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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