Meet Mark Foley, Republican Party Nominee To Represent Roosevelt Island, Upper East Side And East Harlem In NYC Council District 5 - Foley Discusses Roosevelt Island Constituent Services, Crime, Covid 19 Vaccine Mandates & More

Mark Foley is the Republican Party nominee to represent Roosevelt Island, the Upper East Side and East Harlem in NYC Council District 5, seeking to succeed current City Council Member Ben Kallos who is term limited from running again. 

According to the Mark Foley for City Council website:

Mark Foley is a problem-solver and a forward-thinking New Yorker. Not a career politician, Mark's neighborhood roots, vast and diverse business experience, administrative ability, management skills and financial and economic know-how are what set him apart from all of his potential opponents in every way that matters. Mark has long-standing and significant relationships in the community, he is running a grassroots campaign appealing to all District residents, and he has the support to challenge his tired and out-of-touch establishment opponent....

I spoke with Mr Foley last Saturday during the Roosevelt Island Fall For Arts Festival outside of the Nisi restaurant.

Here's what he had to say. (Sorry about the background noise from people coming out of Good Shepherd at time of interview).

Mr Foley discussed a variety of local issues during this interview with Christopher Wright including crime, bail reform, re-funding the police, helping small businesses and Covid 19 vaccination mandates. I asked Mr Foley:

... My understanding from the interview is that you are against mandatory vaccinations, including for Police Officers, Health workers, Teachers and other city employees.

Also you appear to oppose Mayor deBlasio's policy of requiring proof of vaccination status for entry into NYC indoor restaurants, health clubs, and entertainment venues.

Is that an accurate representation of your position?

 

Also, is your opposition limited to government ordered mandatory vaccination or does it also include opposition to private employers mandating employees being vaccinated....

Mr Foley replied:

While I’m in favor of the vaccine (and proud passport holder), I do not believe in de facto forced vaccination for all. I personally know some people who have strong religious and medical issues that preclude them from getting vaccinated. Some people have already had Covid and have a stronger acquired immunity than one would receive from the vaccine. Others (young, healthy, pregnant, etc.) have their own personal reasons. I believe that it should be a personal choice between an individual and their health care provider, based on their personal condition(s). 

I also oppose mayor de Blasio’s passport mandate, required now for gyms, restaurants, theatres, movie houses, concerts, sporting events, etc. This was not based on medical indications or advice, but was his personal decision, and indeed puts us as one of only two cities in the country to do so (San Francisco the other). He stated publicly something to the effect that it was “time to remove the carrot and start using the stick,” which sounds deliberately punitive. I have also spoken to business and restaurant owners, many who feel terrible to be put in the position that they may have to turn away the very people who supported them at the height of the pandemic. As is, I understand the city is at roughly 80% who have had at least one jab and/or have acquired immunity via previous Covid infection. This puts us safely above the 75% herd-immunity figure that was originally proposed as a “return to normalcy” number. Medically, there is statistically near-zero risk to those who have been vaccinated, and even during Covid only 1.4% of infections were attributed to restaurants. 

Finally, despite the 80% figure for overall NYC, the minority population is only at roughly 30%. It will have an unusually lopsided impact on these communities and a punitive effect on their ability to participate in society.

Here's the full interview.

There are 134,893 registered voters in Council District 5.
I can't wait to serve as YOUR next City Councilman! Together, we'll RE-fund, RE-train, and REspect our Police, support our small businesses, and restore our quality of living! #NYC #NYPD #NYPD19pct #FoleyforCouncil pic.twitter.com/JAUmRxjctA

— Mark Foley (@MarkFoleyNYC) September 29, 2021

You wanna meet?
I'm out meeting voters in our neighborhood daily.
Here are some regular places that you might find me:@Gristedes there are 7 in our district. @AgataValentina
Fairway Market
Morton Williams
Stop by to say hello. I love to meeting new people. #NewYorkCity pic.twitter.com/vCVbCTxfYA

— Mark Foley (@MarkFoleyNYC) September 28, 2021

More info available at Mr Foley's website. 

