Sincerely,

Kevin

Schumer: ‘An American citizen has won’ the marathon.

‘And another great American citizen is going to win this race.’

U.S. Senator Charles Schumer, Democratic City Comptroller Nominee John Liu and just about every other elected official in Northeast Queens led a large, boisterous rally for Democratic City Council candidate Kevin Kim at the Bay Terrace Shopping Center on the last Sunday before Election Day.

The event was held in memory of Al Cahn, a longtime community and Democratic activist who passed away this week at the age of 96. The tireless Cahn has inspired countless fellow Democrats in the area, collecting as many as 1,500 petition signatures himself just last year. A moment of silence preceded the rally.

The rally, which drew about 100 Kim supporters, also attracted a small band of extreme right-wing protestors supporting Republican opponent Dan Halloran, with signs reading “Don’t Tread on Me” and “You Lie,” the latter quoting the recent incident in which South Carolina Congressman Joe Wilson triggered bipartisan outrage across the country by shouting the phrase at President Obama. The protestors also shouted at the Kim supporters, one calling them “Communists” and “Socialists” like “Barack Hussein Obama” and another screaming “Don’t take away our freedom.”

The rally speakers dismissed the protestors as coming from the same fringe circles that have fueled the national anti-government “tea party” movement.

Besides Senator Schumer and Councilman Liu, attending the rally were: Assembly Members Rory Lancman, Mark Weprin, Ann-Margaret Carrozza, Grace Meng and Michael Gianaris; City Council Members David Weprin and Jim Gennaro; former Council District 19 candidate Steve Behar; District Leader and Queens County Young Democrats President Costa Constantinides; District Leaders John and Mary Ann Dorsa; members of CWA Local 1180, St. John’s College Democrats, the Michel Regular Democratic Club of College Point, the Jefferson Democratic Club and the Saul Weprin Democratic Club; representatives from City Council Speaker Christine Quinn’s office; community leaders Pauline Chu, Yonghwa Ha, Barbara Leonardi, Dilip Chauhan, Michael Tkach and David Fischer; and many local volunteers and supporters.

The New York League of Humane Voters, the state’s largest and most influential animal rights group with an active membership in Northeast Queens, has endorsed City Council District 19 candidate Kevin Kim for tomorrow’s election.

“The New York League of Humane Voters is proud to support Kevin Kim for his candidacy for City Council,” said NYLHV Executive Director John Phillips. “While his opponent has troubling associations with the mistreatment of animals, Kevin has given us the confidence that he will do everything he can to defend animal rights. We wholeheartedly support him.”

“The League of Humane Voters’ tradition of compassionate, principled advocacy is one that I’m proud to have behind me,” Kim said.

Kim is currently the Deputy Director of Community Affairs for Congressman Gary Ackerman (D-Queens/L.I.) and is running on a platform of improving education and preserving the low-density, clean and quiet residential character of Northeast Queens neighborhoods.

Kim is also endorsed by the United Federation of Teachers, Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, United Firefighters Association, the Citizens Union good government group and the Jewish Press newspaper.

Unlike his opponent, Kim has also been endorsed by many elected officials that he’d have to work with as a Council Member, like Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Borough President Helen Marshall, Congressman Gary Ackerman, Comptroller Nominee John Liu, Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, Senate President Malcolm Smith, and Assemblymembers Ann-Margaret Carrozza, Rory Lancman, Grace Meng, Nettie Mayersohn and Michael Gianaris. With those who haven’t endorsed Kim, the Democrat has pledged to work cooperatively in order to get the goals of the community achieved.

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Women’s organizations NARAL Pro-Choice NY and Planned Parenthood of NYC Action Fund, along with female elected officials and voters from Northeast Queens’ Council District 19, endorsed Kevin Kim in that heated race on Oct. 29. They also challenged Kim’s opponent, Dan Halloran, to disclose and be open about his positions on women’s reproductive rights before Election Day.

Halloran, running on the Republican, Conservative and Independence Party lines, has not responded to multiple requests by NARAL and Planned Parenthood to fill out their candidate questionnaires for this election, giving female voters no indication of his positions on reproductive rights and sending them the message that women’s health care rights don’t matter to him.

Kim, who just had a baby girl in August, fully supports age-appropriate and medically accurate access to health information in order to prevent unwanted pregnancies and the spread of disease; the protection of health clinic patients and workers from violence; the strictest penalties for domestic violence; and a woman’s right to make decisions about her body without government intervention.

