DANIEL DROMM, Democrat for City Council

Creating a Business Improvement District for 73rd & 74th Street

The merchants and businesses on 73rd and 74th Streets in Jackson Heights have created a commercially viable area. However, the current City Council Member has not effectively dealt with the quality of life challenges this has made for the larger community. As your city council representative, Daniel Dromm will work with local small business owners to create a formal organization made up of property owners and commercial tenants which is dedicated to promoting business development and improving the area’s quality of life. This Business Improvement District will deliver supplemental services such as increased sanitation and maintenance, public safety and visitor services, marketing and promotional programs, capital improvements, and beautification for the area. The time is now for the commercial property owners to take responsibility for these streets and work with the community. We need new leadership to bring the community together to meet the challenges we face. Daniel Dromm is ready to work on improving our community.

Labels: CommunityOrganizing, EconomicDevelopment

From Queens Courier:
by Claudia Cruz

From the tone of the first candidate forum, District 25 incumbent Councilmember Helen Sears has her work cut out for her.

“Here’s an example of walking the walk and talking the talk,” said challenger Daniel Dromm about Sears’ efforts to help the disabled community in the district. “Helen’s district office is not even handicap accessible.”

Dromm, a district leader in Jackson Heights, and fellow candidate Stanley Kalathara, a business owner, lawyer, and president of Indo-American Democratic Committee, did not mince words when describing Sears’ work in the district for the last eight years.

Sears, who has represented parts of Jackson Heights, Elmhurst, East Elmhurst, Rego Park, Woodside, and Corona, spent more time defending her record on issues such as the local economy, education, crime, youth and recreation, and Con Ed, among others, than talking about her goals if re-elected.

Sears pointed to her years on the transportation committee in the City Council and how she helped get medallion taxis to become wheelchair accessible. She highlighted her continuous battle for a ramp at the Jackson Heights Post Office and the success of getting an elevator in the 74th Street/Roosevelt subway station.

“It took 15 years to get an elevator in there,” she said. “It works and it doesn’t, but it’s better than what we had.”

Dromm pointed to his history of standing up for special education students and working with the 82nd Street Business Improvement District to get ramps in front of stores. Stanley Kalathara said concisely, “I agree with both and I’ll do a better job.”

The friendly banter between the three out of five candidates – Alfonso Quiroz and Mujib Rahman did not attend – kept the approximately 50 intergenerational and international crowd engaged. Assemblymember Jose Peralta, who publicly endorsed Dromm this past March, yielded his time to audience questions.

“What are you going to do about getting a high school in the district?” asked one person. “Would you vote for resolution 245 that grants the right to vote for non-citizens?” asked another. “Why did you vote against the lead paint resolution?”

More than once Sears found herself on her own. She said that Ivan Lafayette had led the charge for a new high school but that “geographically we’ve got no space.” Kalathara responded that Sears was “always shifting responsibility,” and Dromm said that it was important to be creative like building up or consider eminent domain.

Both Kalathara and Dromm favor the passage of resolution 245. Sears responded, “I’m here to tell you that I’m not sure where I’m on this. I haven’t given it much consideration.”

A heated debated ensued over Sears’ vote against the lead poisoning bill of 2004.

“Yes, I was one of the few who voted against and I’ll tell you the same thing I said then ‘It’s absurd that I’d want lead in children,’” said Sears, who said the city has targeted areas where incidents of lead poisoning was high versus applying the law to the entire city. She instead favored a law that would ban the importing toys from countries with no lead bill. “The fact is that it was a very bad bill.”

Dromm and Kalathara agreed that Sears had not done enough. “You see, this is what politicians do, politics as usual. Just give an answer, did you support or not support,” said Kalathara. “I don’t really think you focus on the community.”

After the forum, the feedback from the crowd was consistent.

One 30-year resident of Jackson Heights, who did not want to give her name, said that Kalathara was funny and that despite voting for Sears in the past, this year she’ll vote for Dromm.

Labels: CommunityOrganizing, Debate, Press

From Queens Chronicle:
by Willow Belden

Three of the five Democratic candidates for Helen Sears’ seat in the City Council spoke at a forum hosted by the New Visions Democratic Club in Jackson Heights Thursday, explaining why they think they should be elected, and answering questions that community members posed.

Daniel Dromm of Jackson Heights, who has been a teacher for the past 25 years, called for more emphasis to be placed on the district’s schools and on other programs for children. He promised strong support to the gay community and said he would work hard to create more green space in the area.

