New York District 7

Crowley Takes Advantage of Monserrate's Scandal

Posted by Matthew Robinson

When Hiram Monserrate was convicted of a misdemeanor in October, Joseph Crowley led the call to oust Monserrate from his state senate seat, according to this Queens Gazette article. Crowley got his wish. The state senate kicked Monserrate out of office earlier this month. On a side note, Monserrate is actually running in the March 16 special election – he even stole Obama’s “Yes We Can” slogan.

Crowley’s move is more than getting the “bad guy” out of office. Crowley and Monserrate have had their differences in the past. In 2007, Crowley, the chairman of the Queens Democratic Party, did not invite Monserrate and Jose Peralta to an event honoring Malcolm Smith, the temporary President of the New York State legislature.

Monserrate voiced his concerns:

“I would like to be part of the host committee, but I was never asked,” Monserrate told the New York Daily News. “But the important thing is not the invitation itself but what it reveals. They don’t want to have anything to do with me or Peralta.”

Such public criticism couldn’t have sat well with Crowley. Peralta wasn’t as vocal as Monserrate, choosing just to note that he and Monserrate have never been chosen to host any Queens Democrat events. His decision seems to have kept him in good favor – Crowley now backs him for Monserrate’s seat.

The Daily News article added:

“Some Queens Democrats said, off the record, that the Monserrate slight is a product of the inordinate amount of power “the old guard” still holds over the Queens Democratic organization.”

Also, Monserrate and Pedro Espada Jr. voted against the Democratic Party last summer. The vote brought the New York legislature to a standstill. It seems Monserrate has run up against the established power, while Peralta has gone along with the status quo in Queens, and it may be paying off.

Crowley Leads Way for Immigration Reform

Posted by Matthew Robinson

In a recent article by the National Journal, Joseph Crowley was named as one of five up-and-coming House Democrats. “They form a second tier of leaders-in-training who could be in line to take over when their top party chiefs either retire or are forced out,” according to the article.

The article also called Crowley the go-to person for immigration reform. Back in September, Crowley, along with 111 House Democrats, wrote a letter to President Obama asking to reform immigration. Obama gave a speech last year on June 25 asking for reform, but the issue hasn’t moved much since then.

The letter detailed elements of reform. Undocumented immigrants would register, go through background checks, pay taxes, study English in order to apply for legal status, and then eventually apply for citizenship. As chairman of the New Democrat Coalition – a pro-business, moderate group – Crowley proposes that taxing immigrants could be be way to generate revenue for the state and provide benefits for those contributing to the workforce.

More than 60 percent of Crowley’s district speaks a language other than English at home, and 40 percent of the population are foreign-born, according to the Almanac on American Politics. So, Crowley should have constituent support for immigration reform.

But his interest in immigration may also stem from a personal connection – his mother. She emigrated from Northern Ireland as a child, according to whorunsgov.com. Given that Crowley has sought leadership roles throughout his career, it seems likely he will run for a more prominent office in the future. So, he must think that reform should add political points in New York.