointed out that slashing a lawn sign require box cutters – and possession of box cutters is a felony. He called on Kim to investigate this vandalism.
“We believe the Kim campaign is behind these crimes,” Carollo said. “People are trespassing in the middle of the night with weapons. This activity is making our neighborhood unsafe, and it has to stop immediately.”
Douglaston resident David Gallagher filed a police report after a sign was stolen from his property on three separate occasions. Carollo pledged to work with the 111th Precinct to get to the bottom of this crime spree, which has hit all of the 19th District’s neighborhoods but is focused in Whitestone, Douglaston and Little Neck.
Dawn Anatra, a Halloran volunteer from Little Neck, presented a list of eight stolen signs and showed a photo of a sign slashed on Douglaston Parkway.
“These are crimes against our personal property,” Anatra said. “Elections should be decided by the voters, not by dangerous shenanigans.”
State Senator Martin Golden (R-Brooklyn) endorsed Dan Halloran on Sunday, further cementing his status as the frontrunner for City Council in the 19th District.
“As a former police officer who was elected to the City Council myself, I know Dan, as a former prosecutor, can help clean up City Hall and deliver for this community,” Golden said. “We’ve got Republicans here, Conservatives, Independents, and Democrats. That’s how you win.”
Golden became the third current or former Senator from New York City to endorse Halloran’s campaign, joining respected leaders Frank Padavan (R-Queens) and Serf Maltese (R-Queens).
“I’ve a proud supporter of Dan because I know northeast Queens needs someone with deep roots here,” Padavan said. “Dan is from this community, and he loves this community. When elected, he will fight to preserve this community.”
“Our homeowners and small businesses have been crushed by taxes,” Maltese said. “I fought for years in Albany to reduce the heavy taxes that burden New Yorkers. Dan understands that to create jobs, we have to invest in our small businesses and working people. That’s why we need him in the City Council.”
“I am proud to be endorsed by three of our city’s strongest leaders,” Halloran said. “Senators Padavan, Golden and Maltese have fought for New York City in Albany for years. In City Hall, I’ll continue their work – to lower our taxes, clean up our streets and stand up to developers who see Queens as a cashbox and not a community.”
City Council candidate Dan Halloran was honored with the endorsement of former New York Governor George Pataki on Friday.
“Governor Pataki worked hard for middle class New Yorkers who are crushed by repeated tax increases,” Halloran said. “I’ll fight for working New Yorkers in City Hall. We need a government that lets working families keep their hard-earned dollars and helps small businesses create jobs, instead of crushing them with burdensome regulations. I am proud to be supported by Governor Pataki, and when elected I will continue his work to make government work for the people.”
“As a former executive, I know you can’t do it all by yourself. You need help,” Pataki said. “Dan Halloran has a legacy of service to Queens. We need Dan in the City Council to make sure working people have a voice in city government.”
Halloran has also been endorsed by Senator Frank Padavan, Councilman James Oddo, former Councilman Mike Abel, the Carpenters Union and the Fire Marshals Benevolent Association.
The Queens Examiner is the latest to decide what voters throughout Northeast Queens have decided – that Dan Halloran is the best choice for the City Council.
From the Examiner:
“We…were extremely impressed with Halloran’s grasp of the issues that face the district – from helping small businesses to the developments in the College Point Corporate Park to landmarking the neighborhood of Broadway-Flushing.
“An attorney who grew up in Northeast Queens and still calls it home, Halloran is a confident candidate who is well spoken and impressed us as an independent thinker. Despite the fact that he is running on the Republican line, Halloran convinced us that he would tackle issues on a case-by-case basis free of partisan politics.
“This paper believes that, in time, Halloran will become a highly respected member of the City Council, one who can deliver funds and services to the district by working to build positive relationships with his fellow City Council members.
“Halloran is an intelligent and honest candidate, and for that he deserves your vote to become the next council member in the 19th District.”
The City Council campaign of Dan Halloran gained even more momentum on Saturday with the endorsement of City Council Minority Leader James Oddo of Staten Island.
“I’m proud to accept the endorsement of Councilman Oddo, a true warrior for New York City’s working families and small businesses,” Halloran said. “I look forward to working with Councilman Oddo to cut taxes and make our government responsive to the people.”
The following is a statement from Councilman Oddo:
“We need another fighter in City Hall to join us in our struggle to give middle and working class New Yorkers a greater voice in City government. After having the opportunity to speak with you on various occasions, I know that you agree our government spends too much of our money because it tries to be all things to all people.
“It is clear that tough budget choices will have to be made in the City Council in the coming months. This makes it imperative to elect candidates like you – fighters for New York City’s often forgotten working and middle class families – to the City Council.”
Dan Halloran Candidate for NYC Council District 19- speaks with Andy Sullivan at his campaign headquartera in Bayside, Queens, NY. The interview covers a range of topics from local to international, where you can guage how he stands on the current issues. BCC proudly supports Dan Halloran because of his stance on limited gov’t, free market, and family values.
On Friday I attended the birthday party of Mildred Gent, turning the ripe young age of 102, at the Donnelly Home in Flushing.
Mildred has led a truly wonderful life. She spent her whole life in queens – the last 60 or so years here in Flushing. Mildred worked as a bookkeeper for A&P supermarket for many years. Mildred’s father died when she was only 13 months old – and as an only child, she devoted much time to taking care of her mother.
Today, Mildred is healthy and spry, getting around with a walker. She enjoys reading the paper, and she never lost her sense of humor.
Seeing Mildred reminded me of all that seniors have done for our community. It’s critically important that our leadership remembers them – and rewards them with the basic services they need, such as safe sidewalks and well-funded senior centers.
The Donnelly Home provides wonderful services for our community’s seniors. And our seniors love being visited by friends, family and neighbors. I encourage New Yorkers to volunteer some time at their local senior center – you’ll be glad you did.
The Donnelly Home is at 34th Avenue and 147th Street. Feel free to contact them by emailing woodmanseniorliving@gmail.com or call (917) 805-6446.
On Saturday, I took part in a parade and rally in College Point to support Jack Price. Jack is a longtime resident of the neighborhood who was nearly killed in a ruthless and savage attack here just a few weeks ago. The attackers took $10 and a pack of cigarettes – but that’s not why they targeted Jack.
No, they robbed and assaulted Jack because he is gay.
Queens is the most diverse place in the world. We have people of all walks of life here, people from all over the planet, of every creed and ethnicity you can imagine. In short, we’re all unique – and that’s one of the things that makes our community such a great place to live.
So when something like this happens in our backyard, we must all come together and reject hatred.
I showed support for Jack because all New Yorkers have the right to feel safe in their home neighborhoods.
I commend the police for making a swift arrest of the alleged perpetrators – and I’m thankful that security cameras in the area helped make the arrest happen. As a former prosecutor, I know how important it is to crack down on violent crime in every way we can.
The criminals who almost killed Jack Price deserve to be punished to the full extent of the law. And Jack and his friends and family deserve our thoughts and prayers in this difficult time.
“As a former member of the NYPD and prosecutor, I know that people must feel safe in their homes. Like other New Yorkers, I am appalled at the recent ‘gay bashing’ incident in College Point, in my district.
“I was similarly appalled when Senator Hiram Monserrate got nothing more than a slap on the wrist for domestic violence against a woman. It’s all the more offensive when a politically connected insiders like Monserrate seems to get off easy.
“We must prosecute such violent crimes to the fullest extent of the law. My heart and prayers go out to the victims and their families.
“Senator Monserrate should resign immediately. Cleaning up Albany starts at the top – by electing leaders who are responsive to the people, who have values and integrity.
“Being an elected official is a privilege, not a right. As a former law enforcement official and officer of the court I want to make it clear: these crimes will not be tolerated. As a lawmaker and representative of the people, Monserrate has to be held to the highest standard. And crimes again women are especially vile.
“The College Point attack highlights the need for an increased police presence in College Point. When elected to the City Council I will fight for a police substation in that neighborhood to improve police response time.
“And we need Senator Monserrate to step down today – so that victims of domestic violence and other violent crimes do not have to watch a convicted criminal sit in our state government’s inner circles.”
William Kregler (left), president of the Fire Marshals Benevolent Association, presents a plaque of endorsement to Dan Halloran (center), candidate for City Council.
City Council candidate Dan Halloran proudly accepted the endorsement of the New York City Fire Marshals Benevolent Association on Thursday.
“I come from a working class background in this neighborhood,” said Halloran. “In City Hall, I’ll fight for the working families who are the backbone of our city.”
A practicing attorney, Halloran is a former prosecutor and member of the NYPD. He is running to end overdevelopment, cut taxes and invest in our small businesses and working people.
The following is a statement from William Kregler, President of the New York City Fire Marshals Benevolent Association:
“District 19 covers some of the best working class family neighborhoods in New York City. We have seen other neighborhoods adversely affected by uncontrolled and unmonitored development and its negative effects on quality of life.
“[As a former member of the NYPD,] Dan will ensure the quality of life in District 19 by ensuring necessary infrastructure enhancements coincide with responsible development. As an attorney, Dan will ensure the zoning laws are adhered to so that the working class neighborhoods he serves will continue to exist and not fall victim to overdevelopment.
“We look forward to Dan’s commitment to preserving the middle class neighborhoods of the 19th District in his role as City Councilmember.”
Dan Halloran is the Republican, Independence, Conservative and Libertarian nominee for the City Council in Queens’ 19th District, which includes all or parts of Bayside, Auburndale, Bay Terrace, Little Neck, Douglaston, Whitestone, Beechhurst, Robinwood, Flushing and College Point.
The New York City Fire Marshals Benevolent Association, established in 1966, is comprised of over 500 active and retired New York City fire marshals.
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I recently attended a series of fundraisers for my campaign at Monahan and Fitzgerald, BBQ Village and at our Grand opening, where I was feted by numerous community leaders. The support of leaders such as Senator Frank Padavan, and of the Republican, Conservative, Independence and Libertarian parties, means so much to me – and thanks to their help, I have a great chance to win on November 3.
Leaders of the Independence Party, like Frank McKay and Milke Niebauer have shown their support, and the Conservative Party, and its Chair, Tom Long. John Procida and the Libertarian Party has been assisting us and giving us on the ground support, while the GOP and Chairman Phil Ragusa have been working in the field and at our Headquarters. Great support has come in from the Whitestone Republicans under Tony Carolla, and the candidates unit of the GOP under Kimon Theormos has gone to the extra mile for us.
But the backbone of my campaign has been the support I’ve received from regular folks like me – people who call this neighborhood home, who own their homes here, many of whom have lived here for generations.
I’ve been overwhelmed by the local support from my campaign. The vast majority of my campaign donations have come in small amounts from members of the community – my neighbors and friends.
There’s something to be said for raising money in the district, from people who are invested in the community. I’m not taking money from the developers who have plundered downtown Flushing, just a few miles to our west. My contributions are from people who believe in me, who believe in my vision for a New York City government that works for middle class families.
And every dollar from a New York City resident up to $175 is matched by the city eight times.
Thanks to their help, I will have over $200,000 to tell members of the community about my commitment to the middle class and my history of fighting for our neighborhoods.
