Hundreds of local residents have expressed their opposition to the opening of an EZ Pawn branch on the corner of 46th Street and Queens Blvd next month.

The following is a statement from Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer and Assemblywoman Cathy Nolan after their discussions with the owner of EZ Pawn.

EZ Pawn Statement

 Candidates have turned in their petitions in western Queens, and though the City Board of Elections has not officially announced who will be running, the Queens Chronicle (and YourNabe) has compiled a list of likely suspects for competitive races in the area.

Races pertaining to Sunnyside/Woodside:

1) The primary between incumbent U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-Queens and Manhattan) and newcomer Reshma Saujan for the District 14 congressional seat has gained some nationwide attention. Republican Dino LaVerghetta plans to liven up the election, challenging Maloney on a platform of reducing spending. LaVerghetta would also like to repeal the new tax on indoor tanning. He says he will not vote the party line and would like to eliminate the don’t ask don’t tell policy in the armed forces. According to Hornak, two other Republican candidates, Roger Blank and Ryan Brumberg, are also expected to run, though they have not been endorsed by the party.

2) Assemblyman Mike Gianaris (D-Astoria) will be running for state Senate in the 12th District. Though unopposed for many months, Republican-endorsed challenger Jerome Patrick Tina said he intends to run against Gianaris. Tina said he also hopes to be on the ballot as a Conservative. 

3) U.S. Rep. Joe Crowley (D-Queens and Bronx) will likely be challenged by Ken Renolds, a Republican endorsed by the Bronx County GOP.

4) Markey vs. Nunziato

A Republican challenger has filed for the Maspeth Assembly district seat (which includes chunks of Sunnyside) held by Democrat Margaret Markey. Republican Anthony Nunziato is running with the support of the Independence and Conservative parties. Since Jan. 1, Markey has raised $11,655, with her top donors being LawPac of Nassau, which has contributed $1,000, and Local Union No. 3, which has contributed $1,000.

Markey’s total expenditures are $6,212.87. Her biggest outlay was for a $1,484.44 fund-raiser at Euro Bistro in Maspeth. Nunziato has raised $15,950, with his top donor listed as the Friends of Marty Golden, who contributed $3,800. His total expenditures have been $2,278, including his biggest expense of $2,000 for a fund-raiser at Abbracciamento Restaurant in Middle Village.

5) Nolan vs. Wilson

State Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan (D-Ridgewood), who also has the support of the Working Families Party, is facing Republican opponent John Wilson. Nolan has raised $41,340, with her largest contributions coming from Sheet Metal Workers LU 28 Political Action League, which donated $2,000, and Astoria Studios LTD Partnership II, which contributed $2,000. Her total expenditures have been $43,400.17, with her top destined for consulting firm Promotional Strategies at $19,381.78. Wilson has not filed his contributions and expenditures.

A new teacher and principal evaluation system recently passed by the Assembly would include annual performance reviews that will determine the effectiveness of educators.

“We have an obligation to New York State’s children to provide them with the best education possible,” said Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. “This overhaul of the way we evaluate educators will provide for a more objective, student-center rating system and help to ensure that under-performing schools, teachers and principals are given the assistance they need to improve.”

Student achievement will account for 40 percent of the evaluations. “Locally-developed measures,” such as classroom observations, would make up the other 60 percent.

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Queens state Assembly members helped to usher in legislation that more than doubles the number of charter schools in New York state last week, a move officials said could help the state land hundreds of millions of dollars in federal education funding.

The Assembly bill raises the cap on charter schools — publicly funded but privately run institutions supported by President Barack Obama’s administration — from 200 to 460. The state Senate passed a similar bill earlier this month.

The number of charter schools in New York City could grow to no more than 214. There are 100 in the city now.

The Assembly’s Queens delegation voted for the bill, including Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan (D-Ridgewood), chairwoman of the Assembly Education Committee, and Assemblymen Rory Lancman (D-Fresh Meadows), David Weprin (D-Little Neck) and Andrew Hevesi (D-Forest Hills).

“This bill will allow New York state to submit a competitive application for federal Race to the Top funding and increase our chances at receiving up to $700 million for our schools,” said Nolan.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan) and Gov. David Paterson echoed Nolan’s sentiments, saying the support for the charter schools was crucial for the Race to the Top application that was due June 1.

For the rest, please read. Yournabe.com

Time: 10 am to 2 pm.

Location: Community Services Center, at 43-41 39th Street, Sunnyside, NY

For flyer click here: Sunnyside_State_Fair_Flyer

The following agencies will be represented:

108th Police Precinct, FDNY, NYC Department of Finance, Con-Edison, Department for the Aging, NYC Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Consumer Affairs, NYS Department of Labor (Career One-Stop Center), NYC Department of Parks and Recreation, LaGuardia Community College, Human Resources Administration, Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Public Health Commission, NYS Police Troopers, DA Richard Brown, NYS Children and Family Services, NYS Department of Health, Sunnyside SHINES, Sunnyside Community Service, Sunnyside Chamber of Commerce

NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL SPEAKER CHRISTINE C. QUINN, COUNCIL MEMBER JIMMY VAN BRAMER AND ASSEMBLY MEMBER CATHERINE T. NOLAN WILL HOLD A PRESS CONFERENCE TO PROTEST THE DISRUPTION OF THE 7 SUBWAY LINE ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 22ND,

AT THE VERNON BLVD. SUBWAY STATION 
 
New York City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn, Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer and Assembly Member Catherine T. Nolan will stand with Community Board 2, small businesses, community organizations and residents to tell the MTA that closing down the 7 subway line for seven weekends is unacceptable, and the shuttle service provided as an alternative is completely inadequate.  The Speaker, Council Member and Assembly Member are calling on the MTA to provide express bus service though the tunnel to Grand Central and to shed light on the crippling affect these closures have on small businesses and commuters.
 
Please see the accompanying letter to Jay Walder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the MTA, urgently requesting a meeting to discuss shuttle alternatives and the introduction of a more comprehensive public awareness campaign to alert citizens to subway closures.
 
 
                        WHEN:           Friday, January 22nd, 7:30 a.m.
 
WHERE:        Vernon Blvd Subway Station on the 7 Subway Line
                        North East Corner of 50th Ave and Vernon Blvd.
                        Long Island City, NY 11106
 
WHO:             Speaker Christine C. Quinn, Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer, Assembly Member Catherine T. Nolan, Community Board 2, Small Business Owners and Community Organizations

The proposed dog run would be on 43rd Street and Laurel Hill Blvd., directly across the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (in area called the Spiral), Vargas said. The run would be split in two sections: one for small dogs (which would be 25 yards x 50 yards); and the other for larger breeds (25 yards x75 yards).

Vargas said that the proposal would need to be approved by Community Board 2 and the Park’s Dept. He is confident that both would give the plan the thumbs up and the dog run would be completed by spring 2010. However, he said, fencing would be required given its proximity to the BQE, which would cost approximately $2,000, of which 50% could come from Nolan’s office and the remainder from the new councilman’s office.

Vargas said that the dog run at Doughboy Park in Woodside (52nd Street, off Skillman Ave.) is likely to be closed, since residents have not been happy with the way it has been kept and want it to become part of the greater park again.

As for discussions for a dog run at Torsney Park (43rd and Skillman), he said he has not been involved in those, but doubts that it would happen–since it’s an actively used park. And councilman elect Jimmy Van Bramer, in a recent interview, said he was not going to advocate for changes to the park in the short term.

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/queens/2009/10/14/2009-10-14_poles_apart_on_club_outrage_over_planned_jiggle_joint_in_lic.html