It certainly has been one of the most difficult years in recent human history. Naturally, said year is set to get even more arduous as 2020 is the stage for all-important elections.
As usual, The Forum will only comment on races that will directly affect its readers. Whether you agree or not—please vote.
As the Greek philosopher Aristotle said, “If liberty and equality, as is thought by some, are chiefly to be found in democracy, they will be best attained when all persons alike share in the government to the utmost.”
With that said, here are your 2020 Forum Endorsements:
Queens Borough President
While Sharon Lee has done a remarkable job as interim borough president since Melinda Katz departed Borough Hall for the Queens District Attorney’s Office in January, she is not on the ballot.
But Joann Ariola is.
If the name sounds familiar, that’s because you’ve seen it in nearly every edition of The Forum as a tireless champion of Howard Beach. As long-time president of the Howard Beach Lindenwood Civic, Ariola has spearheaded countless coupon drives, food donations, and some of the most important monthly community meetings you’ll ever attend.
The two pillars of Ariola’s platform that most appeal to us are her endless support for law enforcement and her vow to never stop fighting against Mayor Bill de Blasio’s agenda.
“Queens residents are fed up with his incompetence and ridiculous policies,” reads an Ariola mailer—and as proud borough residents we couldn’t agree more.
Vote Joann Ariola for Queens Borough President.
State Senate District 15 and Assembly District 23
As the old adage goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it…”
That’s what comes to mind when we think of State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Howard Beach) and Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato (D-Howard Beach). Both are indefatigable leaders that eschew publicity in favor of getting results. We know Joe and Stacey and appreciate both of them and their unflagging representation of South Queens communities.
For example, this is how Pheffer Amato recently stood up for her district while delivering testimony that addressed the MTA’s latest plans to cut resident rebate programs (such as the Rockaway Resident Rebate for the Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge) to make up for their budget deficit, and to call on the federal government to provide relief to the financially struggling authority due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Let me be clear, the Rockaway Resident Rebate cannot be cut or eliminated under any circumstance. No way, no how,” Pheffer Amato said.
Vote for Addabbo in State Senate District 15; vote for Pheffer Amato in Assembly District 23.
File Photos
