By Michael V. Cusenza

The National Pediatric Center in Corona last week hosted the first in a series of summer family health fairs.

Hundreds gathered on Thursday at Corona Plaza on Roosevelt Avenue for the free event which, according to organizers, aims to address chronic medical issues affecting low-income and immigrant communities throughout the borough.

“The series of health fairs we are launching today is an important step toward improving health literacy and promoting healthy behaviors for the communities we serve,” said Moisés Pérez-Martínez, director of Workforce, Community & Government Relations for Advocate Community Providers – one of 25 Performing Provider Systems in the state’s Delivery Reform Incentive Payment program to transform New York’s Medicaid system.

The goals of the Delivery Reform Incentive Payment program, according to ACP, include reducing “avoidable hospitalizations,” and ensuring that patients and their families with Medicaid switch to a community-based care system that emphasizes preventative care over reliance on the emergency room.

The fair featured wellness-focused activities and seminars, including a pop-up shop run by Get Focused, an organizations that empowers students to “purchase” books by completing fitness challenges guided by certified trainers. Additional features included informational pamphlets on Zika virus, which is prevalent in Latino communities; seminars on asthma management and healthy eating; as well as fun activities for parents and children. National Pediatric Center also staffed free body mass index and blood pressure stations throughout the four-hour event.

Fair organizers indicated that Thursday’s event and the continued series will encourage families to develop healthy behaviors necessary for improving community well-being.

michael@theforumnewsgroup.com

Responding to numerous complaints from local senior citizens over unexpected phone bill increases from recertifying with the Lifeline discount phone service program, Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder (D – Howard Beach) called on the Federal Communications Commission to reform the program’s broken recertification process. Goldfeder also urged the agency to work with the New York State Public Service Commission to improve coordination between the federal government and utilities providing the service in the state.

The Lifeline program provides discounts on phone service to qualifying low-income consumers. Since 2005, the program has provided recipients with discounts to pre-paid wireless service plans in addition to traditional landline service. To participate in the program, consumers must either have an income that is at or below 135% of the federal Poverty Guidelines; or participate in assistance programs, such as Medicaid, Food Stamps, Supplemental Security Income, and Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, among others.

“In southern Queens and Rockaway we have one of the largest senior populations in the entire city. Providing our seniors with affordable reliable phone service can mean the difference between life and death in an emergency,” said Goldfeder. “That’s why I’m calling on the FCC to fix the broken Lifeline program and ensure it lives up to its name for our families.”

In a letter to FCC Chair Tom Wheeler, Goldfeder called on the Commission to simplify the recertification program and improve efforts to notify applicants of their current status. According to the letter, many senior citizens enrolled in the program have seen their phone bills increase dramatically after being de-certified without warning.  Goldfeder also requested application instructions and recertification notices be made available in multiple languages, citing large Russian and Italian-speaking populations in southern Queens and Rockaway.

According to multiple senior centers contacted by Goldfeder’s office, seniors and their social workers must apply several times for their clients. Many applicants are often not properly notified when applications are submitted incomplete, leaving seniors to find they have been de-certified only after their monthly phone bills have increased, the centers contend. This has caused considerable hardship for many local seniors on fixed incomes.

By Forum Staff

The September 13 special election to be held to replace former Congressman Anthony Weiner is, according to former New York City Mayor Ed Koch, something very special indeed. Koch, a Democrat, was in Howard Beach on Monday to formally endorse Republican candidate Bob Turner in the contest against Democrat David Weprin. And if the political veteran has his way, this local race could turn out to be a major factor in shaping national foreign policy.

Koch’s feverous crusade began in May when President Barack Obama called on Israel to return to its pre-1967 borders.  Many Jewish voters were angered by the proposal and for Koch it was the “last straw.” Now he is channeling his anger into a push for national referendum against Obama’s policies toward Israel and is seeking to make a referendum on Obama’s policy on Israel for the 9^th Congressional district.

“I want to send a strong message,” Koch said Monday at a press conference at Turner Campaign headquarters. “There is no better opportunity in this country for voters to send a message to the President than in this election,” Koch said.

He referenced the victory of Republican Scott Brown in the race to replace Sen. Ted Kennedy, in what he referred to as “one of the bluest seats of all time,” and the enormous impact that had in Washington. “If David Weprin is elected do you think anyone in Washington is going to say, Oh my God. David Weprin won, we better get into shape?  No,” continued Koch. “But if Bob Turner is elected, it means something.” A swing in the staunch Democratic voting block would clearly express distaste for foreign policy at the local level in the largest Jewish constituency in the nation.

But it wasn’t foreign policy alone that contributed to the decision for Koch to back Turner over Weprin. In a statement, he details the reason for the endorsement, saying that Turner called him to express agreement on other important issues. “Bob Turner…called to tell me that he agreed with my views on the four issues raised by me: Israel, Medicare, Social Security and Medicaid—and would like to wage a campaign in this district that would send a message to both parties.”

Still, despite endorsing the GOP candidate, Koch’s strong criticism of Obama was accompanied by serious scolding of the Republican leadership—“It’s the Republican position to privatize. They want to end the three entitlement programs—Medicare, Social Security and Medicaid. I am outraged. They [Republican leadership] should be ashamed of themselves,” said Koch.