“It’s unfortunate that my opponent wouldn’t give the women of Council District 19 the respect of responding to questionnaires from two organizations respected nationally for their unequivocal advocacy on behalf of women,” Kim said. “At the very least, this is a matter of general transparency and respect. I’m proud to be endorsed by the local committees of NARAL and Planned Parenthood, and am happy to be an unapologetic defender of women’s rights in public.”

Kelli Conlin, President of NARAL Pro-Choice NY said:

“The women of New York City deserve to know where their leaders stand. The women of New York City deserve leaders committed to protecting and enhancing their fundamental reproductive rights. The women of New York City deserve leaders who stand proudly pro-choice and are dedicating to the issues we care about — access to birth control and family planning regardless of economic status, comprehensive sexuality education in our schools, and the ability to make private and personal decisions without government interference.

“The women of New York City need Kevin Kim in the New York City Council.

“Kevin Kim is a 100% pro-choice leader who will be a critical and enthusiastic voice for the district he represents and the women he serves. NARAL Pro-Choice New York is proud to endorse Kevin Kim for New York City Council.”

Joan Malin, President and CEO of the Planned Parenthood of NYC Action Fund said:

“Planned Parenthood of New York City Action Fund is proud to endorse Kevin Kim for Council District 19. Kevin will be a strong ally in our work to protect and promote reproductive health in New York City. We want to make sure voters know exactly what they’re facing when they get to the ballot box, and Kevin is the 100 percent pro-choice candidate in the 19th District.”

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn said:

“It is of the utmost importance to me that all of New York’s women are represented by leaders who are vocal about their beliefs on women’s issues. We all deserve elected officials who support a woman’s right to choose. Kevin Kim is that leader in the 19th District and I am proud to support him for New York City Council.”

Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, Chair of the Women for Kevin Kim Committee, said:

“I’m voting for Kevin Kim because he cares about the things I care about: good schools, public safety, affordable health care. We know where Kevin stands on the issues. As a husband and the new father of a baby girl, Kevin is in a unique position to understand women’s rights. Voting for Kevin’s opponent is like buying a pig in a poke. You just don’t know where he stands.”

Borough President Helen Marshall said:

“I support women’s rights, I support NARAL’s position — women have a right to know where their leaders stand — and I support Kevin Kim for City Council.”

Assemblywoman Grace Meng said:

“As a woman, a wife, a mom and a daughter, it is important to me to know that Kevin will be a strong voice for women throughout New York City. I support Kevin because he is pro-women and pro-respect.”

District Leader Martha Taylor said:

“In a democracy, we have a right to our opinions and a responsibility to share them, especially if you’re a candidate for office. Apparently Mr. Halloran doesn’t want to let us know what his opinions are on women’s rights, rights that are crucial to us. How can anyone vote for him when we don’t know what his opinions are? What does Mr. Halloran have to hide?”

Former candidate for Council District 19 Debra Markell said:

“All candidates should fully disclose their positions on women’s issues. After discussions with Kevin Kim, I know he represents the true ideals of women’s values and will fight to preserve quality health care for all. He will work to protect women’s rights in the City Council.”

Kim is currently the Deputy Director of Community Affairs for Congressman Gary Ackerman (D-Queens/L.I.) and is running on a platform of improving education and preserving the low-density, clean and quiet residential character of Northeast Queens neighborhoods.

Council District 19 includes the Northeast Queens neighborhoods of Auburndale, Bayside, Bay Terrace, Beechhurst, College Point, Flushing North, Malba, Robinwood, Whitestone and parts of Douglaston and Little Neck.

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Northeast Queens City Council candidate Kevin Kim got a major shot in the arm this week with a glowing endorsement from an iconic statesman of New York and national politics, Governor Mario Cuomo, on Oct. 27.

Cuomo’s family lived and worked in Eastern Queens in neighborhoods adjacent to Council District 19. As such, he has an intimate understanding of the local needs of that part of New York City, particularly the preservation of its low-density, arboreal residential neighborhoods.

Noting that Kim has “common sense and benign pragmatism” and is “extremely intelligent,” Governor Cuomo said that Kim shares his approach that “I will give you all the government you need, but only the government you need.”

