Candidates News

by Paul King, Candidate for Congress

America is a land of heroes. Not superheroes with capes, but everyday heroes who build better lives for their families through education, faith, community, and hard work.  They are the living testament to the American Dream. That Dream will become extinct if progressives/socialists continue to have their way.

Throughout my life, I’ve been schooled in the American Dream – one of the great American traditions. My maternal grandfather arrived from Italy as a 10-year-old, was placed in an orphanage, and yet eventually started his own business and bought his own home. My father grew up on Relief during the Depression. After decades of hard work, he moved his family to Rockaway where he bought his own home, sent his three children to college, and became a civic leader. Most of my friends’ parents were working-class or blue-collar people working hard to pursue their American Dream.  They were our heroes.

Read moreLeave a comment

by Stefano Forte

I grew up in New York’s golden age during the prosperous Giuliani era when crime was low, quality of life was high, and we all felt secure walking the streets of our great city at any hour of the day. Our businesses were thriving. Education was a priority. The city I enjoyed and loved was safe and prosperous. Being raised in an immigrant family of small business owners who worked their way up the socioeconomic ladder with their sweat, blood, and tears, I truly believed that the promise of the American Dream was well within our grasp. 

Now, in a very short time, everything has changed. Disastrous policies have led us to disastrous places: our small businesses are shutting their doors for good, the quality of our education has plummeted, and, most concerningly, non-violent and violent crime alike have shot to record highs. What caused this? Many of us already know the answer, and it’s obvious: electing the same kind of radical (or simply complacent) career politicians over and over again has emboldened them to create policies that are decimating the city we all love. The Bail Elimination Act, passed through the budget in 2019, has allowed all manner of “non-violent” criminals to be freed ahead of their court date without posting bail. This could’ve been a just concept, and it was in theory – rich people and poor people should not have different advantages under the criminal justice system simply because of economic status. But as we all know, this theory became an almost immediate disaster when put into practice. By stripping judges of their discretionary abilities, there is now no way to keep potential re-offenders in custody ahead of their court date. The result has been the categorical catch-and-release of criminals that has led to such tragedies as the recent violent assault of a toddler in Flushing, or the shoving death of Michelle Go in Times Square. Both of those offenders, like many others, had committed prior offenses and should not have been walking the streets of our city. 

Read moreLeave a comment

By Seth “Stavros” Breland
Candidate for NYS Assembly District 25

Born and raised in Northeast, Queens, I have a love for my community, and I am proud of all it provides for its residents. Because of this pride, I want to fight for my neighbors and make certain Northeast Queens continues to flourish in all aspects; educationally, economically, and socially.  For this reason, I am proud to run for the New York State Assembly to represent the people of District 25.

I am no stranger to public service. For six years, I served on the Community District Education Council 26 and became the student representative during the 2019-2020 school year.  I visited classrooms across the area and elevated student, teacher, and family concerns to the council. In addition, I served on the Queens Borough Student Advisory Council and represented North Queens on the NYC Department of Education Chancellor’s Student Advisory Council. In 2018, I was appointed to be a United States Senate Page.  My close work with all 100 U.S. Senators afforded me a wonderful experience and opportunity to assist in the day-to-day operations of the United States Senate.

Of course, I am aware that to truly serve my community, I need to be a part of it.  I am a long-time tennis player and have been perfecting my game with a city organization since I was six years old. As the years passed, I progressed from player to volunteer coach.  I was given the privilege to work with wonderful city youth, an experience that will always be dear to my heart.

This campaign will truly be a community campaign. We will encourage residents that have felt alienated and frustrated with our current elected and the corruption in our city and our state to join our movement. The incumbent, Ed Braunstein, voted for bail reform, voted for congestion pricing, and is part of that corrupt political machine. Mr. Braunstein promises his constituents one thing and then votes another way. He is beholden only to special interests and party leaders, NOT to the people he serves. Mr. Braunstein’s actions have led to unsafe streets, higher living costs, and an attack on our way of life in Eastern Queens. It is politicians like him, that made me leave the Democrat party. No longer could I sit idly by as the Democrat party was pulled left and passed legislation that has made life harder for every New Yorker.  Too many people have left our schools, our city, and our state. It is time we fight for the soul of the city, for the soul of the state and we reverse the damage already done.

My campaign will be history-making in more than one way. Not only will I be one of the youngest people to ever be elected to the state legislature in history, but I’ll be the first Greek American and Puerto Rican American to represent this area. I am ready to take on this fight on behalf of this district. I am ready to take up the mantle of leadership to be that local leader who is responsive to his community, who is in his community, and who knows his community.  Yes, I am young, but with my youth comes energy and commitment to the goals of this campaign. I will be a tireless advocate, addressing the important issues that continue to plague our home.

We will win and the only way we will win is if we are united in strength. I can’t do this without you.  I am fighting to return power back to the people.