By Staff
Now that the East Bayside Homeowners Association Candidates Night is past, I write to indicate who I believe are the best choices for election in 2000. It should be noted that the following do not reflect any endorsements by the E. B. H. A. or any other group with which I am associated but are mine alone.
I have known Gary Ackerman for over 30 years, ever since the time he was a junior high school teacher, as I was. I worked with him on various issues since he became the congressman for the Bayside area. I do not agree with him on many issues — he's too liberal — but he has served this community well on local concerns such as about Fort Totten and the Postal Service and I strongly recommend he be returned to Washington to continue representing this area.
I have known Frank Padavan for over 25 years, ever since he first helped me set up the E. F. B. H. A. and worked with him on many community problems ever since. I do not agree with him either on many things — he's too conservative — but he has served this community very well, particularly on matters such as zoning issues and I strongly recommend he be reelected to continue this work.
I have known Ann Carrozza for only a few years, ever since she first became a candidate in 1996. During this time, however, she has similarly shown that she is an advocate for Bayside and its residents and even though I think all candidates should have an opponent, which she doesn't, she should be reelected.
With regard to the U.S. Senate, I think it's important that Mrs. Clinton is not held responsible for what her disgraced husband has done, but she has arrived in New York as a carpetbagger with her own heavy “baggage,” such as her bizarre efforts to overthrow the U.S. healthcare system in 1994, kissing Mrs. Arafat, stating her philandering husband was the “victim of a right-wing plot” and, just today, the Daily News reports she was given a plaque and $50,000 from a fund-raiser by people associated with terrorism. For these and similar actions, she should be returned to obscurity and New York should elect Rick Lazio senator.
As far as the president is concerned, I'm not yet sure, as neither Bush nor Gore is particularly appealing — nor probably as “bad” as the other might suggest. So, for what it's worth, I suggest others who are “undecided” consider Ralph Nader, Harry Bourner or one of the third-party candidates as a protest over the poor candidates of the Republicans and Democrats. Now Bill Bradley vs. John McCain that would have been an exciting election choice.
Frank Skala
Bayside