Bart Haggerty, Dan Halloran, and Vince Tabone
A 5th generation Flushing native, Dan Halloran is the 19th Council District’s best bet to preserve the character and quality of life unique to our neighborhood. The lifelong New Yorker is able to explain to the community why the imprudent planning of New York City has negatively affected the College Point area. He offers real solutions to the problems, and identifies the means to reach them. His grasp of the powers of the Council, the law, and the structure of our government.
Vote Halloran on Election Day
Dan Halloran, the Independence, Republican, Conservative and Libertarian party candidate for City Council held a party Saturday afternoon to celebrate the opening of his new Campaign offices in Bayside at the Old Chase Bank on Bell Boulevard.
Several hundred of Halloran’s volunteers and supporters turned out at 43-01 Bell Blvd in Bayside and promised to help the candidate in the final push before he faces his opponent in November’s election. “It’s a great location, because it is the heart of the district,” Halloran said, which covers Bayside, Little Neck, Douglaston, College Point, East Flushing, Malba and Whitestone. The Republican Candidate has had a satellite office on Francis Lewis Boulevard for access to the other parts of the district since April.
On hand were State Senator Frank Padavan, former City Councilman Mike Able, GOP Chairman Phil Ragusa and Indpendence Party Representative Mike Niebauer, as well as a host of party officials and supporters. The Campaign raised well over $10,000.00 over the week and recieved heavy press attention. With over 100 volunteers on staff, the race for November is moving along with great success.
The GOP’s candidate for City Council in the 19th Councilmanic, Dan Halloran, appeared on Queens Public Television tonight during the primary election. He spoke about the opportunities for the upcoming election cycle and the Republican Party in Queens. Afterward he released the following statement:
“I congratulate each and every candidate in the democratic primary, who fought hard, brought out the issues, and has worked to make our community a better place. I particularly thank my life-long friend Tom Cooke for caring and showing what can be done with dedication, and bringing sensibility to the dialogue. I am grateful for the efforts of Debra Markell in serving our City, and of course, Jerry Iannece who has done a good job as Chair of Community Board 11 – I am sure he will continue to be an important voice on Zoning issues in the District. Steve Behar has motivated a great group of young people and helped renew interest in politics for them, Kudos Steve. Paul Vallone has proven not only to be a tough competitor, but more importantly, a friend who never had an unkind word for anyone, through it all.”
Halloran then went on to address the news that Kevin Kim had won the Democratic line, “I am honored to be running against Kevin. He has proven able to get out the vote; I have no doubt that I face a tough opponent in him. Kevin has stayed with the issues throughout the campaign, and while I disagree with him ideologically on many points, I can not fault his commitment to serve, nor his credentials to do so. I wish him the best of luck as the race progresses and hope he and I will be able to stay on target in addressing the problems facing the community. I look forward to debating the problems and the solutions so that our community will reap the benefits!”
Dan Halloran will be running on the Republican, Conservative, Independence, and Libertarian lines in November and has been endorsed by the district’s State Senator Frank Padavan, and former Councilman Mike Abel among many others.
On September 12, 2009, the DWARF GIRAFFE ATHLETIC LEAGUE PICNIC at Harvey Park was held despite overcast skies. Hotdogs, Hamburgers, Refreshments, Family Games & Prizes marked the occasion for the youth atheletic program. State Senator Frank Padavan and City Council Candidate Dan Halloran joined the board of the DG’s at the event. Halloran and his brothers participated in the DG program in theiryouth.
The program, founded in 1955, when some young men who played softball together, called the smaller guys “Dwarfs” and the taller “Giraffes”, decided to form a social club and try to help the youth in the community. They went to a local parish priest, the late Reverend O’Connell of St. Luke’s Church, with the idea of fielding one or two baseball teams for youngsters. The turnout was overwhelming, with over 200 boys signing up. Thus the Dwarf-Giraffe Boy’s League was born. In 1966, the League purchased its present site at 149-50 15th Road. It was formally the Rialto Theater, known by some in the neighborhood as the “Itch”. A Jewish congregation had earlier purchased the building, establishing it as Temple Hillel. The theater floor was gutted and the room converted into the gymnasium and basketball court. The non-profit, non-sectarian organization then began to expand in the late 60’s into football, basketball, bowling and soccer. The youths ranged in age from 8 to 25. A public bingo program was run once a week which enabled the organization to pay off the $50,000 mortgage for its building in less than six years. Grants and sponsorships in addition to other fund raising activities have allowed the league to maintain and improve its facilities over the years.
DG currently offers member participation for boys and girls from age 5 to 18 in five major sports programs – baseball, girls’ softball, basketball, tackle football and roller hockey. Over the years DG has offered programs to thousands of youngsters with an emphasis on instruction, sportsmanship and teamwork. DG would like to enhance its programs and if possible expand and offer additional programs. The operations of DG are community oriented and strive to serve the athletic and social needs of the boys and girls in our community. Business owners are strongly encouraged to become team or corporate sponsors to future this endeavor.
Local attorney Dan Halloran, who has worked in several District Attorneys’ offices and a former member of the NYPD, joined the 109th Police Precinct Community Council in Presenting Police Officer of the Month last evening. The award was shared by two officers who, in separate incidents, prevented suicides in two parts of Flushing.
On hand, at the Community Council meeting, chaired by Chrissy Voskerichian was the 109th Executive Officer, as Deputy Inspector Matthew Whelan was unavailable.
Press Release: September 5, 2009
Committee to Elect Dan Halloran
24-55 Francis Lewis Boulevard
Whitestone, NY 11357
718 690-3803
press@danhalloran.org
www.electdanhalloran.org
Council Candidate Halloran calls for a probe into ACORN & the Working Families Party amid Discovery of Corruption in Not For Profits tied to them
New York, New York: Council Candidate Halloran once again calls for reform of the allocation and member item process in government amid the recent revelations about ACORN and the WFP in New York City. Time and again a public funds scandal plagues the halls of New York City relating to the abuse of taxpayer funds and party politics. Regrettably, many of our elected officials are strangely silent. Perhaps they have turned a blind eye because of where the money trail leads. The New York Agency for Community Affairs (NYACA), a not-for-profit prohibited from political activities whose mission was to be “a vehicle for community organizations to assist low and moderate income families” is the latest organization to be outed as an apparent front for diverting taxpayer money to the political campaigns of local politicians. Why a not-for-profit was ever allowed to operate under a name that makes it sound like an arm of the government is a question for another day.
This week it was uncovered that NYACA, a public charity, shares more than just address with the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) the lobbying group that has come under intense scrutiny for election fraud and is currently under fire for breach of federal and state regulation of political activities. During the 2008 election season, ACORN gathered over 1.3 million voter registration forms in 21 states; 400,000 being ultimately rejected as incomplete, duplicated or fraudulent (approximately one-third). The fact that ACORN shared an address with NYACA is something that should have sent up red flags long before the financial irregularity was exposed. Now it seems that millions of public dollars were diverted by NYACA directly to ACORN to engage in political campaign activity for dozens of candidates in New York City. The quid-pro-quo: campaign operations and electioneering for local candidates, more dirty politics as usual.
Estimates place diverted funds in the last three years at no less than $3.5 million dollars. This year alone NYACA funneled to ACORN $175,000.00 from eight State Senators, $240,500.00 from ten State Assembly Members and $85,000.00 from four City Council Members. ACORN went on to provide canvassing and other political work for those politicians -clearly crossing the line between the apolitical not-for-profit world and the political campaigns of these politicians. Not surprisingly, one of those funding NYACA is Senator Hiram Monserrate, already under investigation, Assemblyman, Speaker Sheldon Silver, councilmen Palma, DiBlasio, Mark-Viverito, and Sanders also funded the activities of NYACA and gained benefits from them.
This revelation comes on the heels of the discovery that the Working Families Party (WFP) has secretly been channeling money to avoid conflicts with New York State and City Campaign Finance Laws through the use of Data and Field Services (DFS), which shares its in house counsel with the political director a powerful healthcare workers union and a heavily connected WFP supporter.
These conflicts were so severe that the NYC Campaign Finance Board (CFB) issued a harsh warning statement to candidates that anyone who had the assistance of the WFP or DFS would be scrutinized severely to ensure strict compliance with the law. It also went on to declare DFS an “arm of the WFP” for campaign finance purposes, calling into question the corporate status of the two entities and whether they are operating within the scope of federal and state election law.
This sort of political backstage shenanigans is precisely why more open and transparent government is needed- and line by line explication of budget items is critical to maintaining integrity in our government. Once again Councilman De Blasio finds himself in the middle of this controversy as well as the one with NYACA. The tangled web of abuse and misuse of taxpayer funds continues to ensnare public officials at all levels here in New York.
Due to these unfortunate events I am calling on the City Department of Investigation and New York State Attorney General to investigate both ACORN’s and the WFP’s expenditures of taxpayer funds and the ties they share to DFS and NYACA, and if necessary, prosecute the violators of the firewall between campaigns and civic foundations and public charities. The Attorney General has a Charities Bureau with both the statutory authority and institutional competency to investigate this kind of abuse of the public trusts.
I also call on my Democrat opponents to renounce the Working Families Party and ACORN’s use of taxpayer monies for political purposes and make a public pledge to refuse to take the WFP line or their tainted financial or political support if offered. I call on the Mayor to ensure the Department of Investigation pursues the local officials who have violated the public trust, and ask the State Attorney General to review the conflicts and prosecute the organizations and persons responsible for eroding the integrity of our government.
Dan Halloran
City Council Candidate, 19th CD
Dan Halloran talks to the Community and gives real answers to the questions posed from his hometown civic association. Dan tackles tough Zoning issues, campaign matters, and his GOP endorsement, while outlining his community involvement.
Dan also talks about the impact of Scouting in his experience growing up in NYC and Queens.
Dan Halloran stood out as the only truly honest and forthright candidate in the debates. He called out his opponents on their support of the NYC Clinic Access bill- which restricts freedom of speech. Public Advocate candidate Norman Siegel, head of the ACLU applauded Halloran for having the courage to stand up against the bill, as he did. Halloran’s no-nonsense and realistic answers proved why he is the ONLY choice for Queens in the City Council.
Dan Halloran addresses the media and related issues in Obamacare and the abuse of the Constitution that is at the heart of the Town Hall movement in the United States. The reception in Bayside New York (NYC) was phenomenal.
Town Hall against the Obama Healthcare “reform”- Congressman Gary Ackerman No Show – Dan Halloran Moderates the Discussions Part 2 Queens NYC with Betsy McCaughey and other guests, plus the People sounding off.
Town Hall on Healthcare reform, but Congressman Gary Ackerman was a No Show – Dan Halloran moderates the discussion and former Lieutenant Govenor, Dr. Betsy McCaughey- Queens NYC- part 1
On Tuesday, the Halloran Campaign announced that it had achieved another election milestone, securing the independent petition signatures needed to add the Libertarian line to the November Ballot.
Halloran has the endorsements of the Republican, Independence, Conservative and Libertarian parties. He has now secured all four of those lines, an impressive victory for any candidate, let alone a first-timer. Drawing on his wide ranging support, and the many independent voters in the district who signed the election petitions, the Halloran Campaign is on track and building momentum.
Council Candidate Dan Halloran joined Councilman Tony Avella in presenting the Bayside Raiders Football Organiztion with an award for 25 years of service to the community. The organization which has helped children from Northeast Queens engage in football programs and promoting sportsmanship celebrated its 25th year and was honored with a City Council Citation.
