Forest Hills City Council Race: Schulman Faces Conigliaro

FOREST HILLS, QUEENS — When voters in Forest Hills cast ballots in the general election they will see two names on the ballot for the 29th District City Council seat, which encompasses Forest Hills, Forest Park, Kew Gardens, Rego Park, and Richmond Hill.

One is Lynn Schulman, an attorney and city employee who beat a field of eight other Democrats this summer, becoming the party's nominee to succeed longtime, term-limited Council Member Karen Koslowitz. Her opponent is lawyer Michael Conigliaro, the sole candidate who ran as a Republican in the district.

Schulman will be heavily favored in the Nov. 2 general election given the district's blue electorate, a trend in most of New York City.

Her campaign itself, however, was not uncontested; while Schulman was widely regarded as the moderate front-runner throughout the primary, activist and non-profit leader Aleda Gagarin drummed up considerable support from progressive leaders and individuals throughout the city.

Gagarin ran a justice-oriented campaign whereas Schulman focused primarily on healthcare access.

For instance, when Patch asked both candidates to name the most pressing issue in the district, Gagarin wrote about "budget justice," and Schulman wrote about Queens' lack of hospital beds — an issue that she has championed throughout her campaign.

Schulman told Patch that the loss of hospital beds in the borough has resulted in "devastating" consequences: "We have lost loved ones, friends, and neighbors. The lives lost underscore that there is nothing more important than access to healthcare," she said of the most important issue facing the district.

On Tuesday, Schulman shared that a breast cancer diagnosis last summer further revealed to her the inequities of the healthcare system, which she hopes to address on the Council.

Conigliaro, meanwhile, is running on a self-described "law and order" platform, which largely differs from Schulman's.

For instance, while both candidates told Patch that they oppose the Kew Gardens Jail their reasons differ: Schulman would like to see a "community-based restorative justice" plan for the jail, which she says would incorporate more community input, whereas Conigliaro opposes neighborhood-based jails and wants Riker's Island to remain open.

"I am beholden to nobody especially the Democratic machine. The only people I have an obligation to are the constituents of Council District 29," Conigliaro told Patch regarding what differentiates him from other candidates.

As for the most pressing issue in the district? Conigliaro says reducing crime. "We must reverse the failed bail reform legislation, restore the plainclothes anti-crime unit, and legally crack down hard on lawbreakers by once again implementing the broken windows theory of policing," he said.

Early voting for the general election, which runs from Oct. 23rd through 31st, is already off to a slow start. Voters can find their poll site and view a sample ballot on the Board of Elections website.

To learn more about each candidate, read the Patch candidate profiles of Lynn Schulman and Michael Conigliaro, or visit each candidate's website. (Schulman, Conigliaro.)