By Dee Richard
Happy New Year, everyone! Have you all made your list of resolutions? I did. As old habits die hard, it is worth giving them a try, so let’s hope we manage to keep them throughout the New Year.
My particular priorities are to diet and exercise more, as well as spend less and save more. Those two seem to be the most common on everyone’s agenda. Good luck to all of us!
Don’t you wonder what resolutions if any, our esteemed electeds have made? I am referring to former state Assemblyman Alan Hevesi, former Gov. Eliot Spitzer, former City Councilmen Dennis Gallagher, former Assemblyman Brian McLaughlin, former state Sen. John Sabini and perhaps even Assemblyman Anthony Seminerio and Councilman Hiram Monserrate. What would make smart men do dumb things?
Believe it or not, but there are a few holiday parties our there. On Dec. 19, Chris Gravagna had a Christmas party for the employees of his “on demand” staff in his office in Long Island City. It was a big one, as he has over 90 employees. Chris, you and your staff are all first−class party animals, for sure! Thanks for inviting me. I had a great time.
On Dec. 22, the Continental Regular Democratic Club had its annual holiday party at the American Legion Hall on Metropolitan Avenue off of Ascan Avenue in Forest Hills. Lately, that hall has become quite a popular place for meetings and small parties. I guess it is because it is reasonable, clean, well−kept and convenient.
Some party−goers were District Leader Howard Pollack and Joyce Singerman, Karen Koslowitz, Elizabeth Crowley, Lynn Schulman, Barry Grodencheck, Kenneth Lloyd Brown and Danny Dromm.
The latest we have heard on the Padavanâ„Gennaro race is that on Dec. 24, the Appellate Term 2nd Department of the State Supreme Court ruled that the counting of about 1,750 ballots could proceed. This decision came close on the heels of the ruling of State Supreme Court Justice Kevin J. Kerrigan, who had also ruled that the paper ballots be counted.
There are political operatives on both sides of the fence who suggest Councilman James Gennaro should concede to state Sen. Frank Padavan, who holds the lead with about 580 votes. It is unlikely Gennaro could overtake those odds because paper ballots tend to follow the trend of votes cast in machines on Election Day. In order to beat those odds, Gennaro would have to win a disproportionately large number of those total votes.
Politics being what it is, no one wants to lose, hence the refusal to concede.
Finally, I wish you the happiest, healthiest and most prosperous new year. Happy 2009!
That’s it for this week.
I look forward to hearing from you with information on people, parties or politics or gossip.
I also like receiving your voice mail at 718−767−6484, faxes at 718−746−0066 and e−mail at deerrichard@aol.com.
Don’t forget to check out the “Focus on Queens” page.
Till next week, Dee.
