Q & A: Alex Powietrzynski

Republican assembly candidate Alex Powietrzynski might be young at just 26 years old, but he's certainly got ambition, and the eyes of Queens GOPer's will be on him in his challenge of Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi. Below, take a look at Powietrzynski's answers to our five-question Patch survey, and stop by later today to see Hevesi's survey ansers:

1. What's the most common concern you've heard from constituents this year?

The most common concern is that it is too expensive to continue to live in the district or even in New York. Over the past 10 years around 1.5 million people have moved out of New York  — likely for that same reason.

The members of the current administration believe that tax and spend policies are the way to resolve these issues. Instead, their policies are increasing the cost of living for the middle class faster than they can think of subsidies to provide to those hard working families. In order to help alleviate the problem, the majority of the constituents with whom I spoke were interested in a lower tax burden and a reduction in the ever increasing number of fees charged to New Yorkers.   

2. What programs would you eliminate/reduce to help curb the state's multi-billion dollar deficit?

We need to begin with comprehensive government reform. We must reduce the influence of special interests in New York and restart New York's struggling economy. To accomplish that, we must institute term limits and create an independent budget committee. Three people deciding New York's budget is a disgrace to New York voters, yet Andrew Hevesi has failed to stand up to Sheldon Silver on this or any other subject.

We must then aggressively go after Medicare fraud, Medicaid fraud and welfare fraud with steep fines and jail time. Every government program should be considered for consolidation or streamlining. 

2a. Which state programs should be totally off-limits for cuts?

New York's police and fire department should be off-limits for cuts. Education and programs for our elderly should also be off-limits for cuts. Instead, we should reconsider some of the policies adopted by certain of these entities to find additional efficiencies. While we should not be cutting funds from these programs, we must find ways to maximize the current funds without significant increases in the near future.  

3. What do you believe your role is in helping grow the economy in your district?

The role of any elected official is to help private industry, and small businesses in particular, prosper and create jobs. In order to accomplish that, elected officials must create a business-friendly environment that promotes growth.

When businesses and jobs are lost in the district, an elected official should be considered to be failing his/her district. In the past 5 years, during the tenure of Andrew Hevesi, both jobs and businesses have been on the decline in the 28th Assembly District.

4. Given the state government's gridlock, what's one way you think you can help break Albany's current cycle of dysfunction?

One way is to establish term limits. Politics was not meant to be a career by our Founding Fathers and it should not a career today. "Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely."

We have unfortunately seen over that axiom proven true over the past several years. Alan Hevesi admitted to political corruption; Hiram Monserrate and Charles Rangel are just a few examples of the corrupt New York career politicians. Enough is enough. It is the people who have a stake in community — and not in the special interests that fund their campaigns — who should be in the legislature.  

5. List one program or piece of legislation you think would be vital to your district in the coming years that you'd like to spearhead over a two-year term.

I would spearhead 4 pieces of legislation in the first term. The day after the election, I would begin drafting the following:

1. A bill to create term limits for the legislature which would also include a piece about an independent budgeting process;

2. A bill to lift the cap on charter schools in New York to improve education in New York at a lower price to the state;

3. A bill to force the MTA to be audited semi-annually or quarterly and to publicly disclose the audited financial statements;

4. A bill that any government contract with a railroad, trucking company, barge company or any other form of waste or garbage transportation include a clause that all waste/garbage would be properly secured — with equipment provided by the state or agency involved in shipping the waste/garbage products — and would provide in the contract a penalty for stopping in or near residential areas.

I would propose additional bills including bills that would provide credits for small businesses that open in New York City.

I would propose tax credits for small businesses that hire additional workers over their current workforce. I would propose a change to our unemployment insurance program. I would propose a bill to promote partnerships between SUNY and CUNY schools with new technology companies and create tax incentives for those companies to open production sites in New York which would create jobs in New York.