Dan Halloran For New York City Council District 19

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.”

Opinion

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.”

Opinion

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.

Opinion

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.”

Opinion