ABA (Alliance of Bukharian Americans) Advocates in Albany

• Prev
• 1 of 4
• Next

On January 29, ABA led a team of community leaders to Albany to advocate on our ever-growing community needs. Included in this visit was a delegation from Chazaq and the Agudath Israel of America. Everyone present delivered a unified message to on behalf of the community to a number of New York State Representatives in Albany. In a precursor to an upcoming March initiative; Chazaq Founder and President Yaniv Meirov, ABA Co-Chairman David Mordukhayev, BJL Publisher Avraham Yakubov, and others met Assemblymembers and Senators in a session scheduled by Pesach Osina. Hot topics on the agenda included equitable government funding for nonpublic schools, grant funding for various after-school programs, and securing kosher meals for Jewish children currently enrolled in the New York City Public School system.

Our jam packed day began in the offices of Assemblyman Clyde Vanel.  Clyde serves the 33rd Assembly district of Queens, encompassing the neighborhoods of Cambria Heights, St. Albans, Hollis, Queens Village, Bellerose, and parts of Floral Park. The next scheduled meeting was with Senator Joe Addabbo. Senator Addabbo represents the 15th Senatorial District which encompasses – in whole or part – Kew Gardens, Kew Gardens Hills, Forest Hills, Rego Park, Elmhurst, Woodside, Middle Village, Maspeth, Glendale, Ridgewood, Ozone Park, South Ozone Park, Richmond Hill, Woodhaven, Howard Beach, Hamilton Beach, Broad Channel, and the Rockaways. The Senator warmly welcomed us into his office and immediately dove into our questions and comments. He amicably answered our questions regarding private school state-funding and the S.T.E.M. program for private schools. He was very eager to hear all the concerns of which David had articulated for the Bukharian Queens community and gave us a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes dialogues regarding important initiatives, such as the Weprin Bill, which is proposing kosher food be made available for public
school lunches.

The next meeting was with Assemblyman Dan Rosenthal.  Daniel represents the New York’s 27th Assembly District, which encompasses the neighborhoods of Kew Gardens Hills, Kew Gardens, Pomonok, Electchester, College Point and parts of Whitestone, Richmond Hill, Briarwood and Forest Hills. Dan is very well-acquainted with the ABA and the Chazaq organization, so the meeting was in many ways a friendly catch-up session. Dan was utterly familiar with all of Chazaq and the ABA’s talking points, and pledged to help in any way he could. He also stressed the imperative mission for voter registration and voting in Queens. The community, he explained, has a virtually untouched voting potential. The upshots of this potential can be great in scope and warrant a serious effort from community leaders on behalf of their constituents.

Pesach Osina managed to direct us to a few more people such as Assemblywoman Nily Rozic and Assemblyman David Weprin. The last person on the schedule was Senator LeRoy Comrie. Senator Comrie represents the 14th Senatorial District of Queens, encompassing portions of Jamaica, Cambria Heights, Queens Village, Hollis, St. Albans, Laurelton, Jamaica Estates, Briarwood, Hillcrest, and Kew Gardens. The Senator sat with us and went over all the bills for submission to the floor that concerned the community. He was extremely helpful and assured the group that he would do what he could to ensure that legislation passed in favor of the Queens Jewish community. He was also very familiar with a lot of the points our small group made and seemed well versed in the New York Jewish Community’s plight.

 By Adam Suionov