Halloran, who’s family has been part of the Raiders tradition for the last two decades was on hand to salute the teams, the coaches, and the organization’s many volunteers.
Bayside Raiders 25 years – Dan Halloran Pledges Support
August 22, 2009
Bayside, New York
Dan Halloran and members of the North Queens Community came out in force to join Tea Party and Liberty protestors to rally against the Obamacare Healthcare proposals that could undermine the Nation’s healtcare system and impose socialized medicine. Congressman Gary Ackerman’s office was innundated with protestors and media because he has ignored the calls of his constitutents and repeated requests for a town-hall meeting to discuss the matter.
Conservative party Mayoral candidate Terrance M. Gray joined Conservative Party Chairman Tom Long, Queens County GOP Executive Vice Chairman Vince Tabone, Queens County Libertarian Party Chairman John Procida, Tea Party activist Phil Orenstein, and New York City Council Candidate Dan Halloran at the protest. With over 50 protestors on site, the Ackerman office attempted to call in support but wound up with only 8 senior citizens who had been scared by the tactics of the AARP and other left-wing groups that erroneously tie the Healthcare reform to their Medicare survival.
Halloran said, ” When the tactics of this administration are to scare the elderly to prevent them from knowing the truth about the socialization of medicine and hides behind 1000 pages of a bill to prevent the common man from understanding it…. you know they are trying to pull the wool over our eyes. Fortunately, American Patriots won’t stand for it and are fighting back!”
The Committee To Elect Dan Halloran successfully held its 14° Below Lounge fundraiser on Sunday August 30 at
150-33 14th Avenue Whitestone, New York 11357 (718) 747-1414
Candidate Halloran raised all funds from within NYC and continued to build his CFB Matching funds- and was joined by Conservative Party Chair, Tom Long, Councilman Eric Ulrich, Queens GOP Executive Vice Chair Vince Tabone, Whitestone Republican Club Vice President Anthony Carolla and Northeast Queens Republican Club President Janet Malone, and other community notables such as Frank Skala and Dee Richards.
The Queens Republican party continues the 2009 campaign season in style at 14° Below and supported our council candidate in the 19th Council District serving the communities of Auburndale, Bayside, Whitestone, College Point, Beechhurst,Malba, Little Neck, and Douglaston.
The St. John’s Young Republicans were ably represented by Meaghan Mapes
and Theresia Merkel.
The Station Road Civic Association is hosting the 19th Council District Candidates in a forum at the Emanuel Lutheran Church located at 165th Street and Sanford Avenue at the Intersection of Northern Boulevard tonight at 7PM.
Join the Republican, Conservative, Independence, and Libertarian candidate Dan Halloran in meeting the public to discuss the issues.
TUESDAY AUGUST 25, 2009
7:30-9:30 PM
AT THE
VFW HALL
242-37 BRADDOCK AV.
BELLEROSE, NY
(NEAR INTERSECTION OF CROSS ISLAND PKWY AND BRADDOCK)
PARKING LOT AVAILABLE
FOR ALL CONCERNED CITIZENS IN THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF REP. GARY ACKERMAN (D-05). SINCE HE HAS REFUSED TO SCHEDULE A TOWNHALL TO ANSWER CONSTIUENTS’ QUESTIONS ON THE HEALTHCARE LEGISLATION NOW IN CONGRESS, CONCERNED NEIGHBORS HAVE SET ONE UP TO SEND A MESSAGE IN PROTEST OF THE 1000+ PAGE BILL THAT WILL PERMANENTLY CHANGE HEALTHCARE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. TO CONGRESSMAN ACKERMAN:
VOTE NO ON THIS DANGEROUS HEALTHCARE BILL
AFTER THE RECESS OR WE WILL VOTE YOU OUT IN 2010!!
Featured Speaker: Dr. Betsy McCaughey
Former Lt. Governor of New York State and Health Policy Expert
Founder and Chairman of the Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths
MODERATED BY: Daniel J. Halloran, Esq.
Doctors, nurse and patients will present testimonials and the public will have an opportunity to express their grievances and say no to socialized healthcare. Please join your fellow citizens in sending Congress a message on this most critical national healthcare issue that has galvanized all Americans!
For more information, please contact organizers:
Jim Trent: 718-343-8830 JTrent8830@aol.com
Phil Orenstein: 718-465-2481 maduroman@att.net
Individuals United for Freedom
www.individualsunitedforfreedom.com
The New York City District Council of Carpenters and Joiners proudly endorsed Dan Halloran in the 19th City Council District race. The Carpenters, one of the largest unions represented in the district, gave the nod to Halloran on Friday, and pledged their support to the Independent Republican.
Halloran said, ” I am very grateful for the endorsement of the District Council of Carpenters and pledge to work tirelessly to ensure that our working middle-class is not forgotten by City Hall.”
In this hotly contested race, where 6 Democrats are vying to run against Halloran in November, the Union’s endorsement is a major victory in Halloran’s effort to shake up the establishment at the City Council. Halloran has vowed to be a bridge between the working middle class and transparent government.
LIBERTY NEWSWIRE:
8/12/2009 Kew Gardens, New York
On Wednesday evening the Board of Elections ruled on the Opportunity to Ballot Petitions filed for the Independence Party line in the 19th Council District. After reviewing the Petitions, the Clerk’s report found that the Petition did not have a sufficient number of valid signatures. The Commissioners of Queens and their respective Clerks, unanimously tossed out the Opportunity to Ballot.
As a result of the Board’s decision the Opportunity to Ballot Petition has been dismissed and Dan Halloran will be the candidate on the Independence Party line, in addition he will be running on the Republican, Conservative, and Libertarian lines, also without challenge. When asked for comment members of the Committee to Elect Dan Halloran said they had no comment, except to say they are looking forward to November and the General Election.
At the Night Out Against Crime, Council Candidate Dan Halloran, a former member of the NYPD and prosecutor, and current of counsel PBA Attorney, joined the the community in commending members of the NYPD at the 109th and 111th Precincts. The Tuesday evening events were attended by hundreds of residents of the 19th Council District at both ends of the District; Flushing and Douglaston respectively. Halloran, who comes from a long line of NYPD officers and officials, joined State Senator Frank Padavan in praising the two police precincts and their commanding officers, Deputy Inspectors Whalen and Hanover. The community spent an evening alongside the New York’s Finest and enjoyed a relaxing and festive night which was also full of informative booths and neighborhood sponsors.
Council Candidate Halloran Salutes Mayor’s MTA Plan But Calls for Further Development of the Proposal to Include Audit and Accountability
Today, the Mayor proposed a sweeping overhaul of the MTA; ranging from common sense practical programs onto realistic renovations of older and underused resources that will improve ridership throughout the City. His specific programs to expand the CityTicket program to include LIRR and Metro North stations so that Bronx and Queens riders pay reduced fares will be of great benefit to those boroughs and has an eye for moving the MTA towards a unified pay-system. Other portions of the Bloomberg plan include a reopening of the Staten Island North Shore Rail, countdown clocks on subway routes, and Pilot light rail and street-car services in North Brooklyn and Western Queens waterfront neighborhoods. The proposal also deals with the Bus and Toll portions of the MTA’s reach by expanding Rapid Transit to reduce travel times on bus routes in congested areas, providing free cross-town buses, commuter vans, improvements to the ParaTransit services to provide better transportation for handicapped and elderly riders and using tracking technology and reductions during slower periods and increased evening service to ease congestion, overcrowding and underutilization. The Mayor also suggests gateless tolls at the crossings, and expanded Ferry systems and even HOV improvements and expansions.
In addition to these functional improvements, Mike Bloomberg correctly posits the need for a unified Police presence overseeing the safety and security of the MTA system, and improved public-private partnerships to maintain and improve the stations and lines. The most significant aspect of his plan revolves around an overhaul of the MTA’s bureaucracy. It is here that I believe the Mayor must reach further and force Albany to open the books on the MTA and make it a more transparent authority.
While I salute the Mayor for his vision and organized plan to cut the bloated bureaucracy and restore services that are cost-effective and responsible his plan to merge overlapping administrative functions and to eliminate bureaucratic redundancy (something that I may add could be done to the general City government as well), is just the beginning. The MTA should have its books comprehensively audited and a thorough cost-cutting analysis done top to bottom. The MTA was originally formed some 30 years ago; Albany chartered it to be a cost savings authority, to make the rapid transit systems more efficient, and to eliminate redundancy and duplicative costs, it has devolved into quite the opposite: inefficient, bloated, and unresponsive. If the Mayor is to succeed in a long term solution to the transit crisis, it will require a complete make-over at the MTA and the public will need to feel they can TRUST that their money is being spent wisely. The rapid transit system must be clean, efficient, on-time, and cost-effective. Anything less simply punts the problem to the future. We cannot afford another overrun and a Hudson-River-Two-Step from Albany. Open the Books, Audit the Budget, and Set the MTA right side up now, since we are likely starting from near scratch.
If anyone can force Albany to listen, it is Mayor Mike; it’s a fight worth taking on if the mayor is serious about fixing the MTA.
Caption for Photo: Dan Halloran Senator Dean Skellos, Councilman Eric Ulrich, and Senator Frank Padavan at the Conservative Party Dinner
Dan Halloran joined Senator Frank Padavan, Councilman Eric Ulrich at the Annual Kings-Queens Conservative Party Dinner, which honored State Senate Minorty Leader, Dean Skellos. The event, hosted by Tom Long, Queens County Conservative Party Chairman, at Russo’s By the Bay was well attended and full of praise for the Conservative and Republican candidates this election cycle. Senator Skelos pledged his support for the election of the Republican slate in Queens and to Councilman Ulrich and Candidate Halloran in particular who he praised for bring up the next generation of the GOP team in the County.
Caption for Photo- Candidate Dan Halloran (r) stands with the Indpendence Party Peitioning Team who vow to fight the OTB Challenge by Democrat Kim
City Hall Press reported this week that Democratic Party Candidate Kevin Kim is using an election loophole to attempt to force a primary in the Independence Party against the IP Candidate Dan Halloran, who has cross endorsements of the Republican, Conservative, Independence, and Libertarian Parties.
Fearing the successful cross-party Candidate, they are attempting to use an Opportunity to Ballot Petition which is called the “Pandora’s Box” of politics. Independence Party Vice Chairman Tom Conolly gave Halloran the party’s “Full Support” and is standing by the Party Candidate. Kathy Stewart and Molly Honingsfeld, who were involved in the local Petitioning for Halloran have likewise stepped forward to suppor their candidate and fend off the party raid by the tactic of Kim.
See the City Hall News Article:
Online Exclusives
In Rare Maneuver, Kim Seeks Independence Primary, Opening a “Pandora’s Box”
Best-funded non-incumbent in city tries unorthodox strategy to come out ahead
Chris Bragg
Council Candidate Dan Halloran joined Congressman Peter King at the Federalist Society Annual Summer Barbeque hosted this year at the home of the Lally Family in Oyster Bay the weekend of August 1.
Several dozen members of the Federalists enjoyed spirited discussions and the presentation of Congressman King, who rallied support for Council Candidate Halloran in Queens, and Joy Watson, the GOP District Attorney candidate in Nassau County. Host Grant Lally brought together a great program, fantastic venue, and excellent food, keeping the crowds engaged throught the afternoon event.
