Results tagged “michaelmcmahon”

Rep. Michael McMahon and Staten Island Borough President James Molinaro sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano asking that cars be allowed back onto the Staten Island Ferry. Car service was suspended at 9/11, but now, McMahon writes, "The residents of Staten Island endure one of the most arduous and costly commutes in the country; all options which could ease that burden without compromising our safety should be made available... Opening the ferry to car transportation would give Staten Island commuters more choices, ultimately save many commuters time, and would cut down on all the unnecessary vehicle emissions resulting from the need to drive through Brooklyn to get to Manhattan." One ferry rider concurred and told NY1, "I think I would feel safe, and I think as a Staten Islander, we don't have much access, or anything, you have to take bridges and pay huge tolls." However, there are some detractors: Transportation Alternatives' Wiley Norvell said to the Post, "The logistical and expense burdens of moving cars on the Staten Island Ferry is totally out of proportion to the benefits of using the ferry for cars."

Democrat Michael McMahon won the Congressional seat vacated by Vito Fossella, who had been the lone Republican Representative from NYC. McMahon, a City Council member, took 61% of the vote; his opponent, Robert Straniere, said, "The tides were against us, and due to events largely out of our control-- including the severe downturn in the global economy and the declining support of the McCain-Palin ticket --things did not go as we had hoped." The Staten Island Advance reports that McMahon referred to Fossella's DWI and love child by saying he wouldn't disgrace the office, "If we roll up our sleeves, we can make times great again." And the Democrats gained 18 other seats in the House--a total of five in the Northeast.

The race for the Congressional seat Representative Vito Fossella is vacating took another interesting turn. Yesterday, Staten Island Borough President James Molinaro--a Conservative-- moved to endorse Democrat Michael McMahon. Moliarno is expecting to make the endorsement official this afternoon, choosing the City Councilman over GOP nominee Robert Straniere. Straniere said, "Sadly, time and time again we have seen Jim Molinaro blatantly cast aside the fundamental principles of his own Conservative Party for petty, personal vendettas." Molinaro was once challenged in a primary by Straniere for the Beep position.