Queens Republicans ditch Common Sense Caucus

Queens Republican Councilmembers Joann Ariola and Vickie Paladino both announced Tuesday they would be leaving the Council’s conservative Common Sense Caucus.  Councilmember Joann Ariola/Facebook

By Ryan Schwach

Queens’ only two Republican elected officials are ditching the conservative-leaning Common Sense Caucus in the City Council after having a falling out with their fellow members.

Councilmembers Joann Ariola and Vickie Paladino are both leaving the Common Sense Caucus, which was formed several years ago to act as a counter to the progressive wing of the legislature and represents the conservative members of the Council, after a clash with caucus leadership.

Ariola announced she would be leaving the caucus via social media, a few hours after the Council wrapped up its meeting.

She said in a statement that the caucus had become an “old boys club,” led by the Staten Island contingent of the GOP, which includes Republican Minority Leader David Carr and recently-elected Councilmember Frank Morano, who she did not mention by name.

“They would dictate the rules and the rest of us were just supposed to follow along,” Ariola said.

The conflict boiled over this week, after members of the caucus dismissed a request from Democrat Darlene Mealy to be co-chair of the caucus – instead giving the position to first-year Queens Councilmember Phil Wong – and moving forward with an agenda that didn’t involve the Queens Republican duo.

“When I learned that they had previously dismissed Councilmember Mealy's request to be co-chair in favor of a first year member, and then had written up the agenda with absolutely no input from Councilmember Paladino or myself, I realized this was not the kind of caucus I wanted to be a part of,” Ariola said. “I had to fight for any input at all, and I didn't think it was acceptable.”

Earlier this year, Ariola and Paladino lost their short-lived leadership roles at the top of the Council’s minority Republican caucus in a contentious process that ultimately led to Carr's ascension to minority leader.

In her initial social media statement announcing her decision, Ariola said she would remain an “Independent, Republican voice focused on safety, quality of life, and policies that reflect the real concerns of our neighborhoods.”

Paladino, who is currently suing the Council for ethics committee charges regarding Islamophobic comments she has made on social media, declined to comment Wednesday.