Elections

Elections 2022: Senate District 34 Candidates Debate Climate, Crime, Budgeting & More

By EMILY SAWAKED & SÍLE MOLONEY
Your poll site may have changed. Check your voting card before you go to vote.   Voters still undecided about who to back in the 34th senatorial district Democratic primary were given the opportunity to gain more insight into the three candidates’ policies, when they took on issues ranging from climate to crime, and from budgeting to job development during a recent debate hosted by Schneps media. On Tuesday, July 26, Christian Amato, Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez (A.D. 80), and John Perez answered questions posed both by the two moderators, Jane Hanson and Stephen Witt, and by each other in preparation for


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UPDATE Elections 2022: Dinowitz Alleges Gustavo Rivera Does Not Live in S.D. 33 in Newsletter to Constituents

By SÍLE MOLONEY
  Your poll site may have changed. Check your voting card before you go to vote.   In the latest twist in the upcoming Democratic primary race for State Senate District 33, just two days before early voting kicked off on Aug. 13, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz (A.D. 81) alleged that State Sen. Gustavo Rivera does not live in State Senate District 33, the district which the senator currently represents, and for which he is currently campaigning to represent as redrawn Senate District 33.   All redrawn districts will become effective on Jan. 1, 2023.   In his weekly newsletter, “Dinowitz


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Elections 2022: Christian Amato on Education, the Environment and Quality-of-Life

By EMILY SAWAKED
  Your poll site may have changed. Check your voting card before you go to vote.   The son of Italian immigrants and former theatre professional, Christian Amato is a candidate for State Senate District 34, covering parts of both the East Bronx and Westchester county, in this year’s Democratic primary. He began his campaign in February and said he is eager to continue to serve the people of The Bronx.   Amato’s political career first started with organizing in response to Trump’s election. “I got my start organizing, connecting immigrant Bronxites to DACA initiatives,” he said. “As the son


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Elections 2022: John Perez on Family, Training & the Environment

By EMILY SAWAKED
Your poll site may have changed. Check your voting card before you go to vote.   A U.S. army veteran, single father, and Democratic candidate for Senate District 34, which covers parts of The Bronx and Westchester counties, John Perez has run unsuccessfully for elected office in the past. He is one of three candidates in the race to succeed State Sen. Alessandra Biaggi who is running for Congress in District 17. Having lived a long and experienced life, Perez said he is eager to serve his district and the rest of the State.   His motivation to begin another


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NYC CFB: Voter Guide Available for Primary Elections Scheduled for Aug. 23

By SÍLE MOLONEY
The NYC Campaign Finance Board (CFB) has released the official Voter Guide for the August 2022 primary elections that are scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 23. The guide is available online at NYCVotes.org and allows voters to look up the candidates on their ballot. Early voting for some primary elections starts on Saturday, Aug. 13, and Election Day is Tuesday, Aug 23.   Voters can look up the candidates on their ballot for U.S. House of Representatives and State Senate. In The Bronx, the following races will be held: Congress 16 (Democratic primary) Congress 14 (Republican primary) Senate 33 (Democratic primary) Senate 34


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NYC Districting Commission to Hold More Hearings & Educational Seminar on Racial Bloc Voting Analysis

By SÍLE MOLONEY
New York City Districting Commission has announced a series of additional hearing dates for when the City’s residents can further testify on the latest draft city council district maps released by the commission on July 15. The commission is due to vote on the final council maps on Sept. 22.   The upcoming hearing dates are as follows: Tues., Aug. 16, 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Museum of the Moving Image, Sumner Redstone Theater, 36-01 35 Ave Astoria, Queens 11106 Wed., Aug. 17, 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Lehman College (CUNY), Gillet Auditorium, 250 Bedford Park Blvd


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Rivera and Camilo Face Off in Debate ahead of Aug. 23 Senate District 33 Democratic Primary

By EMILY SAWAKED & SÍLE MOLONEY
  The following is a slightly extended version of the story that appears in our latest print edition.   The recent State and congressional redistricting process has been confusing to put it mildly, but it has had one benefit. Because the State senate and congressional primary elections have been delayed to Aug. 23, it means voters have had more time to get to know the candidates aiming to represent them in 2023.   On Monday, July 25, Schneps Media hosted a debate between the two Democratic candidates running for the “new” State senate district 33 seat. They are incumbent progressive State


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City Council Lodges Appeal to Court Decision that Stops Non-Citizens from Voting in Municipal Elections

By SÍLE MOLONEY
New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams issued a statement on Friday, July 22, on the City’s file of appeal to the New York State Supreme Court ruling overturning the 2021 municipal voting law for non-citizens. On Friday, the City of New York filed a notice of appeal indicating its intention to fight the Richmond County judge’s ruling last month invalidating Local Law 11 of 2022. According to the City Council, members said they believe the judge erred in finding that the law was inconsistent with the State constitution, election law, and the municipal home rule law, and they are


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UPDATE NYC Districting Commission Releases Proposed City Council District Maps

By SÍLE MOLONEY
New York City Districting Commission released on Friday, July 15, the first draft proposals of the 51 redrawn city council districts, further to a series of initial hearings held across the City in recent weeks. The new draft proposed maps can be reviewed here. The latest Bronx hearing held at Hostos Community College can be watched here.   The Commission is responsible for drawing 51 new City Council maps based on the results of 2020 Census, which saw New York City grow by 629,000 since 2010 to reach a total population of 8.8 million in 2020. To reflect this increase,


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