Council Candidate Dan Halloran joined members of the New York City Sanitation Department at Memorial Field on Saturday at their Annual Softball Tournament and Barbeque. The day’s events included the softball tournament itself, and DJ/Karaoke, and several local bands. DJ “Jimmy James” emceed the event as New York’s Strongest took to the field and enjoyed a day of softball and music.
City Council Candidate Dan Halloran a former law enforcement official and prosecutor as well as accomplished trial lawyer in a move that is sure to unnerve incumbent City Council Members throughout the City called for expanding the Federal investigation of corrupt City Council Members caught embezzling taxpayer funds in the so-called “Slush Fund” scandal that reach as high as the Speaker’s office.
It was reported yesterday that authorities continue to investigate the spending of about a dozen city members to see if they are guilty of absconding with tax payer funds like former City Councilman Miguel Martinez, who admitted stealing from taxpayers yesterday. With over a dozen public officials under investigation in a Chamber with only 51 members it is extremely alarming that perhaps 20% of the Council is under suspicion. With Council staff and others reportedly steering clear of suspected members for fear of being caught up in the scandal or caught on tape, this truly outrageous chapter in New York City’s history is only likely to grow. Such a scandal smacks of Tammany Hall and the voters of the City must insist on real change and real accountability.
City Council Candidate Dan Halloran stated “How can the hard working taxpayers of Queens, seniors on a fixed income and families struggling to make ends meet have any kind of comfort level that public funds are being wisely or even legally spent with this kind of record? This never could have happened if there were tighter controls in place. It also could not have happened but for out of control partisanship that rewards party loyalty and legislative bossism over independence and constituent services. I would wager even incumbent Council Member Tony Avella would agree with me on this.”
Mayor Bloomberg said he was as “shocked as anybody else” by the ever widening City Council sweeping investigation. Halloran, echoing the sentiment went on to say, “It is high time we elect new independent fiscally responsible Council members who can restore public confidence in our local government and safeguard taxpayers from this kind of blatant theft. In a time where folks are out of work and elected officials keep raising taxes instead of prioritizing spending and accountability it is exceedingly important we can trust that they do not have their hands in the cookie jar. We need a comprehensive audit and financial controls to ensure there is no opportunity for this kind of scandal to be replicated. We need to ensure that taxpayer monies are always properly accounted for and we need to make sure member items are not being funneled to groups that are shams or are otherwise compromised. We deserve good government we can trust in.”
Dan Halloran was endorsed by the Conservative Party because of his law enforcement background and commitment to fiscal responsibility and by Independence because of his non-partisan commitment to reform. A lifelong Republican and resident of the district, Halloran has garnered the support of a wide range of groups, including even the Libertarians. His commitment to integrity in government is a central focus of his council platform.
Halloran Files Petitions at Board of Elections
Dan Halloran the Independence, Conservative and Republican candidate in the race for the 19th Councilmanic in Queens filed his Candidate Petitions with the Board of Elections in New York City at 4:15PM Monday.
The Auburndale attorney and lifelong Northeast-Queens resident is running on a platform emphasizing responsive and efficient government and respect for community values and concerns. The candidate stated he was exceedingly grateful to his volunteers for their tremendous effort in assembling thousands of signatures representing over 229% of the number required by law.
“I am humbled by the strong support of my campaign, and enjoyed going door to door meeting with my neighbors to discuss their concerns. Folks are worried about taxes, the economy, jobs, and healthcare – and they shared their ideas and concerns, as well as support, with me over the past few weeks. I am deeply honored to have this level of enthusiasm and response.”
“I would like to personally thank everyone who volunteered to carry our petitions and each and every one of our friends and neighbors who have given me this great opportunity; this is a true, grass roots effort one that we can all be proud of.”
The 19th Council District which encompasses the neighborhoods of College Point, Whitestone, Auburndale, Bayside, Bay Terrace, Douglaston, and Little Neck, is one of the most closely watched races in the City. Earlier in the month, the campaign’s new web-site launched at: www.electdanhalloran.com.
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The Tea Party movement continues to gain steam, as over 80 people rallied at Bowne Park in Auburndale-Flushing at 10 AM Independence Day morning to support the true meaning of the Constitution and to preserve our Liberty. With a half-dozen speakers organized by John Procida, chairman of the Queens Libertarian Party and Tea Party Organizer, the event drew people from across the political spectrum; Conservative, Independence, Libertarian, Republican, and Democrat alike.
City Council Candidate Halloran, longtime “liberty caucus” republican, who studied Post-Doctorally, in an LLM program in Constitutional Criminal Law was tapped to speak on the failures of the Supreme Court to uphold the plain meaning of the Constitution and the Liberty it represents. Halloran explained to the crowd the dangers of recent Supreme Court Nominee Sotomayor’s position on “compassionate” juris prudence, and the failures of the Court in the Kelo decision in Connecticut.
The rally was about the fundamental meaning of our Constitution and the obligation of our government to adhere to the principles on which this great Nation was built but evolved into a showing of support for Candidate Halloran who has the support of the Republican, Independence, Conservative, and Libertarian Parties, and a broad spectrum of Independent Democrats. The community has seen Halloran and his family, which are 5 generations deep in the Flushing-Auburndale neighborhood, part of its civic and social fabric.
Come and take a stand just like those brave souls who declared our Independence from tyranny on the first 4th of July. Send a Message to Washington, Albany and City Hall we won’t stand for taxation without representation let alone trillon dollar expenditures mortgaging our future and that of our children’s children. Sign a petition, and enjoy a 4th of July BBQ with folks like you who care about our Country, our City and our neighborhood!
CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE DAN HALLORAN
INVITES YOU TO: A YOUNG REPUBLICANS VOLUNTEER TRAINING NIGHT
Wednesday June 17th 2009 8:00 PM
Queens GOP Headquarters
24-55 Francis Lewis Blvd
Whitestone, NY 11357
718 690-3803 / dan@danhalloran.org
www.danhalloran.org
Finger Food and Beverages will be provided
Paid For By Committee to Elect Dan Halloran PO Box 570102 Whitestone, NY 11357
The QUEENS GOP was on the move in Council District 19 as it sent out its petitioners this weekend. Meanwhile, City Council candidate Dan Halloran moved forward with his campaign, bolstered by his four-party endorsements; Republican, Conservative, Independence & Libertarian. The campaign workers gathered at Halloran’s headquarters on Francis Lewis Boulevard in Whitestone to divide up the petitions between Notaries and Party members Thursday evening and then hit the ground running over the weekend. Representatives of the Independence and Conservative parties joined the Republican Chairman Phil Ragusa and Libertarian Party Chair, John Procida in guiding assignments and reviewing materials for the all-volunteer staff.
Executive Vice Chair of the Queens GOP Vince Tabone remarked that Halloran had gathered an incredibly broad base of support and network of workers, “It’s a testament to Dan’s vast appeal as a candidate and as a lifelong resident of this neighborhood he truly connects to a variety of people and groups in a way no other candidate can- he truly is a product of the 19th Council District for five generations. As a Bayside resident and homeowner I am looking forward to having Dan Halloran represent me in City Hall.”
Kimon Thermos, GOP Coordinator for the Council races has a speacial interest in the 19th council District as it is his home district. Thermos has been working alongside party officials all week getting the packets together for the petitions, while assisting the Halloran Campaign on its carriers inside the district. Hard work throughout the week by many people ensured a smooth handoff and the Campaign expects to successfully complete all four ballot lines in a timely manner.
Annual Bowne Park Civic – Halloran Joins Senator Padavan at Concert in the Park
Caption for attached photos: City Council Candidate Dan Halloran, (l), stands with Senator Frank Padavan (c), and president of the Bowne Park Civic Association Wanda Beck Antosh (c-l) at the annual Bowne Park Concert in the Park; Photo (2) Senator Padavan playing with Halloran’s Great Dane Dasher at the park.
Council Candidate Dan Halloran took to Bowne Park with his mantle Great Dane Dasher to join State Senator Frank Padavan at the Annual Bowne Park Civic Concert. Together with hundreds of local residents, and wonderful sunny weather, the festivities and concert were one more success for the civic organization and its community, which benefited from the many hours of fun and great music.
Halloran, who grew up in the area, and owns a home a block from the park, is a frequent visitor to the park with his two Great Danes, Dasher and Daisy; the two dogs are gentle giants and well known in the Park as “canine good citizens”. The Halloran family has bred and shown Great Danes for three generations, having champion lines since the 1960’s. State Senator Padavan who co-sponsored the event at the park enjoyed the company of Dan and Dasher, and was seen playing with Dasher and quipped “all that Dasher needs is a saddle to give the kids pony-rides.”
Halloran commended president of the Bowne Park Civic Association, Wanda Beck Antosh, and her efforts on behalf of the neighborhood, which is his home civic. “The Bowne Park Civic has been and continues to be a bright spot in the history of this historic park, the roots of which stretch back to Mayor Walter Bowne, descendant of John Bowne, a founder of Religious Freedom in Flushing, and his great contributions to our community” Halloran said. “This event draws our community together and reminds us of our connection to each other and our green-spaces.”
Thursday June 11, 2009 at 7:30pm in County Headquarters – Petition Drive
To all of our friends:
Dan Halloran, here, Chair of the New York State Republican Liberty Caucus. As you know, NYS Petitioning started yesterday, June 9th of 2009, in our city wide and council races. The Committee to Elect Dan Halloran would like to ask help in ensuring we are on the ballot in all FOUR of our endorsed parties! As you know we have received the endorsements of the Republican, Conservative, Independence, and Libertarian parties in Council District 19 and are backed by State Senator Frank Padavan!
We need notaries & party members to be available Thursday June 11, 2009 at 7:30pm in County Headquarters, (24-55 Francis Lewis Boulevard., Whitestone, NY 11357), for a general meeting and assignment. Refreshments will be served.
We will be petitioning over the next month and any assistance 7 days a week 9AM to 9PM would be greatly appreciated!
Please contact Amanda Meli at Campaign Headquarters, by phone: 718.690.3803 or
or Dan Halloran by email : dan@danhalloran.org
Help us make a difference for Liberty and our party!
PS If you can’t help personally, donations can be made by mail or paypal at our website:
Dan-O
HOLY CROSS GREEK ORTHODOX FESTIVAL TURNS OUT WHITESTONE COMMUNITY
Caption for attached photo: City Council Candidate Dan Halloran, (c), stands with V. Rev. Fr. Dionysios Anagnostopoulos (r) pastor of Holy Cross parish, under the big-tent of the Greek Festival June 8, 2009.
City Council Candidate Dan Halloran who is running in the 19th Councilmanic District (College Point, Auburndale, Whitestone, Bay Terrace, Bayside, Douglaston, and Little Neck) joined with the Whitestone community to celebrate the Annual Greek Festival, sponsored by the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church of Whitestone, and Pastor, V. Rev. Fr. Dionysios Anagnostopoulos.
“The contribution of the Greek community in Queens is immeasurable, and Holy Cross Parish in Whitestone is a cornerstone of family values and committed to outreach and assistance in the neighborhood. This festival and the celebration of Greek culture that it represents are emblematic of the diversity of our district.” remarked Halloran.