Mr Foley's general election opponent to represent Roosevelt Island, the UES and East Harlem in NYC Council Distrct 5 is the Democratic Party nominee Julie Menin.
  

The General Election is Tuesday, November 2.

Roosevelt Island Affordable Housing, Community Space, Climate Change Storm Resiliency & Covid Recovery Among Issues Needing To Be Addressed Says Julie Menin, NYC Council District 5 Democratic Party Nominee At Farmers Market Yesterday - She Bought Some Peaches Too

Julie Menin is the Democratic Party nominee to represent Roosevelt Island and the Upper East Side in NYC Council District 5, seeking to succeed current City Council Member Ben Kallos who is term limited from running again. 

Ms Menin was at the Roosevelt Island Saturday Farmers Market yesterday meeting and talking with residents about local issues including Roosevelt Island Seniors Association Vice President Andrea Jackson shown below.

Ms Menin also bought some peaches at the Farmers Market

I spoke with Menin about her experience and local issues facing the District. According to Ms Menin: 

  ... I've spent a tremendous amount of time on Roosevelt Island both during the primary and since the primary, speaking to voters about what is on their mind. 

Affordable housing is top of mind. We don't want a situation where people are being priced out of Roosevelt Island so that is one of the top concerns I hear .

Another concern I hear is a lack of community space. There's so many wonderful organizations here on Roosevelt Island . We want to make sure that they have the space to meet, to congregate, to do the important work that they're doing.

Climate change, storm resiliency is another issue. We saw it recently with what happens with Hurricane Ida. We want to make sure that Roosevelt Island is truly protected so those are some of the many issues that residents have been speaking to me about.

And certainly recovering from Covid and making sure that the city is fully vaccinated. We still have a ways to go. We're 80% city-wide but there's still room for improvement on that as well....

 

Visit Ms Menin's web site for more info.

Ms Menin's general election opponent torep resent Roosevelt Island, the UES and East Harlem in NYC Council Distrct 5 is the Republican Candidate Mark Foley. 

The General Election is Tuesday, November 2.

Democratic Party NYC Council Nominee To Represent Roosevelt Island Julie Menin Hosting Thank You District 5 Celebration Friday Evening July 23 At Good Shepherd Plaza, Refreshments Provided Too - General Election November 2 Versus Republican Candidate Mark Foley

Julie Menin won the Democratic Party Primary to represent Roosevelt Island, the Upper East Side and East Harlem in New York City Council District 5.

🚨 WE DID IT!🚨

The results released tonight and what we've seen of my lead on absentee ballots decisively confirm that I’ll be headed to the City Council to represent the 5th District! pic.twitter.com/BzoAJxQ2ZA

— Julie Menin (@JulieMenin) July 3, 2021

Ms Menin is hosting a Thank You District 5 Meet the Candidate celebration 7 PM Friday, July 23 at Good Shepherd Plaza. You're invited.

While it was fantastic 2C every local elected that touches 5th District endorse @JulieMenin today, most moving was to see @Tricia4NYC @BillyFreelandNY @ChrisSosa + @MarcoATamayo1 joining in unity after a remarkable campaign 4 all. Great talking issues w Billy + Chris as usual. pic.twitter.com/zllVR6vFbp

— Andrew Fine (@AFineBlogger) July 19, 2021

Totally Supporting @JulieMenin for City Council District 5 who will support Roosvelt Island looking forward to working with you and my beloved community pic.twitter.com/KWNRPN2Kez

— Lynne Shinozaki (@LASHINOZAKI) July 19, 2021

I interviewed Ms Menin last January as she was campaigning at the Roosevelt Island Farmers Market

and Ms Menin spoke with Roosevelt Island residents Joyce Short and Ellen Polivy for a Fireside Chat as well.

Ms Menin's general election opponent to succeed the current, term limited, NYC Council Member Ben Kallos to represent Roosevelt Island, the UES and East Harlem in NYC Council Distrct 5 is the Republican Candidate Mark Foley.
The General Election is Tuesday, November 2.

