Queens

Serrano to Meeks: The Party’s Over, Sort Of

Posted by Katie Honan

Politicians are the worst, aren’t they?

They steal money from innocent constituents and from Hurricane victims; they make shady deals with other politicians; they have sexual relations with interns; they lead the country into illegal wars; they throw tickle slumber parties; they curse.

All they do is steal, and lie, and cheat, and sometimes they don’t even show up to throw the first pitch at the inaugural game for the Little League season.  They never answer back phone calls complaining about the Q21 bus or the litter problem on the Queens Boulevard dog park. And they only march in the Memorial Day parade during election years!

Who will save us from these evil, evil men and women driving around in government-owned cars, parking in special parking spots, and complaining about working a full week? Who can we trust down in Washington DC or up in Albany??

Super Serrano!

SerranoHero

This week, New York State Senator Jose Serrano and Assemblywoman Sandra Galef proposed new legislation that will “create detailed criteria on how member items are awarded and what qualifications need to be met.”

Before submitting an application for a member item, the group who would be receiving the funds would have to meet clearance standards set up by the attorney general. State agencies would also have to monitor how the money is being spent–something that isn’t currently being done. This, they hope, will detract politicians from directing money to friends, family members, or people who do construction on their new homes.  They’re taking the lead of former Mayor Ed Koch, who has vowed to clean up Albany.

And if the legislation passes, it’s sure to piss off Greg Meeks, who, if the stories are true, has practically made a second income off of money he directed towards himself. And while the proposals are meant to clean up Albany’s act, national offices may follow suit in order to restore some dignity to politics (if that’s possible).

In any case, since Serrano’s papa is a colleague of Meeks’, it must make for awkward train rides from NY to DC–if Congresspeople travel together in packs, as I imagine they do.  I also imagine them all eating together at one table in the Congressional lunchroom, all the downstate New York Congresspeople at the “dirty liberal” table, eating bagels and lox.  The New York guys must be used to criticism from those from other states–but from someone on the inside?  And from the Bronx, no less?  Will Greg Meeks tell Jose to sit somewhere else?  Will he have to keep the three or four representatives from Rhode Island entertained?

Crowley Banks on Foreigners

Posted by Matthew Robinson
Outside Parkchester Train Station
Outside Parkchester Train Station

On blustery days, wind pushes trash up against the fences around the Parkchester subway stop in the Bronx. A “Chickenfest” restaurant, an off-track betting center, and a dry cleaners circle this express stop off the 6 train.

For outsiders, the southeast Bronx is seldom a final destination – its a place to drive through, rather than to drive to. Although crime has been down for much of the decade, the Bronx still has stretches of run-down, forgotten-about blocks.

Rep. Joe Crowley’s 7th district straddles much of the southeast Bronx and chunk of northern Queens. Besides $10 in tolls, quality of life separates the two boroughs. Queens residents are the happiest New Yorkers at 51 percent and Bronxites the least happy at 24 percent, according to the Citizens Committee for New York.

The number of defunct buildings in the Bronx might find some investors if the Real Estate Revitalization Act passes. The bill, sponsored by Crowley, will reduce the amount of taxes foreign investors pay for American real estate.

The Foreign Investment Real Estate Property Tax, passed in 1980, includes capital gains taxes as high as 55 percent – these taxes are generally applied to sales on property, stocks and bonds. For example, if a foreign investor buys and sells Google stock, they don’t pay taxes in America. But if an investor buys real estate investment trust (REIT) shares, they pay taxes in America, according to this CNNMoney.com article.

An abandoned foundation on White Plains road and Seward Ave
An abandoned foundation on White Plains road and Seward Ave

If Crowley’s bill passes, he may score some points with Republicans for advocating for a tax cut – albeit for foreigners. But Democrats may not be too fond of foreign investors competing with American buyers.

Since Americans aren’t buying up this property – and don’t have to pay any foreign taxes – why would foreigners think it’s a wise investment anyway?

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.

Crowley Keeps Focus on Community Concerns

Posted by Matthew Robinson

Back in August, when tea partiers went viral on cable news, Joseph Crowley, D –N.Y. 7, set up an interactive healthcare forum to help inform Americans about what was actually happening with reform. But six months later, and Democrats losing their super majority with the election of Scott Brown, Crowley is looking to just get something passed, according to the Bronx News Network.

“We might have to break up the bill a bit, to do it piecemeal,” he said. “I think we will get something through—it may not be everything we want at first, but it will be substantial.”

Crowley has cited the need for health care reform in his own district, particularly for Bronx small business owners, who he says can’t afford to buy health insurance for their employees.

Across the river, Jackson Heights, Queens is home to almost two-thirds of the 28,000 Bangladeshi residents in New York City, according to the 2000 census. Crowley is the founder and co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Bangladesh, which brings 31 Members of Congress together in support of the people of Bangladesh, according to his website.

Crowley asked Bangladesh authorities on Jan. 27 to investigate the punishment of a 16-year-old rape survivor. The Daily Star, Bangladesh’s largest circulating English-language newspaper, reported that the teenage girl was raped and then punished with 101 lashes.

“I urge the Bangladeshi authorities to begin an impartial investigation into this matter and move to bring any perpetrators to justice immediately.”  Crowley said in a press release.

The press release added:

“Additionally, the London-based Guardian newspaper reported that “elders in the village issued a fatwa insisting that the girl be kept in isolation until her family agreed to corporal punishment.”  While Bangladeshi law is largely secular and does not tolerate rape, local elders often issue sentences and settle disputes, as it appears in this case.  Bangladesh is a moderate, predominantly Muslim country which has taken several strong steps to ensure women’s rights, including the provision of seats for women in the national parliament.”

Since taking office in 1999, Crowley has easily won reelection with an increasingly higher percentage of votes by keeping up on issues that matter to his constituents. He’s hoping these initiatives will keep it that way.