McGowan explains, “This street runs through the two square blocks which today are the Celtic Park apartments. A hundred years ago, this block ran between the Celtic Park grandstand and the track & field of the Irish-American Athletic Club, a training ground for dozens of Olympic champions.”

Initially, McGowan had sought to post a plaque commemorating the athletes, but there was some controversy.
McGowan continues, “The renaming will be making an… effort to acknowledge the men who won more than 50 Olympic medals for the U.S., and were known affectionately as the ‘Winged Fists of Celtic Park.

As well as Van Bramer and his staffer Joe Kenton, McGowan thanks the many local supporters of the renaming, and local officials and groups, particularly Assemblywoman Cathy Nolan for her early support, Congressman Joe Crowley, State Senator Mike Gianaris, the United Forties Civic Association and Queens Community Board 2.

Courtesy of the American Irish Historical Society, Winged Fist Org.: 1909 - Athletes in front of former Celtic Park track, renamed "Winged Fist Way/43rd Street"

Maloney’s 14th district covers the East Side of Manhattan, Roosevelt Island, and in Queens — Astoria, Long Island City, and parts of Sunnyside and Woodside.

Maloney’s full statement:

“I believe S&P’s decision to downgrade America’s AAA credit was deeply flawed.  Let’s begin with the fact that two other rating agencies, Moody’s and Fitch, continue to give our credit the highest rating possible.

Plus, markets around the world have already spoken quite clearly on the issue. America remains the best place in the world to safely and securely invest money.  Seventeen other nations around the world are rated AAA by S&P, and with all due respect, some of those economies are nowhere near as strong as America’s.

S&P said that an ‘irresponsible process’ and ‘political brinksmanship’ led to the credit downgrade. While I can agree that it was a disheartening spectacle to witness, the battle to raise the debt ceiling was certainly no more dangerous to our economy than the financial crisis.  And even on the edge of that abyss, our credit rating remained AAA.  As Mark Zandi of Moody’s Analytics put it: ‘U.S. Treasurys are still the gold standard.’

And then of course, S&P made this downgrade even after acknowledging a $2 trillion error in its deficit projections. S&P was wrong on their math and wrong on the downgrade.  America deserves to stay triple-A.”

L-R: Kenton, Ethel Plimack, Van Bramer at recent sign unveiling (Photo by Liz Reynolds. Courtesy Sunnyside Gardens Preservation Alliance)

See full article Queens Courier

Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer’s selection of staffers often gets high marks as shown in this profile of Joe Kenton, Director of Constituents Services.

Van Bramer praises Kenton, “”I have always said that I have the best, most dedicated staff. As a team, we are able to achieve results for the district we all serve. Joe Kenton, who has been with me since our campaign typifies the kind of service to the community our staff delivers. His dedication to our community and especially the kids he volunteers his time to coach is worthy of this recognition. I am proud of him, as I am our entire staff.”

61-08 Linden Street  

Ridgewood, NY 11385

(718) 456-9492 

and 

41-02 41 Street (Suite 2B)  

Sunnyside, NY 11104

(718) 784-3194 

Fax (718) 784-3855

30th AD: Margaret Markey (D)  

55-19  69th Street  

Maspeth, NY 11378 

(718) 651-3185

Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer

District Office

47-01 Queens Boulevard

Sunnyside, New York 11104

District Office Phone

718-383-9566

District Office Fax

718-383-9076

Legislative Office

New York City Council

250 Broadway – suite 1880

New York, New York 10007

780 Third Avenue (Suite 2601)

New York, New York 10017 (212) 688-6262

Washington DC  (202) 224-4451

Charles E. Schumer (D)  

757 Third Avenue (Suite 1702)  

N.Y., N.Y. 10017  (212) 486-4430 

Washington Office  (202) 224-3121

74-09 37th Avenue (suite 306B)

Jackson Heights, NY 11372  (718 779-1400

12th CD: Nydia Velazquez (D)

268 Broadway (2nd floor)

Brooklyn, NY 11211  

(718) 599-3658

14th CD: Carolyn B. Maloney (D)  

28-11 Astoria Blvd.  

Astoria, NY 11022  (718) 932-1804

28-11 Astoria Blvd.  

Long Island City, NY 11102 

(718) 545-9706