Queens

In June, Blue America endorsed a bartender, rugby player, former legislative aide and Democratic Socialist, Shaniyat Chowdhury, for Congress. He's running in the deep blue (PVI is D+37) southeast Queens district (NY-05) that includes Jamaica, the Rockaways, Cambra Heights, Laurelton, Rosedale, Ozone Park, St Albans, Kew Gardens (+ a sliver of western Nassau County including Valley Stream and Elmont).

Shaniyat Chowdhury is a first-generation American, a young marine corps veteran, for state legislative aide, international rugby star and Queens bartender… and candidate for Congress against one of the most corrupt machine politicians left in New York City— conservative New Dem Gregory Meeks.

You read about all these Democratic candidates who say they're not going to vote for Pelosi for Speaker. It's almost de rigueur for them to say it sometime during their campaign. She laughs and says she has the votes anyway. Does she?

Alexandria Ocasio's race to replace Joe Crowley in her Queens/Bronx district-- Crowley and his family live in Virginia-- could turn out to be the most important primary of 2018. I hope you're following it at Queens Against Crowley.

We've been writing about Alexandria Ocasio, who we endorsed, for some time now and, for far longer, about her opponent Joe Crowley. As you can see from the video above, Alexandria is guaranteed to be a shake 'em up member when she makes it to Congress. Crowley, on the other hand, is exactly what need has needed to be shaken up. Time's up.Pelosi and Hoyer have groomed him and anointed him as their successor to lead the House Democrats.

I was very excited yesterday. Do you recall the post about how the big shots and recruiters at the DCCC are not among the 110 co-sponsors of John Conyers' Medicare-For All Act?

If you find yourself in the neighborhood -- Sheepshead Bay, that is -- follow Mitch's recommendation of the roast beef "au jus" sandwich, and be sure to have them pile on the (free) onions and extra gravy."Something happened during the Bloomberg era, however.

Mitch writes: "When I was out wandering around on the 11th in Long Island City, it was somewhat forefront in my mind that I wanted to get an uncommon shot of the Freedom Tower from Newtown Creek, which is why I was wandering around in spots which are normally avoided due to fear of arrest for trespassing.

"If you see something, say something"? Just another day on the platform of the 46th Street station of the R train, in Long Island City, Queens. But wait, what's that silver kitchen-trash-can thing, and what's it doing sitting unattended on the platform?by KenI assume folks outside NYC are also told constantly, "If you see something, say something." But certainly we NY-ers have heard it a lot in the post-9/11 world.

Justin's caption: "Though this modest 2-story frame house with yellow siding at 149-14 Roosevelt Avenue, between 149th Street and 149th Place, remains unmarked by a plaque or medallion of any kind, this is the home where former First Lady Nancy Reagan spent the first two years of her life."by KenThe other day I promised to return to what sounds like a fairly routine question: Where was Nancy Re