Halloran was joined by Mayor Bloomberg, Senator Frank Padavan, and other community leaders at the festival. Each wished the parish and its pastor the best during the gala week-long celebrations.
Saturday night Halloran joined the Fr. Anagnostopoulos and his staff for dinner under the big-tent, and Democratic candidates Paul Vallone and Debbie Markel joined in a lively discussion and food sampling from the many vendors. A wonderful time was had by all the community and parishioners of Holy Cross.
Independence Party Cross-Endorses Halloran for City Council
The New York State Independence Party has joined the political endorsements for Auburndale attorney and lifelong Northeast-Queens resident Dan Halloran in the New York City Council 19th Council District race in Queens. The district was previously represented by popular independent Republican Mike Abel until he was term limited out of office and is currently represented by Tony Avella who is not seeking reelection. The District encompasses the neighborhoods of College Point, Whitestone, Auburndale, Bayside, Bay Terrace, Douglaston, and Little Neck.
State Chairman Frank MacKay through his Queens committeemen, met with a number of prospective candidates seeking the Party’s endorsement for the 19th Councilmanic. Local Queens Committeeman Mike Niebauer said that all the candidates interviewed were strong and well-spoken, and the response to the Party was overwhelming.
In accepting the endorsement, Halloran said, “I am truly honored by the Independence Party and their support, I will dedicate myself to restoring responsibility, ethics, and accountability to our government and will continue to be an independent minded candidate and honor the values of the Independence Party and the trust they have put in me to represent our local community.”
Vice-Chairman Tom Connolly, who delivered the news, commended the candidate and his run for office, “Dan is our Candidate and we are proud to support his Independent message.” Candidate Halloran, in speaking with Chairman Frank MacKay, expressed his gratitude and support.
Halloran, a member of the Queens GOP, was formally endorsed by the Republican Party in March and will be running with the Cross-Endorsement of the Independence Party in the November 3, 2009 election. More information on the Independence Party can be found at: http://www.independencepartyny.com and Dan Halloran’s Campaign is available at www.danhalloran.org.
Mayor Rallies Queens GOP Candidates
Mayor Mike Bloomberg joined the Queens County Republican Party at their annual Petition kickoff breakfast, in Northeast Queens, Saturday June 6, 2009. Standing before a crowd of over 250 campaign and election volunteers from the Northeastern Queens GOP the Mayor encouraged 19th City Council District Candidate Dan Halloran and the slate of the 2009 GOP to take back seats and restore responsible government to the City. Mayor Bloomberg went on to praise the work of Chairman Phil Ragusa, the elections team of Executive Vice Chairman Vince Tabone, Candidate Coordinator Kimon Thermos, and the District leaders in the area. He sponsored the breakfast and saluted the district’s State Senator Frank Padavan as an exemplar of Republican fiscal discipline and responsible government advocacy.
Mayor with Candidates
COUNCIL CANDIDATE AND FORMER NYPD OFFICER STANDS
WITH OUR POLICE & FIREFIGHTERS AGAINST GOVENOR
ALBANY: Gov. David Paterson vetoed a bill on June 3, 2009 that would have extended a law to provide police and firefighters with well-deserved pension benefits. The bill has routinely been reauthorized for 25 years and simply provides cops and firefighters with benefits they would otherwise receive upon being hired, but for a failure to make those provisions permanent.
Council Candidate and local attorney Dan Halloran, a former member of the NYPD, immediately denounced the move as scapegoat politics. Halloran said, “Instead of targeting the waste and mismanagement elsewhere in the budget, the governor has chosen to shoot down some of the most deserving of our civil servants, who put their lives on the line for us daily. The governor’s claim of fiscal responsibility now rings hollow given the fact that a month ago he signed into law the biggest spending and tax increase in state history.”
Instead of standing with our uniformed services, the governor has signaled his intent to allow the waste and mismanagement of other agencies and services to continue unchecked while our First Responders are left out in the cold. Halloran said, “I call on the Queens delegation of lawmakers to stand up for our police and firefighters and urge an override of the Governor’s veto. Governor Paterson’s decision to increase spending on welfare recipients while raising taxes by four billion dollars last year, coupled with his proposals to eliminate safeguards that have helped prevent fraud and abuse in the welfare system, makes this decision unconscionable and incomprehensible!”
Halloran, who comes from a long line of Police and Firefighters in New York City, called upon the legislature to override the governor’s veto or risk losing more of our Finest and Bravest, who may be forced to seek employment elsewhere.
CANDIDATES GATHER AT EAST FLUSHING and OUR FLUSHING CIVICS
EVEN DEMS CONCEDE HALLORAN WINS DEBATE
The 19th City Council District Candidates gathered at two debates last month, at St. Andrew Avellino R.C., the East-Flushing Civic Association Candidates Debate, and the “Our Flushing Political Coalition” candidates night at the Flushing Reception House. The events were the first two candidate debates for the full field of candidates. GOP candidate Dan Halloran squared off against his 7 democratic opponents on his “home ground” as Halloran grew up in St. Andrew’s; the Reception House is around the corner from his childhood home. The candidates were given an opportunity to respond to the questions posed by moderator, James Bena, on behalf of the civic associations, which are headed by Janet Malone and Terence Park respectively.
Halloran dominated the debates with a command of the issues that far surpassed his opponents in both form and substance. The moderator of the debate, a registered democrat and on the campaign staff of one of the democratic candidates conceded Halloran won the debates after the completion of the East-Flushing Civic event, in a public writing on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1131347371&v=feed&story_fbid=1140561150826&ref=mf
Halloran who is a lifelong member of the community hammered home the need for fiscal accountability in the City Council, “We must act now to prevent the tax and spend attitude of our city Council from destroying the economic engine of New York City. Our small businesses and homeowners are collapsing under the weight of an unprecedented barrage of taxes.” He also touted his community credentials, from his early years as an Eagle Scout, to working for the NYPD, the District Attorney’s Office, and on to private practice as an Attorney.
Halloran is the sole Republican Candidate, and will face the winner of the Democratic Primary. He is also seeking the endorsement of the Conservative and Independence parties.
Mayor Mike Bloomberg joined 19th City Council District GOP Candidate Dan Halloran and State Senator Frank Padavan at three Memorial Day events in Northeastern Queens over the holiday weekend. The first event was the College Point Memorial Day Parade, the longest Memorial Day Parade in New York City, which ends in the park overlooking Long Island Sound at the College Point inlet on Sunday. On Monday the Mayor again joined Halloran, this time at the Whitestone Memorial Day Service and Parade, where he reviewed the historic Whitestone Village with the young Republican hopeful. The Mayor then dashed with Halloran to the Little Neck- Douglaston Memorial Day parade, which is the largest Memorial Day Parade in the country, starting in Nassau County on the Queens County line and ending at the St. Anastasia Church parade field.
This year the parades saw elected officials and community leaders remember the many Servicemen and women who are fighting around the globe for freedom and democracy. Halloran said, “I was proud to march with Mayor Bloomberg and Senator Padavan, two independent and dedicated public servants this Memorial Day. At this time of the year, we have an opportunity to be mindful of the sacrifices of so many, which enables the torch of freedom to burn brightly here and abroad. The ideals of our Constitution have been paid for by the blood of our patriot soldiers year after year; they deserve our respect and thanks.”
Council Candidate Halloran and Conservative Party Chairman Tom Long
Queens County’s Conservative Party has unanimously endorsed Auburndale attorney and lifelong Northeast-Queens resident Dan Halloran for City Council in the 19th Council District. The district was previously represented by popular Conservative-Republican Mike Abel until he was term limited out of office and encompasses the neighborhoods of College Point, Whitestone, Auburndale, Bayside, Bay Terrace, Douglaston, and Little Neck. Halloran, an Eagle Scout, has a strong record of public service as a former member of the police department, and Special Assistant District Attorney, who continues to serve the community as a trial attorney in the Assigned Counsel program.
Halloran’s advocacy of common sense-smaller government, lower taxes, accountability in public spending, and support for law-enforcement and the uniformed services were at the heart of the decision to support his candidacy. In accepting the endorsement, Halloran said, “I am honored to have the support of the Conservative Party because they have consistently stood up for the middle class voters and taxpayers, and I will work with them to spread our message of restoring responsibility, ethics, and accountability to our government. I will continue to honor the values of the Conservative Party and our local community.”
Chairman Long stated, “Dan is the right choice for the members of this community and for the City as a whole. He will be a voice for fiscal responsibility and represent the core-values of our neighborhoods. We are happy that he is our nominee and we will give him our full support.”
Halloran was formally endorsed by the Republican Party in March and will be able to run with the Conservative Party’s cross-endorsement in the November 2009 election. More information on the campaign and Committee to Elect Dan Halloran is available at www.danhalloran.org.
Caption for attached photo: City Council Candidate Dan Halloran, (r), stands with Senator Frank Padavan (c), and General Counsel Vince Tabone and the students from Martin Van Buren High School, the local Bayside Anglers and other community supporters at the annual clean-up effort at the Oakland Lake in Bayside.
On May 16, 2009, State Senator Frank Padavan and NY City Council Candidate Dan Halloran joined the Friends of Oakland Lake and Ravine, Inc. in kicking off their Spring Clean Up and Planting. Together with the assistance of Martin Van Buren High School and Arista Students and joined by the Bayside Anglers and NYC Parks Department and Department of Environmental Protection, the spring planting and clean up at Oakland Lakes was a huge success. Other sponsors and friends included the Alley Pond Environmental Center, Bayside Hills Civic Association, Bayside Historical Society, City Parks Foundation, Community Board 11, Con Edison, Hassan King, Partnerships for Parks, Hudson River Foundation, Fishing Buddies, Inc., Janice Melnick, NEQ Parks Administrator, Keil Brothers’ Garden Center, Laura B. Vogler Foundation, Mike Agnello, Parks Manager, and New Yorkers for Better Neighborhoods.
Council Candidate Dan Halloran, an Eagle Scout who served as the volunteer Ecology and Conservation Director at Camp Keowa of the Greater New York Council Boy Scout’s Ten Mile River Reservation in 1989-90, stated “Keeping our natural resources in tip-top condition and regularly ensuring that we make the effort to help Mother Nature by performing clean-ups and plantings gives us a more secure environment for the future.”
Friends of Oakland Lake and Ravine was founded in 2005 by residents of Bayside and Oakland Gardens to beautify the area in the immediate vicinity of Oakland lake, located at 223rd Street and 46th Avenue in Bayside, Queens, and educates young people and the community about the uniqueness of Oakland Lake, a natural treasure, and the importance of protecting our local environment. Friends of Oakland Lake is dedicated to improving the conditions of the area surrounding Oakland Lake by organizing and participating in volunteer projects such as clean-ups and plantings, partnering with the community, its representatives, the Parks Department, and other interested parties, fostering greater community involvement with and stewardship of Oakland Lake.
Halloran, who was born and raised in the District, and whose family has been a part of the civic life of the Auburndale-Flushing community for a century, believes in the tradition of Teddy Roosevelt that ecology and conservation are vital to the future of New York. He urges the community to continue to work with him and other leaders like Frank Padavan to press the City and State Environmental agencies to do more to protect our natural resources.
