By Howard Koplowitz
City Councilman James Gennaro (D-Fresh Meadows) contended the city would benefit if he were elected to replace state Sen. Frank Padavan (R-Bellerose) because its interests are not looked after by the 90 percent of Senate Republicans who come from outside its borders.
During a candidate forum hosted by eight civic organizations – Bellerose Commonwealth Civic Association, Bellerose Hillside Civic Association, Creedmoor Civic Association, Glen Oaks Village Owners Association, Lost Community Civic Association, North Bellerose Civic Association, Queens Colony Civic Association and Rocky Hill Civic Association – last Thursday night at MS 172 in Floral Park, Gennaro claimed the one-seat majority held by Republicans was the reason the city was getting shortchanged on school funding.
But Padavan, who has been in office since 1972, countered that it was important for his party to retain control of the state Senate because the state has a Democratic governor and the state Assembly has a Democratic majority.
“My friends, you need checks and balances in government,” he said.
In response to a question from the forum's moderator, TimesLedger Publisher Steven Blank, Gennaro said Republicans were “the seed of Albany dysfunction.”
“They're more interested in hanging onto power than doing the people's business,” he said, calling the Senate “a body that is hanging on past its time.”
Padavan said the Brennan Center for Justice study that found Albany to be the most dysfunctional state legislature was unfair because it compared New York to other states with less complex budgets.
Still, the senator said the state has increased its transparency by making video of committee meetings available on the Internet. He said the Senate also banned gifts from lobbyists.
Padavan also noted that he chairs the Senate task force on legislative reform.
In his introduction to the audience, Gennaro said he has been a councilman for seven years, working on environmental issues as chairman of the Council's Environmental Protection Committee.
He said he worked on protecting the city's water supply and secured $300 million to protect areas around the city's watershed upstate.
On overdevelopment, Gennaro said he had completed more downzonings than any other Queens councilman.
But one question from an audience member, presented by Blank, asked Gennaro to explain how he could be a champion of curtailing overdevelopment if he takes contributions from developers.
“If I was a friend of developers, why would I put through more downzonings than anyone in Queens?” Gennaro asked.
The councilman said money he receives from developers was a “red herring” because developers also contribute to Senate Republicans.
“Everyone in office gets money from developers,” he said.
Turning to the economy, Padavan said eliminating Medicaid fraud was one way to cut costs.
Citing a report from the state comptroller, the senator said there are 30,000 people on Medicaid with the state who no longer live in New York.
“They're stealing from us,” he said, noting each individual costs the state $3,000 a year.
Padavan was optimistic that the ongoing financial crisis will be resolved, noting that he was first elected when the city's finances were in turmoil.
“We'll work our way out of this as well,” he said.
Gennaro said investing in a “green economy” would help the state collect revenues, noting that he has had discussions with “solar industry leaders.”
Padavan and Gennaro were two out of six candidates who spoke at the forum that have opponents in their races.
State Assemblywoman Ann-Margaret Carrozza (D-Bayside), who is being challenged by Republican Rob Speranza, a retired police officer, said her elder law practice shapes her priorities in Albany.
“I think that that experience and practice definitely influence my legislative interactions,” she said, citing a 1997 law she authored that allowed physicians to donate their time to help those without health insurance.
Carrozza also said she sponsored a long-term care insurance disclosure bill that became law.
The 12-year assemblywoman said she created the Valentines for Veterans program in her district, where students send valentines, clothing and gifts to veterans on Valentine's Day.
“I really believe I have brought creativity to this position,” she said, noting that she also started a program for low-income women to borrow clothes for job interviews.
When asked where she stands on earmarks, Carrozza defended the practice.
“I'm sorry that that term has become a pejorative,” she said, because legislators are in “a unique position” to identify a struggling senior program or other groups that need state aid. “I think they're invaluable for Little Leagues, for senior centers,” she said.
But she also suggested reducing the overall amount the state doles out in earmarks, or so-called member items.
The economy, Carrozza said, was the most important issue in her district.
“I don't think we have a true idea of what's ahead,” she said.
Carrozza cautioned that Albany should not have a knee-jerk reaction to the crisis by cutting elderly health programs, Medicaid or hurt small businesses.
Speranza said government waste was the centerpiece of his campaign. He suggested the state cut spending instead of raising taxes in dealing with the economy.
“Raising taxes to pay for more waste is not the answer,” he said.
But when Blank asked him to estimate how much waste their is in government, Speranza could not answer.
“Can't put a price on it,” he said.
Liz Berney, a Republican challenging U.S. Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-Bayside), said she disagreed with Ackerman's policies, claiming Ackerman promotes sending aid to the Palestinian Authority – a group she said advocated killing Americans and Jews.
Ackerman, who is Jewish, was not able to respond to Berney's claims because he was in Washington dealing with the financial crisis. A representative from his office spoke on his behalf at the forum.
Reach reporter Howard Koplowitz by e-mail at hkoplowitz@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 173.