You're Invited To Roosevelt Island Political Engagement Group Virtual Zoom Fireside Chat With NYC Council Candidate Billy Freeland Monday March 29 - Watch Prior Chats With Candidates Julie Menin And Rebecca Lamorte

As previously reported:

Joyce Short and Ellen Polivy, two long-time Roosevelt Island activists, founded the Political Engagement Group (PEG) in order to revive Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s concept of “Fireside Chats,” right here on Roosevelt Island. Their aim is to provide voters on the Upper Eastside and Roosevelt Island with a personal view of the people, their platforms, and their interests in our communities, in order to help their neighbors make enlightened decisions when they cast their votes on June 22nd.

“What better place to recreate FDR’s concept that began 88 years ago, almost to the very day we’ll begin; Monday, March 15th at 8:00 PM,” said Joyce Short. “We’ll be interviewing candidates each Monday and Wednesday evening, at either 7:30 or 8 PM, for Mayor, Borough President, District Attorney, City Council, and Democratic District Leader....

The next PEG Fireside Chat is 8 PM Monday, March 29, with Billy Freeland, a Democratic Party candidate to represent Roosevelt Island and the UES in NYC Council District 5.

Contact jm_short@ymail.com for Zoom link to the PEG Fireside Chat with Billy Freeland and to send questions.

I then volunteered with the Haki Compost Collective. Composting is a big part of our climate justice plan! Landfills are the third-largest source of methane emissions. And methane is 84x more potent than carbon dioxide. Composting is a green alternative!#GreenNewDeal 🌎 pic.twitter.com/cf2aJJlEol

— Billy Freeland (@BillyFreelandNY) February 6, 2021

I spoke with Mr Freeland at the Roosevelt Island Farmers Market.

Here's PEG Fireside Chat with Roosevelt Island & UES NYC Council CandidatesJulie Menin

and Rebecca Lamorte.
>
Contact jm_short@ymail.com for Zoom link to the PEG Fireside Chat with Billy Freeland, to send questions and more info.

Candidate To Represent Roosevelt Island And UES In NYC Council District 5 Kim Moscaritolo Meets And Speaks To RI Residents At Farmers Market Last Saturday - Watch Video Interview Of What She Has To Say

Kim Moscaritolo is a candidate to represent Roosevelt Island and the Upper East Side in NYC Council District 5, seeking to succeed current City Council Member Ben Kallos who is term limited from running again. Mr Kallos is running to succeed Gale Brewer as Manhattan Borough President.

Ms Moscaritolo was at the Farmers Market last Saturday. I spoke with Ms Moscaritolo about her campaign and issues of concern to Roosevelt Island residents. Here's what she had to say.

Learn more about Ms Moscaritolo at her campaign website.

I had a great time on Roosevelt Island this morning! I got to chat with dozens of residents, and I really enjoyed the opportunity to talk about my candidacy with @Rooseveltisland. https://t.co/S6SdqdyL5j

— Kim Moscaritolo (@kimmosc) March 13, 2021

It was wonderful to hear from thoughtful #RooseveltIsland residents during our open roundtable this evening! We talked about COVID vaccines, transportation, accessibility, and more.

Want to host your own roundtable with me? Don't hesitate to reach out! #Kim2021 pic.twitter.com/nxMAZVqkEm

— Kim Moscaritolo (@kimmosc) February 10, 2021

Ms Moscaritolo's opponents in the June 22 Democratic Party Primary are: 

• Julie Menin,
• Rebecca Lamorte,
• Billy Freeland,
  
• Tricia Shimamura and 
• Christopher Sosa

Roosevelt Island Activists Joyce Short and Ellen Polivy Revive FDR's Fireside Chats For Series Of Interviews With Political Candidates This Election Cycle Starting March 15 With Tricia Shimamura And March 17 With Julie Menin - Both Candidates Seeking To Represent Roosevelt Island And Upper East Side In NYC Council District 5

Roosevelt Island residents Joyce Short and Ellen Polivy report: 

Announcing PEG’s Fireside Chats with Candidates

Joyce Short and Ellen Polivy, two long-time Roosevelt Island activists, founded the Political Engagement Group (PEG) in order to revive Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s concept of “Fireside Chats,” right here on Roosevelt Island. Their aim is to provide voters on the Upper Eastside and Roosevelt Island with a personal view of the people, their platforms, and their interests in our communities, in order to help their neighbors make enlightened decisions when they cast their votes on June 22nd.