May 11, 2009
For Immediate Release
Queens County Libertarian Party Cross-Endorses Halloran for City Council at New York Convention
The Queens County Libertarian Party has cross-endorsed Auburndale lawyer and lifelong resident Dan Halloran for City Council in the 19th Council District. Incumbent Councilmember Tony Avella has pledged to honor the two-term limit as passed by the voters and is currently running for Mayor.
The Libertarian Party’s New York City Nominating Convention for candidates of the Libertarian Party for was held on Monday, May 11, 2009 at 7 p.m. at the Ukrainian East Village Restaurant. The convention committee met with a number of prospective candidates seeking the party’s endorsement and had several well qualified candidates.
After the City-wide nominations the County committees caucused and Queens County unanimously endorsed Halloran for the City Council. In accepting the endorsement, Halloran said, “I am honored by Dr. Tom Stevens and Chairman John Procida’s support and the confidence they and their party have in my campaign and our message of restoring fiscal responsibility and accountability to our government.”
Chairman Procida’s commented, “Dan is an outstanding candidate and will be a great City Councilman, we look forward to seeing him run for Mayor one day!”
Dr. Tom Stevens, remarked, “Dan has the interests of Liberty in his mind and as a part of his platform, his energy and ideas are exactly what we need in City Hall.”
Halloran has already been endorsed by the Queens GOP, the National Republican Party’s Liberty Caucus, Senator Frank Padavan, Councilman Eric Ulrich, and is being considered by the Conservative and Independence Parties for cross-endorsement.
Ronald Reagan Award to Linda Gritch
Halloran, who was born and raised in the District, and whose family has been a part of the civic life of the Auburndale-Flushing community for a century, is actively encouraging the development of an outreach component of the GOP, to gain more women, young people, and diverse ethnic groups in the party. Together with Councilman Eric Ulrich, Halloran represents a key component to the future of the Republican Party’s growth and development.
Gritch Award
Gritch Award
Candidates Stand Together at Kegger
On May 7, 2009, the Whitestone and Auburndale Republican Clubs joined with Young Republicans, and the St. John’s University Republican Club to support Council Candidate Dan Halloran. At the event, former Councilman for the 19th District, Mike Able was there to support Halloran and endorse his campaign. A guest appearance was made by the Republican candidate for city-wide Public Advocate, Alex Zablocki, another Young Republican.
The Republican Candidate hosted the event as a night of relief from the stress of college finals for our young republican members by providing a Campaign Kegger and Karaoke party. Halloran, who was born and raised in the District, and whose family has been a part of the civic life of the Auburndale-Flushing community for a century, is actively encouraging the development of the youth component of the GOP, and along with Councilman Eric Ulrich, represent some of the hopes of the Republican Party for its future growth and development.
Campaign Karaoke College Kegger
On May 2, 2009, the Udalls Cove Preservation Committee (UCPC) held its annual rally and clean-up effort. UCPC is a volunteer organization dedicated to the preservation, conservation and restoration of Udalls Cove, and its associated wetlands and wooded uplands. Much of the area is now protected as the Udalls Cove Wildlife Preserve, managed by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. Udalls Cove is an inlet of Little Neck Bay, part of Long Island Sound, between the Douglaston and Great Neck peninsulas. At the head of the Cove (its southern end) is a large and healthy salt water marsh. Behind that, Aurora Pond lies at the center of freshwater wetlands, bounded by steep, wooded slopes.
Council Candidate Dan Halloran, an Eagle Scout who served as the volunteer Ecology and Conservation Director at Camp Keowa of the Greater New York Council Boy Scout’s Ten Mile River Reservation in 1989-90, stated “The most important environmental issues of our District often take a back seat to development and building; the preservation of this inlet in its natural state is a credit to the UCPC and its leaders, first Aurora Gareiss as its first president, later with Doug MacKay and Ralph Kamhi and now Walter Mugdan. If we are to secure our district’s future we must act to protect our environment in the here and now.”
Halloran, who was born and raised in the District, and whose family has been a part of the civic life of the Auburndale-Flushing community for a century, believes in the tradition of Teddy Roosevelt that ecology and conservation are vital to the future of New York. He urges the community to continue to work with him and other leaders like Frank Padavan to press the City and State Environmental agencies to do more to protect our natural resources.
Udalls Cove Clean Up- Earth Day
May 6, 2009
For Immediate Release
National Republican Party’s Liberty Caucus Elects Halloran to National Board as Northeast Regional Director shortly after his election as New York’s Chairman
The GOP’s Liberty Caucus, considered by many to be the conscience of the Republican Party in calling for limited government, promotion of liberty, and constitutional plain-speak, has elected Auburndale lawyer and City Council Candidate in the 19th Council District of New York City, Dan Halloran, to the National Board of the RLC as Northeast Regional Director, just days after the State Board had unanimously elected him the Chairman of the New York State Republican Liberty Caucus.
Halloran who has served on the state board of the RLC for the past few years and has been the coordinator of the Metro-NYC and Long Island sections of the state caucus said, “I am grateful for the vote of confidence in my leadership and am honored to serve as the state’s chairman as well as on the National Board as Regional Director in the Caucus. I am proud that the Caucus has wholeheartedly supported my efforts to bring reform to government in New York City.”
Halloran was elected by acclamation to the post of Regional Director, coordinating the entire Northeast shortly after his election to the state Chairmanship of New York. He attended the national convention in Jacksonville Florida in March and was a key figure in reforming the RLC’s National By-Laws, and in promoting the parliamentary procedures that guided the conference.
http://www.rlc.org/about/chapters/NY/
http://www.rlc.org/about/national-committee/
Dan Halloran, the 19th City Council District Candidate for the Republican and Conservative Party attended the Flag Day celebrations honoring Police, Fire, and Military Personnel in Astoria. The events included awards for the former Queens Flag Day Committee chairman Dr. John Farrell, who is now deceased, and the members of the NYPD, NYFD, NYSD, and Active Duty military from the local area.
Halloran, an Eagle Scout who is a former member of the NYPD and attended college on an ROTC Scholarship, was moved by the tribute to former Committee Chairman Farrell. Halloran’s brothers Patrick and Terence serve in the New York City Fire Department as a Lieutenant and Firefighter respectively.
Halloran reminded everyone of the tremendous sacrifice of our Police, Firemen, and Military, “We cannot forget that we are indebted to them for our safety and security; they are the lifeblood of our democratic Republic. Without these heroes, New York would not be the great place it is. It is only right we come together to honor the Flag that they put their lives on the line for daily.”
Press Release
Committee to Elect Dan Halloran
POB 570102
Whitestone, NY 11357
Contact: Vito Palmieri
516-248-1523
press@DANHALLORAN.ORG
WWW.DANHALLORAN.ORG
CANDIDATE HALLORAN OUTLINES PLAN FOR CONTRACTOR & DEVELOPER ACCOUNTABILITY IN CONSTRUCTION
On Monday, April 20, 2009, the Queens Civic Congress meeting featured New York City Buildings Department Commissioner Robert LiMandri. The Commissioner outlined the new Building Department plan to create more transparency in the approval process for the submission of plans and follow-up compliance for initial and expansion construction in Queens, by making available online sketches of construction proposals.
During the meeting the Dutch Kills, Forest Hills, and Flushing Civic Associations expressed extreme displeasure for the current procedures which are in place to regulate runaway building contractors and developers. Many such projects have shirked local zoning and building ordinances and the offenders have evaded punishment in several major developments in those civic areas recently. Citing numerous examples of incidents of developers filing false documents with DOB or violating stop-work orders, damaging adjacent properties and engaging in unsafe construction, the community groups pressed for more action by the Department of Buildings when they confronted the Commissioner at the meeting. President of Glen Oaks Village, Bob Friedrich asked several pointed questions about the implementation of follow-up and review inspections for non-construction code violations such as building appearance and maintenance, as well.
As the meeting wore on, a universally expressed sentiment was that the Department of Buildings needed to do more to enforce its stop work orders, ensure compliance with building codes and make inspectors more available for on-the-spot violators; from filing through completion of construction and on to holding the builders and developers accountable for their violations of code and law, the community groups grievances mounted.
Council Candidate and local attorney Dan Halloran then spoke to the Civic Congress and addressed the Commissioner with a practical and pragmatic solution to the problem of enforcement: SURETY BONDING.
By compelling developers, general contractors, and architects-engineers who wish to work in the county to furnish revocable bonds at the outset of filing, and thereby guaranteeing compliance with local codes and law, the Department of Building could enforce levies against those bonds and hold the responsible parties accountable for construction compliance financially.
The Bonding of such jobs, could be provided on a sliding scale based on the scope of the project, and the forfeiture of the bonds could be triggered by such violations as filing falsely any DOB paperwork, building outside of code, failing to sure-up or protect adjacent properties, or other related construction abuses.
Council Candidate Halloran said, “Given the unprecedented level of violations by developers which damage both the aesthetics of local communities and compromise safety, it is unfathomable that the Department of Buildings cannot use its regulatory power to compel a bond on the three categories of liable-parties in building construction: General Contractors, Developer-Owners, and Architect-Engineers.
Noting that the true way to dissuade unscrupulous building is to make it cost-ineffective, the council candidate reiterated, “Common sense dictates that if you want to ensure that the pattern of deceptive filing, construction abuses, and safety violations are STOPPED- then you must make it too costly for the contractor or developer to skirt the law. By holding those categories of person or entity accountable, you can ensure recourse for the community, the adjacent property-owners, and the City, for any significant deviation from the accepted standards of code and conduct by developers or their agents. Simply attacking the license of an architect is meaningless when the General Contractor or Developer are at the heart of the problem.”
Halloran, who was born and raised in Flushing, and whose family has been a part of the civic life of the Flushing community for nearly a century, was quick to note that the violations cost the taxpayers at every turn from enforcement to remediation. He urged the community leaders to continue to work with him and to press the City Department of Buildings to review its policies, which have tended to overlook the needs of the outerboroughs, on the issues that affect them, like overdevelopment.
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An Open Letter to New York City Buildings Department Commissioner Robert LiMandri:
Dear Commissioner:
At the April meeting of the Queens Civic Congress you spoke at length about the plans for holding unscrupulous developers more accountable for their violations of law and code. At that time I made a suggestion to you that would, in my opinion, alleviate the problem of rampant abuses in overdevelopment.
By compelling developers, general contractors, and architects-engineers who wish to work in our county to furnish revocable bonds at the outset of filing, an effective guarantee of compliance with local codes and law, would emerge. The Department of Building could enforce levies against those bonds and hold the responsible parties accountable for construction compliance financially. The Bonding of such jobs, could be provided on a sliding scale based on the scope of the project, and the forfeiture of the bonds could be triggered by such violations as filing falsely any DOB paperwork, building outside of code, failing to sure-up or protect adjacent properties, or other related construction abuses.
Given the unprecedented level of violations by developers which damage both the aesthetics of local communities and compromise safety, it is unfathomable that the Department of Buildings cannot use its regulatory power to compel a bond on the three categories of liable-parties in building construction: General Contractors, Developer-Owners, and Architect-Engineers.
The true way to dissuade unscrupulous building is to make it cost-ineffective, common sense dictates that if you truly want to ensure that the pattern of deceptive filing, construction abuses, and safety violations are STOPPED- then you must make it too costly for the contractor or developer to skirt the law. By holding those categories of person or entity accountable, you can ensure recourse for the community, the adjacent property-owners, and the City, for any significant deviation from the accepted standards of code and conduct by developers or their agents. Simply attacking the license of an architect is meaningless when the General Contractor or Developer are at the heart of the problem.