Governor Cuomo added: “He’s smart as hell, he’s good-looking… I’m glad that I’m able to be on his side and I identify myself as such and I look forward to enjoying his victories as they will come inevitably, and they will come, and they will come.”

Governor Cuomo also criticized racially divisive tactics being used by Republican Dan Halloran’s campaign through negative attack mailers. The mailers are trying to associate Kim with Downtown Flushing, a heavily Asian commercially-zoned area with subway access outside District 19.

Noting that he was the first Italian American governor for New York State, Cuomo said “The whole idea of diversity is a central American idea and a central American challenge… You should make a virtue of diversity. What people like the people who got in the paper this morning and people like the people who are trying to take a Korean, a young, intelligent, brilliant, well educated, potentially great political commodity, and say, ‘Look this guy’s Korean, he’s got a lot of Korean people, he’s got a lot of Asian people, and this and this and that, and trying to make a negative of it, that is the worst kind of politics. It’s the worst because it’s morally bad and it’s the worst because it doesn’t work for the welfare of the country.”

Kim is currently the Deputy Director of Community Affairs for Congressman Gary Ackerman (D-Queens/L.I.) and is running on a platform of improving education and preserving the low-density, clean and quiet residential character of Northeast Queens neighborhoods.

“Not only is Governor Cuomo one of the greatest statesmen and leaders that our country has ever produced and a trailblazer by becoming the first Italian American governor, but he’s also from the area and knows firsthand the unique residential character of Council District 19 and how much we need to preserve it.” Kim said. “I’m extremely honored and proud to have Governor Cuomo on my side.”

Kim is also endorsed by the United Federation of Teachers, Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, United Firefighters Association and the Citizens Union good government group.

Unlike his opponent, Kim has also been endorsed by many elected officials that he’d have to work with as a Council Member, like Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Borough President Marshall, Congressman Gary Ackerman, Comptroller Nominee Liu, Senator Stavisky, Senate President Malcolm Smith, City Council Nominee Weprin, and Assemblymembers Ann-Margaret Carrozza, Lancman, Gianaris, Nettie Mayersohn and Grace Meng. With those who haven’t endorsed Kim, the Democrat has pledged to work cooperatively in order to get the goals of the community achieved.

Council District 19 includes the Northeast Queens neighborhoods of Auburndale, Bayside, Bay Terrace, Beechhurst, College Point, Flushing North, Malba, Robinwood, Whitestone and parts of Douglaston and Little Neck.

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Many of Kim’s supporters — including Democratic City Comptroller Nominee John Liu, Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, Democratic City Council Nominees Mark Weprin and Daniel Dromm, Assemblymen Rory Lancman and Michael Gianaris and former Kim Primary Election opponent Debra Markell — gathered at Queens Borough Hall on Oct. 26 to express their outrage over Halloran’s divisive mail. Congressman Joseph Crowley and Borough President Helen Marshall sent representatives.

Halloran’s latest mail piece tries to amplify racial tension in the increasingly diverse district by creating an “us vs. them” dynamic and claiming that electing Kim, a Korean American, will turn the leafy neighborhoods of Northeast Queens into “Downtown Flushing.” On one side of the mailer, a picture of Kim is superimposed over a view of a congested commercial corner with many multilingual signs. On the other side, Halloran is pictured playing bocce ball in a leafy residential park, with statements like “I was born here. I grew up here.”

This piece and two others try to make the absurd claim that Kim is controlled by Asian commercial developers, who all want to destroy leafy residential neighborhoods. These claims are nothing but lies and prejudice by the Halloran campaign. In reality, less than one percent of Kim’s donors are from development or construction companies.

In a list that Halloran uses in two of his deceptive mailers, six Kim donors – all Asians — are described as “big developers and construction companies.”

Kim grew up in Bayside, lives in Bay Terrace, went to New York City public schools, got his J.D. from Columbia Law School and is the Deputy Director of Community Affairs for Congressman Gary Ackerman. He just had his first child, a daughter, here in August.

Kim is running on a platform focusing on improving local schools, improving public safety and – contrary to his opponent’s distortions – preserving the quiet and clean residential character of Council District 19 neighborhoods. He has been endorsed by the United Federation of Teachers, Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, United Firefighters Association and the Citizens Union good government group.