“What better place to recreate FDR’s concept that began 88 years ago, almost to the very day we’ll begin; Monday, March 15th at 8:00 PM,” said Joyce Short. “We’ll be interviewing candidates each Monday and Wednesday evening, at either 7:30 or 8 PM, for Mayor, Borough President, District Attorney, City Council, and Democratic District Leader. Our first interview will be with Tricia Shimamura, candidate for City Council Representative. On Wednesday, 3/17, at 7:30 PM, our guest will be Julie Menin, also a City Council candidate.”

Each interview will be broadcast on Zoom and Facebook live. They will each be recorded and posted on the “PEG Fireside Chat” You Tube channel. To participate, simply request the Zoom link by emailing Joyce at jm_short@ymail.com. Participants will be able to ask questions on the Zoom chat, and in person if time permits. Sessions are estimated to last 40 minutes. 

Starting this week meet these candidates for City Council

TRICIA SHIMAMURA, Monday, March 15 at 8pm

JULIE MENIN, Tuesday, March 17 at 7:30 pm

RSVP for the full schedule and zoom links: JM_Short@ymail.com

I recently spoke with both Ms Shimamura

and Ms Menin

while they were campaigning at the Roosevelt Island Farmers Market.

Mark your calendar - upcoming PEG Fireside Chats include:

Candidate To Represent Roosevelt Island And UES In NYC Council District 5 Tricia Shimamura Is Weekly Volunteer At RIDA Senior Center Food Pantry - Meet Her And Watch Video Interview Of What She Has To Say

Tricia Shimamura is a candidate to represent Roosevelt Island and the Upper East Side in NYC Council District 5, seeking to succeed current City Council Member Ben Kallos who is term limited from running again. Mr Kallos is running to succeed Gale Brewer as Manhattan Borough President.

Ms Shimamura volunteers at the weekly Friday Roosevelt Island Disabled Association (RIDA) Senior Center Food Pantry. I spoke to Ms Shimamura today as she was preparing items that will be distributed to the Roosevelt Island community. Ms Shimamura spoke about reasons why she is running for the NYC Council and issues of concern to Roosevelt Island residents.

Here's what she had to say.

I’m a young working mother, a proud Japanese-Puerto Rican woman, a first-generation college graduate with student debt, a social worker, and a candidate for NYC Council on the UES. My mom lived in NYCHA and my family is the product of public schools. pic.twitter.com/LNZJEPh7Ki

— Tricia Shimamura (@Tricia4NYC) July 6, 2020

Today I'm releasing my #TakingCareOfFamiliesAgenda. From enacting #UniversalChildCare to reimagining how we treat our homeless families, it serves as a blueprint for creating a city that prioritizes the needs of working families like mine. Check it out at https://t.co/h06GAzsukJ

— Tricia Shimamura (@Tricia4NYC) February 22, 2021

Learn more about Ms Shimamura at her campaign website.

Ms Shimamura's opponents in the June 22 Democratic Party Primary are: 

• Julie Menin,
• Rebecca Lamorte,
• Kim Moscaritolo 
• Billy Freeland and 
• Christopher Sosa

Interviews with some of the other candidates here. Hope to interview all of the candidates and more in depth conversations too.