I urge you to consider using the regulatory authority of the DOB to craft such rules to ensure recourse and safety in construction in NYC.
Dan Halloran
City Council Candidate, 19th CD Queens
Halloran Family at Kickoff
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Uncle Jack's Fundraiser Speakers
Uncle Jack’s devoted their entire facility for the event so that it could accommodate the Queens Republicans in style. The open bar gala boasted a parade of fine appetizers from the posh steakhouse ranging from Kobe beef skewers and crabcakes, to lobster and shrimp cocktails and the typical walkabout wait service that Uncle Jack’s does second to none. Although the event officially started at 2PM the main bar was full by 1:30 and the crowd endured well past the 5PM scheduled end. About mid-way through the festivities the floor was given over to the speakers who have rallied to support Candidate Halloran. Campaign Chairman Vito Palmieri, an attorney and former president of the Nassau County Criminal Courts Bar Association emceed the event. After a brief introduction he turned to the guests of honor, beginning with Senator Frank Padavan whose Senate District overlaps the 19th Council District. Padavan reminded the crowd of the long tradition of service by the Halloran family in north Queens, spanning over a hundred years, and specifically recalled that it was 20 years ago when a somewhat younger Dan Halloran received his Eagle Scout award at a ceremony that the senator attended in Troop 589 of Flushing. “Dan’s deep connection to the community and commitment to public service is why we are all here to support his candidacy,” said the Senator.
Next up, Queens GOP Leader Phil Ragusa stepped to the front and praised his candidate, “Dan Halloran, who was born and raised here, and whose family has been a part of the civic life of the Flushing community for a century, exemplifies the spirit and intelligence needed to bring reason back to the City Council.”
NY’s Irish GOP head and former congressional candidate, Grant Lally then took center stage and spoke of Dan’s contributions to the community as an attorney, Scouter, and leader, “From Boy Scouts to assisting our volunteer ambulance corps as legal counsel, to inside the Courts aiding financially disadvantaged clients, Dan represents what true leaders should be, willing to serve the People day in and day out.” Vince Tabone, Executive Vice-Chair of the Queens GOP also spoke of Dan’s drive and enthusiasm and his core values and principles which are so desperately needed in our elected officials.
Numerous of the Queens County local Republican Clubs, who had all endorsed Halloran, were represented at the event, including the Northeast Queens, Whitestone, Auburndale, Queens Village, Old Glory, Forest Park, Little Neck-Douglaston clubs to name just a few. Former 19th CD Candidate Dennis Saffran was in attendance as was Board of Elections Commissioner Judy Stupp, community activist Frank Skala, former Assembly candidate Rob Speranzza. The Libertarian Party mayoral candidate John Finan was there to lend Dan support as was the head of Mayor Bloomberg’s Campaign, Bart Haggerty.
The candidate, whose family was on hand, including mother Ellen, widow of Daniel J. Halloran, Jr., a Deputy Commissioner of the NYC-HPD, and brothers Lieutenant Pat Halloran, NYFD, brother Firefighter Terrence Halloran, NYFD, and wife Cynthia Massimo-Halloran, expressed overwhelming gratitude for the support. Halloran pledged to uphold the middle class values that growing up in Auburndale imparted in him. He promised to fight the fundamental problems of a “runaway bureaucracy” which costs the taxpayers so much, and vowed to fight the tax and toll efforts underway. “New York City should be a beacon of economic prosperity and security by seeking to encourage its small business owners and families to remain a part of city life through tax relief and incentives. Our Police and Firefighters should be given the resources they need to keep us safe, and the government should be more transparent and responsible,” said Halloran.
The candidate is participating in the NYC Campaign finance Matching Funds Program, and donations can be sent to: Committee to Elect Dan Halloran POB 570102 Whitestone, NY 11357 or online at www.danhalloran.org.
Councilman Ulrich, Candidate Halloran, Chairman Ragusa
Caption for Photo, Councilman Ulrich, Candidate Halloran, Chairman Ragusa at Queens County GOP Executive Committee Meeting
Queens County Republican Party
24-55 Francis Lewis Blvd
Whitestone, NY 11357
March 31, 2009
Queens GOP Formally Endorses Halloran for the 19th Council District
For Immediate Release
Contact: Daniel Egers- 718-690-3737
QUEENSGOP@GMAIL.COM
WWW.QGOP.COM
The Queens County Republican Party’s Executive Committee officially endorsed Auburndale lawyer and lifelong Northeast Queens resident Dan Halloran for City Council in the 19th Council District. The district encompasses the neighborhoods of College Point, Whitestone, Auburndale, Bayside, Bay Terrace, Douglaston, and Little Neck. The incumbent Councilmember, Tony Avella, has pledged to honor the two-term limit as passed by the voters and vacate the office.
In accepting the endorsement, Halloran stated, “I am very pleased that the Queens Republican organization has honored me with their endorsement and that our entire Party is coming together early and focusing on winning back the District,” he went on further to say, “I am deeply grateful to Chairman Ragusa for his support and will work to ensure we restore fiscal responsibility and accountability to our city government.”
Chairman Phil Ragusa commented, “Dan is an outstanding candidate and will be a terrific City Councilman. I could not be prouder that he is our nominee.”
Vince Tabone, Executive Vice Chairman, remarked, “Dan has the judgment, energy and ideas we need in City Hall.”
Halloran had already formally been endorsed by the 26th AD, the largest stakeholder in the Councilmanic district, as well as the 25th AD, along with the Northeast Queens, Whitestone, Auburndale and Queens Village Republican Clubs respectively. He has the endorsement of the Republican Party’s Liberty Caucus and State Senator Frank Padavan who will be a keynote speaker at Halloran’s official campaign kick-off event, which is at Uncle Jack’s Steakhouse on Bell Boulevard in Bayside from 2PM-5PM Sunday April 5, 2009.
On April 2, 2009, the Queens County Conservative Party held its annual dinner and awards ceremony, this year honoring State Senator Serf Maltese. Halloran and members of his campaign committee attended the gala event to support the Conservative cause in Queens.
The Republican Council Candidate Dan Halloran, who is seeking the endorsement of the Conservative Party in his run for office, stated “Conservative values have often taken a back seat to politics and it is time for the people of Queens to have a voice for sound fiscal policies and awareness of our moral obligations. It is critical that we address the tax burdens foisted on the working class and set about examining the wasteful spending that is bleeding our city of resources and good people. If we are to secure our district’s future we must ensure that we are acting with sound principles in both finances and in moral perspective in the here and now.”
Halloran, who was born and raised in the District, and whose family has been a part of the civic life of the Auburndale-Flushing community for a century, is a Ronald Reagan Republican, who advocates limited government, personal responsibility, and advances an agenda that respects the Constitution’s plain meaning. He has been endorsed by leaders like Senator Frank Padavan and Councilman Eric Ulrich.
The Committee to Elect
Dan Halloran
for City Council
Cordially invites you to the Campaign Kick Off
Sunday April 5, 2009 – 2PM until 5PM
at
Uncle Jack’s Steak House
39-40 Bell Boulevard
Bayside, New York 11361
(718) 229-1100
Suggested Donation: $100.00
Includes Open Bar
Hors d’oeuvres
Special Guests:
Senator Frank Padavan
Councilman Eric Ulrich
Grant Lally, Esq.
Join the Queens Republican party as it launches the 2009 campaign season in style at Uncle Jack’s & give your support to our council candidate in the 19th CD. The 19th Council District serves the communities of Auburndale, Bayside, Whitestone, College Point, Beechurst, Malba, Little Neck, and Douglaston.
Please RSVP to Amanda Meli – 516 248-1523
The Committee to Elect
Dan Halloran
for City Council
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Mail to: Committee to Elect Dan Halloran
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Whitestone, NY 11357
or online: www.danhalloran.org
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Press Release
Committee to Elect Dan Halloran
POB 570102
Whitestone, NY 11357
Contact: Vito Palmieri
516-248-9595
press@danhalloran.org
WWW.DANHALLORAN.ORG
Date: March 19, 2009
Caption for attached photo: Republican City Council Candidate Dan Halloran.
HEADLINE: For the Republicans in the 19th CD: “And then there was one”
At the monthly meeting of the Northeast Queens Republican Club Wednesday night, Joseph Gravagna graciously bowed out of the race for City Council uniting the Republican Party behind its endorsed candidate, Dan Halloran for the 19th Councilmanic District. The district is comprised of College Point, Auburndale, Whitestone, Bay Terrace, Bayside, Douglaston and Little Neck. In his statement to the club, Gravagna opined that Halloran was, “the ideal candidate who represents the very best in our Party”. He went on to praise the Party’s candidate as a man of great accomplishments personally and professionally, and reminded everyone that the Halloran family’s roots in the Flushing area stretch back over a century making him uniquely equipped to address the issues of our community.
Joined by the County party’s leadership including, Chairman Phil Ragusa, executive vice chair, Vince Tabone, and other Republican party officers, Janet Malone presided over the meeting of the club last night, which heard from Eric Ulrich, newly elected City Councilman for southern Queens, and Robert Bishop, GOP attorney and counsel for the District. Robert Hornak, the party’s candidate for Queen Borough President also addressed the club, as did Queens Village Club president, Phil Sica and Bart Haggerty of the Forest Park Republican Club.
Halloran thanked all of the potential candidates and particularly Gravagna, as well as the Party leadership for their support. He then focused on his campaign’s core issues of efficient and transparent government, attention to the outer-boroughs, taxes, and quality of life issues that speak to the heart of his district. “Northeast Queens is unlike anywhere else in the City, we are ethnically and culturally diverse, a mixture of urban and suburban homes, and the driving force in the economy of our City, yet our voice is seldom heard by the City Council, and even less so by the State Assembly”. He went on to note the recent proposals to create bridge tolls were yet another example of dividing the city’s residents and called upon the Council to eliminate the “temporary” property tax increases which fall disproportionately on the homeowners in the 19th.
New York State Delegation to the RLC National Convention
Halloran who serves on the state board of the RLC said, “I gratefully accept this endorsement and am honored that the Caucus is supporting my effort to bring reform to City government in New York.”
Halloran has received the endorsement of the Queens County GOP’s 26th Assembly District which is the majority stakeholder of that Councilmanic territory. He will be formally nominated at the Queens County Republican Party’s Executive session for the party’s endorsement if leaders in the 22nd, 24th, 25th and 27th Assembly Districts concur with the nomination.
News From the 26th AD Republican Committee
March 7, 2009
For Immediate Release
26th AD GOP Endorses Halloran for City Council
The 26th AD Republican Committee has endorsed Auburndale lawyer and lifelong Northeast Queens resident Dan Halloran for City Council in the 19th Council District. The district was previously represented by popular Republican Mike Abel until he was term limited out of office and encompasses the neighborhoods of College Point, Whitestone, Auburndale, Bayside, Bay Terrace, Douglaston, and Little Neck. Incumbent Councilmember Tony Avella has pledged to honor the two-term limit as passed by the voters and is currently running for Mayor.
The committee met with a number of prospective candidates seeking the GOP’s endorsement and was extremely pleased at both the level of interest and caliber of several well qualified candidates who asked to be interviewed.
