Feb. 25, 2021 By Christian Murray
Several candidates are running for the 22nd District Council seat currently held by Costa Constantinides.
In our latest Podcast, we talk to Felicia Kalan who is vying for the seat about her platform.
Kalan, who is an Astoria resident, is running as the lone Republican in the race. She says her campaign appeals to moderate Democrats, Republicans and independents.
Kalan says she does not believe the NYPD should be defunded—instead saying it needs to be reformed. “I want reform and the bad actors to be taken out of the force.”
She believes that the Rikers Island jail complex should be revamped as opposed to abolished. She says that the city should not be spending approximately $10 billion on building new jails at a time of economic crisis.
Kalan said a commission needs to be established to study how Rikers Island can be rebuilt and what steps need to be taken to make it more humane.
Kalan will be running in the general election and will face the winner of the Democratic primary. The candidates in the Democratic primary are Tiffany Cabán, Evie Hantzopoulos, Leonardo Bullaro and Nicholas Velkov.
Edwin DeJesus will be running in the general election as an independent.
Constantinides is required to step down from office at the end of the year due to term limits.
The winner will take office in January 2022. The seat represents Astoria and sections of Woodside, East Elmhurst and Jackson Heights.
For more information about Felicia Kalan, click here
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