Unlike Halloran, Kim has also been endorsed by many elected officials that he’d have to work with as a Council Member, like Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Borough President Marshall, Congressman Gary Ackerman, Comptroller Nominee Liu, Senator Stavisky, Senate President Malcolm Smith, City Council Nominee Weprin, and Assemblymembers Ann-Margaret Carrozza, Lancman, Gianaris, Nettie Mayersohn and Grace Meng. With those who haven’t endorsed Kim, the Democrat has pledged to work cooperatively in order to get the goals of the community achieved.

“Everyone who lives here cares about the same things,” Kim said. “We all want good schools, we all want safe and clean streets, we all want convenient shopping and transportation, and we all want to live in nice neighborhoods that are not crowded and not overdeveloped. My message to Dan Halloran is, stop the divisive attacks and lies, let’s talk about what really matters to people and when this is over, let’s work together to accomplish these common goals we share.”

Congressman Joseph Crowley said:

“Our community is stronger because of our diversity and we will not stand by and let these hateful attacks go unchallenged. Voters see through this kind of pathetic, last-ditch effort to stir up trouble and will vote against anyone supporting these kinds of vile tactics. Kevin Kim is a true leader for Queens and I am proud to support him for City Council.”

Borough President Helen Marshall said:

“As someone who witnessed and participated in this country’s civil rights struggle since its early days and whose job it is to encourage everyone in Queens, America’s most diverse county, to work together, I’m deeply offended by the divisive distortions in Dan Halloran’s latest mailing. This only further demonstrates why Kevin Kim is the best candidate for City Council in Northeast Queens.”

City Councilman and Democratic Nominee for City Comptroller John Liu said:

“This is a worst kind of negative campaigning. This isn’t even an attack on a candidate, but an attack on an entire community, and is thus offensive to everybody. The best and most effective way to respond to this is to come out with a show of force — everybody must come out to vote on November 3rd.”

City Councilman and Democratic Nominee for Public Advocate Bill De Blasio said:

“Campaigns should be about bringing people together behind a common cause, not below the belt attacks designed to divide our communities. Kevin Kim represents a new vision for City Hall that will help create a better future for all New Yorkers. That is the type of leadership we need in the City Council.”

Senator Toby Ann Stavisky said:

“I live in the 19th Council District and I’m voting for Kevin Kim because he represents my values — support for schools, public safety and neighborhood preservation. I represent a community that cares about the quality of your character, not the color of your skin.”

Assemblywoman Ann-Margaret Carrozza said:

“Kevin Kim is my choice for City Council because he will stand up for working families, public schools and our seniors.”

Assemblywoman Grace Meng said:

“As an elected official representing Flushing, I am proud of the diverse neighborhood I represent. It is offensive that anyone would use a snapshot of the heart of my district as a scare tactic for their campaign. This further demonstrates why we need to elect someone like KEVIN KIM — someone who can bring neighborhoods and people together and not divide us. I am proud of Kevin’s candidacy — not because he is an Asian-American, but because he represents what Americans have overcome. We need to move forward, not backward.”

Assemblyman and Democratic Nominee for City Council Mark Weprin said:

“Kevin and I both grew up in Queens and are raising our families here. He has the same values I do for our schools and community.”

Assemblyman Rory Lancman, who represents Broadway-Flushing, Bowne Park, Station Road and parts of Auburndale in the 19th Councilmanic District, said:

“These are challenging times for New York City, and Northeast Queens needs Kevin Kim’s positive message of creating jobs, improving our schools and fighting over-development a heck of a lot more than it needs the tired Republican scare tactic of divide and conquer. The Republicans need to come up with a better message than ‘Don’t vote for the Asian guy.’”

Assemblyman Michael Gianaris, the first Greek American elected in New York, said:

“Pitting people against each other based on ethnicity is particularly despicable in a place like Queens that prides itself on the diversity of its residents. Dan Halloran owes the people of the 19th Council District an apology and an explanation why his shameful tactics should not disqualify him as a candidate. I am proud to support Kevin Kim because he stands for what is best about Queens: a place where one’s success is determined by his or her abilities, not by others’ prejudices.”

City Councilman James Gennaro said:

“As a member of the New York City Council, I’m disgusted that a candidate would use such scare tactics in a campaign in the most diverse county in America. Such tactics denigrate our political process, disrespect our residents and tear deeply into New York City’s wonderfully diverse social fabric. Any candidate who employs such tactics is, in my opinion, unfit to represent the residents of New York City. We need leaders like Kevin Kim who seek to build bridges between all communities.”

