Dan Halloran For New York City Council District 19

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.”

Opinion

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

Opinion

Opinion

[caption id="attachment_135" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Party at Uncle Jacks"][/caption]The City Council Republican candidate for the 19th Councilmanic District (the Queens communities of Auburndale, College Point, Whitestone, Bayside, Douglaston and Little Neck), Dan Halloran, had his first fundraiser at Uncle Jack’s Steakhouse, the upscale Bell Boulevard eatery April 5, 2009; the event was a tremendous success by every measure. With over a hundred attendees, including State Senator Frank Padavan, the Queens GOP Chair Phil Ragusa, the NY Irish GOP Chair and former Congressional candidate, Grant Lally, the Chair of the NY State Liberty Caucus of the Republican Party, Carl Svensson, and the heads of 5 Republican Clubs from around Queens, the event proved the effectiveness of the campaign committee’s efforts in the early going just three weeks after the Party’s official endorsement.

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.

Opinion

Press Release

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.

Opinion

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.

Opinion