The Lindenwood Alliance billed its last meeting of the season as a Summer Shutdown and hosted a party for members at the Fairfield Arms. As part of their sendoff for vacation, the Alliance also gave the community an opportunity to meet and talk with the person whom many political insiders say will be the next borough president of Queens. Melinda Katz has emerged as the frontrunner in a contest populated by her and three men, all vying to replace Helen Marshal when term limits force her retirement at the end of the year.
Melinda Katz has a storied history in government and is seen by many as a representative for change that Queens Borough Hall is long overdue for. Patricia Adams/The Forum Newsgroup
Katz took the floor and first paid homage to Alliance founder and president, Joann Ariola, citing her work in public service at the government, civic and community levels over the last twenty years.
Katz also shared a profile of her own twenty years of service and experience beginning in the New York State Assembly where she began her first term in 1993. In 1999 she served as the Director of Community Boards under former borough president Claire Schulman. In 2002 she was elected to the New York City Council with her last term ending in 2009.
Katz took a break from politics and joined Greenberg Traurig, a law firm specializing in government affairs and land use and in 2012, she decided to make her return to the political set, announcing her candidacy in the race for BP.
Outlining her plans if she were elected, Katz said she would focus on making sure that Queens gets its fair share of resources from the city. “We have to be prepared to face a brand new administration with demands for the things that we need to keep Queens a viable and successful part of this city,” Katz said. “We have to be able to fight as one voice to make sure that the administration knows what is important to us and what we have to get enough money for.”
Education and hospitals are at the top of the priority list, because Katz says, schools and health care are “integral components of a thriving borough”.
Born and raised in Queens, her father founded the Queens Symphony orchestra in 1953 and her mother began the Queens Council on the Arts.
She lives in Forest Hills with her partner, Curtis Sliwa, and their two children ages 2 and 5.
The Lindenwood Alliance will hold its next meeting on Monday September 9.
By Patricia Adams
