Elizabeth Crowley (Elizabeth Crowley via Facebook)
April 14, 2021 By Allie Griffin
Former Council Member Elizabeth Crowley officially announced Wednesday that she is running for Queens Borough President once again.
Crowley, who was surrounded by well-wishers, made the announcement at an event held on the steps of the Flushing Library Wednesday.
“Our borough was facing crises on many fronts even prior to the pandemic,” she said. “The status quo isn’t enough. I will fight for the families of Queens. I have the experience to do so.”
Crowley, who represented the 30th Council District from 2009 to 2017, ran for the position last year to replace outgoing Queens Borough President Melinda Katz. Katz left to become Queens district attorney.
The Glendale resident came in second in the June Democratic primary to Donovan Richards, who went on to secure the borough president seat in the November general election.
Richards won the right to hold office until the end of the year—completing what would have been Katz’ term. He is not vying for a full term and is facing Crowley and Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer in a primary on June 22.
Crowley announced Wednesday that her top priorities as borough president would be to fight for a recovery plan that prioritizes the needs of working families and small businesses. She said she would also work to provide rental assistance for tenants, many of whom have struggled throughout the pandemic.
She said she would work to secure resources to prevent hate crimes in Queens — especially those against Asian Americans.
Crowley also said she would protect and expand the gifted and talented program at public schools and fight for smaller class sizes. She pledged to expand public transit, including free busing throughout the borough.
“I have lived my entire life in Queens, and I raised a family here as a single parent,” she said. “I know all of the neighborhoods in Queens, and I have always put the needs of Queens’ families first.”
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When it comes to “expanding public transportation” the track record of former NYC Council member and Queens Boro President wanna-a-be Elizabeth Crowley is poor.
Consider her favorite pet project for introduction of light rail on the Lower Montauk LIRR branch. She has failed to convince either the MTA or NYCDOT to step forward to advance this $2.2 billion project since completion of a feasibility study four years ago.
If Crowley continues to make promises which will never be fulfilled in our life time, what kind of Borough President she would make. Voters looking for down to earth transportation improvements which will be competed in our lifetime need to consider looking elsewhere for a better advocate as the next Queens Borough President. Having served as a NYC Council member from 2009 to 2017, perhaps she is just another career politician looking to get back on the public payroll..
(Larry Penner — transportation advocate, historian and writer who previously worked for the Federal Transit Administration Region 2 New York Office. This included the development, review, approval and oversight for billions in capital projects and programs for the MTA, NYC DOT along with 30 other transit agencies in NY & NJ).