Titus’ move to civil court would open seat in state Assembly

Assemblymember Michele Titus is running for a seat on the civil court after representing District 31 for 17 years. AP Photo/Hans Pennink.

By David Brand

After more than 17 years in office, Assemblymember Michele Titus is running unopposed for a seat on the civil court bench. The move to the judiciary would open up her District 31 seat, potentially in a special election.

So far several candidates have emerged for the seat, which encompasses much of Southeast Queens, including Far Rockaway, Rosedale, Laurelton, Springfield Gardens, South Ozone Park and South Richmond Hill. 

Local District Leader Richard David has raised $15,207 for an undisclosed campaign, according to a July financial disclosure report filed with the state Board of Elections. Khaleel Anderson, a Community Board 14 member and Rockaway Youth Task Force board member, has raised $10,658.41. State Senate staffer Lisa George has also filed her candidacy with the Board of Elections and reported raising $15 as of July.

Richard, a professor of Indo-Caribbean history at York College, declined to officially declare his candidacy, but he said he will continue weighing his options ahead of a possible special election after Titus vacates the seat.

“I’m looking forward to meeting with our residents and listening to what people want in the next Assemblymember,” said Richard, who lost a 2017 Democratic primary for City Council District 28. “This is an exciting moment for the district.”

Anderson, who declared his candidacy in February, was eager to talk about his plans for the seat should he be elected. 

“I think that the lower house has an enormous opportunity to really affect change on local issues,” he said. “There is a lot that the state Assembly can do to affect lives on the local level — I’m talking block by block, street by street, neighbor by neighbor.”

Anderson said he would prioritize issues affecting young people. Nearly 28 percent of residents in Community District 14, which overlaps AD31, are under age 18. 

Anderson joined CB14 when he was 19 in 2016 and said “youth is” his “bread and butter.”

“I will fight for more money in the summer youth employment program in the state budget,” he said. “I will fight for STEAM and STEM schools in the district.

He also said he would focus on housing for low-income residents, especially NYCHA tenants, in the district. Almost 46 percent of residents are rent-burdened, meaning they spend 35 percent or more of their income on housing, according to a community profile published by the city. The district has six NYCHA complexes, including one that was recently turned over to a private management company.

“What I’m hearing from the tenant associations is that not a single apartment has been tested for lead,” he said. “These are working people who deserve quality of affordable housing.”

As has been the case throughout the borough, the Southeast Queens Assembly race could once again pit the county Democratic organization against the county’s Democratic Socialists of America and leftwing progressive. But that dynamic has yet to play out in the early days of the race for AD31.

“To my knowledge, there has not been internal discussion about the opening among folks in our electoral working group,” said DSA spokesperson Aaron Taube. “If candidates in the race seek DSA’s endorsement, we will of course consider them via our democratic endorsement process, as we do everyone who fills out our candidate questionnaire.”

Rockaway Youth Task Force Executive Director Milan Taylor said the organization’s 501c4 arm, the Rockaway Youth Action Fund, would not endorse a candidate until after members interviewed whomever decides to run.* 

Queens County Democratic Party Executive Michael Reich did not respond to phone calls requesting comment.

Titus did not respond to phone calls requesting comment.

This story has been updated to include information about Lisa George’s candidacy.

*Correction: A previous version of this article did not distinguish between the Rockaway Youth Task Force and Rockaway Youth Action Fund.