Monday, August 24Current Events

Issues

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Candidates, Issues

Housing Issues and Candidates – August 20, 2026

Watch the meeting on YouTube. Mark Axinn, partner at Phillips Nizer LLP and a 46-year experienced housing attorney on coop and condo led the housing discussion with additional perspectives from Tzlil Levy, landlord; Cristina Fontanelli, State Assembly candidate (Republican and Save NYC)  in the 75th district; Melvin Rivera, Congressional candidate (Republican, Conservative, No Kings) in the 7th district; and Ed Lee, State Assembly candidate (Republican) in the 36th district. The next meeting is September 17, 2026.  
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Candidates, Issues

Candidates who ran in the Primary – July 16, 2026

YouTube video of the July 16, 2026 meeting. Martha Flores-Vasquez (Assembly 40 District Leader Part B); Ronald Eith; Julie Milner (Queens Civil Court Judge); David Bellon (Queens District Court Judge 4th); Larry Sharpe (Governor, Coalition); Marty Dolan (Congress 13, Dem ag AOC); Jonathan Rinaldi (Assembly 28 ag Andrew Hevesi); Brandon Castro (Assembly 30 ag Patrick Martinez); Ruben Cruz (Assembly 38 ag David Orkin) The next meeting is August 20, 2026 on housing issues and concerns with Coop and Condo lawyer, Mark Axinn.
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Issues, Outreach

A thought on petitioning from club’s president…

As petitioning enters its pre-Commissioners Hearing (April 28-29, 2026) stage, I wondered how political friends and enemies, trust and distrust, games and tricks are being played. Is there a win-win solution? A Competition Proposal:   If the establishment wants to avoid a primary, have the competing candidates (insurgent or establishment) who collected the least number of valid signatures file a Declination.  The Committee to Fill Vacancies would then Substitute in the winning candidate giving the Replacement more signatures against the Democrats! During this 2026 cycle, Central Queens Republican Club petitioned for 10 candidates not on the County's slate in Queens and Brooklyn.  Three did not have enough signatures to survive a challenge so three declinations were filed giving signa...
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Issues

Debate with JFK Democrats on Trump – March 19, 2026

Watch the meeting on YouTube.  Meeting agenda. Jim Strawhorn read the Mission Statement and did the roll call.  Andrew Okuneff read the February 19, 2026 minutes.  Sophia Worrell reported current bank balance and membership.  Announcements included Carlos Pesantes and Justina on the Compost Collective, Jonathan Rinaldi on why he is now a Democrat, and Melvin Rivera on his run for Congress in District 7. Debate:  JFK Democrat Club on Queens was a joint sponsor of the debate.  Jeff Gottlieb, its president, made a few remarks.  Charles Henry was the moderator of the evening, and Isaiah Vega, the timer. Representing views on the Democrat side were Steve Behar, Jeff Gottlieb, and Alan Sherman.  On the Republican side were Stephen Weiner, Sophia Worrell, Juan Pagan, and Phil O...
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Candidates, Issues

Special Elections and 2026 Candidates – January 15, 2026

Watch the meeting on YouTube. Larry Block and Michael Ruiz played a few songs before the meeting.  Bernard Vaiselberg and Ronen Nahom led the Pledge of Allegiance.  Jim Strawhorn read the mission statement.  Danniel Maio did the roll call.  Juan Pagan read the December 18 minutes.  Sophia Worrell reported the club's bank balance. Announcements: Sophia Worrell on immigration; George Sarantopoulos on his 2024 City Council race and on "Vaunt", a Conservative online paper; Phil Grillo on his January 6 memorial event in Washington, DC.  Danniel Maio announced that the JFK Democrat Club invited Central Queens Republican Club for a debate on Monday, President's Day, February 16, and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman will be the keynote speaker at Queens Village Republican Club's Lincol...
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Issues, Outreach

Republicans under Mamdani – November 20, 2025

Watch the video of the November 20, 2025 meeting on YouTube. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 pm.  Michelle Koval led the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by the reading of club's Mission Statement by Jim Strawhorn.  Regina Faighes read the minutes, and Arkadiusz Tomaszewski gave the financial report.  Martha Rowen delivered the Nominating Committee's report.  Ilan Riss gave his first hand account of the Israeli hostage history and status.  Svetlana Zelinskaya, the newly elected First Vice Chairman of the Kings County GOP painted a picture of what Republicans need to do.   Sophia Worrell's note cards which summarized what she observed from Democrats. Notes shared from a Mamdani volunteer.  Quick disclaimer: my experiences may not be universal as I (the vol...
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Candidates, Issues

Republican Reorganization – September 18, 2025

Watch the video of the meeting on YouTube. Before the meeting, a memorial was held for Elizabeth Santelli. Meeting was called to order at 7:41.  Sylvia Chappell led the Pledge of Allegiance.  A moment of silence was held remembering Charlie Kirk.  Jim Strawhorn read the club's Mission Statement.  Sophia Worrell did the roll call.  Isaiah Vega read the August 21 minutes, which was adopted with vote of one nay from Isaiah Vega.  Joe Solomon reported club's bank balance. Announcements:  Ed Cox was re-elected State GOP chairman on September 17, 2025.  Extra free tickets for Sunday's Mets v. Washington National was available,   Ed Lee on voter registration.  Jim Strawhorn on Betsy McCaughey's SaveNYC.org.  Dr. Jeff Weil on Curtis Sliwa's October 5 fundraiser at (aged.) Steakhouse.  Lar...
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Candidates, Issues

Post-Primary Discussions – July 17, 2025

Watch the video of the meeting on YouTube. Loren Spivack, The Free Market Warrior Speakers:  Paul Pogozelski, City Council 30; Japneet Singh, City Council 28; Nickie Kane, City Council 39; Dr. Selma Bartholomew, Mayor; James Leonard, Mayor; David Rem, Mayor; and George Marsh, Mayor. The next meeting is August 21, 2025.
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Candidates, Issues

Independent Candidates – April 17, 2025

Meeting was recorded live, and is available on YouTube! Zahra Rashid on health, detox and politics. Third party independent petitioning groups represented are Unity (Marty Dolan), Asians United (Angela Aquino), Common Good (George Marsh), The Olive Branch (Javon Terell Ross), ReBuild (Abbey Laurel-Smith), Innovating NYC (Von S. Del Valle), NO to City of YES (James Leonard), Innovating NYC (Tabitha Ward),  We Can Thrive (Dr. Brandon Gillespie), United Alliance (Gonzalo Duran), Freedom (Skiboky Stora), and Fight and Deliver (Andrew Cuomo).  Some other known third party names with petitions out are Diversity, The New Era, Coalition 4 Life, A Blue Collar, STOP the Casino, ER Political Gen, Patriot Workers, End AntiSemitism, Safe & Affordable, Power Up NYC, Party Party.  Shoul...
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