Candidate To Represent Roosevelt Island And UES In NYC Council District 5 Rebecca Lamorte Joins Friends Of Coler Valentine's Day Walk n Wave To Show Support And Love For Coler Rehab & Nursing Residents - Watch Video Interview Of What She Has To Say

Rebecca Lamorte is a candidate to represent Roosevelt Island and the Upper East Side in NYC Council District 5, seeking to succeed current City Council Member Ben Kallos who is term limited from running again. Mr Kallos is running to succeed Gale Brewer as Manhattan Borough President.

Ms Lamorte joined Friends Of Coler today for a Valentine's Day Walk n Wave to show support and love for Coler Rehab & Nursing Residents. 

It was heartwarming to be able to put smiles on resident’s faces today as they came to the windows waving❤️ #ValentinesDay #WeLoveColer #FriendsofColer #RooseveltIsland https://t.co/eLQSLdSmgF

— Rebecca Lamorte (@RebeccaLamorte) February 15, 2021

I spoke with Ms Lamorte after the Coler Walk n Wave. Here's what she had to say.

Learn more about Ms Lamorte at her campaign website and Twitter page.

Ms Lamorte's opponents in the June 22 Democratic Party Primary are: 

• Julie Menin,
• Billy Freeland,(He attended today's Coler Wave n Walk too)
  
• Kim Moscaritolo 
• Tricia Shimamura and 
• Christopher Sosa

Candidate To Represent Roosevelt Island And UES In NYC Council District 5 Billy Freeland Meets And Speaks To RI Residents At Farmers Market Last Saturday - Watch Video Interview Of What He Has To Say

Billy Freeland is a candidate to represent Roosevelt Island and the Upper East Side in NYC Council District 5, seeking to succeed current City Council Member Ben Kallos who is term limited from running again. Mr Kallos is running to succeed Gale Brewer as Manhattan Borough President.

Mr Freeland was at the Farmers Market last Saturday on a cold and windy day. I spoke with Mr Freeland about about his campaign and issues of concern to Roosevelt Island residents. Here's what he had to say.

I then volunteered with the Haki Compost Collective. Composting is a big part of our climate justice plan! Landfills are the third-largest source of methane emissions. And methane is 84x more potent than carbon dioxide. Composting is a green alternative!#GreenNewDeal 🌎 pic.twitter.com/cf2aJJlEol

— Billy Freeland (@BillyFreelandNY) February 6, 2021

Learn more about Mr Freeland at his campaign website.

Mr Freeland's opponents in the June 22 Democratic Party Primary are: 

• Julie Menin,
• Rebecca Lamorte,
• Kim Moscaritolo 
• Tricia Shimamura and 
• Christopher Sosa

The petition signature requirement to get on the ballot unnecessarily endangers candidates, volunteers, & New Yorkers.

Proud to join my fellow candidates for City Council District 5 in this joint pledge: we will *not* challenge each other’s petitions. #SafetyOverSignatures pic.twitter.com/GfA5iXJqiQ

— Billy Freeland (@BillyFreelandNY) February 6, 2021

Candidate To Represent Roosevelt Island And UES In NYC Council District 5 Julie Menin Meets And Speaks To RI Residents At Farmers Market Today - Watch Video Interview Of What She Has To Say

Julie Menin is a candidate to represent Roosevelt Island and the Upper East Side in NYC Council District 5, seeking to succeed current City Council Member Ben Kallos who is term limited from running again. Ms Menin was at the Roosevelt Island Farmers Market today meeting and talking with residents about local issues.

Great to speak to voters today on Roosevelt Island at the Farmers Market! pic.twitter.com/fgTLvtnLZj

— Julie Menin (@JulieMenin) January 23, 2021

I spoke with Ms Menin today at the Farmers Market about a variety of local issues including the need for a vaccination site on Roosevelt Island, affordable housing, small business assistance as well as Ms Menin's experience and background. Here's what she had to say.


Learn more about Ms Menin at her campaign website.

Ms Menin's opponents in the June 22 Democratic Party Primary are: 

• Billy Freeland,
• Rebecca Lamorte,
• Kim Moscaritolo 
• Tricia Shimamura and 
• Christopher Sosa