In accepting the endorsement, Halloran said, “I am honored by Chairman Ragusa’s support and the confidence he and his committee have in my campaign and our message of restoring fiscal responsibility and accountability to our government.”
District Leader and Queens GOP Chair Phil Ragusa commented, “Dan is an outstanding candidate and will be a terrific City Councilman. I could not be prouder that he is our nominee.”
Vince Tabone, District Chairman, remarked, “Dan has the judgment, energy and ideas we need in City Hall.”
Later this month Halloran will be formally nominated at the Queens County Republican Party’s Executive session for the party’s endorsement. Halloran has indicated he will be reaching out to area leaders in the 22nd, 24th, 25th and 27th Assembly Districts in the coming days.
Halloran is planning to hold an official campaign kick-off event next month at Uncle Jack’s Steakhouse on Bell Boulevard in Bayside from 2-5PM Sunday April 5, 2009.
Mr Halloran,
What are your thoughts as a candidate on matters involving the FDNY, particularly the closing of fire companies and the recent debate over the FDNY pension system?
***
The FDNY has been underfunded for years. The safety of our firefighters and our communities depend on properly resourced firefighters, support staff, and training. Pressure has not been brought to bear on the federal and state agencies to secure supplemental funds, nor have the city bureaucrats done the right thing to ensure our bravest are able to do what they need to. The pension system has been squandered and like all civil service pension plans, mismanaged. Without retirement security we will continue to see dedicated firemen depart to other job opportunities, and we will risk the security for the future of those already serving us and paying into the system.
City Council Candidate Dan Halloran, (R), stands with Senator Frank Padavan (R), and outgoing City Council Member Tony Avella (D) along with civic leaders and about a hundred area residents from the Broadway-Flushing area in Bowne Park to protest the New York City Landmark Preservation Commission’s denial of status as a Historic District for the area. This community’s roots reach back to the Dutch colonial era, and the denial of such status by the LPC’s is all the more inexplicable given that both the federal and New York state government agencies tasked with such designative powers have already recognized the historic character of the Broadway-Flushing area and granted it that designation.
Council Candidate Dan Halloran stated “Given the unanimous vote recognizing the status by Community Board 7 and the overwhelming support of the surrounding communities, their leaders on both sides of the aisle, and the self-evident historic nature of the Broadway-Flushing area, the LPC’s position is utterly indefensible. The City administration needs to revisit this determination immediately and reverse course.”
Halloran, who was born and raised here, and whose family has been a part of the civic life of the Flushing community for nearly a century, was quick to note that the redundant federal, state, and city designations illustrate a fundamental problem of “runaway bureaucracy” which costs the taxpayers at every turn. He also commented that the overdevelopment sought to be prevented by such designation not only affects the taxpayer directly, as tax assessments in New York City now carry with them comparative sale value increase component, but also diminishes the aesthetic and historic character of the community, which indirectly harms the residents in a host of other ways. He urges the community to continue to work with him and other leaders to press the City to review its policies, which have tended to overlook the needs of the outerboroughs, on the issues that affect them.
Council Candidate Demands City: Secure the Fort!
City Council Candidate Dan Halloran who is running in the 19th Councilmanic District (College Point, Auburndale, Whitestone, Bay Terrace, Bayside, Douglaston, Little Neck) joined with community leaders, elected officials and neighborhood residents at a demonstration Saturday to protest the removal of security guards from Fort Totten due to FDNY budget cuts.
“Times are tough, but removing security guards from Fort Totten is not the answer. It puts the fire and police units at risk and makes the historic buildings vulnerable to arson and vandalism,” remarked Halloran.
Halloran called upon U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and Congressman Gary Ackerman to seek emergency federal funding to secure the fort.
“The federal assets at Fort Totten such as the Coast Guard and the 77th ARCOM have to be adequately protected. Before a longterm solution can be implemented, the Department of Homeland Security should provide staffing for the security gate.”
“It is incumbent that our federal representatives act immediately to obtain funding for security at Fort Totten, a site of vital historical significance and value as a park and greenspace, in the best interests of our community at large,” concluded Halloran.
#####
Federal Funding for Fort Totten Security
An Open Letter to Senators Schumer and Gillibrand, and Congressman Ackerman:
As you are likely aware, gate security at Fort Totten is being discontinued due to FDNY budget cuts. It is entirely unacceptable that a site where NYPD, FDNY, Coast Guard and the 77th ARCOM are housed, along with historic buildings such as the Bayside Historical Society’s “Castle,” is left unprotected.
Times are tough, but removing security guards from Fort Totten is not the answer. It puts the fire and police units at risk and makes the historic buildings vulnerable to arson and vandalism.
While many have criticized the city for not allocating money for Fort Totten’s security, there are state and federal agencies operating on site. A budget allocation from either level of government would be of immense help at this time, especially as we are asking the FDNY and NYPD to do more with less.
In view of the federal assets situated at the Fort, I urge you, as our federal representatives, to work to secure federal appropriations to fund the security guards at the entrance to Fort Totten. Before a longterm solution can be implemented, the Department of Homeland Security should provide staffing for the security gate.
Fort Totten is too valuable to our community, city and country to be deprived of security. I respectfully request that you act immediately to obtain funding for security at Fort Totten, a site of vital historical significance and value as a park and greenspace, in the best interests of our community at large.
–
Dan Halloran
New York City Council Candidate
19th CD – Queens
Flushing Chinese Business Association
Councilman Avella, Senator Padavan, FCBA President Peter Koo and Council Candidate Dan Halloran
City Council Candidate joined with Chinese business leaders in the celebration of the lunar new year, and honor FCBA President Peter Koo. Candidate Halloran said, “The hard work and dedication to developing family businesses are the hallmark of the American dream, Chinese-Americans in Flushing are building on that dream and adding a new chapter to the history of Flushing. The work of the Flushing Chinese Business Association will continue to be at the forefront of the Asian-American community’s contribution to our great City”
Halloran, who was born and raised in Flushing, and whose family has been a part of the civic life of the Auburndale-Flushing community for over a century, has developed ties to the Asian business community in Flushing as well as the other small business communities in his district over the last 20 years.
Councilman John Liu, Borough President Helen Marshal, Council Candidate Halloran
Dan J. Halloran III
I am still awed by the success of the democratic party’s lawyers in bullying the GOP team in Court. Whether it was the replacement of our elections clerk, or the unanswered allegations of gerrymandering and discriminatory striking of ballots, the GOP team has been on its heels and in defensive posture from the outset- hardly the space to be in when the recount was started with Frank ahead at every turn of the recount screw.
Frank Padavan has been an honorable and gentleman’s gentleman every year in public office- it is hardly surprising he has consistently and patiently trusted in the system to vindicate him- and the fact that we are still in it despite the Obama Tsunami is a testament to this truly beloved public-servant.
But once this matter was brought into a courtroom the gloves needed to come off- not off Frank- but off the legal team. What was called for was an aggressive litigation team that had one mission, to dismantle the opposition utterly and unmercifully. No quarter should have been given, no stone left unturned, and more importantly, no elevation of the fight should have been eschewed. This whole fight has NEVER been about election law- lets face it – there is absolutely no precedent for restoring ballots struck by the BOE as invalid after the count is in. This has been from the outset a litigators struggle of will and courtroom domination.
One does not march into a state courthouse before a justice appointed by the very machine that is bringing the litigation to the crescendo and not talk recusal. One does not leave unanswered baseless claims of discriminatory ballot striking without threatening the specter of Federal Court, and one does not allow themselves to be bullied in the well of the Courthouse acceding to demands for replacing members of the team. PERIOD.
One of the most important lessons I learned as a trial attorney came in my first criminal trial after leaving the District Attorney’s office and becoming a private defense attorney. In a self-defense assault case, after my blistering cross examination of the People’s chief witness, where I had reduced his recollection to a puddle of incoherent and contradictory misstatements, and turned away to sit back at the defense table, the Judge sensing my overconfidence, looked down at me and said, “Mr. Halloran, I don’t suppose your done yet?”
Until that moment, I thought- yes I am- I am done- what more could there be? Then it dawned on me, the DA had a look of relief, like I had somehow missed the big question… I realized the opponent was down, but hardly out.
I grabbed a new yellow pad from the table as if all I was doing was starting round two, and began anew with the witness. When I finally sat down later the next hour, and several “confessions” from the witness later, both DA’s sat stone faced and despondent at their table, and the witness a teary-eyed wreck, in the cross hairs of the train wreck of their case.
The jury deliberated 17 minutes, to reach my client’s NOT GUILTY.
Never stop – never stop fighting until the fight is won…. here endeth the lesson.
Last week I sat in disbelief at the Northeast Queens Republican party meeting listening to incumbent Frank Padavan outline the recount issues in his bid for reelection to the State Senate. Frank, an honorable and consistent servant of his constituents, was awash in the Obama Tidal wave… and fighting for his seat despite three decades plus of selfless-service.
Though he clings to a few-hundred vote lead in week three of the recounting, his victory is neither assured, nor is his worn away support comforting, to the other Republicans in Northeastern Queens….once a moderately conservative corner of the City.
It is time the party elders vest the fate of the new Republican Party in the hands of a younger generation; one to whom the Age of the Internet is accessible and which reflects the largest growing section of voters, the under 40, college educated, urbanite.
Since this is the age of internet information and educated urbanites- without our party addressing the issues that feed the information superhighway, we will never succeed in making inroads in the urban political scene. We must use the tools and talents of the day to make our voices heard.
What is it that the true Republican ideal speaks to? How about limited government? Or efficient programs designed to reach goals rather than perpetuate dependencies? Perhaps its as simple as reading the Constitution to mean what it says…. or better yet, holding public officials, police, and government accountable to standards of conduct, productivity, and compassion. Our party is about presenting the opportunity to succeed, not giving people a false guarantee of success. Republican ideals are centered about our self-responsibility and community awareness & involvement without which, we cannot effect positive changes.
As someone who thinks that the Party has strayed too far from its ideals and imperatives, I have decided to throw myself into the race in Queens for the City Council next year in my home district, the 19th. I grew up here, from birth to college I lived and learned here, and have now bought my first home, and it too is here in the district.
Perhaps if the people we choose to represent us actually lived life in the places they purport to represent, government would be more conscious of its awesome responsibility. Perhaps neighborhoods would mean more to us then, as would our neighbors, certainly a Republican Party that would count for something would be a good start….
Welcome to Dan Halloran’s District 19
City Council Candidate’s blog.
Among other things, I’m for a more limited government. In NYC the number of agencies and bureaucracies is staggering – right now there are no less than 65 agencies sharing essentially similar duties and overlapping authority – moreover there are numerous agency level authorities that are really properly sub-agency departments.
So what does that mean? For limiting government – well commissioners, staff, and duplication of efforts/costs/work are all overblown and misspent. Eliminating the top-heavy management and redundancy of resources and merging and coordinating will save billions each year.
There are many important issues requiring right action by your next City Council member, from issues of education and youth, public safety and quality of life, transportation and the infrastructure, senior citizens issues, and of course – taxes and spending. The more we look at government waste and duplication of authority, jurisdiction and spending, the more it makes sense that providing real and useful services to the people relies upon cutting out the waste. Better government means better, more efficient, and increased services at lower cost. Your comments and concerns are welcome here.
Daniel Halloran