“In this community, it’s not that we’ve had a lack of good ideas, but that we’ve had a lack of leadership,” Dromm said. “I want to offer to people the hope that we can have things better in this community.

Labels: CommunityOrganizing, Debate, Press

From Jackson Heights Times:
by Jeremy Walsh

Challengers to City Councilwoman Helen Sears’ (D−Jackson Heights) seat wasted no time in tearing into the incumbent at a candidates’ forum last Thursday as she publicly indicated her interest in re−election.

Speaking in front of the New Visions Democratic Club, Sears, Democratic District Leader Daniel Dromm and Jackson Heights attorney Stanley Kalathara spent 90 minutes exchanging criticism of one another and ideas for the district in the first face−to−face discussion of the race.

Sears, who was first elected in 2000, touted her experience as she asked the club to re−elect her to a third term. Representatives from Sears’ office did not confirm whether it was the first time she publicly announced her interest in re−election.

Dromm, a gay rights activist and public school teacher, attacked Sears for inadequate leadership. “I have some skills in the community that I have shown to bring people together,” he said.

Dromm took Sears to task for not doing more for the struggling hospital in Elmhurst (St. Johns) when its parent company went bankrupt in 2005.

“St. John’s was ready to close a number of years ago,” he said. “We should have been on top of that years ago.”

Labels: CommunityOrganizing, Debate, HealthCare, Press

From Queens Tribune:
by Vladic Ravich

Facing dismal approval ratings and hard economic choices, Gov. David Paterson switched gears this week and introduced a bill to allow same-sex marriage in New York. He insisted that the issue is a matter of morality and human rights whose time has come.

“Our work to correct injustice cannot depend on factors like timing or guaranteed success,” Paterson said. “For too long, LGBT New Yorkers have been told to wait for their civil rights and personal freedom. We will not wait any longer. Now is the time for action. Now is the time for leadership. Now is the time to march forward together.”

Local activists for gay rights celebrated the decision. Daniel Dromm, a candidate for the 25th Council district, said “I think if we wait too long the timing is never right. The most important thing is that we get the bill in… I don’t see why this time around the bill is creating so much noise, but it’s time, and I think we should proceed on it and we should get people on record on it.”

Labels: CivilRights, CommunityOrganizing, Press

Labels: CommunityOrganizing

Expanding Travers Park
Daniel Dromm believes that all New Yorkers should have access to quality parks and adequate recreational opportunities. Unfortunately, Travers Park is the only viable public space in the Jackson Heights area and it does not even have enough room for much greenery. Our city council district has the least amount of greenspace and park land of any in the city.

As your city council representative, Dromm will fight to get money to expand Travers Park. He will dedicate all the resources of this office toward expanding greenspace in our area and will chase down any opportunity to convert land into public greenspace.

Creating a Tax Credit for Greenspace
The loss of trees, and other vegetation, in our urban areas not only intensifies the urban "heat-island" effect from loss of shade and evaporation, but we lose a principal absorber of carbon dioxide and other air pollutants as well. Many construction projects are foregoing any greenspace on private lots to make way for more parking. Daniel Dromm proposes that we should incentivize property owners to “green up” their properties.

As your city council representative, Dromm will write legislation to give property owners a tax credit for converting concrete on their lots into greenspace, or for improving existing greenspace such as internal gardens.

Labels: CommunityOrganizing, Environment, Greenspace

Daniel Dromm, City Council candidate 25th District, will attend the John F. Kennedy Democratic Club's Candidates Night on Wednesday, April 22 at 7:30pm at the Community Methodist Church 81-10 35th Avenue in Jackson Heights.

Labels: CommunityOrganizing

Alice Cardona has endorsed Daniel Dromm for the 25th City Council seat. Alice Cardona began her career with ASPIRA in 1970, and since then has devoted considerable energy and political know-how to a remarkable number of causes within and outside of the Puerto Rican community, from bilingual education to the rights of women. From 1983-94, Cardona served as the Assistant Director of the New York State Division for Women, focusing on AIDS and domestic violence. She has held leadership positions at the National Conference of Puerto Rican Women, the Puerto Rican Association for Community affairs, the New York Women's Foundation, the Sister Fund, the National Latinas Caucus, and, on the international level, Vital Voices of Women in Democracy.

photo credit: flickr/kate_anne

Labels: Endorsements

City Council candidate, Daniel Dromm, will attend the New Visions Club Candidates Night on Thursday, April 16th at 8:30PM at the Jewish Center of Jackson Heights. Dromm will appear with all the candidates for the City Council 25th District seat. The event is free and open to the public. There will be an opportunity for audience members to ask questions of the candidates directly.

