Northeast Queens Leaders React to Halloran, Smith Arrests

Northeast Queens leaders said they were disappointed – but not surprised – by the Tuesday arrests of Councilman Dan Halloran, R-Whitestone, and state Sen. Malcolm Smith, D-Jamaica, in an alleged plot to rig the mayoral election.

Bayside elected officials and community leaders said they believed the bust was further proof of a “corrupt” political system in New York State.

“Unfortunately, I’m not surprised anymore,” state Sen. Tony Avella, D-Bayside, said. “For years, I’ve said the entire system is corrupt. The arrest of Halloran and Smith is only the tip of the iceberg. This type of pay to play goes on in New York all the time. There are so many people to blame for this. This is what happens when money moves the system.”

The Federal Bureau of Investigation raided the homes of Halloran, Smith, Queens County Republican Vice Chairman Vince Tabone and several other GOP leaders Tuesday morning.

Halloran and Smith were alleged to have used cash bribes and fraud in an attempt to get Smith onto the 2013 mayoral ballot as a Republican, according to the FBI.

Paul Graziano, a long-time community activist who is running in the Democratic primary for Halloran’s seat this fall, said political corruption scandals have become commonplace in New York politics.

“The shock to me is the arrogance,” he said. “I’ve seen it happen over and over and people never learn their lesson. The reason I jumped into the race [for Halloran’s seat] is because I saw a lot of things being done by Dan that I thought were inappropriate.”

Warren Schreiber, president of the Bay Terrace Community Alliance, said he was shocked upon hearing news of the arrests on Tuesday morning.

“The general state of politics in Queens and New York State is disappointing,” he said. “As citizens, we should expect better from our elected officials.”

And Jerry Iannece, chairman of Community Board 11, said he would not rush to judgment until all the facts in the case had been revealed.

“I’m saddened and disheartened that another politician has been accused of this type of behavior,” he said.