City Councilman David Weprin said:

“A campaign should be about the issues facing our communities; it should be about ideas of how to create jobs, educating our future children and providing access to affordable healthcare for everyone. It should be about painting a clear vision of how we move forward in the 21st century — not about how to move backwards into the 19th century, as Halloran likes it. Racial and ethnic attacks have no place in a campaign. It’s people like Halloran that threaten the future progress of this city and nation.”

District Leader and Queens County Young Democrats President Costa Constantinides said:

“Republican Dan Halloran’s latest attack mail represents the politics of the past and the worst of the political process. In last year’s historic election, voters rejected attempts to divide us by ethnic or racial identities. The young people of Northeast Queens still want to hear how we can come together to solve our problems, reach our goals and strive towards a bright future. I stand today with Kevin Kim and our other community leaders and elected officials to deplore Dan Halloran’s cynical attacks.”

Michael Tkach, President of the Michel Regular Democratic Club of College Point, said:

“Recently a mailing came to my house I found to be disturbing. Republican Dan Halloran’s campaign had put a picture of Democrat Kevin Kim’s face over a picture of Downtown Flushing. Kevin has never been involved with ANY of the build-up of Downtown Flushing. And to make it LOOK LIKE just because Kevin is Asian this is what might happen, is a new low for Dan Halloran.”

Former Council District 19 candidate and Democrats for New Politics President Steve Behar said:

“As a former candidate for this seat who focused on the issues, I find it appalling that Dan Halloran and the Republicans are using racial politics and not talking about the things that matter: our neighborhoods, our schools, the economy.”

Former Council Distrit 19 candidate Debra Markell said:

“As the Democratic nominee I believe that Kevin Kim will serve all of the diverse needs his constituents in the 19th Council District. I believe Kevin represents the true ideals of the Democratic Party, and will protect the values of our communities. He will support our schools, public safety and preserve our neighborhoods.”

Bay Terrace Community Leader Warren Schreiber said:

“It’s unfortunate that a platform of hate has been brought to Northeast Queens. The recent campaign literature put out by opponents of Kevin Kim is blatantly anti-Asian and contains racial stereotyping that I had hoped was a thing of the past. All of these lies are designed to create an atmosphere of fear. I have confidence that the enlightened voters of the 19th Council District will reject the feeble attempts of a few hate mongers.”

Two of New York’s leading statewide officials, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo and U.S. Senator Charles Schumer, endorsed Democrat Kevin Kim for City Council in Northeast Queens this week.

The prestigious endorsements follow those of all five of Kim’s former primary opponents, Steve Behar, Tom Cooke, Jerry Iannece, Debbie Markell and Paul Vallone. These endorsements demonstrate Kim’s ability to build consensus and work with others in government and politics.

“What impresses me most about Kevin are two things — he’s a hard worker and he’s practical,” said Senator Schumer. “Kevin Kim will be one of the rare public officials who measure success by what he actually accomplishes for our communities, not just by talking about it. Thirty-five years ago I was elected to the State Assembly and now I have the honor of serving all New Yorkers in the US Senate. In Kevin I recognize the same drive to serve that got me started.”

“Kevin is precisely the sort of person our communities need in city government,” Attorney General Cuomo said. “He’s committed to good government and transparency in decision making — two top priorities of mine — and has impressed me with his dedication to representing every neighborhood in the district.”

Kim, a new father and product of local schools who is focusing on education and overdevelopment, says that his relationships with the state’s and city’s most influential officials will benefit the residents of Council District 19.

“I’m humbled and honored by the support I’m getting from so many officials like Senator Schumer and Attorney General Cuomo, as well as the other candidates who ran in the recent primary with me,” Kim said. “It demonstrates the fact that when the people of Northeast Queens vote for me, they’re voting for someone who has the full confidence and cooperation of the partners who will help us improve our local schools and fight the kind of development that’s hurting our neighborhoods.”
Other local officials endorsing Kim are: Congressman Gary Ackerman, Senator Toby Stavisky, Assembly Members Ann-Margaret Carrozza, Rory Lancman, Grace Meng and Mark Weprin, and Council Member and City Comptroller Democratic Nominee John Liu,.

Council District 19 includes Auburndale, Bayside, Bay Terrace, Beechhurst, College Point, Flushing North, Malba, Robinwood, Whitestone and parts of Douglaston and Little Neck.