Labels: CommunityOrganizing

From Queens Tribune: by Vladic Ravich

The Lesbian & Gay Democratic Club of Queens flexed their political muscle last week when they hosted what Public Advocate candidate Mark Green dubbed “political speed dating.” The club heard from and questioned all four democratic candidates for Public Advocate, three of four City Comptroller contenders and current Comptroller Bill Thompson, the likely Democratic candidate for Mayor.

All the candidates paid homage to the club’s 11 years of advocacy for the visibility of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities in the political arena. The LGDCQ is the only lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender independent Democratic club in the Borough of Queens.

“No democratic club in New York City has had a more challenging and impressive history standing up for people’s rights,” said Councilman Bill de Blasio (D-Brooklyn). Each of the candidates paid their respects to the club’s history, often praising LGDCQ’s co-founder Daniel Dromm as well, who is running against Councilwoman Helen Sears (D-Jackson Heights) for her seat.

Labels: CivilRights, CommunityOrganizing

The Kiwanis Club of Sunnyside will honor Daniel Dromm as Educator of the Year at a gala event to be held at Manetta's Restaurant in Long Island City on Sunday, April 26, 2009. The Kiwanis Club chose Dromm because of his outstanding dedication and commitment to the children of Sunnyside as a teacher at PS 199Q where he has taught for the last 25 years. Dromm has educated generations of young children originally as a fourth grade classroom teacher and currently as a social studies teacher.

Dromm, who is also a Kiwanian, was chosen for this honor because he volunteers his time to organize PS 199Q's participation in the annual Kiwanis sponsored Sunnyside Flag Day Parade. Dromm can, on every second Saturday in June, be seen marching up Greenpoint Avenue with over 100 children and their parents in the Flag Day Parade all waving American flags. PS 199Q buys an American flag for every participant from the school.

Dromm has also been responsible for coordinating PS 199Q's annual participation in the Sunnyside Kiwanis Club's annual essay contest for the last 25 years. Dromm works with his students to draft their submissions. Then, he and his principal select the four best submissions to forward to the club.

Dromm is a beloved teacher. He has many former students volunteering on his campaign. His students credit him with their success and their own commitment to community service.

Labels: CommunityOrganizing, Education

Photo Caption: Daniel Dromm and Joseph William Ricevuto at the St. Joan of Arc's Men's and Women's Club St. Patrick's Day Celebration at City Coffee

Every year Joseph William Ricevuto organizes a wonderful St. Patrick's Day Dinner for the Men's and Women's Clubs of St. Joan of Arc, Jackson Heights. Joe is himself a local celebrity. Every year he plants all the flowers in the flower beds along 37th Avenue. He is a haircutter at a beauty salon on 86th Street which he once owned. He organizes many community events.

Dromm, himself a proud Irish Catholic, always attend the St. Pat's event. In fact, Dromm's mother Audrey Gallagher, is one of the performers at the dinner. She always sings "Paddy McGinty," among other Irish favorites, to the dellight of the parishoners.

Dromm is a big fan of Joe's. He is a bit of a role model for him. Joe works tirelessly for the community and he never seeks glory or recognition. Dromm says, "It's great to know really good people like Joe."

Photo Caption: Also In attendance were Mike and Maire Breen, two dedicated community leaders.

Labels: CommunityOrganizing, Seniors

Dromm: It All Begins With Education from Visual Democracy on Vimeo.
City Council candidate Daniel Dromm speaks about the need to improve our public schools in New York City. This video is an excerpt from Daniel Dromm's 'State of the District' speech which chronicled the challenges facing the 25th City Council District and his vision for the future.

Labels: CommunityOrganizing, Education

Curbing Noise Pollution and Increasing Noise Enforcement

As the area’s population grows and produces ever more vehicles, electronic gadgets, and other sound sources--noise is becoming a more pressing problem. Certain sound exposures are not only annoying but can also produce a range of adverse physiological effects and affect learning ability.

Our area is somewhat unique in the level of noise pollution residents experience. We have jet engines, car horns, booming sound systems from cars, truck engines idling, elevated train tracks and large air conditioning units which create decibels that are unacceptable in any environment.

As you city council representative, Daniel Dromm will enact legislation to double the number of noise enforcement officers in the city. He will direct the Department of Environmental Protection to conduct a study on the causes of noise pollution in our areas and to identity solutions to address it. Residents deserve to live in peace and quiet. With your help, Dromm will make this a reality.

Labels: LawEnforcement, Noise, QualityofLife