Sheepshead Bites and  GerritsenBeach.net are producing the first debate hosted by local bloggers in New York City. We’ve drawn together the three candidates running for the 46th City Council District, including the sitting councilman, Assistant Majority Leader Lew Fidler. The 45-minute debate will be taped tomorrow afternoon, and then streamed on both sites on Thursday.
The debate promises to be lively, as the two leading candidates - Lew Fidler and Republican opponent Gene Berardelli – have been trading barbs in the comments section of Sheepshead Bites and GerritsenBeach.net. They have discussed such issues as campaign financing, term limits, and discretionary funds, with the arguments getting very heated. They have at times labeled each other arrogant, questioned each other’s honesty, and Fidler has called Berardelli’s charges anti-semitic (here, here, and here). Meanwhile, Libertarian Party candidate Derek Sacerdote has been waging a grassroots campaign, including going door-to-door in several areas of the district.
George Broadhead will serve as moderator of the debate. A self-described “old Brooklynite,” Broadhead signed on with strong recommendations from community leaders as a fair, independent, and objective member of the neighborhood with high integrity. He currently serves as President of the Gerritsen Beach Property Owners Association, Post Commander of the Veterans of Foreign War Post 107, and Commander of the Kings County Council of the VFW. A former U.S. Marine, Broadhead was awarded the Silver Star Medal for gallantry in action after serving in Korea. He has also written for several publications, and was the Western Manager of Newhouse Newspapers.
We’re very proud to be the first local bloggers to independently host a City Council debate. Sheepshead Bites was founded on the idea of sparking discussion in our community and engaging it’s jaded members. We’re happy to have the opportunity to continue bridging the online-offline divide, inform our neighbors, and kindle a desire to participate.
In that spirit, we’re inviting all of our readers to submit debate questions for consideration. You can add them to the comments section below, or send them privately by e-mail.
If GB is NOT considered a “Destination Park” as Lew Fidler has stated and GB is considered a neighborhood park for the people that live in the neighborhood then why is that so many permits are given to people from outside the neighboorhood? We see Yellow Busses(several,almost daily), soccer games… etc every weekend, there’s so much garbage left behind,garbage on the fields, boxes with left over food, snacks..etc it’s disgusting(I see the garbage as I walk to pick my child from school on Mondays), I even saw a Hot dogs stand(probably without a permit, which is also taken away business from the mom & pop businesses in the neighborhood), parking is horrible for GB residents, cars are even doubled parked, even by the buss stop, which is dangerous. We can’t use our cars because we are afraid we won’t have a place to park.GB residents can’t even enjoy the park or area, these are some issues. Also is there ANY pressure from Marine Park residents to alleviate the congestion there and is that really the reason for so many permits given out for the use of the GB Area?If that’s the case than that’s something that should be dealt with at Marine Park NOt shift the problem over to GB, it’s creating more problems Not solving the problem. Also wouldn’t it be a better idea to revitalize the park at P.S 277 instead of the Seba park( it’s fine the way it is), which would ultimately serve many purposes and have greater benefits, for one the school, it’s a great school, good reputation, most of all it needs it. The kids would benefit, the neighborhood would benefit, on a typical day during the week the kids in the school utilize the park before going home, and on the weekend people in the neighborhood utilize the park as well and it makes more sense, better, less problems, serves a real true purpose for the community, school, families and GB now & in the future? to me that’s better use of funding!
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Here is my question:
How do each of the candidates see the upcoming fiscal years, with respect to services provided to the District? This includes bus service, park improvements, and other community improvement projects.
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Everyone is so concerned with public works projects in the neighborhood and seriously interested in where the money comes from and goes. Why dont some of the figure heads found an organization that can provide funds for the families that can use upgrading to their property, maybe even get them out of some debt without having to use city or state agencies. That would be a great accomplishment for each other in the neighborhood. It will also cut out all the talk of why more people from outside are moving in. Its simple because those that are already there cannot afford it anymore. More attention needs to be paid at whats going on now then what will go on in a few years.
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@KDUNNE, idiots
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I think i posted that comment in the wrong bulletin..oh well..you’ll figure it out..
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What will you do to restore the term limits which voters approved two times but the current board has chosen to sweep aside for political reasons?
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@Jim, Wait a minute Jim, did u register to vote yet?
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Decades ago. And I woted for term limits. Twice. Are you old enough to vote?
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I voted for term limits. How dare they overturn my vote. What happened to the democracy that others fought so hard to get. This is a big slap in the face to our freedom. It’s a big step backward. Shame on them.
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@, 100% right. If they wanted to get rid of term limits it should have been done for the future not the current mayor. Better yet the people should have voted and decided that. I hope they all get voted out.
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Congratulation! You have worked hard on this site and this is Kuddos to you!
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Go Phillies!
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