Town hall meeting is all about issues
Public officials
discuss key topics as they prepare voters for the upcoming elections
Staten Island Advance - April 7, 2005
Staten Island officials met with the community and
covered a slew of issues last night —from traffic to NASCAR to the
proposed fourth police precinct — during a town hall meeting in the
College of Staten Island Willowbrook.
About 60 people attended the “Road to City Hall” program, which was
hosted by and broadcast live on New York 1, which gave Island
residents a chance to quiz officials on topics important to voters
in the upcoming citywide elections.
First up was the law-enforcement tandem of Police Commissioner
Raymond Kelly and District Attorney Daniel Donovan, who discussed:
crime and quality-of-life complaints on Staten Island, with their
focus on the fourth precinct.
“Clearly, if you look at the population, look at the demographic,
look at the projected growth, it calls for a new precinct,” said
Kelly. “That’s what the mayor is committed to doing.”
They were followed by Borough President James P. Molinaro and the
three Island
representatives on the City Council — Michael McMahon (D-North
Shore), James Oddo (R-Mid-Island/Brooklyn) and Andrew Lanza (R-South
Shore).
Mayor Michael Bloomberg, his run for re-election and his work for
Staten Island were debated, along with overdevelopment and NASCAR.
Oddo, who has been critical of the mayor’s administration, called
Bloomberg’s record on the Island incomplete, but Lanza quipped that
although he and his wife disagree at times, he’s still happily
married.
“This mayor is going to be re-elected and this Island is going to
lead the way,” Lanza said.
NASCAR received low marks from the audience. Molinaro noted that
while he is neither for nor against the project, it is his
responsibility to consider it. The councilmen, however, said that
NASCAR has not brought enough to Staten Island’s plate.
“NASCAR, we know Staten Island is good for you,” said McMahon. “Tell
us how you are good for Staten Island. So far, they have not done
that.”
Deputy Mayor Daniel Doctoroff also discussed NASCAR, as well as
Wal-Mart and the City University of New York (CUNY) system.
He was followed by the Education Department’s Michelle Fratti,
Region 7 superintendent, who talked about overcrowding of schools,
noting that “tremendous” building of homes is partially to blame.
“What has not matched that building of homes is building of
schools,” she said.
The final segment of the night involved state Sen. Diane Savino
(D-North Shore/Brooklyn), and Assemblymen John Lavelle (D-North
Shore), Matthew Mirones (R-East Shore/Brooklyn) and Vincent Ignizio
(R-South Shore).
Once again, NASCAR was the hot topic of discussion — and all four
were wary about the implications of a speedway for Staten Island.
Also under discussion was traffic and tolls, as well as the City
Council’s bill to increase ferry service, which passed over the
mayor’s veto. Bloomberg has threatened to fight the measure in
court.
“You can’t say you can build [the proposed West Side Stadium] but
you can’t find $5 million for Staten Islanders to get home at
night,” said Ms. Savino, who added that she’s a proponent of the
stadium project.
By
Rob Hart
Reprinted here with permission from the
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