There is much speculation whether Koch’s logic will pan out. Some say that the snag in the plan arises from the fact that Weprin is as staunch a critic of Obama’s policy on Israel as is Turner, and that he is a supporter of entitlement programs. But Koch maintains that Weprin could not be an effective messenger. “His election would be viewed by President Obama as simply that of another Democrat elected to office in what is the largest Jewish constituency in the nation and acceptive of the President non-withstanding criticism of his positions.”

When asked about his relationship with David Weprin, Koch who has known his fellow Democrat for years, said, “I know David will never forgive me, but I can’t help it. I’ve done what I’ve done. I hope the voters of the 9^th Congressional District will use this once in a lifetime opportunity to elect Bob Turner and make Washington answer to them.”

Following the endorsement, the Weprin campaign issued the following statement:  “Extremist Republican Bob Turner’s radical plan to slash federal spending by 35 percent will destroy Medicare, social security, and our ability to provide foreign aid to allies like Israel.  Voters won’t endorse that. Today, Americans watched the Washington Republicans walk away from negotiations and play chicken with our economy. In contrast, David Weprin closed multi-billion budget deficits as chair of the NYC Council Finance Committee. With more than 20 years of private sector experience in public finance, he understands what it takes to get our economy moving again.”

Some Queens political insiders say Koch might have struck a chord that could shape the course of political history “There is no doubt this endorsement raises Bob’s profile. If the Dems and independents cross the line, then it could easily represent a margin of victory,” said Queens County Conservative Party Chair Tom Long.

Also in attendance was Republican State Committeewoman Jane Deacy, herself a candidate in the September 13^th election in the contest for State Assembly against Phillip Goldfedder. “I think Ed Koch’s endorsement will have great impact on the Turner campaign. If it gets the attention of angry voters, especially in the Jewish community, it could put Bob over the top.” She said it would be a coup for the entire district to see the voters say “no way” to Washington.

Turner described Koch’s endorsement as humbling, and said that although he and Koch do not agree on every issue, the social programs are not an area that is open to compromise. “These programs belong to the people of this county and they must be preserved and protected at all costs. There are only two words to describe privatization—No Way,” said Turner.

Turner said that the endorsement could prove to be the critical factor in appealing to the Democratic and independent voters he needs to carry him over the top. “I hope we will do a little better than last time,” Turner said with a smile. “Just about 11% better.” In 2010 Turner  captured 40% of the vote against Weiner.

The press conference also provided Koch with the opportunity to check in on the last Republican he endorsed from the area, City Councilman Eric Ulrich.  The two exchanged handshakes and hugs. “The fact that Mayor Koch is standing behind Bob Turner is something that people will surely take notice of,” said Ulrich. “His endorsement is a reason for Democrats and independents to read into what is really happening in this race and for them to recognize that this is a chance to make a difference in their futures.”

Republicans are outnumbered in the district by about three to one and consensus among political analysts is that Turner will definitely have to demonstrate some resistance to his own party in order to gain the support of independents.

“I have hope and faith that the people of the 9^th Congressional District will rise to the occasion and opportunity presented to them,” Koch said. “We will soon see. September 13^th is almost upon us.

by Patricia Adams

A day after Republican candidate, Bob Turner, scored a major endorsement from former Mayor Ed Koch [see page 4], Weprin criticized current GOP policies, specifically the Republican plan to cut government spending and increase the debt limit ceiling without raising taxes on the rich.

“What the Republicans in Congress are doing is shameful,” Weprin said. “They want to reduce the deficit on the backs of seniors, children and the working class.”

According to Weprin, House Speaker John Boehner’s (R-Ohio) proposal, known as the Cut/Cap/Balance plan, would increase out-of-pocket Medicare expenses, slash Social Security benefits by as much as $3,000 per year, and eliminate Medicare, Medicaid and other health care coverage for hundreds of thousands of residents.

Weprin admonished the plan while visiting seniors at the Forest Hills Self Help Austin Street Senior Center on Tuesday.

“As someone who has spent more than 20 years working in public finance and eight years as Chair of the New York City Council Finance Committee, I know how to balance budgets and multi-billion dollar deficits. Destroying Medicare and Social Security isn’t the way to do it,” Weprin said.

Joining Weprin on Tuesday were several Democratic colleagues who pledged their support for his candidacy.

“Medicare and Social Security are the backbone of the American middle class,” said Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi (D-Forest Hills). “I am supporting David Weprin for Congress because he understands just how important these vital programs are for our seniors.”

City Councilwoman Karen Koslowitz (D-Forest Hills) also spoke about the importance of these social services for Queens seniors. “The Republicans in Congress want to privatize and cut Social Security. Not only can we not afford to cut Social Security, but we need to give seniors cost of living increases which we have not had in two years,” Koslowitz said. “David Weprin will fight for the seniors who call Queens home.”

As Weprin was campaigning with seniors, the Turner campaign was firing shots of its own. Calling Weprin a “career politician,” Turner’s campaign noted that Weprin has run for five political offices in the last two years.

“David Weprin is the living, breathing, walking and talking definition of a career politician,” William O’Reilly, a campaign spokesman for Turner, said in a statement. O’Reilly said career politicians have destroyed Washington D.C., and stated, “It’s time to send a regular citizen and businessman to Congress.”

by Eric Yun