It’s Election Season – Gounardes Delivered a $195,000 to the Arab American Association
It’s election season, so Senator Gounardes brought a $195,000 check to the Arab American Association and took a photograph.
The Arab American Association is a good organization that supports people and helps people to learn English. This is not an organization that has spoken out against hate in our community.
Why are our tax dollars being used to purchase a building for a not-for-profit? How many other not-for-profits will expect a building?
The Arab American Association has received an incredible amount of funding from NYC Council, including for hate crime prevention in our district. (See here)
For six years, Senator Andrew Gounardes has not disclosed where our tax dollars have gone. Former NYS Assemblymember Mathylde Frontus was transparent and published a list to show how she dispersed money.
We asked Senator Gounardes to do the same, but Andrew has refused because he has given money to groups which endorse Democrats.
New Yorkers Against Gun Violence shared a photo of their check from Senator Gounardes. (See here) When 15-year-old Faridun Mavlonov was shot and killed in Brooklyn, New Yorkers Against Gun Violence did not do or say anything!
The Arab American Association must know that NYS defunded afterschool programs in our area. Children are going home to empty apartments instead of being safe and engaged at school because funding was cut. Yet, there is money to purchase a building for a not-for-profit organization?
Senator Gounardes should not have been able to make a donation to the Arab American Association until after afterschool was restored. PS 104 didn’t receive any funds.
Last election season, Justin Brannan was up for election and he gave the Arab American Association a check for $636,000.
Councilman Brannan also gave a six million dollar check to BRCDC last year. (Info here) Strangely, Senator Gounardes funded BRDC last year as well. Why is Gounardes funding organizations that Brannan took care of?
Bay Ridge, your vote in November tells if you support this. Please vote against Andrew Gounardes for playing politics on our community!
Hugs,
marlene
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